WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Last Action Hero
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 08 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Arnold Schwarzenegger, F. Murray Abraham, Art Carney, Charles Dance, Mercedes Ruehl, Austin O’Brien.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 27936
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 131
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1993
(LD Release Date): 03/01/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): John McTiernan
(Screenplay/Written By): Shane Black & David Arnott
(Story): NA
(Music): Michael Kamen
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Eugenio Zanetti
(Visual Effects): Fantasy II, Visual Concepts Engineering, Industrial Light & Magic, Computer Film Company & Composite Image Systems
(Costume Designer): Gloria Gresham
(Editor): John Wright, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors): Jerry Ross
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Arnold Schwarzenegger
(Co-Producers): Robert E. Relyea & Neil Nordlinger
(Producers): Steve Roth & John McTiernan

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): SDDS (8) Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
This mega-expensive movie features the weightlifter-turned-superstar Schwarzenegger as a super cinematic action hero named Sergeant Jack Slater, the heroic crime fighter able to take on an army of thugs single-handedly. His number one fan is 11-year old Danny Madigan (O’Brien) who loves the movies. The projectionist at Danny’s favorite theatre gives him a magical ticket that blasts the young boy out of his seat and into the actual movie with his hero.

LaserDisc Picture:
This is a picture in which the colors are vibrant and vivid with a overall warm feel. Blacks and shadow detail throughout is excellent. The images are always focused and sharp with excellent contrast. Flesh tones appear to be accurate and natural throughout. The transfer is first-rate and properly framed at 2.35:1. The picture is free of distracting noise and video artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack, the first in the SDDS theatrical format, is superbly produced with a consistent surround envelopment, sometimes very subtle, other times, very aggressive, but always there! This is what every movie soundtrack should strive for. Dialogue is perfectly natural sounding. Dynamics and bass extension are exemplary. Michael Kamen’s score is spacious.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: