...may be too clever by half, but it's entertaining all the way.
All around, "Dead Again" may be too clever by half, but it's entertaining all the way.
Video:
Paramount have the distinction here of transferring both a color and a black-and-white print in one, and in both cases the results are fine. The color in the 1.74:1 ratio enhanced picture is smooth and faintly dull, which may indicate the use of faded film stock or an intentionally soft appearance created by the director to complement the older-appearing B&W footage. It's been almost a decade since I saw the movie in a theater, so I have no recollection of what it looked like at the time. In any case, the muted hues work in nicely with the mood of the piece. I observed no instances of any other problems in the video reproduction, no flickering lines, no digital artifacts, no varying color combinations, no age markings of any kind.
Audio:
The sound, reproduced in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Stereo Surround, is also quite good, though not spectacularly so. There are some good storm scenes and a bit of rain that encompass the listener, but mainly the rear speakers are used for musical ambiance rather than special sonic effects. In fact, in DD 5.1 there is almost as much side information as rear information. That is, a good deal of sound is generated between the front and rear channels. Good dynamics, too, but, again, not spectacular.
Extras:
Two separate audio commentary tracks come with the disc, one with star and director Kenneth Branagh and another with producer Lindsay Doran and screenwriter Scott Frank. Oddly, Paramount include a mere fourteen scene selections for a 101-minute movie. A theatrical trailer, spoken languages in English and French, and English subtitles for the hearing impaired conclude the special-features package.
Parting Thoughts:
"Dead Again" is designed to remind one of things like "Laura," "Rebecca," "Gaslight," "Spellbound," "Night and the City," "Dark Passage," and "The Lady from Shanghai." At the same time, it has enough twists and turns to keep one guessing right up to its over-the-top conclusion. What's more, plot and character variations are sufficient in number to warrant repeat viewings, which is what DVD is all about. Recommended.
Video:
Paramount have the distinction here of transferring both a color and a black-and-white print in one, and in both cases the results are fine. The color in the 1.74:1 ratio enhanced picture is smooth and faintly dull, which may indicate the use of faded film stock or an intentionally soft appearance created by the director to complement the older-appearing B&W footage. It's been almost a decade since I saw the movie in a theater, so I have no recollection of what it looked like at the time. In any case, the muted hues work in nicely with the mood of the piece. I observed no instances of any other problems in the video reproduction, no flickering lines, no digital artifacts, no varying color combinations, no age markings of any kind.
Audio:
The sound, reproduced in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Stereo Surround, is also quite good, though not spectacularly so. There are some good storm scenes and a bit of rain that encompass the listener, but mainly the rear speakers are used for musical ambiance rather than special sonic effects. In fact, in DD 5.1 there is almost as much side information as rear information. That is, a good deal of sound is generated between the front and rear channels. Good dynamics, too, but, again, not spectacular.
Extras:
Two separate audio commentary tracks come with the disc, one with star and director Kenneth Branagh and another with producer Lindsay Doran and screenwriter Scott Frank. Oddly, Paramount include a mere fourteen scene selections for a 101-minute movie. A theatrical trailer, spoken languages in English and French, and English subtitles for the hearing impaired conclude the special-features package.
Parting Thoughts:
"Dead Again" is designed to remind one of things like "Laura," "Rebecca," "Gaslight," "Spellbound," "Night and the City," "Dark Passage," and "The Lady from Shanghai." At the same time, it has enough twists and turns to keep one guessing right up to its over-the-top conclusion. What's more, plot and character variations are sufficient in number to warrant repeat viewings, which is what DVD is all about. Recommended.
Average user rating (1-5):