We prefer the Buena Vista DVD version of  "Evita" over the three other versions available on laserdisc.  Alan Parker's epic musical certainly has an advantage in terms of definition on DVD.  While the laserdiscs were impressive in their own right, only when viewing DVD does one see the remarkable improvement in clarity and depth.  The correct aspect ratio of 2.35:1 has been preserved.  It's also a nice pleasure to not have to stop in the middle of the film and turn the disc over, as with all previous versions.  The Dolby Digital sound is excellent, and offers active surround elements throughout the film.

Although the laserdisc version offers some great advantages, deleted scenes, commentary, etc.., the DVD is more accessible.  This is largely due to the fact that it's the dubbed version, wherein the viewer can usually understand what's being said!   The laserdisc version was truer to director Danny Boyle's vision, but it was laborious to comprehend for viewers unfamiliar with the slang and dialect of the actors.   Boyle has crafted a hilarious, disturbing, and often thought-provoking tale centered around heroin addicts.  But, lest this scare away viewers, it has much more to offer as well.  The DVD has an incredible transfer in terms of sight and sound.   The imaginative cinematography comes to vibrant life here with sharp colors and excellent definition.  The Dolby Digital sound mix is also extremely active.

Although Anthony Minghella's film could have benefitted from some editing, it does have an ability to grow on the viewer.  This reviewer didn't like the film at all, and now upon revisiting it on DVD,  actually kind of likes it.  The fact that it's all there, on one side of a disc, is also an advantage over the three laserdisc versions.   The visual beauty that creates the world in which the viewer is brought into, is also much more vibrant on DVD.  The fleshtones and contrasts are splendid.  The Dolby Digital sound is also on par with the laserdisc versions, complimenting the wonderful score as well as an active directional mix.

This DVD version of  "Mary Poppins" appears to have been transferred from the same negative as the recent laserdisc version.  The image is generally sharp, although the animated sequences aren't as vibrant as we would have liked, they're still an improvement in terms of definition over laserdisc.  The Dolby Digital sound is lively in terms of the music, but completely lacking in any kind of directional effects.  A chapter index is included, noting individual songs that children will undoubtedly take a liking to.

While it's unfortunate that the BUENA VISTA HOME ENTERTAINMENT DVD release of   "Ransom" doesn't include the extra footage offered in the recent laserdisc edition, this transfer is sharper.  Director Ron Howard composes his images well and there is a variety of colorful, difficult lighting scenarios that look perfect in this release.  The laserdisc image was also quite good, but it match the definition found here. The Dolby Digital soundtrack is equal in quality to the laserdisc, but the DVD also offers a french Dolby Digital soundtrack as well.  It appears that BUENA VISTA is being extremely cautious as to what is being offered in their releases.  So far, none of their DVD releases have offered a selection of P&S or letterbox.  It's also a shame that some of the supplementary material offered on laserdisc, e.g. extra footage, hasn't been offered here.  Let's hope that future releases offer at least what their laserdisc counterparts do.

The DVD release of "Phenomenon" offers an improvement in visual quality over the laserdisc.  The film takes place in a rural setting and the landscape takes on greater depth due to improved definition and depth that occurrs when a DVD transfer is handled well, as is the case here.  The Dolby Digital surround soundtrack is impressive, although it's slightly less defined than the laserdisc.  While this is a trade-off, "Phenomenon" doesn't fully take advantage of sound effects in either version, so the DVD proved just as entertaining.  Had this reviewer not intentionally compared the two soundtracks side-by-side, she wouldn't have noticed a difference at all.  

The laserdisc has a slight advantage over this DVD release in terms of color and contrast.  While there is often more definition in the DVD release, fleshtones and contrast are generally more precise on laserdisc.  The Dolby surround is equal to the laserdisc version, and it's outstanding.  Our favorite moment, Chapter 15: A Gunfight at the O.K. Corral!  The music swells with a wonderful bass while the heroes march down the street towards their confrontation.  Two major disappointments:  This DVD doesn't offer a Dolby Digital soundtrack.  This alone, would have made the DVD a huge improvement over the laserdisc.  Disappointment #2: None of the deleted scenes offered on the laserdisc version are offered here. 

We're happy that the Director's commentary offered on the laserdisc version "has" been offered here. Unfortunately, the brief shots making the "Director's Cut" aren't included.  This means that even when Director Wes Craven speaks to the effect of the extra shots on the overall dynamics to a particular scene, listeners won't have any idea what he and screenwriter Kevin Williamson are speaking about.  On the plus side, the extra footage was less than a minute.   The DVD release offers the same 2.35:1 ratio as the laserdisc, and fleshtones are generally more consistent here.  There are a few scenes in which the laserdisc has an adavantage, particularly in the nighttime sequences.  The Dolby Digital surround track matches the laserdisc in excellence, and there's no shortage of directional effects.