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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Mafia!
    Genre:Comedy

    Reviewed In Issue 32 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Jay Mohr, Lloyd Bridges, Olympia Dukakis, Christina Applegate, Billy Burke, Pamela Gidley, Tony Lo Bianco, Joe Viterelli

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

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Touchstone Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 15642AS
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Retail Price): $39.99
    (Running Time In Minutes): 87
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 1/99
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Jim Abrahams
    (Screenplay/Written By): Jim Abrahams, Greg Norberg & Michael McManus
    (Story):
    (Music): Gianni Frizzelli
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): William Elliott
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Terry Stokes, ACE
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Peter Abrams & Robert L. Levy
    (Co-Producers): Greg Norberg & Michael McManus
    (Producers): Bill Badalanto

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    See just how disorganized crime can be in (Jane Austen’s) Mafia!, a laugh-out-loud spoof of gangster movies (and just about everything else)! Lloyd Bridges stars as the bumbling Godfather of the Cortino family! Jay Mohr is his sensitive, well-educated son who seeks revenge on those who tried to kill his father at the wedding of his psychotic killer brother! Beyond that, the plot is as hard to find as a labor union leader in cement overshoes, but you’ll be too busy laughing at the hilarious gags to notice!

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The LaserDisc, matted at 1.85:1, exhibits natural color fidelity, though scenes throughout the film are apparently stylized to somewhat resemble The Godfather films with warm golden hues and rich, dark interiors. Fleshtones are accurately rendered, and colors are rich and warm with deep blacks. Images are sharp and detailed. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered, and the picture will surely please. There is noise apparent and sometimes distracting, but artifacts are minimal.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The 5.0 discrete Dolby® Digital and matrix PCM LaserDisc soundtracks are enjoyable. The matrix surround version better resolves low level ambience and consistently delivers a subtle surround presence, whereas the discrete version at times collapses to mono or stereo with virtually no effective surround. Dialogue is often ADR-processed and wanting in spatial integration. Dynamic presence is excellent with a terrific music score. Bass extension is deep and natural sounding. Overall, this is a nicely effective sonic experience that is effectively spatial, though there is no .1 LFE as credited.
    (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:
    		 Yes
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 No
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    The LaserDisc and non-anamorphic DVD, both matted at 1.85:1, look similar in quality, with natural color fidelity, though scenes throughout the film are apparently stylized to somewhat resemble The Godfather films with warm golden hues and rich, dark interiors. Fleshtones are accurately rendered, though more subtle on the DVD, and colors are rich and warm with deep blacks. Images are sharp and detailed, especially on the DVD when viewed in component video. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered, and the picture will surely please. There is noise apparent and sometimes distracting on both versions, but artifacts are minimal. The 5.0 discrete Dolby® Digital DVD and LaserDisc, and matrix PCM LaserDisc, soundtracks are enjoyable. The matrix surround version better resolves low level ambience and consistently delivers a subtle surround presence, whereas the discrete version at times collapses to mono or stereo with virtually no effective surround. Dialogue is often ADR-processed and wanting in spatial integration. Dynamic presence is excellent with a terrific music score. Bass extension is deep and natural sounding. Overall, this is a nicely effective sonic experience that is effectively spatial, though there is no .1 LFE as credited.