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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Suicide Kings
    Genre:Thriller

    Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Christopher Walken, Denis Leary, Sean Patrick Flanery, Johnny Galecki, Jay Mohr, Jeremy Sisto, Henry Thomas

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

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Artisan Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): LD60423WS
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $34.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 103
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 10/98
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Peter O’Fallon
    (Screenplay/Written By): Josh McKinney, Gina Goldman & Wayne Rice
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Graeme Revell
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Clark Hunter
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Chris Peppe
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Stephen Drimmer
    (Co-Producers): Patrick Peach
    (Producers): Wayne Rice & Morrie Eisenman

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    In Suicide Kings, a group of young men drug and take hostage semi-retired New York crime boss Carlo Bartolucci (Christopher Walken) hoping to exchange him for Lisa Chasten (Laura Harris), the kidnapped sister of Avery Chasten (Henry Thomas). To frighten Carlo, the boys cut off one of his fingers and promise to follow with more mutilations if their demands are not met. Carlo attempts to assist the boys, but at the same time, manipulates his captors in hopes of turning them against one another. The DVD includes behind-the-scenes extras, isolated effects and dialogue, director’s commentary, alternate endings, storyboards and more.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The anamorphically enhanced DVD, when viewed through the component video output and compared to the LaserDisc, exhibits increased vertical and horizontal resolution for improved sharpness and clarity. While colors appear slightly oversaturated on the LaserDisc by direct comparison, fidelity is better balanced on the DVD with truer fleshtones, richer colors and deep, solid blacks. Images are much softer on the LaserDisc, often appearing plugged-up. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered. Minor inconsistencies are apparent throughout both versions, as well as minor noise and artifacts apparent. The LaserDisc, and anamorphic and letterbox DVD aspect ratios are 1.85:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The matrix PCM soundtrack is inconsistent in clarity, but delivers generally natural dialogue. Surrounds are generally subtle, with sometimes deep bass, but the overall experience is mediocre.
    (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:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 No
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    The anamorphically enhanced DVD, when viewed through the component video output and compared to the LaserDisc, exhibits increased vertical and horizontal resolution for improved sharpness and clarity. While colors appear slightly oversaturated on the LaserDisc by direct comparison, fidelity is better balanced on the DVD with truer fleshtones, richer colors and deep, solid blacks. Images are much softer on the LaserDisc, often appearing plugged-up. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered. Minor inconsistencies are apparent throughout both versions, as well as minor noise and artifacts apparent. The LaserDisc, and anamorphic and letterbox DVD aspect ratios are 1.85:1. The DVD Dolby® Digital 5.1 soundtrack sounds slightly muffled when compared to the LaserDisc matrix PCM soundtrack, especially the dialogue track. Sometimes split surrounds are prominent on the discrete. Bass extension is deeper and more powerful on the matrix PCM version, even when limited .1 LFE enhancement is engaged. Clarity is overall inconsistent on both mediocre soundtracks.