WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Jacob’s Ladder
Genre:Thriller

Reviewed In Issue 30 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Pena, Danny Aiello

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

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Artisan Entertainment
(Catalog Number): PSE-98-2001
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 116
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1990
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Adrian Lyne
(Screenplay/Written By): Bruce Joel Rubin
(Story): NA
(Music): Maurice Jarre
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Brian Morris
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Tom Rolfe, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Mario Kassar & Andrew Vajna
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Alan Marshall

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Jacob’s Ladder is a provocative psychological thriller that stars Tim Robbins as Jacob Singer, a man whose life has become a living nightmare. Wounded in Vietnam, Singer is torn between memories of his dead son and terrifying wartime demons that relentlessly haunt him, pushing him closer to the edge. Losing his grip on reality, his beautiful girlfriend (Elizabeth Pena) only adds confusion to his life, drawing him into a web of sexual intrigue. Ultimately, it is Singer’s friend Louis (Danny Aiello) who turns to be the only one he can truly count on.

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): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(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:
While the LaserDisc picture exhibits good color fidelity throughout with accurately rendered fleshtones, richly hued colors and deep, solid blacks, the anamorphic DVD, when viewed through the component video output, produces slightly more intensified hues, especially reddish fleshtones. The DVD color resolution, however, is excellent in defining subtle textures. The DVD is far sharper than the Laser Disc whose images are slightly soft in appearance. Contrast and shadow detail are excellent with the DVD exhibiting finer gradations in shade in the dark areas. The letterbox and anamorphic DVD, and LaserDisc, aspect ratios are 1.85:1. The balance difference in level between the remastered Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 and matrix PCM Dolby Surround soundtrack is often dramatic. With center channel matched levels the other Dolby Digital channels are significantly lower in level and impact. The matrix PCM delivers a more spatially expansive and dynamic soundfield with deep bass and good production values, and is preferred.