STATS: MCA/Universal Home Video; 3 Discs; 5 Sides; CLV/CAV; Letterboxed (1.85:1); 45 Chapters (+15 Extras); Closed Captioned; $129.98; 2/18/1997
VIDEO: 3¼-Normal quality plus. Picture was very clean from film grain, dust and scratches.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog Left- Commentary, Analog Right- Dolby Digital/
SIDE CHANGE: Side 1 to 2 is fine but it goes black for a bit longer than normal, this is because the audio commentary runs longer than the video. Side 2 to 3 is actually funny so that swapping discs doesn't feel like much of an interruption, for those who have seen the movie it's when the cops come in and the pimp is yelling from the bathroom. Side 3 to 4 takes place in the extras, going from stills to video so it's not really much to write about. Side 4 to 5 is again in the extras, just a switch from one section to another, it's fine.
EXTRAS: Lots! The Hamster Factor and Other Tales of Twelve Monkeys, a film by Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe, an original documentary extensively shot during the production of the film (very long). Production photos, original advertising, marketing and publicity materials, storyboards and theatrical trailers
COMMENTS: Such a nice set, I really love the Signature Collection series. This one comes in a box and a three fold paper insert with full chapter listings and nice photos. Having the full-length commentary that's actually longer than the motion picture was nice too.
STATS: Walt Disney Home Video; 3 Discs; 4 Sides; CAV; Letterboxed (1.66:1); 26 Chapters (+1 Extra); $49.99; 9/21/1994
VIDEO: 2-Bad quality for a LD. What Happened??? A THX release that has TONS of chroma noise! So much in fact that it looks worse than what is considered normal for a non-THX title. However the colors that do show through the noise are nice and vibrant.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog - Dolby Surround/ Blah! Don't bother turning on your ProLogic decoder. The audio is too flat, just turn on your quadraphonic and crank it.
SIDE CHANGE: Side 1 to 2 was great! It took place at the cut where Jasmine says "Believe me, I will." And gives that stern look. Side 2 to 3 was another great change, right after Genie says "we're gonna make you a star!". Side 3 to 4 was fine.
EXTRAS: Theatrical Trailer
COMMENTS: Tisk tisk tisk! Such a good chance to make a good disc, but it sucked. The gatefold cover was quite nice though.
STATS: Fox Video; 3 Discs; 6 Sides; CAV; Letterboxed (2.35:1); 25 Chapters (+22 Extras); Closed Captioned; $99.98; 10/8/1992
VIDEO: 3¾-Normal quality plus. Almost looks THX mastered.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Dolby Surround/ The surround sound is Wonderful!
SIDE CHANGE: Side 1 to 2 actually changes when they are looking at the space jockey but it doesn’t really distract you from the scene. Side 2 to 3 takes place right after they blast Kane's body out into space and then picks up with an overhead of the refinery in tow, A very nice cut. Side 3 to 4 was good as well, we end with Ash’s body burning and pick up with Ripley, Parker and Lambert walking down a corridor getting ready to blow the ship.
EXTRAS: This set is Famous for it’s extras, they include... Premiere presentation of outtake footage, behind scenes footage, Giger's painting and drawings, conceptual art work, rare production photographs, screenplay excerpts, annotated history of the film, theatrical trailer and original advertising material. There is a somewhat hidden feature in this platter, if you press play where you would normally press step you'll get audio cues.
COMMENTS: What can I say? It’s one of the best collector’s LDs ever made. The final platter is all extras on both sides and the actual movie is really nice looking. Just beware, there is a slim chance you could end up with one of the few sets that suffered from laser rot.
STATS: Fox Video; 4 Discs; 7 Sides; CAV; Letterboxed (1.85:1); 33 Chapters (+32 Extras); Closed Captioned; $99.98; 12/18/1991
VIDEO: 2-Bad quality for a LD. Grainy as hell! It’s very bad in compared to the Alien: Special Widescreen Collector's Edition!
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Dolby Surround/ MAGNIFICENT! This is the way Dolby Surround is supposed to be. You’d swear you were actually there!
SIDE CHANGE: Side 1 to 2 didn’t interrupt viewing pleasure. It would have been better placed about a minute later if it wouldn’t cut part of the music, but it would have so they made the right choice. Side 2 to 3 gives you a little laugh so getting up to change discs doesn’t feel as long. Side 3 to 4 was in the middle of a scene but was totally fine. Side 4 to 5 was another little chuckle moment making transitions to a third disc unobtrusive. Side 5 to 6 closes ok but the jump back to side 6 is a bit of a volume shock.
EXTRAS: Side 7 contain trailers, an interview with James Cameron, screenplay excerpts, stills, annotated history of the movie, behind the scenes footage, storyboards & artwork. After the laserdisc credits there is a color pattern and tone. The Alien LD set had a color pattern too but it was only one frame and you should never use a still from LD to set up your color (tech stuff I won’t get into). After that there is a Home Theater Sound Check Provided by CHASE Surround Stereo (for testing your Dolby Decoder).
COMMENTS: This version is 16 mins longer than the theatrical version and it makes the interaction between Riply and Newt much better based on things that we find out in the beginning of the film.
STATS: Walt Disney Home Video; 2 Discs; 4 Sides; CAV; Letterboxed (1.66:1); 22 Chapters (+6 Extras); Closed Captioned; $49.99; 11/24/1992
VIDEO: 3-Normal quality. Normal yes but beware this set is infamous for having laser rot.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Dolby Surround/ Comically the back channel is missing from the Dolby Surround Pro Logic.
SIDE CHANGE: Side 1 to 2 is terrible, it changes right after Maurice bursts through the door after the Gaston song, pretty much cutting the scene badly. Side 2 to 3 is fine.
EXTRAS: The whole thing is pretty much an extra but it also contains an alternate version of "Be Our Guest," camera test for the ballroom scene, information on the technology used to create this film, pencil tests and a theatrical trailer.
COMMENTS: Ugh so much rot! If you buy this chances you'll end up with one that's got laser rot. That's what happens when the glue gets contaminated.
STATS: Elite Entertainment; 1 Disc; 2 Sides; CLV; Letterboxed (1.85:1); 24 Chapters (+2 Extras); $49.95; 1/28/98
VIDEO: 3¼-Normal quality plus. Color was good, edges were sharp with not much chroma noise.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Monaural; Analog- Commentary/ Well it might only have one channel but it is the original audio. The commentary is very nice.
SIDE CHANGE: The side change is fine. It takes place right after Jake says “Now move!” and right before an exterior shot of the cabin.
EXTRAS: Theatrical Trailer and 30 minutes of Behind-the-Scenes footage. The three-second opening shot of the behind-the-scenes section lacks digital audio! On the analog channels it can be heard in its entirety.
COMMENTS: Another nice release from Elite Entertainment! The first pressing of this movie was issued in blood red colored plastic. This set incorrectly states that the movie was released in 1976 and that the disc is R-rated. The missing digital audio and misprints have been corrected on all but the first pressings. With lots of footage that is now lost only available in the behind-the-scenes section and a full length running commentary by Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Scott Spiegel and Greg Nicotero this is a LaserDisc well worth getting. Plus I think getting the blood red disc is well worth the few little errors. Oh and if you have a crappy player it might have trouble reading through the red plastic.
STATS: Fox Video; 1 Disc; 2 Sides; CLV; Pan & Scan (1.33:1); 19 Chapters (+2 Extras); Closed Captioned; $39.98; 4/20/1994
VIDEO: 4-Really good looking. Though Pan & Scan the picture was very nice. Hardly any analog streaking at all. The film it's self was originally THX mastered which could attribute to the clean picture of this non-THX certified laserdisc.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Dolby Surround/ Audio was good, though the surround only truly made itself apparent during the few explosions. But there was something special about this one, check the extras to find out what.
SIDE CHANGE: Side break was as good as one could ask for, non-intrusive and placing is good as in the film many hours have passed between the two scenes
EXTRAS: Now though the cover never mentions that there are more things on the LD than just the movie, there are two more chapters more than the 19 listed on the back. Chapter 20 is a Home Theater Sound Check Provided by CHASE Surround Stereo (for testing your Dolby Decoder). Chapter 21 is a color test pattern and tone. Very nice things for to have on your LD indeed.
COMMENTS: The closed captioning is of pretty much normal accuracy, too bad they put [speaking gibberish] in some of Eye & N.Eye's lines. They are really funny and you generally have to back up to understand what they are saying. I was very happy with the picture quality of this LD and with the extra two chapters. The only thing I could ask for is supplemental material and a widescreen transfer. Though for some reason this movie feels right for the 1.33:1 Letterboxed, maybe because it feels like a direct to video movie. I'm sure if you've seen either of the Bill & Ted movies that you recognize Alex Winter (Playing Ricky Coogan) as Bill; but did you notice the voice of Ortiz the Dog Boy? His name wasn't in the credits but it was Keanu Reeves! Looks like Ted came along for the ride.
STATS: Pioneer Animation; 3 Discs; 6 Sides; CAV; Ratio (1.33:1); 51 Chapters (+14 Extras); Closed Captioned; $99.98; 1/25/1994
VIDEO: 4-Really good looking. Colors are bright and vibrant with sharp edges. The image is very clear and solid colors look wonderful.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Stereo (Non Dolby English); Analog- Stereo (Non Dolby Japanese)/ Both soundtracks are clean and clear. It’s also great having both languages.
SIDE CHANGE: Disc 1 was pretty much perfect, a fade to black and then a fade back from black. Disc 2 another fade to black and then right to the next scene. Disc 3 seemed very much out of place, there was a scene change but it switched right during some action.
EXTRAS: Oh my the extras! On the second side of the third disc are... a music video “Tears and Rain” based on ending theme in both English and Japanese, director Satoshi Saga’s comments, an original Japanese promotional trailer, and still galleries- Early Character Sketches [59 frames], Imageboards for Episode 2 [41 frames], Imageboards for Episode 3 [16 frames], Additional Imageboards by Tatsuyuki Tanaka [22 frames], Character Development [33 frames], Key Animation (Aria and Ran) [41 frames], Character Cells & Photos [28 frames], Props & Other Gadgets [51 frames], Background Imageboards [45 frames], Positive Film Samples [38 frames], Additional Material [8 frames]. Plus on top of all that this is an oversized box set containing all three parts (Departure, Green 5, Holy Green) on individual discs in separate sleeves with their own artwork, a 20 page 12"x12" booklet with sketches, production notes, messages from the production staff, deleted characters. Plus 18 Postcards printed on three sheets and a white XL T-shirt!
COMMENTS: There is nothing quite like watching anime on LaserDisc. Anyone who has watched an anime VCD or a DVD on a good screen knows what I mean. With a LD you never have to deal with the nasty compression artifacts on hard lines and solid colors. And this is definitely a set to own. The picture is great, you have both English and Japanese audio tracks with subtitling in the closed captioning plus a wealth of extras. The only things I have to say that weren’t as good as the picture so good to be THX were the somewhat awkward side changes on disc 3 and the colors on the T-shirt. The printing of the T-shirt is really odd, there is a bit too much blue in the grey, the light tan on Ran’s glove has too much green and his red vest is brown. I don’t know if all the shirts were printed like this or if maybe it’s just from age. I got my box still sealed 12 years after it’s production so I can’t really be sure on the details of that. Anyway the set is great and any lover of anime should try and find a copy if they can,
STATS: Warner Home Video; 1 Disc; 2 Sides; CLV; Letterboxed (1.85:1); 31 Chapters; Closed Captioned; $34.98; 6/4/1996
VIDEO: 3-Normal quality. Please note I can only say it is normal quality based on the first few minutes of the film due to heavy laser rot on my copy. From what I could tell it did have a bit more bleeding of the red than normal.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Dolby Surround/ Luckily the rot wasn't so bad that it messed with the audio. Sound was good, especially during the bar scene with "Venus" playing.
SIDE CHANGE: Change over from side 1 to 2 is well placed.
EXTRAS: None
COMMENTS: If you want the movie in its original aspect Letterboxed this is the only way to get it.
STATS: MGM/UA Home Video; 2 Discs; 3 Sides; CLV; Ratio (2.60:1); No Chapters (+1 Extra); $39.98; 1/15/1991
VIDEO: 4-Really good looking. Now mind you the film does show age. The lines where the projections meet show most of the time, the colors don’t always match, and there is distortion due to it meant to be shown on a curved screen. But as far as quality of the actual picture being shown on the laserdisc it looks very nice.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Dolby Surround/ The surround sound is rather weak for sound effects usage but it is very intimidating when the music plays.
