WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Victory
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 32 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max Von Sydow, Pelé, Carole Laure

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 2.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
(Catalog Number): 708
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 116
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1981
(LD Release Date): 1/99
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): John Huston
(Screenplay/Written By): Evan Jones & Yabo Yablonsky
(Story): Yabo Yablonsky, Djordje Milicevic & Jeff Maguire
(Music): Bill Conti
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): J. Dennis Washington
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Roberto Silvi
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Gordon McLendon
(Co-Producers):
(Producers): Freddie Fields

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Panavision
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.32:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Victory is no ordinary soccer match—it is war! The battlefield is a prison camp stadium and the armies are the German all-stars vs. the ragtag Allied POWs. The objective is to demonstrate another “proof” of Aryan superiority. Guess who cleverly uses the match as a means of escape! The climactic match is a heart-in-the-throat, hat-in-the-air exhibition of brute force and balletic grace featuring soccer legends like Pelé, Bobby Moore, Osvaldo Ardiles, Co Prins and Mike Summerbee.

LaserDisc Picture:
Compared to the anamorphically widescreen DVD reviewed in Issue 28, the 2.32:1 LaserDisc is softer in image quality with weaker blacks. Detail is wanting throughout. Images are overly contrasted and there are artifacts apparent throughout. The overall visual experience is wanting in naturalness. The LaserDisc’s score is the same as the anamorphic DVD, because the DVD is excessively digital and looks almost computerized, while the LaserDisc delivers an overall soft quality.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Surround soundtrack delivers the same mediocre experience as the DVD. Though expansive with directional effects, the sound is overly bright and thin.
(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:
No
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
No
Superb Color Fidelity:
No
Superb Cinematography:
-
Reference LaserDisc:
No
Collector Edition:
No
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison: