WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Tombstone
Genre:Western

Reviewed In Issue 10 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Michael Biehn, Powers Boothe, Robert Burke, Dana Delany, Sam Elliott, Stephen Lang, Joanna Pacula, Bill Paxton, Jason Priestley, Michael Rooker, Jon Tenney, Billy Zane & Charlton Heston

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

Supplementals
Director Cosmtos introduces five scenes deleted from the original three hour plus cut that provides the missing storyline pieces.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Hollywood Pictures Home Video
(Catalog Number): 2544AS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $49.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 140
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1993
(LD Release Date): 07/01/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): George Cosmatos
(Screenplay/Written By): Kevin Jarre
(Story): NA
(Music): Bruce Broughton
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Catherine Hardwicke
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Frank J. Urioste, ACE, Roberto Silvi & Harvey Rosenstock, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Buzz Feitshans & Andrew G. Vajna
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): James Jacks, Sean Daniel & Bob Misiorowski

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): Dolby Stereo SR
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Tombstone is a stylized western action film starring Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp, an ex-law enforcer who has left his past with his two brothers (Sam Elliott and Bill Paxton) to set up a new and more peaceful business-like life in Arizona. To their surprise Arizona is far from orderly as “The Cowboys” run rampant through the streets inflicting mayhem. Earp and family don’t want to get involved but soon find themselves obliged to defend the law again when a violent shootout leaves innocent towns people slain. Silver badges pinned, Earp and crew along with Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer), participate in a series of action-packed gunfights which keep Tombstone at a steady pace. A troubled production from the get go due to its original director and screenwriter being replaced, the continuity is patchy.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 2.35:1 composition is perfectly framed on this transfer. The picture quality is excellent with vivid, saturated colors, deep blacks and natural fleshtones. Shadow detail is ex-cellent, although some grain is apparent in the darker scenes. Images are sharp and rendered with great detail.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby Surround® soundtrack is superb. Bruce Broughton’s orchestral score is wonderfully expansive and dynamic. There is an overall aggressive surround envelopment with excellent spatial surrounds that effectively define the environs of each scene. Effects and Foley are generally directional and heighten the excitement and impact of the action se-quences. Bass extension is superb and effectively underscores the action scenes with gun shots that are riveting and lift-you-out-of-your-seat response down to 25 Hz, even in the surrounds!
(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: