Watcher
04-03-2002, 12:15 PM
<I><B>COLUMBIA TRISTAR HOME ENTERTAINMENT</I></b>
<center><b>
<h2>AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS</h2>
Release Date: April 30, 2002
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
Rating: M15+
RRP: $36.95 </center>
<UL>SPECIAL FEATURES AND SPECS</b></center>
<LI>Deleted Scenes
<LI>Theatrical Trailers
<LI>Filmographies
<LI> Subtitles: English, Spanish, English Captions and Hindi
<LI>Special Features subtitled in Spanish
<LI>English and Spanish language in Dolby Digital 5.1
<LI>Aspect: 2.35:1 widescreen 16:9 enhanced
<LI>Dual Layer/single sided
<LI>TOTAL Running Time: 99 Mins.</UL>
<center><b>CAST</b></center>
Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Cusack, Christopher Walken, Hank Azaria, Seth Green.
DIRECTED BY: Joe Roth
<center><B>SYNOPSIS</b></center>
America's Sweethearts comes from the producers of Patch Adams, Forces of Nature, and City of Angels and has a talented cast including Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal, Catherine Zeta-Jones and John Cusack .
Gwen (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Eddie (John Cusack) are America's Sweethearts. They are the objects of the hottest and most loved on and off screen romance of the moment and when their marriage breaks up the public is devastated at the thought.
"America's Sweethearts" finds Gwen's career in ruin without Eddie and Eddie still trying to come to terms with everything at a wellness retreat.
So with the need to promote their last movie together it takes all the effort of Press Agent Lee(Billy Crystal) and Gwen's number one assistant and Sister Kiki (Julia Roberts) to keep them together and give the allusion of a civil if not loving relationship.
Gwen want's a divorce, Eddie wants to get back together, the press want the real story and Lee and Kiki must try to keep everyone happy at least until the media junket is over.
Things get even more complicated though as more of the story is revealed involving the relationship of two of the main characters.
<center><b>AUDIO/VISUAL</b></center>
There are two audio tracks provided and they are English in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish in Dolby Digital 5.1. My ability to understand the Spanish language would be a big '0' on a scale of 0-100, so there's no prizes for guessing which of the 2 audio tracks I watched the entire movie with.
The quality of the English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio is very good indeed for the kind of movie that this is. It's a very speech driven movie and there were no issues with speech being in sync or it being hard to understand. That includes Hank Azaria's hilarious accent.
All speakers are used in this movie to some effect and this includes the occasional bit of directional sound and speaker separation.
The mains and center are where a lot of the sound comes from, but the rears do offer many, yet subtle surround sounds. The sub also provides a thud or two but nothing to knock your fillings from your teeth. I felt that the music suited the movie well and there were no problems here either.
The movie is presented with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen and is 16:9 enhanced.
This is a beautiful transfer and will mot disappoint.
The image is always sharp, clean and free from any distracting marks, specs or other imperfections. Grain isn't a problem either.
Colours are very strong and vibrant and do look gorgeous a lot of the time. Blacks are spot on, as is shadow detail and flesh tones couldn't be any better.
As I said earlier, it won't disappoint.
<center><B>EXTRA FEATURES</b></center>
Deleted Scenes with optional Director Commentary -
The 5 Deleted scenes that are available on this DVD are as follows:<UL>
<LI>Hector takes a bath - This scene which runs for 0.55 minutes is a continuation/extension of the scene of Hector in the bath when he sees the news report about Gwen and Eddie in the car.
If you choose to watch this scene with the optional commentary the segment will run for 2.01 minutes as it has a section at the start where Joe Roth introduces himself and the scene and then explains why it was deleted from the final cut of the movie after that you will get to see the scene in question.
<LI>Eddie calls his Wellness Guide - This scene which runs for 1.09 minutes is a scene in which Eddie calls his Wellness guide for advice on his upcoming dinner with Gwen.
With the optional commentary enabled this section runs for 2 minutes.
<LI>Leaf Surprises Eddie - This scene which runs for 1.31 minutes slots in the morning after Kiki and Eddie sleep together. Eddie answers his door and is surprised by an ex-lover. With the optional commentary enabled this section runs for 2 minutes.
<LI>Hal gets towed - This scene which runs for 0.46 minutes is a very quick scene in which Hal Weidman gets his car towed in the desert and he is talking to the guy who drives the tow truck.
With the optional commentary enabled this section runs for 1.54 minutes.
<LI>Danny Shmoozes Hal - This scene which runs for 1.34 minutes slots in at the very end of the movie after all of the press have left the room after screening the film. In this scene Danny(Seth Green)
talks with Hal about the film.
With the optional commentary enabled this section runs for 2.27 minutes.
</ul>
These deleted scenes are fun to watch and are all available with an optional Director's Commentary.
They are each presented in widescreen with Dolby 2.0 audio.
The optional Director Commentary by Joe Roth is great as he intorduces each scene then explains exactly why the scenes were made in the first place, why they were cut and more. After his explanation you get to see the scene in question.
This is a fantastic feature folks and is definitely a worthy addition to this DVD.
Theatrical Trailers -
The 4 Theatrical Trailers available on this DVD are as follows:<ul>
<LI>America's Sweethearts - This trailer which runs for 2.22 minutes is presented in widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. This is a great trailer which sells the movie well.
<LI>My Best Friend's Wedding - This is a very fun trailer that runs for around 2.20 minutes.
It is presented in widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.
<LI>Sleepless In Seattle - This is a 2.31 minute trailer that is presented in Fullscreen with Dolby 2.0 audio.
<LI>Stepmom - This trailer that runs for 2.22 minutes and is presented widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio portrays the movie very well without giving away too much of the plot.</UL>
Filmographies -
Here you have a background picture (still shot from the movie) along with the names of 5 of the major cast and the Director. You can select any of these names to view a background picture of the cast/crew member and you are able to read one or two screens of text on their career including list of film credits.
<center><B>OVERALL</b></center>
America's Sweethearts is an enjoyable movie with a very good cast who all do a good job with the various roles they portray. For me, Julia Robert's stands out as the once ugly duckling sister of Catherine Zeta-Jones and gives yet another superb performance.
The DVD version of this movie is presented with a very good quality audio/visual transfer and although the extra features aren't out of this world, they do add value for money with this DVD.
The audio commentary on the deleted scenes really are a worthy addition.
If you're a Julia Roberts fan or a fan of romantic comedies this movie is for you.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" ALIGN="center" BORDER="1">
<tr><td><B>VIDEO QUALITY</b> </td><td><B>9/10</b> </td></tr>
<tr><td><B>AUDIO QUALITY</b> </td><td><B>9/10</b> </td></tr>
<tr><td><B>EXTRAS</b> </td><td><B>5/10</b> </td></tr>
<tr><td><B>THE MOVIE</b> </td><td><B>8/10 </b></td></tr>
<tr><td><B>OVERALL</B> </td><td><B>8/10 </b></td></tr></table>
Thanks for reading.....
<center><b>
<h2>AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS</h2>
Release Date: April 30, 2002
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
Rating: M15+
RRP: $36.95 </center>
<UL>SPECIAL FEATURES AND SPECS</b></center>
<LI>Deleted Scenes
<LI>Theatrical Trailers
<LI>Filmographies
<LI> Subtitles: English, Spanish, English Captions and Hindi
<LI>Special Features subtitled in Spanish
<LI>English and Spanish language in Dolby Digital 5.1
<LI>Aspect: 2.35:1 widescreen 16:9 enhanced
<LI>Dual Layer/single sided
<LI>TOTAL Running Time: 99 Mins.</UL>
<center><b>CAST</b></center>
Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Cusack, Christopher Walken, Hank Azaria, Seth Green.
DIRECTED BY: Joe Roth
<center><B>SYNOPSIS</b></center>
America's Sweethearts comes from the producers of Patch Adams, Forces of Nature, and City of Angels and has a talented cast including Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal, Catherine Zeta-Jones and John Cusack .
Gwen (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Eddie (John Cusack) are America's Sweethearts. They are the objects of the hottest and most loved on and off screen romance of the moment and when their marriage breaks up the public is devastated at the thought.
"America's Sweethearts" finds Gwen's career in ruin without Eddie and Eddie still trying to come to terms with everything at a wellness retreat.
So with the need to promote their last movie together it takes all the effort of Press Agent Lee(Billy Crystal) and Gwen's number one assistant and Sister Kiki (Julia Roberts) to keep them together and give the allusion of a civil if not loving relationship.
Gwen want's a divorce, Eddie wants to get back together, the press want the real story and Lee and Kiki must try to keep everyone happy at least until the media junket is over.
Things get even more complicated though as more of the story is revealed involving the relationship of two of the main characters.
<center><b>AUDIO/VISUAL</b></center>
There are two audio tracks provided and they are English in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish in Dolby Digital 5.1. My ability to understand the Spanish language would be a big '0' on a scale of 0-100, so there's no prizes for guessing which of the 2 audio tracks I watched the entire movie with.
The quality of the English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio is very good indeed for the kind of movie that this is. It's a very speech driven movie and there were no issues with speech being in sync or it being hard to understand. That includes Hank Azaria's hilarious accent.
All speakers are used in this movie to some effect and this includes the occasional bit of directional sound and speaker separation.
The mains and center are where a lot of the sound comes from, but the rears do offer many, yet subtle surround sounds. The sub also provides a thud or two but nothing to knock your fillings from your teeth. I felt that the music suited the movie well and there were no problems here either.
The movie is presented with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen and is 16:9 enhanced.
This is a beautiful transfer and will mot disappoint.
The image is always sharp, clean and free from any distracting marks, specs or other imperfections. Grain isn't a problem either.
Colours are very strong and vibrant and do look gorgeous a lot of the time. Blacks are spot on, as is shadow detail and flesh tones couldn't be any better.
As I said earlier, it won't disappoint.
<center><B>EXTRA FEATURES</b></center>
Deleted Scenes with optional Director Commentary -
The 5 Deleted scenes that are available on this DVD are as follows:<UL>
<LI>Hector takes a bath - This scene which runs for 0.55 minutes is a continuation/extension of the scene of Hector in the bath when he sees the news report about Gwen and Eddie in the car.
If you choose to watch this scene with the optional commentary the segment will run for 2.01 minutes as it has a section at the start where Joe Roth introduces himself and the scene and then explains why it was deleted from the final cut of the movie after that you will get to see the scene in question.
<LI>Eddie calls his Wellness Guide - This scene which runs for 1.09 minutes is a scene in which Eddie calls his Wellness guide for advice on his upcoming dinner with Gwen.
With the optional commentary enabled this section runs for 2 minutes.
<LI>Leaf Surprises Eddie - This scene which runs for 1.31 minutes slots in the morning after Kiki and Eddie sleep together. Eddie answers his door and is surprised by an ex-lover. With the optional commentary enabled this section runs for 2 minutes.
<LI>Hal gets towed - This scene which runs for 0.46 minutes is a very quick scene in which Hal Weidman gets his car towed in the desert and he is talking to the guy who drives the tow truck.
With the optional commentary enabled this section runs for 1.54 minutes.
<LI>Danny Shmoozes Hal - This scene which runs for 1.34 minutes slots in at the very end of the movie after all of the press have left the room after screening the film. In this scene Danny(Seth Green)
talks with Hal about the film.
With the optional commentary enabled this section runs for 2.27 minutes.
</ul>
These deleted scenes are fun to watch and are all available with an optional Director's Commentary.
They are each presented in widescreen with Dolby 2.0 audio.
The optional Director Commentary by Joe Roth is great as he intorduces each scene then explains exactly why the scenes were made in the first place, why they were cut and more. After his explanation you get to see the scene in question.
This is a fantastic feature folks and is definitely a worthy addition to this DVD.
Theatrical Trailers -
The 4 Theatrical Trailers available on this DVD are as follows:<ul>
<LI>America's Sweethearts - This trailer which runs for 2.22 minutes is presented in widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. This is a great trailer which sells the movie well.
<LI>My Best Friend's Wedding - This is a very fun trailer that runs for around 2.20 minutes.
It is presented in widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.
<LI>Sleepless In Seattle - This is a 2.31 minute trailer that is presented in Fullscreen with Dolby 2.0 audio.
<LI>Stepmom - This trailer that runs for 2.22 minutes and is presented widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio portrays the movie very well without giving away too much of the plot.</UL>
Filmographies -
Here you have a background picture (still shot from the movie) along with the names of 5 of the major cast and the Director. You can select any of these names to view a background picture of the cast/crew member and you are able to read one or two screens of text on their career including list of film credits.
<center><B>OVERALL</b></center>
America's Sweethearts is an enjoyable movie with a very good cast who all do a good job with the various roles they portray. For me, Julia Robert's stands out as the once ugly duckling sister of Catherine Zeta-Jones and gives yet another superb performance.
The DVD version of this movie is presented with a very good quality audio/visual transfer and although the extra features aren't out of this world, they do add value for money with this DVD.
The audio commentary on the deleted scenes really are a worthy addition.
If you're a Julia Roberts fan or a fan of romantic comedies this movie is for you.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" ALIGN="center" BORDER="1">
<tr><td><B>VIDEO QUALITY</b> </td><td><B>9/10</b> </td></tr>
<tr><td><B>AUDIO QUALITY</b> </td><td><B>9/10</b> </td></tr>
<tr><td><B>EXTRAS</b> </td><td><B>5/10</b> </td></tr>
<tr><td><B>THE MOVIE</b> </td><td><B>8/10 </b></td></tr>
<tr><td><B>OVERALL</B> </td><td><B>8/10 </b></td></tr></table>
Thanks for reading.....