...one of the most delightful and endearing romantic comedies Hollywood ever produced.
Video:
I can't remember what the picture quality was like when I first saw it in a theater, but I have been disappointed with two tapes (one BETA and one VHS) I made from TV and with Paramount's own prerecorded VHS tape. They all looked fuzzy and washed out. The new DVD transfer is an immense improvement, but the image properties remain somewhat variable. Most of the time the picture is bright and clear, with delineation reasonably well etched. Yet at other times, the image is slightly soft and faded. A couple of very brief scenes, lasting only a minute or so, are downright blurred. The film is reproduced in a widescreen ratio of 1.66:1.
Audio:
Like the image, the digitally mastered monaural sound can vary. It behaves itself most of the time, but occasionally it is scratchy and distorted, especially in loud passages like crowd noise. So, while the DVD audio and video are nothing to write home about (at least not compared to other DVDs), they are, nevertheless, miles ahead of the film's previous formats for home viewing.
Extras:
Unfortunately, the powers that be at Paramount continue to give us little beyond the movie. There are English and French language options, English captions for the hearing impaired, scene selections, and a trailer. Nothing more.
Parting Thoughts:
Sweet and gentle are the best ways to describe "Heaven Can Wait." It's a leisurely film and thoroughly enjoyable. I find it reassuring to know that comedies can be made without nudity, profanity, or bathroom humor and still be funny and appealing in today's market. It makes my recommendation that much easier.
I can't remember what the picture quality was like when I first saw it in a theater, but I have been disappointed with two tapes (one BETA and one VHS) I made from TV and with Paramount's own prerecorded VHS tape. They all looked fuzzy and washed out. The new DVD transfer is an immense improvement, but the image properties remain somewhat variable. Most of the time the picture is bright and clear, with delineation reasonably well etched. Yet at other times, the image is slightly soft and faded. A couple of very brief scenes, lasting only a minute or so, are downright blurred. The film is reproduced in a widescreen ratio of 1.66:1.
Audio:
Like the image, the digitally mastered monaural sound can vary. It behaves itself most of the time, but occasionally it is scratchy and distorted, especially in loud passages like crowd noise. So, while the DVD audio and video are nothing to write home about (at least not compared to other DVDs), they are, nevertheless, miles ahead of the film's previous formats for home viewing.
Extras:
Unfortunately, the powers that be at Paramount continue to give us little beyond the movie. There are English and French language options, English captions for the hearing impaired, scene selections, and a trailer. Nothing more.
Parting Thoughts:
Sweet and gentle are the best ways to describe "Heaven Can Wait." It's a leisurely film and thoroughly enjoyable. I find it reassuring to know that comedies can be made without nudity, profanity, or bathroom humor and still be funny and appealing in today's market. It makes my recommendation that much easier.
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]2419[/release]