SIDE CHANGE: Side 1 to 2 took place during a scene with Lily and Agatha conversing. Side 2 to 3 ended with Zeb leaving the farm after getting back from the war and then picks up in a whole new section.
EXTRAS: A trailer at the end of the movie. (It is also complete with the Overture and Intermission)
COMMENTS: Well what can I say? A full-length 163 min version of the film with not a thing cut from it. Real nice, would have been nicer had it been released with CHAPTERS! The only chapter there even is was for the trailer. Well just because of that I’ve done something just for the readers of my reviews...
FILES: I’ve made a time code list for easy access to scenes! This is sort of a chapter list, with names for different parts. I wanted to use more but it seemed to get long (as each were only about 5 mins apart) so I trimmed it (around 10 mins for each "chapter"). It's in the form of a jpeg but unfortunately not very high-res as artwork was very hard to find.
STATS: Polygram Video; 1 Disc; 2 Sides; CAV; Letterboxed (2.35:1); 21 Chapters; Closed Captioned; $34.95; 2/2/1994
VIDEO: 3-Normal quality. Your normal amount of chroma noise is present. Colors are a bit off too.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Dolby Surround/ Audio was very good, I'd say better than the picture. You could really tell when things were behind you and what side too. Excellent use of Dolby Surround.
SIDE CHANGE: BAD BAD BAD, they cut right in the middle of a scene. Not only that but you can hear the audio come up when the second side starts... you know when you are at the theater and they trailers starts how it has that noise when they film begins to run? THAT noise! Plus the colors change when the side does almost as if they used a different reel. Someone needs to be punished.
EXTRAS: None
COMMENTS: Besides the problems with color and the disturbing side change
it is nice to have the uncut version of this movie, even if it is only
about a minute longer. Another note is the odd barcode, according to the
digits, the recording medium is a 12" CDV and not a Laserdisc... I think
somone got confused.
STATS: Pioneer Laser Entertainment; 1 Disc; 2 Sides; CAV; Video (1.33:1); 11 Chapters; PROMOTIONAL ITEM
VIDEO: 3½-Normal quality plus. The picture is overall very nice but since there are different sources from other laserdiscs the quality does drop from time to time.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Stereo (Non Dolby) / Dolby Surround; Analog- Stereo (Non Dolby) / Dolby Surround/ Sort of an odd mix. Most of the time it's just plain stereo but Chapter 3 on side B is in surround sound. It would have been better if the entire disc were in surround.
SIDE CHANGE: Fine
EXTRAS: None
COMMENTS: A disc full of advertisements and demos for Pioneer home theater products. It has a very nice transfer of "Breaking The Ice", a CGI short. This is also found on "The Mind's Eye" (chapter 6 on LD), but this demo disc uses the original score!
STATS: Image Entertainment; 2 Discs; 3 Sides; CLV+CAV; Letterboxed (1.85:1); 57 Chapters (+14 Extras); Closed Captioned; $29.99; 2/5/1997
VIDEO: 3½-Normal quality plus. Wasn't up to THX par. Was cleaner than most LDs but there was too much Chroma noise for a THX set. Plus a change in film color was obvious twice.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Commentary/ The movie sounded a little muffled but the film may have been that way. Surprisingly, the clear sounding commentary had ProLogic encoding!
SIDE CHANGE: Side 1 to 2 was a bad change, and to make it better they only had to make the break, literally, a few seconds longer. Side 2 to 3 was fine.
EXTRAS: Very nice extras, lots of stills, they even repeated the Virtual Reality sequence on the CAV Side 3 for frame by frame viewing.
COMMENTS: The Pan & Scan version of the Director's Cut are a dime
a dozen but the widescreen version is VERY hard to come by. Although the
jacket and disc labels say there is closed captioning, either the signal
is too weak or it just isn’t there. Now I already had a VHS of this
I taped off the Sci-Fi channel and there were a hand full of scenes in
this that weren't in that tape, as well as some extra dialogue. Plus there
was one more chapter not listed in the gate fold, chapter 71 has a test
pattern. Another strange additive is side 4... instead of the regular turtle
on its back, it's just white text with black outline saying "PROGRAM MATERIAL
IS RECORDED ONLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS LASER VIDEODISC." with a blue
background.
Disclaimer: Despite Image Entertainment Inc.'s claims they are NOT
"The Finest In Laser Videodiscs"; they are among the worst.
STATS: MGM/UA Home Video; 2 Discs; 4 Sides; CLV/CAV; Letterboxed (2.35:1); 46 Chapters (+35 Extras); Closed Captioned; $69.98; 10/3/1997
VIDEO: 3¾-Normal quality plus. Looks very nice but has normal film grain and some parts have quite a bit of film dirt. The red color is VERY well handled as no bleeding occurs.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Stereo (Pro Logic capable); Analog Left- Commentary; Analog Right- Dolby Digital/ The digital track is nice but the back channels are a bit too quiet during most of the film. The commentary was easily understood. Unable to check AC-3 track.
SIDE CHANGE: Side 1 to 2 comes very nicely when Logan and Jessica reach the bottom of the stairs and continues from another angle with them coming from the stairs to the small door as music begins to play. Side 2 to 3 would be perfect if there wasn't a problem in the original film. The first 6 frames of the next scene (Logan and Jessica swimming underwater) contains audio from the previous scene (sound of water rushing & falling after Old Man says "Oh my!"). Yet this is still the best place to cut it unless you wanted to alter the audio or cut six frames from the film.
EXTRAS: TONS of them! This set has the most amounts of extras ever put together for this film, this set is worth it for the extras alone.
COMMENTS: I was very happy with the extras, actually they were the only reason I bought the set.
STATS: Warner Music; 1 Disc; 1 Sides; CLV; Video (1.33:1); 13 Chapters; $29.98; 1/15/1991
VIDEO: 3-Normal quality. I could have given this a lower rating because of the grain in some of the videos BUT that is the way the videos are supposed to be.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Stereo (Non Dolby); Analog- Stereo (Non Dolby)/ Sound was really good as it should be considering this is all music videos.
SIDE CHANGE: Since this is a collection of music videos it breaks at the end of one to change sides.
EXTRAS: None
COMMENTS: If you like Madonna you will like this laserdisc, if not than you would not buy it in the first place.
VIDEO: 3-Normal quality. Well how about that, an Image LD that isn't totally horrible.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Stereo (Non Dolby); Analog - Stereo (Non Dolby)/ Well the audio is good, lots of nice music by James Reynolds.
SIDE CHANGE: Since it's just a compilation of CGI videos and only 40 mins of video on an hour long disc they were able to place a non-obstructive change with ease.
EXTRAS: There is one extra that's kinda not. Chapter 12 is a test pattern with IMAGE POST written on it. This seems to be something that many Image LDs have.
COMMENTS: Well the back lists only 8 chapters but there are actually
12 chapters. I've always liked this collection, it would just be nice if
for once they would use the original audio for the clips on the analog
channel.
Disclaimer: Despite Image Entertainment Inc.'s claims they are NOT
"The Finest In Laser Videodiscs"; they are among the worst.
STATS: Walt Disney Home Video; 1 Disc; 2 Sides; CLV; Letterboxed (2.35:1); 31 Chapters (+1 Extras); Closed Captioned; $ 29.99; 09/17/1997
VIDEO: 5-What? This is a LD?! What can I say? Probably the best picture quality I have ever seen on a laserdisc! The THX mastering is superb. Not a spec of dirt or bit of film grain. Edges are sharp and the color is vibrant with no bleeding. Hardly any analog streaking can be seen, it only really becomes apparent with large amounts of solid color. But even with the large green coloring of the town it doesn't show up.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Stereo (Non Dolby); Analog Left- Mono, Analog Right- Dolby Digital/ While there is a Dolby Digital track I am not able to listen to it due to my player not having that option. However the Digital Stereo track sounds very nice, one with Dolby Surround would have been better though. The mono channel is very flat, but I don't see why anyone would choose to listen to it anyway.
SIDE CHANGE: The side break ends well enough with Hubert sitting on the steps after Phillip rides off.
EXTRAS: Chapter 32 contains "Once Upon a Dream - The making of Sleeping Beauty" a 16 minute documentary very well put together. It contains interviews with many of the people that made the movie come to life, including some never before snapshots of live actors playing out the roles of characters for the animators to study.
