WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Walking Dead, The
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 16 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Allen Payne, Eddie Griffith, Vonte Sweet, Roger Floyd, Joe Morton.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): HBO Video
(Catalog Number): LD91223-WS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $$39.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 90
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): No
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1995
(LD Release Date): 8/1/95
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Preston A. Whitmore, II
(Screenplay/Written By): Preston A. Whitmore, II
(Story): NA
(Music): Gary Chang
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): George Costello
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Don Brochu & William C. Carruth
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): Bill Carraro
(Producers): George Jackson, Douglas McHenry & Frank Price

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.78:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
The Walking Dead is a wartime action adventure that features a cast of unknowns. When five young marines jump out of a helicopter into a jungle minefield on a suicide mission, they face a potential sniper in every tree and a possible booby trap in every burned-out shack. They become interdependent in their struggle for survival and as they get to know each other and themselves, we get to know them too. Through a series of flashbacks their individual stories, leading up to their joining the marines, are told, all intercut with the intense real jungle combat.

LaserDisc Picture:
The matted 1.78:1 picture is of generally poor quality. Lacking definition and sharpness images are unfocused or fuzzy. Shadow detail is inconsistent and fleshtones are unnatural. Noise is apparent in the darker scenes, but otherwise the transfer is clean.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack has a respectfully aggressive surround enveloping presence with lots of jungle fighting scenes that have bullets and explosives in every direction. But the fidelity is less than it should be. Dialogue is natural though.
(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: