• Login
    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Altered States
    Genre:Science Fiction

    Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3
    Sound Rating: 4.5
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 16772
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $29.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 103
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1980
    (LD Release Date): 12/98
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Ken Russell
    (Screenplay/Written By): Sidney Aaron
    (Story): NA
    (Music): John Corigliano
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Richard McDonald
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Eric Jenkins
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Daniel Melnick
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Howard Gottfried

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.90:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A & 70mm 6 Track Dolby
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital): No
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    William Hurt stars in Altered States as single-minded research scientist, Eddie Jessup, who is obsessed with discovering the mysteries of the inner motivations of man. Using a sensory deprivation chamber—and some powerful hallucinogenic drugs—he explores the altered states of consciousness experienced inside the chamber. Adapted by Paddy Chayefsky from his novel, he attached his alias “Sidney Aaron” to the movie when he became frustrated with the “alterations” to his story.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    While the LaserDisc exhibits noise and inter-field jitter, images are generally sharp and detailed. Color fidelity is generally natural, with accurate fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, solid blacks. The picture is marred by a dark veil of haze throughout, especially in interiors. Contrast and shadow delineation are mediocre, as is the overall visual quality of the picture. The LaserDisc is overmatted at 1.90:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The preferred soundtrack is the matrix PCM version, not the re-mastered Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1. The matrix PCM sound is dramatically more dynamic and spatial with better low level ambience. Bass extension is more powerful throughout most of the PCM soundtrack, except in some hallucination scenes in which the discrete delivers split surround envelopment and .1 LFE enhancement that is overly extreme. Dialogue sounds natural with generally good spatial integration.
    (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:
    		 No
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    		 No
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 No
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    Though dated, the anamorphically enhanced DVD, viewed through component video output, exhibits sharper imagery with better detail and definition when compared to the LaserDisc. While the LaserDisc exhibits noise and inter-field jitter, the DVD is solid, with no apparent motion artifacts. Color fidelity is generally natural, with accurate fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, solid blacks—appearing slightly more fully saturated on the DVD. Both versions are marred by a dark veil of haze throughout, especially in interiors. The DVD is more revealing of visual information in the darkest scenes. The DVD’s letterbox and anamorphic aspect ratios are framed at 1.78:1, while the LaserDisc is overmatted at 1.90:1. The preferred soundtrack is the original matrix PCM version on the LaserDisc, not the re-mastered Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 soundtrack on the DVD. The matrix PCM sound is dramatically more dynamic and spatial with better low level ambience. Bass extension is more powerful throughout most of the PCM soundtrack, except in some hallucination scenes in which the discrete delivers split surround envelopment and .1 LFE enhancement that is overly extreme. Dialogue sounds natural with generally good spatial integration.