WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Godzilla
Genre:Science Fiction

Reviewed In Issue 30 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo, Hank Azaria, Kevin Dunn, Michael Lerner, Harry Shearer

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

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 23126
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 139
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Roland Emmerich
(Screenplay/Written By): Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich
(Story): Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio, Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich
(Music): David Arnold
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Oliver Scholl
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Peter Amundson & David J. Seigel, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Roland Emmerich, Ute Emmerich & William Faye
(Co-Producers): Peter Winther & Kelly Van Horn
(Producers): Dean Devlin

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

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:
Based on the character owned and created by Toho Co., Ltd., Godzilla is a large and loud adventure that features one of the most famous movie monsters in film history proving one point—size does matter. The gigantic lizard is causing complete chaos in New York City, and everyone must join forces to unravel the mystery behind the incredible destructive and disappearing creature before it is too late.

LaserDisc Picture:


LaserDisc Soundtrack:
(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): 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:
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
The anamorphic widescreen DVD and LaserDisc are both sourced from a Sony HD telecine master. Resolution is optimized for both formats with the DVD delivering dramatically improved sharpness and detail due to the substantially increased vertical resolution produced by the anamorphic process. Color fidelity is excellent on both version displaying accurate fleshtones, vivid colors and deep, solid blacks. Colors are more finely resolved and saturated on the DVD and exhibit a superbly natural rendering. Neither version exhibits any distracting noise or artifacts. The letterbox aspect ratio is framed at 2.35:1, while the anamorphic version is 2.23:1. The LaserDisc is 2.40:1. The sound is loud with a theme park attitude that produces a sonically exciting soundfield experience. Both the Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete and matrix surround PCM soundtracks are superb with an aggressively enveloping soundfield, that is even more dimensionally delineated with split surrounds in the discrete version. There is always a surround presence that is effectively enveloping with excellent side wall imaging. Bass extension is deep and powerful to below 25Hz, especially in the .1 LFE channel. Dialogue sounds generally natural though dialogue has been extensively ADR produced.