WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Black Dog
Genre:Thriller

Reviewed In Issue 30 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Patrick Swayze, Randy Travis, Meatloaf, Stephen Tobolowsky.

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

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Universal Studios Home Video
(Catalog Number): LD83662-WS
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $24.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 89
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Kevin Hooks
(Screenplay/Written By): William Mickelberry & Dan Vining
(Story):
(Music): George S. Clinton
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Victoria Paul
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Debra Neil-Fisher & Sabrina Plisco-Morris
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Mace Neufeld, Robert Rehme, Gary Levinsohn & Mark Gordon
(Co-Producers):
(Producers): Peter Saphier, Mark W. Koch & Raffaella De Laurentiis

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Super 35
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.32:1

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:
Shot on location in and around Atlanta and later in the truckstop-studded countryside surrounding North Carolina, Black Dog is the story of Jack Crews (Patrick Swayze), a top-notch trucker locked out of the profession because of a tragic accident that resulted in the death of one man and a prison sentence for Jack. Newly released, Jack is now faced with the loss of his house, and goes to extremes to salvage his personal life.

LaserDisc Picture:


LaserDisc Soundtrack:
(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:
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
The picture quality, on both the LaserDisc and anamorphically enhanced DVD, is crisp with sharp and detailed images, especially with the DVD’s increased vertical and horizontal resolution. Color fidelity is fully saturated with rich hues, natural fleshtones and deep, true blacks. Shadow detail and contrast are excellent and there is no apparent noise or artifacts that distract from the picture. Due to fine detail and texture, the DVD is preferred to the otherwise exceptional LaserDisc. The LaserDisc and letterbox aspect ratios are framed at 2.32:1, while the anamorphic version is 2.20:1. The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete soundtrack on the DVD and LaserDisc sounds less spatially dimensional in the resolution of low level ambience and overall surround consistency. But when the action heats up, both formats deliver the goods, especially the Dolby Digital with the enhanced split surrounds and the punctuated deep .1 LFE bass, which at times moves enough air to lift you off your seat. The music score is a blast with plenty of driving country and western music that expands across the soundstage and back into the surrounds.