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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Very Bad Things
    Genre:Dark Comedy

    Reviewed In Issue 33 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Christian Slater, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Stern, Jeanne Tripplehorn, John Favreau, Jeremy Piven & Leland Orser

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 4
    Sound Rating: 3.5
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals
    None

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): PolyGram Video
    (Catalog Number): ID5487PG
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $39.99
    (Running Time In Minutes): 100
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 05/99
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Peter Berg
    (Screenplay/Written By): Peter Berg
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Stewart Copeland
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Dina Lipton
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Dan Lebental
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Ted Field, Scott Kropf, Michael Helfant & Christian Slater
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Michael Schiffer, Diane Nabatoff & Cindy Cowan

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Four buddies set out to enjoy a Las Vegas bachelor party, but all wind up doing some Very Bad Things before they’re through. The bodies start falling when the stripper they hired dies from a head wound while offering personal services to the groom’s brother in the bathroom. Then a hotel security guard discovers her body and, of course, our heroes decide to dispose of both bodies in the Nevada desert.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The LaserDisc exhibits nicely balanced colors with vibrant hues and deep blacks, though fleshtones are slightly yellow. Images are sharp and detailed, with exellent contrast and shadow delineation. Minor noise is apparent on the 1.851 LaserDisc, but there are no artifacts.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete soundtrack is very manufactured sounding with unnatural deep bass that often rumbles and sounds unbalanced with the other elements. Bass extension often peaks at 24Hz, sounding extremely boomy, with the .1 LFE channel nearly out of control. Dialogue is extensively ADR-processed with an unnatural bass coloration and poor spatial integration. This is less apparent on the matrix PCM soundtrack. The music score, which is generally well recorded, is effectively dynamic. Sound effects are effectively shuttled across the soundfield and provide the most engaging sonic moments.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
    (Deep Bass Challenging): Yes
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): No
    (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:
    		 No
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    The color balance on the LaserDisc is not as vibrant and natural as on the anamorphically enhanced DVD, exhibiting slightly yellow fleshtones in comparison. Fleshtones are naturally rendered on the DVD, and colors are accurately balanced with deep, true blacks. Images are sharp and detailed on both versions, with the DVD exhibiting a more solid picture, with excellent vertical and horizontal resolution. Contrast and shadow delineation are also nicely rendered, especially on the DVD, which delivers deeper, truer blacks than the LaserDisc. Minor noise is apparent on the LaserDisc, but the DVD is generally solid, with only occasional pixelization apparent. The DVD is preferred for its clarity and color fidelity. The LaserDisc, and anamorphic and letterbox DVD measure 1.85:1. The Dolby® Digital 5.1 DVD and LaserDisc discrete soundtrack is very manufactured sounding with unnatural deep bass that often rumbles and sounds unbalanced with the other elements. Bass extension often peaks at 24Hz, sounding extremely boomy, with the .1 LFE channel nearly out of control. Dialogue is extensively ADR-processed with an unnatural bass coloration and poor spatial integration. This is less apparent on the LaserDisc matrix PCM soundtrack. The music score, which is generally well recorded, is effectively dynamic. Sound effects are effectively shuttled across the soundfield and provide the most engaging sonic moments.