COMMENTS: This disc is so nice it didn't even need a CAV release. Although a 3 disc set with more supplements was released. Even the closed captioning was so accurate it was impressive! Someone made a mistake when making the barcode, according it the digits the recording medium is an 8mm tape and not a Laserdisc, OOPS!
STATS: Fox Video; 1 Disc; 2 Sides; CLV; Letterboxed (2.35:1); 25 Chapters; Closed Captioned; $29.98; 11/16/1994
VIDEO: 4-Really good looking. Picture is good, THX mastered. Little bit more bleeding of the red than expected with a THX disc.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Stereo (Pro Logic capable); Analog- Stereo (Pro Logic capable)/ Even though it doesn't list anywhere on the label that this has a Dolby Stereo mix it actually is since the sound was pulled directly off the film and sounds great with Pro Logic turned on.
SIDE CHANGE: Odd place but good. It happens during a scene… after they let the shot bus driver off the side changes and picks up with the woman trying to leave the bus. Even though it's breaks during the scene it does not distract from the movie.
EXTRAS: None
COMMENTS: Great sound!
STATS: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; 5 Discs; 9 Sides; CLV/CAV; Letterboxed (2.35:1); Chapters- 40+1, 49+1, 52+1(+54 Extras); Closed Captioned; $124.98; 11/26/1997
VIDEO: 4-Really good looking. Great, the best Star Wars picture you've ever seen!
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog Left- Mono, Analog Right- Dolby Digital/ Dolby Surround track was fabulous though sometimes I wish the explosions or music was louder. It is still a great mix. Unable to listen to the Dolby Digital track.
SIDE CHANGE: Side changes are arranged by movies, see below.
Empire Strikes Back- Side 4 to 5 is ok, splits after Han
says "I think we'd better replace the negative power
coupling." and comes back with Leia welding. Side 5 to 6 is
a bit akward but works, Vader looses his balance and falls into the outer
rim of pipes in the carbon-freezing chamber, side ends and next one starts
with Luke moving through the tunnel-like entrance to the reactor control
room. This works well with the fact that it would take Luke a beat to get
from one place to another.
Return of the Jedi- Side 7 to 8 is as good as you could
get, changing right after Han and Lando talk about the Millennium Falcon...
the "I got your promise now? Not a scratch." one. A better place would
have been right between the main briefing room and this scene but the transition
effect makes it a bad place to split sides. Side 8 to 9 is practically
perfect it cuts away in Endor where Han is at the back entrance of the
generator bunker and says "Chewie! Get down here, she's wounded! No, wait...
I got an idea." this cut does however place the start of side nine right
in the middle of a lightsaber fight, but it still works well.
COMMENTS: Closed captioning was pretty good, I didn't watch everything with it on but what I did see it caught every word. The only part I didn't like is even with all the room at the bottom of the screen it still managed to get in the actual picture!
STATS: Image Entertainment; 1 Disc; 2 Sides; CLV; Video (1.33:1); 41 Chapters; $39.95
VIDEO: 1-No Advantage using this format. Basically Image Ent. thought that is could be ok to use a standard VHS as a master for this LD. The picture is crap! It looks exactly like a tape, even has tracking issues and the curving of the picture at the bottom.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Stereo (Non Dolby); Analog- Stereo (Non Dolby)/ Ok the audio isn't too bad, the tape was probably recorded in Hi-Fi.
SIDE CHANGE: Since this is a collection of videos it breaks at the end of one to change sides.
EXTRAS: None
COMMENTS: There few reasons I would suggest buying this at all. One being the "Lucasfilm Computer Graphics Project" for a bit of "Oh yeah I remember seeing that". Another is the famous Dire Straits video "Money for Nothing". The most interesting piece is the little feature "Robert Abel & Associates" which goes over the first time brute-force animation was ever used... showing some REALLY old computer tech. It goes over the creation of a canned food commercial using a chrome robot based on Hajime Sorayama's work. They never mention that she was based on it, but it is obvious as you can see one of his art books open in the video. The credits are nicely extensive and there is even an add at the end for "Painting With Light".
STATS: Fox Video; 2 Discs; 3 Sides; CLV; Letterboxed (2.35:1); 22 Chapters (+5 Extras); Closed Captioned; $49.98; 5/22/1996
VIDEO: 4-Really good looking. THX makes another LD look better. Though the beginning of the discs have a little more noise than would be expected with a THX mastered film.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog Left- Commentary, Analog Right- Dolby Digital/ No complaints with the audio quality. The commentary is a bit different from most, instead of someone talking about different scenes that come up as the film plays the director gives an in-depth discussion on the film's opening P.OV.
SIDE CHANGE: They all changed over well.
EXTRAS: The reason I bought this one was there were more extras than the DVD. Disc contains director Kathryn Bigelow's lecture at the British Film Institute, which is an in-depth analysis of the film's opening P.OV. (point-of-view). Plus on the inside gatefold are time markers for the topics she brings up. 2 additional scenes not included in the theatrical release (in supplemental section not in movie). Music video directed by Kathryn Bigelow, 2 theatrical trailers, storyboards and production stills. There is more detail on the extras that are even on the DVD as the laserdisc has text before it plays each part. Only bad thing about the extras is that they were printing on a CLV instead of a CAV so stepping is not supported.
COMMENTS: Pretty good movie, depending on how much of a film freak you are will determin if you want to buy this if you already have it on DVD. However for the audiophiles there is a DTS version of this with all the same features.
STATS: MCA/Universal Home Video; 1 Disc; 2 Sides; CLV; Letterboxed (1.85:1); 36 Chapters; Closed Captioned; $19.98; 8/1/1995
VIDEO: 3-Normal quality. Quality of the video was normal but with a little color bleeding with the reds and blues. Side 2 had more Chroma noise than Side 1.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Matrixed Stereo (Pro Logic capable); Analog- Matrixed Stereo (Pro Logic capable)/
SIDE CHANGE: Side change is fine, no complaints.
EXTRAS: None
COMMENTS: The closed captioning is missing a bit more of the dialogue than normal. Overall this is a pretty mediocre laserdisc.
STATS: Hollywood Pictures; 2 Discs; 3 Sides; CLV; Ratio (2.35:1); 25 Chapters (+1 Extra); Closed Captioned; $49.99; 7/6/1994
VIDEO: 3-Normal quality. Picture is nice, no complaints. Sometimes I wished it were CAV for normal still framing.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Dolby Surround/ Surround track was ok. I would have liked a little more in the back channel but it was still good.
SIDE CHANGE: All were fine.
EXTRAS: More cut scenes at the end with commentary at the beginning of each by director. Plus a teaser and a trailer.
COMMENTS: The closed captioning on this title is wonderful!
STATS: MCA/Universal Home Video; 1 Disc; 2 Sides; CLV; Open Matte (1.33:1); No Chapters; Closed Captioned; $24.98; 04/16/1996
VIDEO: 3-Normal quality. Picture has the normal amount of analog streaking and film dirt. The strange part is when it comes to the aspect Letterboxed, it's an open matte removing the top and bottom bars but it zooms in a little cutting off some of the right and left edges. Most likely the zoom was done to remove any visible boom mics or other things above or below. However there is one scene that this fails. When Heather gives Earl her model seventy 375 H&H mag, you can see blatantly a guy walk behind him while he is on the horse, which was barely noticeable in the letterbox version.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Dolby Surround/ Surprisingly enough is the great sound this disc has. The audio is actually better than that on the DVD release!
SIDE CHANGE: The side break comes at horrible place! It's where they pan across the worker's truck to see a helmet covered in guts and then they added a fade out to change sides. Side two starts with Walter and Melvin trying to come up with a name. The letterbox version had a much better break; taking place after Val, Earl and Rhonda pole vault into the truck & drive off and when they are sitting around the table & they ask Rhonda where the grabiods come from.
EXTRAS: None
COMMENTS: The closed captioning is of pretty much normal accuracy. This one was pretty standard, though it was nice to have a fullframe disc that didn't cut off two thirds of the picture. And the fact that the contrast wasn't too high (like the Signature Collection was) makes things a little nicer.
STATS: MCA/Universal Home Video; 2 Discs; 4 Sides; CLV (Side 4 is CAV); Letterboxed (1.85:1); 39 Chapters (+19 Extras); Closed Captioned; $79.98; 04/16/1996
VIDEO: 3-Normal quality. Picture has the normal amount of analog streaking and film dirt. The contrast is a bit high, while better for some scenes it is way too bright for the mid-day outdoor scenes.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Dolby Surround/ Surprisingly enough is the great sound this disc has. The audio is actually better than that on the DVD release!
SIDE CHANGE: The side break comes at a much better place than the non-letterbox version. It takes place after Val, Earl and Rhonda pole vault into the truck & drive off and when they are sitting around the table & they ask Rhonda where the grabiods come from. A better spot as opposed to the other version where in the next short scene they horribly added a fade out to change sides.
EXTRAS: Disc 2 is all supplemental material. Side 3 is CLV & Side 4 is CAV. Supplements include a 1995 video interviews with director Ron Underwood, writers/producers Brent Maddock and Steve Wilson and special effects teams Alee Gillis and Tom Woodruff. Jr. and Dennis and Robert Skotak; Behind the scenes footage of the making of the creatures; Theatrical Trailers; Outtakes from the film including the original opening & ending; Production photographs and a trailer for Tremors 2
COMMENTS: The closed captioning is of pretty much normal accuracy. Overall
this is a great set, my favorite part is the gatefold cover it comes in,
the inside art really added a nice extra touch. The fact that the sound
is better than the DVD is simply wonderful, the only thing that could make
this better would be it the picture were THX mastered.
STATS: Fox Video; 2 Discs; 3 Sides; CLV; Letterboxed (2.35:1); 44 Chapters (+2 Extras); Closed Captioned; $49.98; 2/8/1995
VIDEO: 4-Really good looking. Talk about picture! It's almost a 5 but not quite. The color is fabulous crisp and very nice. That's what THX is for.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog Left- Mono, Analog Right- Dolby Digital/ The only thing better than the picture was the sound! This has to be the best ProLogic encoding I've ever heard!
SIDE CHANGE: Side 1 to 2 normally I would disagree with the placement as it happens right after a joke (usually weakening the comedic effect) but this time it works well because of the manner of the joke. The change doesn't seem as long because you are laughing through it. Side 2 to 3 should have taken place a few moments earlier as the sound of aircraft are what makes it seem out of place.
EXTRAS: Teaser Trailer on Chapter 45 and Theatrical Trailer on Chapter 46. At the beginning is a THX trailer and Dolby Digital (Train) trailer.
COMMENTS: Some interesting things, this was released with a 5.1 track
before the decoders were available in stores. Since it is one of the first
5.1s it also has the original Dolby Ghost Train trailer that says "Dolby
Stereo Digital", not the later "Dolby Surround AC-3 Digital" or "Dolby
Digital". Another cute thing is the second side of the second disc, although
there is nothing recorded on the side on the label is the Omega Sector
logo. If you don't feel like getting this one for all the nice touches,
get it for Jamie Lee Curtis' strip-dance.
STATS: Walt Disney Home Video; 2 Discs; 4 Sides; CAV; Ratio (1.85:1); 22 Chapters; Closed Captioned; $39.99
VIDEO: 3-Normal quality. Well It’s not really up to par with the average LD but I really can’t give it a 2. There is just more chroma noise in this title than normal.
AUDIO: /Digital Track- Dolby Surround; Analog- Dolby Surround/ The surround sound is nice in this title.
SIDE CHANGE: Side 1 to 2 cuts away when Roger breaks thru the window and picks up to him sitting looking at his photo of him and Jessica. Side 2 to 3 changes with Eddie and Dolores rushing to the bar when they her Roger singing, but it’s a bit abrupt when side 3 starts right into the song. Side 3 to 4 switches with the bullets that take the wrong turn and Jessica & Eddie heading for the car. Overall the side changes aren't bad.
EXTRAS: There are no extras to speak of BUT the whole reason to get this copy is that Disney did a recall on it. They claimed it was due to contaminants in the glue, even though it was manufactured by two different factories, but when they released the movie again is was censored. Luckily there are enough of this version floating around.
COMMENTS: This review is of the initial release of this "940 CS" reference number by Pioneer USA. It has a light-blue triangle on the top right of the front cover that says "STEREO CAV LASER VIDEODISC". The second printing was by Mitsubishi and has a black bar across top of cover with the text “LETTERBOX CAV LASERDISC”. Both are uncensored. All others are censored.
FILES: I have a listing of the parts that were censored in the later versions and many other items found in the movie.
