• Login
    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Ronin
    Genre:Action Adventure

    Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgard, Sean Bean, Skipp Sudduth, Jonathan Pryce

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 4.5
    Sound Rating: 5
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals
    Includes audio commentary by John Frankenheimer, an alternate ending and the theatrical trailer.

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): MGM Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): ML107184
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $39.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 121
    (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): John Frankenheimer
    (Screenplay/Written By): J.D. Zeik & Richard Weisz
    (Story): J.D. Zeik
    (Music): Elia Cmiral
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Michael Z. Hanan
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Tony Gibbs, ACE
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Paul Kelmenson
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers): Frank Mancuso, Jr.

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Super 35
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    In this taut action thriller, Robert De Niro plays a modern-day Ronin—a term given to disgraced Samurai warriors forced to wander the countryside looking for work as a protector or hired assassin. Before the end of the Cold War, De Niro’s character was an international undercover agent. No longer needed, he, and a group of other “Ronin” have become covert mercenaries who sell their deadly services to the highest bidder.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The LaserDisc is outstanding in every aspect of picture quality. While color fidelity is excellent, with accurate fleshtones, natural colors, and solid blacks. Shadow detail is revealing of visual information in even the darkest scenes. The picture displays no distracting noise or artifacts. The LaserDisc is framed at 2.35:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The sound design is terrific with an overall aggressive and dynamic quality that fully complements the action. When compared to the Dolby® Digital 5.1 mix, the matrix PCM LaserDisc soundtrack often sounds spatially more dimensional with fuller soundfield integration. The discrete soundtrack, however, delivers excellent deep bass, especially when .1 LFE enhancement is engaged, but at times discrete surround is at such a low level as to not be effective. The discrete soundstage sounds more dimensional with the music score spread wider and deeper—effectively mood-setting with dynamic orchestral recording. Dialogue is generally well integrated into each scene and sounds natural throughout.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (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:
    		 Yes
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 Yes
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 Yes
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 Yes
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    The widescreen anamorphic DVD and the LaserDisc are outstanding in every aspect of picture quality. The DVD’s vertical resolution is dramatically enhanced, and the result is significantly finer detail and sharper imagery. While color fidelity is excellent on both versions with accurate fleshtones, natural colors, and solid blacks, the DVD exhibits a vibrancy that is veiled on the LaserDisc. Shadow detail is revealing of visual information in even the darkest scenes. Neither version displays distracting noise or artifacts. While the LaserDisc is framed at 2.35:1, the anamorphic and letterbox DVD is 2.30:1. The sound design is terrific with an overall aggressive and dynamic quality that fully complements the action. While the Dolby® Digital soundtrack is a discrete 5.1 mix, the matrix PCM LaserDisc soundtrack often sounds spatially more dimensional with fuller soundfield integration. The discrete soundtrack, however, delivers excellent deep bass, especially when .1 LFE enhancement is engaged, but at times discrete surround is at such a low level as to not be effective. The discrete soundstage sounds more dimensional with the music score spread wider and deeper—effectively mood-setting with dynamic orchestral recording. Dialogue is generally well integrated into each scene and sounds natural throughout.