WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Species II
Genre:Science Fiction

Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Michael Madsen, Natasha Henstridge, Marg Helgenberger, Mykelti Williamson, George Dzundza, James Cromwell, Justin Lazard

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

Supplementals
Special features include director’s commentary and very steamy deleted scenes.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MGM Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): ML106836
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 93
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date): 12/98
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Peter Medak
(Screenplay/Written By): Chris Brancato
(Story): NA
(Music): Edward Shearmur
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Miljen Kreka Kljakovic
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Richard Nord
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Dennis Feldman
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Frank Mancuso, Jr.

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.82:1

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:
Infected by alien DNA, Commander Patrick Ross (Michael Madsen) has only one thing on his mind: procreating with human women to create a super alien/human race in Species II. Natasha Henstridge reprises her role from the 1995 original.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture looks great on the 1.82:1 LaserDisc. Color fidelity is fully saturated and stylized, with rich and vibrant colors, natural fleshtones and deep, solid blacks. Images are sharp and detailed throughout. Contrast and shadow delineation are excellent, with a natural gradation between darkness and total picture black.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
This is an exciting soundtrack that fully exploits the discrete 5.1 palette. Both the Dolby® Digital and matrix PCM soundtracks deliver dynamic and spatial dimensionality. SPL often reaches almost equal intensity in the five principal channels and the .1 LFE, which produces very deep and powerful bass. The soundfield is often holosonic, producing aggressive and directionalized split surrounds that will have you suspended in sonic twists and thrills. The matrix PCM version, while spatially dimensional, cannot deliver this level three-dimensionality, though low level ambience is better resolved. Dialogue is often ADR-processed with terrible spatial integration on both versions. The music score is dynamic with an expansive soundstage presence.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
(Deep Bass Challenging): Yes
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
(Center Back Surround Imaging): Yes
(Directionalized Dialogue): Yes
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Yes
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Yes
Superb Color Fidelity:
Yes
Superb Cinematography:
-
Reference LaserDisc:
No
Collector Edition:
No
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
The picture looks great on both the LaserDisc and anamorphically enhanced, dual layered DVD. Color fidelity on the LaserDisc is fully saturated and stylized, with rich and vibrant colors, natural fleshtones and deep, solid blacks. Images are sharp and detailed on both versions. The DVD, when viewed in component video, is completely solid with excellent clarity and sharpness, no doubt due to the increased vertical and horizontal resolution. Contrast and shadow delineation are excellent and better defined on the DVD. While the LaserDisc is pleasing, the DVD is superb. The LaserDisc is matted at 1.82:1, as is the anamorphic and letterbox DVD. This is an exciting soundtrack that fully exploits the discrete 5.1 palette. Both the DVD and LaserDisc Dolby® Digital, and the LaserDisc matrix PCM soundtracks deliver dynamic and spatial dimensionality. SPL often reaches almost equal intensity in the five principal channels and the .1 LFE, which produces very deep and powerful bass. The soundfield is often holosonic, producing aggressive and directionalized split surrounds that will have you suspended in sonic twists and thrills. The matrix PCM version, while spatially dimensional, cannot deliver this level three-dimensionality, though low level ambience is better resolved. Dialogue is often ADR-processed with terrible spatial integration on both versions. The music score is dynamic with an expansive soundstage presence.