WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Out Of Sight
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Ving Rhames Don Cheadle, Dennis Farina, Albert Brooks

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 3
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals
Special features include commentary by the director and screenwriter, deleted scenes, and extensive making-of sequences.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Universal Studios Home Video
(Catalog Number): 43859
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 123
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date): 1/99
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Steven Soderbergh
(Screenplay/Written By): Scott Frank
(Story): NA
(Music): David Holmes
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Gary Frutkoff
(Visual Effects): Lynn-Wenger Productions, Inc.; Cinesite
(Costume Designer): Betsy Heimann
(Editor): Anne V. Coates, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors): Larry Blake
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Berry Sonnenfeld & John Hardy
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg & Stacey Sher

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): 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 novel by Elmore Leonard, Out Of Sight stars George Clooney as a smooth criminal who lands in prison when he successfully robs a bank but is caught when his car won’t start. His prison escape also goes well, except that it is witnessed by Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez), a Federal Marshall. Of course, love blossoms between the two and both must choose between their hearts or their “careers.”

LaserDisc Picture:
While the LaserDisc appears oversaturated in color resolution, images are sharp and detailed. The picture inconsistently lacks naturalness, and at times appears oversaturated. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered throughout. There is no distracting noise or artifacts for a generally mediocre visual experience. The LaserDisc is matted at 1.85:1.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 soundtrack and matrix PCM LaserDisc soundtrack are slightly veiled in fidelity with extensive ADR-dialogue processing. Surround envelopment is aggressive, and the discrete at times distinguishes itself with directional surrounds. The music score sounds mediocre. Bass and .1 LFE enhancement is powerful, but unnatural. Overall, the sound fidelity is wanting with at times veiled spatial delineation for a mediocre sonic experience.
(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:
No
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Yes
Superb Color Fidelity:
No
Superb Cinematography:
-
Reference LaserDisc:
No
Collector Edition:
Yes
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
While the LaserDisc appears oversaturated in color resolution, the dual layered, anamorphically enhanced DVD, when viewed in component video, exhibits fully saturated colors with better balance. Images are sharp and detailed on both versions, but the LaserDisc is less so. The DVD exhibits minute detail, no doubt due to the increased vertical and horizontal resolution. Both versions inconsistently lack naturalness, and at times appear oversaturated. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered throughout. There is no distracting noise or artifacts for a generally pleasing visual experience on DVD; mediocre on LaserDisc. The LaserDisc is matted at 1.85:1, as is the anamorphic and letterbox DVD. The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 soundtrack on the DVD and LaserDisc is quite similar to the matrix PCM LaserDisc soundtrack. Both sound slightly veiled in fidelity with extensive ADR-dialogue processing. Surround envelopment is aggressive, and the discrete at times distinguishes itself with directional surrounds. The music score sounds mediocre. Bass and .1 LFE enhancement is powerful, but unnatural. Overall, the sound fidelity is wanting with at times veiled spatial delineation for a mediocre sonic experience.