WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Blade
Genre:Fantasy Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 32 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff

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

Supplementals
Extra features include cast and crew audio commentary, isolated score and composer commentary and two featurettes that include deleted scenes and an alternate ending.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): New Line Home Video
(Catalog Number): ID5423LI
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 120
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date): 3/99
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Stephen Norrington
(Screenplay/Written By): David S. Goyer
(Story):
(Music): Mark Isham
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Kirk M. Petruccelli
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Paul Rubell, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Stan Lee, Avi Arad, Joseph Calamari & Lynn Harris
(Co-Producers): Andrew J. Horne & Jon Divens
(Producers): Peter Frankfurt, Wesley Snipes & Robert Engelman

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Clairmont Scope
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.30:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): DTS 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:
Based on Marvel Comics characters created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, Blade (Wesley Snipes), is part man, part vampire. Because he possesses immortal-like powers, he is one of the few who can save humanity when Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff) sets out to destroy it. Extra features include cast and crew audio commentary, isolated score and composer commentary and two featurettes that include deleted scenes and an alternate ending.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 2.30:1 picture is the same superb transfer as the LaserDIsc reviewed in Issue 31. Especially notable is the contrast and shadow delineation, but the richly hued colors and excellent sharpness are also beautifully rendered.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
Like the previously reviewed Dolby® Digital version, the DTS® Digital Surround discrete 5.1 soundtrack is a bass man’s delight. The DTS coding is smoother sounding with better delineated split surrounds, and none of the digital quality evident on the Dolby Digital version. Dynamics are just as powerful with deep bass energy, with enhancement in the .1 LFE channel. The music score is dynamic, and effects are well executed. Dialogue, though ADR-produced at times, is natural sounding.
(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:
Yes
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Yes
Superb Color Fidelity:
Yes
Superb Cinematography:
-
Reference LaserDisc:
Yes
Collector Edition:
No
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison: