Andrew,
 
I've not yet viewed the laserdisc (or decided yet if I'll buy it, being a
fan), but according to _Laserdisc Newsletter_, there's a tradeoff between
this and the older disc version.  The widescreen on the new one is satisfying,
but apparently the old version handled the difficult/delicate lighting in
many scenes better.  I'd like to be able to rent the thing first and check it
out, since I like _Excalibur_ enough to want to own it....
 
Jeff Clark
James Madison Univ.