WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Sniper
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 06 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Tom Berenger, Bill Zane, J.T. Walsh.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4.5
Sound Rating: 5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 70756
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $34.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 99
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1993
(LD Release Date): 9/93
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Luis Llosa
(Screenplay/Written By): Michael Frost Beckner & Crash Leyland
(Story): NA
(Music): Gary Chang
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Herbert Pinter
(Visual Effects): International Creative Effects
(Costume Designer): Ray Summers
(Editor): Scott Smith
(Supervising Sound Editors): Barney Cabral
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Mark Johnson, Walon Green & Patrick Wachsberger
(Co-Producers): James Gorman & Charles J.D. Schlissel
(Producers): Robert L. Rosen

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Sniper is the story of a leather-tough Marine and long-range rifle sniper (Tom Berenger) paired with an inexperienced National Security Council bureaucrat (Billy Zane) on an impossible assassination mission in a Central American jungle. Berenger’s character is a sniper who “kills, but doesn’t like killing.” His view is that there is no difference between those who fire the orders and those who pull the trigger. This is an entertaining film that is loaded with action, suspense and excitement in a hauntingly mysterious jungle setting.

LaserDisc Picture:
The visual look of this film is quite beautiful with natural and consistent colors, and ex-cellent shadow detail and contrast, even in difficult lighting situations. The superb1.85:1 picture has a soft, film-like quality and is noise and artifact free. Cinematographer Bill Butler effectively creates a unnaturalistic look using smoke to add atmosphere and mystery.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The sound on this disc is outstanding with an enveloping and aggressive surround field and extended bass. Great effects and involving jungle sounds really put the viewer “in the action.” Dialogue is always clear and intelligible even when the tension gets frantic.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(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: