WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Universal Soldier
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 23 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Ally Walker.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3.5
Sound Rating: 3
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Live Entertainment
(Catalog Number): LD69032-WS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 102
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1992
(LD Release Date): 12/9/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Roland Emmerich
(Screenplay/Written By): Richard Rothstein, Christopher Leitch & Dean Devlin
(Story): NA
(Music): Christopher Franke
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Holger Gross
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Joseph Porro
(Editor): Michael J. Duthie
(Supervising Sound Editors): Sandy Gendler & Val Kuklowsky
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Mario Kassar
(Co-Producers): Oliver Eberle
(Producers): Allen Shapiro, Craig Baumgarten & Joel B. Michaels

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Panavision
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.39:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.32:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo SR
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Luc Deveraux (Van Damme) and Sgt. Andrew Scott (Lundgren) are two combat soldiers who kill each other in Vietnam in a dispute during an attack on a village, but under a secret government program they are brought back to life and turned into “Unisols”—genetically enhanced unstoppable killing machines with no memory, feelings or free will. During an anti-terrorist mission, Deveraux begins to have flashbacks and escapes the program, with the help of a reluctant journalist (Walker) who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture has a 2.32:1 aspect ratio. Color fidelity is often inconsistent with some scenes appearing undersaturated, while others exhibit rich and warm fully saturated colors and deep blacks. This inconsistency affects fleshtones as well. Shadow detail is wanting in some scenes but overall the picture is sharp and detailed. Some slight noise and minor artifacts are apparent.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is very dynamic with the discrete 5.1 Dolby® Digital version having slightly better delineation of spatial envelopment and a generally wider frontal soundstage compared to the matrix PCM version. Dialogue is virtually identical in both versions and sounds natural with good spatial integration. The music score is well recorded and presents a wider soundstage in the discrete version with excellent imaging and depth. Surround envelopment is generally aggressive with a wrap-around soundfield presence. Occasionally, the discrete version has no surround signal or it is barely audible at the speakers, and the matrix surround version is then preferred. At other times the 5.1 version displays discrete surround signals to good effect, especially when gunfire is present. Bass extension is deep and powerful, with the .1 effectively applied. Both versions are terrific with a sound design that isn’t reserved in the creative use of the discrete 5.1-channel palette.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: