(aka "Called Home" )
directed by Peter Weir
USA 1985
Samuel Lapp is a young Amish boy who is traveling home with his mother Rachel
(Kelly McGillis) when he becomes the sole witness to a murder in the
Philadelphia rail station. It turns out that the murder was a part of a drugs
deal carried out by corrupt cops. A cop called John Book (Harrison Ford) tries
to protect Rachel and Samuel, but gets injured. The three flee to the Amish
lands to hide. Naturally, the killer's don't want them to arrive...
An otherwise stock thriller plot takes an interesting turn by taking the viewer
into the relatively unknown Amish community - locked in a puritan lifestyle
which their ancestors lived when they first arrived in America hundreds of years
ago. In rejecting all the conventions of modern American society, and by being a
surprisingly socialist community amidst a sea of capitalism, the Amish are
vilified and taunted by tourists.
In many ways this film has more to do with accepting other people and their
customs than with being a thriller. It is the 'good guy' Book who is accepted by
the Amish because he in turn is willing to accept them as they are. But
Witness is also about the urban/rural clash, and ultimately, of course, Book
must return to the city - he is a part of modern urban America and all that that
entails; and he can never truly adjust to the old ways.
Excerpt from Matthew Bull's review in the EUFS Programme 1995-96
located HERE
Posters
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Theatrical Release: February 8th, 1985
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Paramount (Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC
(Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Paramount (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)
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| Distribution |
Paramount Home Video Region 1 - NTSC |
Paramount Home Video (Collector's Edition) Region 1 - NTSC |
| Runtime | 1:52:16 | 1:52:16 |
| Video |
1.74:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Paramount
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Paramount (CE)
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) |
English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) |
| Subtitles | French and none | English, Spanish, French, none |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Paramount Home Video
Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
Chapters 17
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Release Information:
Edition Details:
• 5-Part Documentary: Between Two
Worlds: The Making of Witness (32:47) |
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Comments |
NOTE: The original edition advertises French subtitles (as the only subtitle option) but I could not get them to display for me.
The image on the new edition is tight to the frame where the older release has a slim black border around it limiting horizontal resolution. You can also see the old release is cropped on all 4 sides (or the new is opened up a shade). I see the usual over-digitizing of the Collector's Edition image making it generally softer than the first issue, but colors are far dimmer, and presumably more accurate in the new DVD and it has been cleaned of the minor dust and dirt that appeared in the 2002 release. Audio options are identical. The CE has some bright yellow subtitle options (English, French and Spanish). The big area of improvement is in the extras where the new DVD offers a 5-Part 30 minute Documentary: entitled Between Two Worlds: The Making of Witness that examines many production aspects with snipits from Weir and Ford on the filming of "Witness". I also enjoyed the brief Weir interview in the original release but the new featurette obvious contains more relevant information. I've stated many times that I am not the biggest fan of over-digitizing and image, in any form, and the minor grain (or possibly noise?) in the original wasn't distracting for me. I am, however, a big fan or subtitles (almost always have them on, even with the audio in my native English) and of course for further appreciation of the film, featurettes, interviews etc. with the principals involved are always welcome. I didn't really compare the audio but I'll make the assumption that it has not been improved.
NOTE: The deleted scene in the new CE is the kitchen scene in Book's sisters house that was in the TV version. |
DVD Menus
(Paramount
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(Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Paramount (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Paramount (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Paramount (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Paramount (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Paramount (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Paramount (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Paramount (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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| DVD Box Covers |
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| Distribution |
Paramount Home Video Region 1 - NTSC |
Paramount Home Video (Collector's Edition) Region 1 - NTSC |
Report Card:
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Image: |
CE (better color, less cropped, less damage) /Standard for sharpness |
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| Extras: | CE |
| Menu: | - |
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