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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Snake Eyes
    Genre:Thriller

    Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Nicolas Cage, Gary Sinise, John Heard, Carla Gugino, Stan Shaw, Kevin Dunn

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

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Paramount Home Video
    (Catalog Number): LV335413WS
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $29.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 98
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 2/99
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Brian De Palma
    (Screenplay/Written By): David Koepp
    (Story): Brian De Palma & David Koepp
    (Music): Ryuichi Sakamoto
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Anne Pritchard
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Bill Pankow
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Louis A. Stroller
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers): Brian De Palma

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

    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:
    Snake Eyes stars Nicolas Cage as corrupt police detective Rick Santoro who meets up with his old pal (Gary Sinise) at a championship boxing match. But when shots ring out and the attending Secretary of Defense is murdered, Rick’s detective work unearths disturbing evidence that he does not want to believe.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The 2.35:1 LaserDisc exhibits pleasing image quality throughout. Images are sharp and detailed with nicely rendered contrast and shadow delineation throughout. Colors are vibrant, with naturally rendered fleshtones and deep blacks. There are no distracting artifacts or noise.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete and matrix PCM LaserDisc soundtracks are not dramatically different in sonic character. The discrete nicely delineates soundstage presence and during the fight scenes effectively enhances soundfield envelopment with split surrounds. Otherwise, the LaserDisc’s matrix PCM sounds slightly more spatially dimensional and better resolves low level ambience. Surround envelopment is aggressive though the Dolby Digital soundtrack does not always effectively present a surround signal. The music score is nicely recorded and at times effectively dynamic, though mostly slightly subdued. Though credited as a 5.1 mix, the Dolby Digital soundtrack is extremely limited in .1 LFE enhancement. Dialogue is natural sounding and nicely integrated spatially, though occasional ADR-processing is apparent.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
    (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:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    Paramount did not issue this DVD in the widescreen anamorphic format, and as a result, picture differences between the DVD and LaserDisc are not dramatic. Still, the DVD picture exhibits greater resolution with sharper and more detailed imagery compared to the otherwise excellent LaserDisc. The DVD is apparently sourced from a composite picture element, with occasional NTSC artifacts apparent. Colors are vibrant, with naturally rendered fleshtones and deep blacks. Compared to other "A" titles recently released on DVD in the anamorphic widescreen format, this DVD is wanting is resolution, though both versions are sure to please. The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete soundtrack on the DVD and LaserDisc, and matrix PCM LaserDisc soundtrack are not dramatically different in sonic character. The discrete nicely delineates soundstage presence and during the fight scenes effectively enhances soundfield envelopment with split surrounds. Otherwise, the LaserDisc’s matrix PCM sounds slightly more spatially dimensional and better resolves low level ambience. Surround envelopment is aggressive though the Dolby Digital soundtrack does not always effectively present a surround signal. The music score is nicely recorded and at times effectively dynamic, though mostly slightly subdued. Though credited as a 5.1 mix, the Dolby Digital soundtrack is extremely limited in .1 LFE enhancement. Dialogue is natural sounding and nicely integrated spatially, though occasional ADR-processing is apparent.