WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Dante’s Peak
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 28 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton, Charles Hallahan, Grant Heslov & Elizabeth Hoffman

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

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Universal Studios Home Video
(Catalog Number): 43364
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 109
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1997
(LD Release Date): 3/98
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Roger Donaldson
(Screenplay/Written By): Leslie Bohem
(Story): NA
(Music): John Frizzell
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Dennis Washington
(Visual Effects): Digital Domain
(Costume Designer): Isis Mussenden
(Editor): Conrad Buff, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors): Richard L. Anderson, MPSE, George Simpson
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Iiona Herzberg
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Gale Ann Hurd & Joseph M. Singer

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Super 35
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Dante’s Peak combines heart-pounding action and spectacular special effects in a story about real people struggling against extraordinary odds. Without warning, day becomes night, air turns to fire and solid ground gives way to red-hot, molten terror when a serenely beautiful town in the Pacific Northwest, nestled in the shadow of its majestic and long-dormant volcano namesake, suddenly becomes the sight of an unexpected eruption. Pierce Brosnan is the weary volcanologist, while Linda Hamilton stars as mayor of the ill-fated town.

LaserDisc Picture:
The Panavision® Scope picture is framed precisely at 2.35:1, exhibiting superb quality throughout. Color fidelity is excellent with natural fleshtones and deep solid blacks. Images are sharp and detailed, with superb shadow detail and contrast. Slight noise is apparent in some interior scenes and there are minor artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
Both the discrete DTS® Digital Surround and PCM matrix Dolby Surround soundtracks are excellent. The discrete projects a wider frontal soundstage and aggressive surround with discrete effects directed to either or both surrounds, while the matrix is slightly pulled toward the center with monaural surrounds. Low level ambiant sounds are better resolved in the matrix version. Bass extension is deep and seismic activity scenes are explosively powerful, delivering below 25 Hz of exciting shakeup experience. The music score and dialogue is naturally rendered
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
(Deep Bass Challenging): Yes
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
(Center Back Surround Imaging): Yes
(Directionalized Dialogue): Yes
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: