WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

12 Monkeys
Genre:Science Fiction

Reviewed In Issue 25 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3.5
Sound Rating: 5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MCA/Universal Home Video
(Catalog Number): 43208
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $49.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 130
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1995
(LD Release Date): 4/97
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Terry Gilliam
(Screenplay/Written By): David Peoples & Janet Peoples
(Story): NA
(Music): Paul Buckmaster
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Jeffrey Beecroft
(Visual Effects): Peerless Camera Company
(Costume Designer): Julie Weiss
(Editor): Mick Audsley
(Supervising Sound Editors): Peter Joly
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Robert Cavallo, Gary Levinsohn & Robert Kosberg
(Co-Producers): Lloyd Phillips
(Producers): Charles Roven

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

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
“12 Monkeys” is based on the film “La Jetee,” where between the past and the future lies the mystery of the Twelve Monkeys. The year is 2035 and humankind subsists under the Earth’s surface in a desolate netherworld following an airborne viral holocaust. Desperately, scientists time shuttle convict James Cole (Bruce Willis) to the past in hopes of discovering a means of saving the future. When Cole arrives in 1996, his tale of global annihilation deems him mad and he is placed in an asylum where he meets Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt), the delusional son of a renowned scientist. Cole is treated by Dr. Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe), a psychiatrist who comes to believe him. Their only clue to the mystery of the virus is a series of puzzling symbols from a group known only as the Army Of The Twelve Monkeys.

LaserDisc Picture:
This otherwise pleasant 1.85:1 transfer suffers from poor shadow detail, soft images, minor artifacts and distracting noise.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The DTS® Digital Surround soundtrack is dramatically more spacious with a far better dimensional soundfield. Surround envelopment wraps around with side wall imaging apparent in several scenes. Overall clarity and fidelity is improved as well. Bass extension is deeper and more powerful due to the effective use of the .1 LFE channel. The music score sounds beautiful with a spacious and deep soundfield. The DTS version is definitely the reference soundtrack and is sure to please.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
(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: