After Fox’s amazing remastering jobs on 'Die Hard' and 'Die Hard 2: Die Harder' I was eagerly waiting for 'Die Hard with a Vengeance'. While I think this erratic, full-of-plot-holes, all-over-the-map formula flick is undoubtedly the least enjoyable of the three "Die Hard" adventures, it’s still part of a great series. And I figured it would be one hell of a kick-ass demonstration disc. Sound wise, it is. Picture wise, this transfer left me wanting more.
The picture transfer, surprisingly, is not as good as the recent remasters of the first two movies, a fact made all the more alarming when you consider that this movie is brand spankin’ new, and the superior pictures on the new THX 'Die Hard 2: Die Harder' and 'Die Hard' discs were mastered from film prints that are 6 and 8 years old respectively.
This disc is THX and has been mastered for Dolby AC-3, and the Panavision image is faithfully represented by the letterboxing. The sound is spectacular, as expected, but the picture itself seems a bit too sharp, as if it’s been over-enhanced (I noticed a similar problem on Fox’s 'True Lies' and on Pioneer’s 'Cliffhanger', to name just two).
I was also a bit disappointed at Fox’s choice for the first side break. It occurs during a tension-filled sequence and—more distractingly—it interrupts a musical cue. A side break could easily have been placed a bit sooner; it would still have interrupted the flow of a lengthy robbery sequence, but without the jarring interruption of music. The platter break between sides 2 and 3 is okay, considering that side 3 is in CAV.
Fox has repeated the three trailers for all 3 "Die Hard" flicks after the movie on side 3, but they missed an opportunity to feature alternate trailers. The trailers here are the same ones included on the recent remastered THX discs of the first two movies. I know there were at least two other 'Die Hard 2: Die Harder' trailers and there was a second, longer 'Die Hard with a Vengeance' trailer they could have included.
Vital statistics: Fox Video; 3 sides; CLV/CAV; Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1); Stereo Surround; THX; AC-3; Chapter stops; $49.95.
S. Damien Segal.
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