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| Rollercoaster |
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Genre:Thriller
Reviewed In Issue 30 Of Widescreen Review®
Stars:
George Segal, Richard Widmark, Timothy Bottoms, Harry Guardino, Susan Strasberg, Henry Fonda |
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 DVD General Information |
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| (Studio/Distributor): |
MCA/Universal Home Video |
| (Catalog Number): |
41397 |
| (MPAA Rating): |
PG |
| (Retail Price): |
$34.98 |
| (Running Time In Minutes): |
119 |
| (Color Type): |
Color |
| (Chaptered/Scene Access): |
Yes |
| (Closed Captioned): |
Yes |
| (Theatrical Release): |
1977 |
| (LD Release Date): |
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| (THX® Digitally Mastered): |
No |
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| Credits Information |
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| (Director): |
James Goldstone |
| (Screenplay/Written By): |
Richard Levinson & William Link |
| (Story): |
Sanford Sheldon, Richard Levinson & William Link |
| (Music): |
Lalo Schifrin |
| (Director Of Photography): |
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| (Production Designer): |
Henry Bumstead |
| (Visual Effects): |
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| (Costume Designer): |
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| (Editor): |
Edward A. Biery, ACE & Richard Sprague, ACE |
| (Supervising Sound Editors): |
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| (Re-Recording Mixers): |
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| (Executive Producers): |
NA |
| (Co-Producers): |
NA |
| (Producers): |
Jennings Lang |
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| DVD Picture Information |
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| (Principal Photography): |
Panavision |
| (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): |
2.40:1 |
| (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): |
2.30:1 |
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| DVD Sound Information |
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| (DVD Soundtrack): |
Mono Sound |
| (Theatrical Sound): |
Sensurround |
| (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack): |
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| (Remastered Dolby Digital): |
No |
| (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): |
No |
| (Additional Languages): |
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| WSR Narrative Review |
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Story Synopsis:
Rollercoaster is a high speed thriller about an educated killer-extortionist (Timothy Bottoms) who targets the most popular rollercoaster rides in the U.S. for destruction until he collects one million dollars from the park owners.
LaserDisc Picture:
LaserDisc Soundtrack:
| (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): |
No |
| (Aggressive System Surround): |
No |
| (Intense 25Hz Bass): |
No |
| (Deep Bass Challenging): |
No |
| (Aggressive 0.1 LFE): |
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| (Holosonic Soundfield): |
No |
| (Aggressive Split Surround): |
No |
| (Center Back Surround Imaging): |
No |
| (Directionalized Dialogue): |
No |
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality: |
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Superb Music Score Recording Quality: |
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Superb Special Visual Effects Quality: |
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Superb Color Fidelity: |
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Superb Cinematography: |
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Reference LaserDisc: |
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Collector Edition: |
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DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
When compared to the LaserDisc (previously released, but not reviewed), the non-anamorphic DVD, framed at 2.30:1, exhibits slightly sharper and more detailed images when viewed through the component video output. While fleshtones appear orange on the LaserDisc, they are more accurate on the DVD, with more refined colors and truer blacks. Images are slightly sharper with more detail, clarity and depth. While contrast is wanting, shadow detail is better delineated on the DVD. Slight noise and artifacts are apparent on both versions. Due to its dated quality, when viewed alone the DVD is a generally mediocre visual presentation, though an improvement over the 2.30:1 LaserDisc. The original theatrical soundtrack was produced in the Sensurround Special Effects System developed by MCA, RCA, and former Universal City Studios sound department head Waldon Watson. While the DVD has a monaural track with added “Sensurround” .1 low frequency effects, the original incorporated music into the Sensurround rumble along with sound effects. This is simply bass rumble and not particularly as deep as it was meant to be—to make the audience feel vibrations associated with explosions and the like. Earthquake was perhaps the best known Sensurround movie. In any event, while the sound does truly rumble at brief moments, the soundtrack is undistinguished and compressed monaural.
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