Reviewer's Rating 4 out of 5 Ìý User Rating 4 out of 5
Billy Elliot DVD (2000)

If you succumbed to the northern charms of "Billy Elliot" in the cinema, then get ready to do it all over again on DVD.

There's a slight graininess to the picture but that's deliberate visual style. It's just not the type of film that is meant to look all slick and smooth. The colours are bright and the detail good, although there is just a teeny bit of distortion in the shot of the clouds in chapter eight. Otherwise the transfer is typically pro for such a big release.

The 5.1 sound mix doesn't have many outlandish effects to deal with, but the scenes with the striking miners fill-up the speakers with shouts and flying debris.

Given the success of this film, the disc is a little shy on extra features. The only one of any interest is a 20-minute documentary with cast and crew interviews. There's also an extra bit of background information provided in the production notes.

Chapters: 18
Region: 2
Ratio: 1.85:1 (Anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Extra Features: Scene selection, 'Breaking Free' featurette, cast and crew biographies, DVD-ROM weblink, trailer, subtitles.

End Credits

Director: Stephen Daldry

Writer: Lee Hall

Stars: Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Jamie Draven, Gary Lewis

Genre: Drama

Length: 110 minutes

Cinema: 2000

DVD: 2 April 2001

Country: UK