WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Crash
Genre:Thriller

Reviewed In Issue 27 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
James Spader, Holly Hunter, Elias Koteas, Deborah Kara Unger & Roseanna Arquette

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 3.5
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Criterion Collection
(Catalog Number): CC1500L
(MPAA Rating): NC-17
(Retail Price): $49.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 100
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1996
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): David Cronenberg
(Screenplay/Written By): David Cronenberg
(Story): NA
(Music): Howard Shore
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Carol Spier
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Denise Cronenberg
(Editor): Ronald Sanders
(Supervising Sound Editors): NA
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Robert Lantos & Jeremy Thomas
(Co-Producers): Stephanie Reichel & Marilyn Stonehouse
(Producers): David Cronenberg

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.62:1

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:
Based on the book by J.C. Ballard, Crash is the most controversial film ever made in Canada. It was banned in London, disowned by its own distributor and was booed at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, where it won a Special Jury Prize for its originality and audacity. When James Ballard (James Spader) is involved in a near-fatal accident with Dr. Helen Remington (Holly Hunter), he is lured into a mysterious world of sexually obsessed car crash enthusiasts.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.62:1 picture exhibits excellent, though sometimes oversaturated color fidelity, with natural fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep blacks. Images are sharp and detailed with superb contrast and shadow detail. Only the slightest noise is apparent in interior scenes, but there are no artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Surround matrix is full and rich- sounding with both subtle and aggressive ambience envelopment. Dialogue sounds natural, often with good spatial integration. The music score is expansive for a nicely presented soundstage.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(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:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: