The wild and sensory overloaded life of Hunter S. Thompson is what inspired this version of his satirical classic of the same name.  Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro are terrific  as a journalist and his sidekick taking a "trip" to Las Vegas that pushes the idea of "excess" to the limit.  Director Terry Gilliam creates some unforgettable images as he opens the drug culture and psychadelic experience to the movie camera, but it's certainly going to feel like a "bad" trip for many.  While there are some hilarious moments, there's far too much overload going on.  One wonders if Gilliam experimented with "method-directing"   here.  The transfer looks incredible.  It's virtually flawless, with incredible detail, consistent fleshtone accuracy and vibrant color.  The Dolby Surround sound is extremely active, but one can't help but be disappointed that the laserdisc isn't encoded with Dolby Digital, in spite of the back jacket listing it as such!

UNIVERSAL/PIONEER has released what may become many a viewer's "guilty pleasures" on laserdisc.  The plot, Patrick Swayze as a trucker forced to become an unwitting transporter of weapons for a crime boss, is full of cliches.  Still, it's played out with enough energy to cause the viewer to overlook the minimal plot and be entertained.  Director Kevin(Passenger 57)Hooks has a great eye for composition, and the 2.35:1 aspect ratio is perfectly maintained here.  The picture looks wonderful and slick in every scene.  More importantly, the Dolby Digital soundtrack offers virtually non-stop effects.  The score by George S. Clinton(The Crucible) is also memorable and well complimented, again showcasing the high quality sound mix during the opening credits.

Alas, we now have a "wide-screen" version of the comedy classic "Animal House"!  UNIVERSAL PIONEER has released  the film that made Belushi a household name as part of their "Signature Collection" series.  Meeting these standards, it has been produced with THX as well as an engaging documentary including numerous interviews with the cast of the film.  The picture looks much better than any of the previous laser releases, and the framing appears to produce a better composed image than the full frame version.  The digital mono sound is adequate, but is hindered by its lack of  power to the fantastic soundtrack.  A theatrical trailer is also included.