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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Star Trek: Insurrection
    Genre:Science Fiction

    Reviewed In Issue 33 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, F. Murray Abraham, Donna Murphy & Anthony Zerbe

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

    Supplementals
    None

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Paramount Home Video
    (Catalog Number): LV335883WS
    (MPAA Rating): PG
    (Retail Price): $
    (Running Time In Minutes): 103
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1998
    (LD Release Date): 05/99
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): Yes

    Credits Information
    (Director): Jonathan Frakes
    (Screenplay/Written By): Michael Piller
    (Story): Rick Berman & Michael Piller
    (Music): Jerry Goldsmith
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Herman Zimmerman
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Peter E. Berger, ACE
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Martin Hornstein
    (Co-Producers): Peter Lauritson
    (Producers): Rick Berman

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Panavision
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.32:1

    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:
    In Star Trek: Insurrection, while on a mission to the planet Ba’ku—a place that has fountain-of-youth-like powers—Captain Picard (Stewart) has been ordered to remove the 600 residents of the amazing planet in order to use its beneficial properties for the greater good. Knowing that the Federation’s Prime Directive states that no Starfleet expedition may interfere with the natural development of other civilizations, the Captain is faced with a difficult moral decision.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The LaserDisc exhibits a nicely rendered picture, with excellent color fidelity and generally sharp and detailed images. Colors are nicely balanced with natural fleshtones, vibrant hues and deep blacks. Contrast and shadow delineation are wonderfully rendered, but a completely blackened room is required for optimal viewing. The LaserDisc, and anamorphic and letterbox DVD aspect ratios measure 2.32:1.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The discrete 5.1 Dolby® Digital and matrix PCM soundtracks are powerfully holosonic enveloping with superb dynamics and deep bass impact to below 25Hz. Low frequency extension is enhanced on the discrete version with powerful and effective .1 LFE. Surround is aggressive throughout with excellent split surround dimensionality and phantom center back imaging. Sound effects are effectively energized to create a dynamic soundscape that enhances the visceral impact. Dialogue sounds natural, and the music score is wonderfully expansive.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
    (Aggressive System Surround): Yes
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
    (Deep Bass Challenging): Yes
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
    (Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): Yes
    (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:
    		 Yes
    Collector Edition:
    		 No
    DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
    When viewed alone, the LaserDisc exhibits a nicely rendered picture, with excellent color fidelity and generally sharp and detailed images. But when compared to the anamorphically enhanced DVD, viewed in component video, the LaserDisc pales. The DVD is superior in clarity with excellent vertical and horizontal resolution. Images occasionally look digitally enhanced, but overall fine detail and definition is pleasing. Contrast and shadow delineation are wonderfully rendered on both versions, but a completely blackened room is required for optimal viewing. The LaserDisc, and anamorphic and letterbox DVD aspect ratios measure 2.32:1. Both the DVD and LaserDisc discrete 5.1 Dolby® Digital and LaserDisc matrix PCM soundtracks are powerfully holosonic enveloping with superb dynamics and deep bass impact to below 25Hz. Low frequency extension is enhanced on the discrete version with powerful and effective .1 LFE. Surround is aggressive throughout with excellent split surround dimensionality and phantom center back imaging. Sound effects are effectively energized to create a dynamic soundscape that enhances the visceral impact. Dialogue sounds natural, and the music score is wonderfully expansive.