WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Blues Brothers 2000, The
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 30 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman, Joe Morton,J. Evan Bonifant, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, B.B. King, The Blues Brothers Band

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

Supplementals
The LaserDisc includes Blues Brothers 2000—an original featurette, the theatrical trailer and production photographs.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Universal Studios Home Video
(Catalog Number): 43380
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 124
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): John Landis
(Screenplay/Written By): Dan Aykroyd & John Landis
(Story): NA
(Music): Paul Schaffer
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Bill Brodie
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Dale Beldin
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): John Landis, Dan Aykroyd & Leslie Belzberg

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.82:1

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:
Blues Brothers 2000 is the long awaited sequel to the original runaway comedy smash, The Blues Brothers. After 18 years, Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) is released from prison, only to learn that his beloved brother Jake (John Belushi) has passed away. Undaunted, Elwood sets about assembling a new blues band.

LaserDisc Picture:


LaserDisc Soundtrack:
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(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 LaserDisc and DVD both are nicely rendered with generally natural color fidelity, natural fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, solid blacks. Sometimes color fidelity lacks natural definition, while other times, appearing extremely natural. Images are sharp and detailed, especially on the anamorphically enhanced dual-layered DVD. Contrast and shadow detail are both nicely rendered, and there is no distracting noise or artifacts for a picture that is sure to please on both versions, especially the DVD. The DVD’s anamorphic and letterbox aspect ratios are 1.82:1, as is the LaserDisc. The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 soundtrack on the DVD and LaserDisc, and the LaserDisc matrix PCM soundtrack, are conventional sound designs but nicely presented. The discrete does not always have a surround signal while the matrix version consistently does, creating a more dimensional experience. But when there is aggressive surround, the Dolby Digital version has split surrounds. Bass sounds natural and delivers a solid beat during the music sequences, and is sometimes enhanced with powerful .1 LFE. The music is, as expected, the driving force in this movie and is well recorded with a natural surround ambience that is often aggressive. Dialogue is often ADR-processed and wanting in natural spatial integration.