WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Small Soldiers
Genre:Fantasy Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 35 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Kirsten Dunst, Gregory Smith, Jay Mohr, Phil Hartman, Denis Leary; The Voice Talents Of Frank Langella, Tommy Lee Jones

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 5
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): DreamWorks Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): ID5914DW
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $34.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 110
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Joe Dante
(Screenplay/Written By): Gavin Scott, Adam Rifkin, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio
(Story): NA
(Music): Jerry Goldsmith
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): William Sandell
(Visual Effects): Industrial Light & Magic
(Costume Designer): Carole Brown-James
(Editor): Marshall Harvey
(Supervising Sound Editors): Eric Lindemann & Mark Mangini
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Walter Parkes
(Co-Producers): Paul Deason
(Producers): Michael Finnell, Golin Wilson

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Super 35
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.20:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
The Commando Elite toy action figures become a surprisingly effective fighting force when they escape from their boxes in a small town toy store. Implanted with highly intelligent military defense computer chips, the Small Soldiers are out to destroy their arch enemies, the gentle Gorgonites. Unfortunately, toy store employee Alan Abernathy (Smith) gets in the middle of the fray and helps defend the Gorgonites and the girl of his dreams. Additional voices of the Commando Elite include some the original cast members of 1967’s The Dirty Dozen, and the members of the “rock band” Spinal Tap provided the voices of the Gorgonites.

LaserDisc Picture:


LaserDisc Soundtrack:
(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): Yes
(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: