WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Mr. Nice Guy
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 30 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Jackie Chan, Richard Norton

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): New Line Home Video
(Catalog Number): ID4256LI
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 88
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1997
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Sammo Hung
(Screenplay/Written By): Edward Tang & Fibe Ma
(Story): NA
(Music): J. Peter Robinson
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Horace Ma
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Peter Cheung, HKSE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Leonard Ho
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Chua Lam

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Technovision
(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:
Mr. Nice Guy features Jackie Chan in the role of a celebrity chef-turned-reluctant-hero after he rescues a pretty journalist from the clutches of a ruthless druglord (Richard Norton). At stake is an incriminating videotape that has accidentally fallen into Jackie’s hands. With the gang in hot pursuit, the action stretches from one spectacular stunt-filled scene to another.

LaserDisc Picture:


LaserDisc Soundtrack:
(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): Yes
(Center Back Surround Imaging): Yes
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition:
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
Both LaserDisc and anamorphically enhanced DVD look terrific. The DVD, when viewed in the component anamorphic format, exhibits sharper, more finely detailed images, no doubt due to the increased vertical and horizontal resolution. Colors are vibrant with deep, solid blacks on both versions, but fleshtones are more accurately rendered on the DVD, while looking brownish on the LaserDisc. Contrast is generally good throughout, and shadow delineation is nicely rendered for a pleasing picture overall. The DVD letterbox and LaserDisc aspect ratios are 2.35:1, while the anamorphic version is 2.20:1. The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete soundtrack on the DVD and LaserDisc and the discrete 5.1 and DTS® Digital Surround and matrix PCM soundtracks on the LaserDiscs sound terrific. The discrete surrounds are effectively directionalized, but the DTS version sounds more coherent with better interchannel delineation and resolution of low level ambience. Sometimes the Dolby Digital sounds irritating when all channels are engaged at high levels. Bass extension is deep and punctuated with .1 low frequency effects on both discrete versions. Dialogue generally sounds natural with the exception of ADR-processing. The sound designers are to be commended for outstanding utilization of the 5.1 discrete palette for a dynamic soundfield dimension.