Laserdisc Spotlight Review - Eraser (1996)

Culturedog Sam Hatch recently spun up the controversial U.S. laserdisc pressing of Chuck Russell’s mid-90s Arnie witness protection actioner “Eraser”. (Warner Home Video Catalog No. 14202)
Arnold Schwarzenegger portrays U.S. Marshal John Kruger, a WITSEC ghost who “erases” endangered witnesses before the criminals do it for real. He plays by his own rules, and will stop at nothing to protect his assignments. When Cyrez Corporation executive Lee Cullen (Vanessa Williams) works with the FBI to uncover secret arms deals involving a hi-tech pulse rifle, only Kruger can keep her safe from tough guys, futuristic guns, and piss-poor CGI crocodiles. Also starring James Caan, James Coburn, Robert Pastorelli, James Cromwell, Danny Nucci, and Mad Men’s John Slattery.
The most terrifying threat of this film? A grinning skull set against an ominous red background - the icon on the Laserdisc Database representing a laserdisc pressing so statistically prone to laser rot, that one should “avoid this release” at all costs. Pressed by the notorious DADC USA manufacturing plant, Eraser is reportedly a silvery turd only useful today as a makeshift throwing weapon or a snack tray. What was Sam’s experience with the release when he found a copy nestled within a lot of vintage LDs? Watch and find out!
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This episode is brought to you by the word "hamhanded" and the phrase "sheer murder is the only way to solve things”.

[@Rokios]

I picked up this Laserdisc up yesterday sealed for $10 and opened it up and it has no rot. :)

[@Culturedog]

John Jenkins Nice price and even nicer result! Congrats!

[@Leigon26]

I bought a copy of Eraser not too long ago and the noise was only blatant during the first 15 minutes or so. After that, the rot was almost barely noticeable. I use a Pioneer LD-700 from '84 and a mid-2000s Sony CRT with no extra equipment or anything. I was pleasantly surprised that my $2, Goodwill Special copy of Eraser was even playable, let alone watchable!

[@Culturedog]

Yeah, when it's clean it's a pretty good transfer! Nice find!

[@TheThingKing]

Dude, I really like the idea od these spotlight reviews when you review the picture and sound of the LD itself as well as giving your thoughts on the film, I'd like to see more of these, good stuff.

[@Culturedog]

TheThingKing Thanks! I'm definitely going to be making more of these. Gives me an excuse to watch more LDs! I've got a Return of the Jedi one uploading right now - should be up and running shortly.

[@mikecozart6481]

If it wasn't so late I'd check mine for rot. Enjoy the videos. Keep them coming.

[@Culturedog]

Thanks, Mike! Will do!!

[@martinmcfly4658]

Sorry if i you have all ready covered. have you done a video about the basics the laserdisc collecting, im in New Zealand i dug out my old player and brought some discs. ATd-3 audio, EFM, CIRC, Dolby, PAL, NTSC, Letterbox,CAV,CLV,CAA.MUsE wide screen etc would be nice to be covered. God Bless.

[@Culturedog]

Thanks for watching! Indeed, I've got a video planned that will essentially work as a visual LaserDisc FAQ. It's a quirky format with all sorts of nuances and bells and whistles, so I'm sure it will be helpful.

[@jamstonjulian6947]

His last genuinely entertaining action movie. And Chuck Russell did some great movies, like The Blob remake.

[@Culturedog]

Yeah, it was a bit of a downward spiral after this one. Which saves me from being tempted to pick up End of Days and/or The Sixth Day on laserdisc, considering how ridiculously expensive they are.

[@sirstewartwallace7874]

Eraser actually grossed $100 million domestically (but it cost $70 million or something to produce), so technically it didn't bomb. It is possible that the laserdisc didn't have AC-3 because the DVD was coming next year and Warner Bros. was heavily backing DVD (I believe it was a launch title for the format). As for the score, parts of Alan Silvestri's score was replaced in post-production by Walter Werzowa (the guy who did the Intel jingle), most notably the opening theme. The La-La Land CD has Silvestri's entire score.

[@Culturedog]

Sir Stewart Wallace Can't vouch for the veracity of the statement, but according to a posting on the laserdisc database, this quote was supposedly found in a Warner press release of some sort: "Since 'Eraser (1996)' failed at the box-office, we felt that Dolby Digital on this title would not help increase sales much and would not justify paying the licensing fee." But in any case - yeah, they were clearly thinking about DVD at that point and probably didn't feel the need to put more effort into the laserdisc than they had to. Interestingly, Warner Bros. did go back to putting AC-3 tracks on later pressings. I just picked up a 1999 pressing of "Practical Magic" and that thing's loaded with pretty much everything that was on the DVD counterpart, and that film didn't light many fires at the box office.

[@vintagevhstreasures4058]

Practical Magic was released on Laserdisc? I thought it was only released on VHS and DVD. Was it only released in Japan on Laserdisc?

[@torivar]

This is notorious indeed. The only title that I have thrown in the trash due to rot. Probably three or four trashed before I found one almost specle free. What is your experience with almost good copies of this or other notorious titles; do they stay almost good or are they doomed as soon as rot starts?

[@Culturedog]

So far, the rotters I've encountered have already rotted long ago - so anything that looks surprisingly good today will stay that way. Usually whatever could go wrong did go wrong within a few years of manufacture. Though I'll try to keep an eye on this and a few other releases every so often to make sure they don't start getting worse.

[@vintagevhstreasures4058]

Well Chuck Russell was only well known for The Mask, the 1988 remake of The Blob and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. Would you say this movie killed his career?

[@Culturedog]

I suppose not, since Eraser made enough money overseas and he did a few other high profile movies after, like Bless the Child and The Scorpion King. The Scorpion King did pretty well from what I remember. It's kind of strange that he went off the radar for so long after that one, even if it wasn't a critical darling.

[@vintagevhstreasures4058]

I actually forgot he did The Scorpion King.

[@jamespartington5]

Im lucky enough to have a rot free men in black and the picture quality is amayzing I think its super ntsc although my eraser is noticeably rotted

[@Culturedog]

jamespartington5 I was just watching Men In Black the other day. You're right, it looks amazing!!

[@thatguyontheright1]

I have a few releases LDDB says WTF avoid, and they have no rot. Air Force One Special Edition for one, Zero rot, or none that I can see. I also have a couple that were pressed at Pioneer that have rotted. So, yea. Any disc can rot.

[@Culturedog]

DADC USA occasionally had their good days, so there are clean copies out there of even the worst titles. You dodged a bullet on Air Force One for sure - that's a monster rotter. I know some guys who have bought 10+ copies in the vain effort of putting together a clean set of discs.

[@thatguyontheright1]

I did that with Aliens, bought 4 copies. Luckily I got into the LD game when people were still trying to off load their stuff and no one was buying. Oh the good old days. another one I got lucky with was Men in Black, I have the Pioneer release.

[@asafcohen8796]

Huh, I was lucky to find the Japanese eraser including the original Dolby digital explanation insert for 15aud in an op shop, it was in great condition but it was unfortunately missing the obi strip, but it was still a great buy! Anyway the cover on the American is really shithouse in comparison with the Japanese on my opinion, it's bland boring black and white, while the Japanese has the coolest scene in the film in a really over the top 90s awesomeness. Also practically no rot!

[@Culturedog]

Yeah, the Japanese release is the way to go for sure! I think I got mine after making this video, but it was definitely worth picking up.

[@asafcohen8796]

@@Culturedog for sure