The film has a generally muted color-scheme to it, but what colors are present are rich and lustrous. Flesh tones are also nicely rendered. The sound isn't quite as good as the picture, but it's solid, and perfectly adequate. As with most Miramax films, Shakespeare in Love is largely driven by dialogue, so don't expect much in the way of surround sound. The rear channels are mostly used to create atmosphere, but create it they do, even if subtly so.
Dialogue is crisp and clear, with the music presented nicely in the mix.
And the low frequency is quite active - there's good bass, while not being overwhelming in any way. Extras include a theatrical trailer, trivia on Shakespeare, and biographical information on the historically-based characters in the film. Shakespeare in Love is a wonderful film, and this DVD captures the experience quite nicely. Some may wish to wait for that version, but those who can't should be plenty happy this disc. And once again, the fact that this film is presented in anamorphic widescreen can't be down-played.