WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Blade
Genre:Fantasy Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff

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

Supplementals
Extra features include cast and crew audio commentary, isolated score and composer commentary and two featurettes that include deleted scenes and an alternate ending.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): New Line Home Video
(Catalog Number): ID5423LI
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $34.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 120
(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): Stephen Norrington
(Screenplay/Written By): David S. Goyer
(Story): NA
(Music): Mark Isham
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Kirk M. Petruccelli
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Paul Rubell, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Stan Lee, Avi Arad, Joseph Calamari & Lynn Harris
(Co-Producers): Andrew J. Horne & Jon Divens
(Producers): Peter Frankfurt, Wesley Snipes & Robert Engelman

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Clairmont Scope
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.30:1

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:
Based on Marvel Comics characters created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan, Blade (Wesley Snipes), is part man, part vampire. Because he possesses immortal-like powers, he is one of the few who can save humanity when Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff) sets out to destroy it. Extra features include cast and crew audio commentary, isolated score and composer commentary and two featurettes that include deleted scenes and an alternate ending.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture quality is outstanding when viewing this anamorphic widescreen DVD through the component video output. This is a study in shadow detail with fine gradiations of shade between the dark areas and picture black. As vampires only expose themselves during darkness, scenes are often dark but the transfer is beautifully rendered. Fleshtones are naturally rendered and colors are richly hued. There is no apparent chroma noise or other artifacts. The imagery is as haunting as it is stunning. While the LaserDisc measures 2.30:1, the DVD is framed at 2.32:1, anamorphic and letterbox.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 soundtrack is a bass man’s delight! Bass extension is powerful and deep, yet natural sounding. The exciting part is that the deep bass is often effectively directed to the surround channels, even at 25Hz. Enhancement in the .1 LFE channel is deep and effective when combined with the bass in the other channels. The music score is dynamic with an expansive soundstage. Dialogue sounds natural, although ADR-processed at times. Foley effects are well controlled and executed.
(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:
Yes
Collector Edition:
No
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
The picture quality is outstanding when viewing this anamorphic widescreen DVD through the component video output. This is a study in shadow detail with fine gradiations of shade between the dark areas and picture black. As vampires only expose themselves during darkness, scenes are often dark but the transfer is beautifully rendered. Fleshtones are naturally rendered and colors are richly hued. There is no apparent chroma noise or other artifacts. The imagery is as haunting as it is stunning. While the LaserDisc measures 2.30:1, the DVD is framed at 2.32:1, anamorphic and letterbox. The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 soundtrack is a bass man’s delight! Bass extension is powerful and deep, yet natural sounding. The exciting part is that the deep bass is often effectively directed to the surround channels, even at 25Hz. Enhancement in the .1 LFE channel is deep and effective when combined with the bass in the other channels. The music score is dynamic with an expansive soundstage. Dialogue sounds natural, although ADR-processed at times. Foley effects are well controlled and executed.