While "Kissing a Fool" doesn't have an active sound mix, the Dolby Digital 5.1 track on DVD is still more lively than the standard "surround" offered here.   We wish Pioneer would opt to release Dolby Digital on its laserdisc releases more often than it currently is doing.  The picture looks decent, with adequate fleshtones, but it's also grainy at times, most likely due to an apparently modest budget.   Our biggest criticism lies in the fact that while promoting Vanessa Angel as one of the films stars, is on screen for less than five minutes! 

    "The Jackal" has received outstanding treatment, as are all films included in UNIVERSAL'S SIGNATURE COLLECTION SERIES.  Not only is the picture crisp and with excellent fleshtones, but the Dolby Digital sound is energetic in almost every moment of the film.  The opening credit montage scene features some incredible bass effects for the sub woofer, and there's enough explosions, bullets, and other high-tech gadgetry to keep things moving through all speakers, all the time.   The plot is loosely based on "The Day of the Jackal" , a fine film by Director Fred Zinneman.  While there are some huge differences, there are entire scenes taken right from that film!  Gere is the IRA prisoner let loose on a short leash in efforts to find and stop "The Jackal" (Willis) before he assassinates his next unknown target.  This is a major difference between the two films. In the original, we knew DeGaulle was the target, in this one, we're not sure until the very end who is being targeted.  Still, the revelation is not too startling, or at least not as startling as the ride getting there.

    There's plenty of extras here, including an engaging commentary from the director, an original featurette on the film with interviews, an alternate ending(not much different), theatrical trailer and deleted scenes.  As much as we love deleted scenes, can't studios "try" to color correct them.  These look horrible!

Well, it was bound to happen eventually.  That's right, shortly there will be an updated version of  Hitchcock's classic, "Psycho" in theaters.  It stars Ann Heche(not as pretty as Janet Leigh by an stretch!) and Vince Vaughn in the Perkins role.  Thankfully, the original, the classic is now available in its black and white glory in this THX edition laserdisc.  The film is finally presented with the correct 1.85:1 aspect ratio.  The darks and grays have never been sharper and the contrast is flawless.  The Digital mono sound is also impressive, allowing for the type of  clarity one rarely heard on late-night television airings of the film.   There's also the standard supplementary materials offered here as in all "Signature Collections" making this a great buy for only $49.98

Well liked by critics during its art house run in America, "Kiss or Kill" has developed somewhat of a cult audience.  It has some fine moments, but none of them rise to the level of greatness.  The plot involves two young lovers that get by conning business men.  Troubles arise when bodies start to pile around their con jobs.  The transfer is decent, but the colors are at times subdued.  More problematic is the fact that this title wasn't letterboxed,  causing the framing to seem a little too tight in places.  The dolby surround is modest, but offers a few well placed thrills.