WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Blast From The Past
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 34 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Brendan Fraser, Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Walken, Sissy Spacek, Dave Foley

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

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): New Line Home Video
(Catalog Number): ID5451LI
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $29.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 112
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date): 07/99
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Hugh Wilson
(Screenplay/Written By): Bill Kelly & Hugh Wilson
(Story): Bill Kelly
(Music): Steve Dorff
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Robert Ziembicki
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Mark Bridges
(Editor): Don Brochu
(Supervising Sound Editors): Bruce Stambler, MPSE
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Amanda Stern, Sunil Perkash & Claire Rudnick Polstein
(Co-Producers): Mary Kane
(Producers): Renny Harlin & Hugh Wilson

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Super 35
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

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:
Born and raised in a bomb shelter after his parents (Walken & Spacek) retreated there to escape the perceived threat from the Cuban Missile Crisis, Adam Webber (Fraser) has grown up on Honeymooners re-runs and Perry Como records. His scientist dad has determined it will be safe to emerge from the shelter after 35 years. so Adam is a real Blast From The Past when he encounters Eve, a ’90s L.A. woman who has become disillusioned with the ways of the modern world and its men.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 2.35:1 LaserDisc is also beautifully rendered, though colors are slightly smeared and oversaturated. Otherwise, hues are nicely balanced with rich colors and deep blacks. Noise is apparent and sometimes distracting. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered. Overall, the LaserDisc picture is quite pleasing.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete soundtrack is terrific with, at times, an engaging holosonically enveloping soundfield. Especially in the early scenes, the sound is especially dynamic with aggressive split surrounds. With no surround fill, the modern day sound is often three-channel limited. The music is a mixture of real oldies from the ’50s and modern ’90’s tunes; all nicely presented. Bass extension is at times extremely powerful and deep to below 25Hz with added impact due to .1 LFE enhancement. Dialogue generally sounds natural, though sometimes ADR-processed.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
(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:
No
Collector Edition:
No