WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Duel To The Death
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 25 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Tsui Siu Keung, Damian Lau & Flora Cheung Tien Oi

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 1
Sound Rating: 1
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Tai Seng Video
(Catalog Number): 49896
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $39.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 90
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1982
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Ching Siu Tung
(Screenplay/Written By): Man Chun, Kay Lung & David Lai
(Story): NA
(Music): Lai Siu Tien
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): NA
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Cheung Yin Jun
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Raymond Chow
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Leonard Ho

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.02:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Foreign. Duel To The Death tells the legendary story about a traditional fight between two countries. Deadlocked in an ancient war, every ten years the finest Chinese and Japanese martial artists join together for a duel to determine who is superior in Swordsmanship. As the Ming Dynasty duel approaches, the Ninjas and the Shaolin monks are preparing their best with one thing in mind—winning at all costs. With high flying martial arts choreography by Ching Siu Tung, Duel To The Death is not for the weak. Theatrical trailers for Man Wanted and Last Hurrah For Chivalry, as well as both Hong Kong and U.S. trailers for Duel To The Death are included with the feature. An in-depth liner note is found inside the LaserDisc jacket.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture, measured at 2.02:1, exhibits very poor quality with bright, oversaturated colors and deep, undefined blue-blacks. Images are extremely blurry, shadow detail and contrast are poor and the second line of subtitles cannot be read on a widescreen monitor.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The undistinguished monaural soundtrack has piercing dialogue and effects. Analog tracks are English dubbed.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: