Without going into too much detail which would give far too much of the story away, David (Tobey Maguire) and Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon) as your normal Polar opposite teenage twins growing up in the ninties.  David is a geek, Jennifer is the school slut.  Their Parents are divorces and Mum is going thru a mid-life crisis and has a toyboy.
They fight and bicker like siblings do, and one day it goes a bit too far. 
One particular weekend the entire season of the 1950's Pleasantville TV show is being screened as a marathon, and David [who is totally obsessed with the Idealistic representation of this TV show], plans to watch it all.  Problem is Jennifer is all set for her new boyfriend to come over and watch MTV with her on the same TV!!!
Before you know it, the two are fighting over the TV and ...uh-oh...the remote get's smashed....NOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo  (my WORST nightmare!!). 
As luck would have it a TV repair man is in the neighbourhood and is able to replace their remote with the mother of all remotes.  But this is more than just a remote control.  

I say no more.....

So how does this transfer hold up?

...

VIDEO
Other than a being just a bit too soft in focus overall, this is still another fine Anamophic Widescreen Transfer from Roadshow.
Though the entire film was shot with colour film stock, there are many sequences which are Black and White.  (you need to watch the film to understand why).  These black and white sequences look excellent, with a very good black level and and excellent contrast range. 
There are only hints of any grain in these sequences and in actual fact like this aspect of it as it gives it a more authentic feel. 
Colour Seqences are also excellent with very good colour saturation and accurate fleshtones.  Black level is great, and image depth is also quite good.
Direct comparisions to the region 1 version show the Superiority of PAL onces again with a smoother image.

Spread over two layers of an RSDL DVD, the layer change occurs between chapter 29-30 at 78:06 on a natural fade to black (the layer change is in essentially the same spot as the region 1 DVD, however ours is less abrupt with a better sound cue)

.

AUDIO
While your system won't get a full on 5.1 workout with the Dolby Digital 5.1 track, it's still a very good subtle 5.1 mix.  Primarily a dialogue driven film, audio sync is looking fine and dialogue comes across with great clarity and detail.  Randy Newman has come up with a wonderful music score which nicely underplays the on-screen action.  The music does produce a light ambience to the surrounds, but it's never aggressive or blatantly obvious.  There is also a Dolby Digital 2.0 mix included and the only real difference between the two tracks is the wider sound stage produced but the 5.1 discrete mix.

...

EXTRAS
Though not extensive, it's all good quality, well okay, OTHER than the plan jane static menus (which bear a striking resembelance to to the region 1 version)

- Director/Writer Gary Ross has voiced a great audio commentary which goes into quite a bit of detail about the making of this film.  Technically very good, and it maintained my interest for the most part. 

- The Art of Pleasantville is a terrific 32 minute Featurette broken up into 5 sections.  My only gripe is that the menu selection names differ from the onscreen title cards, other than that it gives away quite a few filmic secrets.  nice :)  (4x3 with 2 channel sound)

- The first time i saw Fiona Apple's music video for "across the universe" i was blown away.  It blends slowmotion and normal motion sequences into the same setpieces at the Same time and looks soooo cool.  (1.85:1 4x3 letterbox with 2 channel sound) 

- Cast and Crew Bios.  Quite a bit of detail but very sucky to navigate. 

- Theatrical Trailer  aaahhhh, another Anamorphic Widescreen Trailer with a Dolby 5.1 soundtrack.  yay!

- Dolby Digital Egypt Trailer

Pleasantville is a film i have watched over and over and over again and never seem to tire of, i simply love it.  It's also a very nice DVD and makes a great alternative to the whizz-bang action/sci-fi ventures that dominate most DVD collections : )...c'mon now, you know it's true!  

Review Equipment
TV: Pioneer SD-T50W1 (16:9 RPTV)
DVD: Pioneer DV717  (using RGB outputs)
Receiver : Denon AVC-A1SE THX Ultra (Dolby Surround EX, DTS-ES Discrete)
Speakers:-
     Mains: Quadral Phonolgue Gold Amun
     Centre: B&W CDMC-SE
     Surrounds Left/Right: B&W 602
     Surrounds Back : Jamo Magic 14
     Subby: M&K V125 

- Reviewed 12th April 2001

* jpeg files for internet promotion use only. Copyright© exists on all aspects of these files by Roadshow Home Entertainment