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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Lethal Weapon 4
    Genre:Action Adventure

    Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock, Jet Li, Steve Kahan, Kim Chan

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 5
    Sound Rating: 4.5
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals
    The LaserDisc offers the behind-the-scenes documentary and deleted scenes.

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 16075
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $39.98
    (Running Time In Minutes): 127
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 1/99
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Richard Donner
    (Screenplay/Written By): Channing Gibson
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton & David Sanborn
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): J. Michael Riva
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Frank J. Urioste, ACE & Dallas Puett
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Steve Perry & Jim Van Wyck
    (Co-Producers): J. Mills Goodloe & Dan Cracchiolo
    (Producers): Joel Silver & Richard Donner

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Panavision
    (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:
    Lethal Weapon 4 finds detectives Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) battling a Chinese triad involved in smuggling families from the mainland. On the home front, it’s babies for all as Riggs and his long-time girlfriend (Rene Russo) are planning their unplanned blessed event, and Murtaugh is about to become a grandpa by another unplanned surprise. Joe Pesci and Chris Rock both add their own brand of appealing wit.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The LaserDisc is exemplary in all aspects of image quality. Color fidelity, contrast and shadow delineation are exceptionally rendered. Images are sharp and detailed throughout. There is no distracting noise or artifacts on this 2.35:1 LaserDisc.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete soundtrack delivers an aggressive surround presence, deep bass enhanced by the .1 LFE channel, and occasional split surrounds. The matrix soundtrack often better resolves low level ambience. The music score is nicely recorded with a wide and deep soundstage presence. Dialogue is often nicely integrated spatially, though at times ADR-processing is unintelligible in loud action scenes. While the matrix PCM soundtrack is more engaging, neither version will disappoint.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
    (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:
    		 Yes
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    		 No
    Superb Cinematography:
    		 -
    Reference LaserDisc:
    		 Yes
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    Both the LaserDisc and DVD are exemplary in all aspects of image quality. By comparison, the anamorphically enhanced DVD, when viewed in the component video output, delivers even better clarity and images that exhibit minute detail and natural texture, no doubt due to the increased vertical and horizontal resolution. Color fidelity, contrast and shadow delineation are exceptionally rendered on both versions, though the DVD is preferred. There is no distracting noise or artifacts on either version. The LaserDisc, and anamorphic and letterbox DVD aspect ratios are framed at 2.35:1. The Dolby® Digital 5.1 discrete soundtrack, on LaserDisc and DVD, delivers an aggressive surround presence, deep bass enhanced by the .1 LFE channel, and occasional split surrounds. The LaserDisc’s matrix soundtrack often better resolves low level ambience. The music score is nicely recorded with a wide and deep soundstage presence. Dialogue is often nicely integrated spatially, though at times ADR-processing is unintelligible in loud action scenes. While the matrix PCM soundtrack is more engaging, neither version will disappoint.