Laser's Light

Though small, activity in the laser world is considered telling because laser users are film enthusiasts. 'The Cameron films are effects laden, and users love to go through them frame by frame to uncover the magic,” says Judy Anderson, executive director of the Laser Disc Association, adding that "the effects have a large part to do with the mythology of movies.”

The laser format offers such features as perfect freeze frame and frame advance and, because it's an optically recorded disc, can accommodate supplementary material such as production notes, scripts and drawings.

Cameron has long been a supporter of the format, having personally supervised the remastering and transfer of his films to disc.

He has also produced special-edition releases expressly for the laser market, beginning with the “Aliens Special Edition” in December 1991 and continuing in March 1993 with “The Abyss Special Edition,” which was the first THX-certified laserdisc release. Both are available through FoxVideo (each $99.98).

'The Abyss” release includes an extensive behind-the-scenes documentary, while “Aliens" is packed with production notes, early video tests for the film and director Cameron's masterful production sketches. The material provides a completely different view of the filmmaker's unique talent.

The films are also available in regular editions (without the bells and whistles) for $44.98, and the four versions have each sold more than 50,000 units. Meanwhile, the original 'The Terminator” is out March 15 in a new wide-screen version from Image Entertainment ($39.99). The two versions have shipped 75,000 units.

"The laserdisc gives the director one last shot at making the film they wanted to make. For a very small amount of money they can get it on record," says Anderson.

Over the past three years Cameron's films have won more than one third of the LDA's awards, says Anderson, noting that the special edition of "Terminator 2: Judgment Day” – a $129 Pioneer release that has sold in excess of 125,000 units – “won every award it competed for” (a total of 13 trophies). The release contains three minutes of additional footage, artwork and other extras. LDA winners are selected by consumer balloting through magazines and laserdisc stores.

"True Lies,” released by FoxVideo to disc, with Dolby Surround AC-3 digital sound ($49.98), shipped gold, with units in excess of 125,000. The release is probably poised for some awards action itself when the trophies are handed out this summer.

Acknowledging his ongoing support of the format, the LDA honored Cameron on March 1 with its Laser Beam Award, which recognizes "high-profile people who keep laser in the spotlight.”

"He may not have been the first," says FoxVideo executive David Goldstein, “but he's certainly the best practitioner in going beyond what he has been able to put on the sheen and realizing the capabilities of laserdiscs to expand on his ideas.