Scanning High-Def: Dreamgirls HD DVD

Dreamgirls (DreamWorks HD DVD). Shot nearly completely in the theatrical lighting of the stage and nightclubs, the 2.35:1 widescreen images here are warm and filled with richly colored costumes. The few daytime exteriors look good, too, with a natural sky behind deep-black Cadillacs. The Dolby Digital Plus soundtrack is fine, with clean separation of instruments in each of the channels - but since this is a story told mainly through song, I wish an uncompressed track had been added.

Extras include a feature-length documentary, 36 minutes of deleted musical numbers, and 20 minutes of featurettes - all of these in high-def. What a joy it is to see bonuses looking as vivid as the film.

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