WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Edge, The
Genre:Thriller

Reviewed In Issue 29 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, Elle MacPherson & Harold Perrineau

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4.5
Sound Rating: 4.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 0275085
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 117
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1997
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Lee Tamahori
(Screenplay/Written By): David Mamet
(Story): NA
(Music): Jerry Goldsmith
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Wolf Kroeger
(Visual Effects): Peerless Camera Company Ltd.
(Costume Designer): Julie Weiss
(Editor): Neil Travis, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors): Jay Wilkinson
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Lloyd Phillips
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Art Linson

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Panavision
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

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:
In The Edge, the hidden tensions between two men—one an intellectual billionaire (Anthony Hopkins) and the other a hotshot fashion photographer (Alec Baldwin)—are unleashed when they engage in a desperate struggle for survival in the hostile Alaskan wilderness. One man eventually learns that the greatest danger comes not from nature, but from fear, treachery and, possibly, murder.

LaserDisc Picture:
Both dark interiors and spanning mountainous exteriors are nicely rendered with natural fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, solid blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with good shadow detail and contrast. Some of the darker interior scenes exhibit noise and color bleeding. But the nighttime exteriors, when the men are stranded in the wilderness, exhibit excellent shadow detail. The picture is framed at 2.35:1.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 and PCM matrix soundtracks are both effectively presented. The discrete is more dynamic, especially when.1 low frequency effects are delivered. But, during an intense rain storm, the Dolby Digital falls apart with hissing sound, rather than real pouring rain as is heard on the PCM version. Dialogue sounds remarkably natural, given the extent of ADR processing.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
(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: