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Here's a sample editorial from this month's issue of The Analog Bits Newsletter...!
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| LD/VHS REVIEW: Live Entertainment's Terminator 2: Judgment Day - by Todd Doogan |
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day (T2) Live Entertainment Retail Price: $29.95 Running Time: 136 Minutes Theatrical Release: 1991 LD Release Date: 12/01/91 Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1  
The Movie: Coming out from under The Abyss, James Cameron does what he does best – makes sequels. Taking some of the special effects tools he honed while making the plagued production of The Abyss, Cameron really ups the ante and comes out with both barrels of a sawed-off shotgun blasting. Moving on from the story of waitress-turned-mother-to-the-savior-of-our-world Sarah Connor, Cameron this time focuses on said savior John (played by newcomer Edward Furlong) who, as a wide-eyed teen, faces not one but two Terminators. But there's a twist that I won't spoil here in this review for those who were waiting to check out the film on their home television screens. Let's just say, Arnold is Back and morebadass than ever. Also back, and also badass – Linda Hamilton returns as Sarah Connor. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (or T2 as the signs at Subway insist it's called) is a thrilling, action packed special-effects blockbuster worthy of your time and money. Sound and Video: T2 looks incredible on this movie-only CLV two-discset. Image is widescreen letterboxed at 2.35:1 with solid shadow blacks and crisp detail – really showing off the special effects that showcase this film. Overall picture quality is sharp and pristine – though we maybe missing some top and bottom image due to cropping (more on that in my VHS Round-Up below). I saw no video noise, white density or DNR on my bigscreen 36" Sony Trinitron. Digital Cinema Sound is superb. The overall quality is dynamic and intense and the rumble will keep you in the film tightly. Extras: Aside from 15 minutes of deleted scenes that really should be added back into the film, there are no extras to speak of – which makes us think that a special edition disc is on it way in the next yearor two. Criterion or Pioneer maybe? Wrap-Up: So long as we can keep Cameron out of water and ondry land, we can expect huge things from him. Word on the street is he plans to make a Spider-man movie and if he plans to bring Arnold in as Doc Ock – you'll seeme in line on opening night. VHS Round-Up: I compared the laserdisc to a Carolco Home Video VHS and found something remarkable: it looks like the laserdisc isn't in true widescreen letterbox. Comparing the VHS to the laserdisc I can clearly see image detail in the top and bottom of the frame. It's possible Cameron shoots his films in a more intimate anamorphic Super 35 but that's highly doubtful based on the scale of his productions. We'll be investigating this further and will let you know what we find out from our industry insiders. Film: 4 Stars out of 5 Disc Video/Sound: 3.7 Stars out of 5 (may go up if we find Cameron shot Super 35) / 5 Stars out of 5 Extras: 2 Stars out of 5 (there HAS to be a SE coming, right?) Todd Doogan The Analog Bits todddoogan@theanalogbits.com |
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