STATS: Paramount Home Video; 2 discs, 3 sides; CLV, side 3 in CAV; Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1); Stereo Surround; Dolby Digital AC-3; THX; Chapter stops; Closed captioned; $44.98
VIDEO: The original 1990 laser release of 'The Hunt for Red October' was one of the finest discs of its day, with superior picture and sound that blew most other discs out of the water. With the advent of Dolby Digital AC-3 sound and the higher standards of the THX Laserdisc Program, I guess it was only a matter of time that we’d eventually see a remastered edition of this film. The anamorphic Panavision ratio of 2.35:1 is finely represented. To the untrained eye, the image on this new version is nearly identical to the older version, having been remastered from the same source elements. But this new THX disc is more solid, less grainy and the colors are a bit richer. During the first few opening credits, a white line is visible just beneath the top black border, but otherwise the image is flawless.
AUDIO: The Dolby Pro-Logic soundtrack is virtually indistinguishable from the non-THX release, though I think the bass on the earlier release is a bit more powerful, but with a minor crackling distortion at higher volume levels. The new THX disc doesn’t sound as bassy, but I detected no distortion at the same volume levels. Of course, the reason why Paramount reissued this title is the inclusion of a newly-remixed Dolby Digital AC-3 track that offers a more dynamic wrap-around sensation with clearer, more powerful rear channel effects, with discreet separations. But apparently, all copies of this new AC-3 remaster are defective: a pressing error resulted in the omission of the rear left AC-3 channel on side 3 only. There is no such problem in standard Dolby Pro Logic mode. Pioneer will be repressing 'The Hunt for Red October' and irate AC-3 laserphiles will be able to exchange their copies for a corrected one.
SIDE BREAK: Just like with the previous non-THX release, the 135-minute movie is spread across three sides. Side 3 is in CAV here, a bonus that Paramount neglected to offer on the first release. Both side breaks have been retimed. The new cut between sides one and two has been placed three minutes sooner, and the break is a lot smoother this time. And even though the break here between sides two and three is a bit abrupt, it’s still better than the break on the previous release. This remaster has finally been chapter encoded (the previous version wasn’t), though the chapter indicators could have been a bit more thorough. 13 individual chapters for such a dense, episodic epic adventure hardly feels like enough.
EXTRAS: There are no extras on this new disc. I think Paramount blew a big one here by not considering the added value of including the film’s theatrical trailer, or even a making-of featurette (one was produced for the 1990 electronic press kit).
COMMENTS: Ultimately, 'The Hunt for Red October' fans who don’t have an AC-3 system will have to think long and hard about whether or not this new disc is worth the expense to upgrade: without any extras, and only marginally better picture and sound quality (remember, the quality of the old disc is still quite impressive; a side-by-side between the old and new versions doesn’t provide for a breathtaking comparison), most viewers should remain happy with their existing 1990 letterboxed copies.
S. Damien Segal.
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