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    WSR Detailed DVD Review
    Russian Ark
    Genre: Special Interest

    Reviewed In Issue 78 (Nov 2003) Of Widescreen Review®

    Stars:
    Sergei Dreiden

    WSR Review Scores
    WSR Picture Rating: 3
    DD Sound Rating: 3
    DTS Sound Rating: NA
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score: 4
    Internet Links
    http://www.wellspring.com/russianark
    Special Features
    Special features include producer Jens Meurer English audio commentary track, a 43-minute making-of documentary (in English), a 48-minute Mon Paradis-Der Winterpalast documentary (subtitled in English), six minutes worth of interviews, and filmographies.


     DVD General Information

    (Studio/Distributor): Wellspring
    (Catalog Number): FLV5382
    (MPAA Rating): Not Rated
    (Rating Reason):

    		 NA
    (Retail Price): $29.98
    (DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
    (Widescreen Edition): Yes
    (Full Screen Edition): No
    (Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
    (Running Time In Minutes): 99
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Regional Coding): 1
    (Theatrical Year): 2002
    (Theatrical Release): Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release): No
    (DVD Release Date): 09/09/03
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

     Credits Information

    (Director): Alexander Sokurov
    (Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
    (Story): Subscribe Now!
    (Music): Subscribe Now!
    (Director Of Photography): Subscribe Now!
    (Production Designer): Subscribe Now!
    (Visual Effects): Subscribe Now!
    (Costume Designer): Subscribe Now!
    (Editor): Subscribe Now!
    (Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
    (Re-Recording Mixers): Subscribe Now!
    (Executive Producers): Subscribe Now!
    (Co-Producers): Subscribe Now!
    (Producers): Subscribe Now!
    (Academy Awards): Subscribe Now!

      DVD Picture Information

    (Principal Photography): Subscribe Now!
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
    (Measured DVD Anamorphic Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
    (Measured DVD Letterbox Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!

      DVD Sound Information

    (DVD Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
    (Theatrical Sound): Subscribe Now!
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
    (DTS Bit Rate): Subscribe Now!
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate): Subscribe Now!
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      WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    "Russian Ark" is the first feature film done in a single take; the longest uninterrupted shot ever in film history. Through the eyes of an unseen narrator who embarks on a journey through the Hermitage Theater And Museum, we are led through 300 years of Russian history. And when our unknown visitor meets up with a 19th century stranger (Dreiden), he finds himself in the company of a tour guide who leads him from 18th century Russia to the Great Royal Ball of 1913. (Tricia Littrell)

    DVD Picture:
    The anamorphically enhanced 1.78:1 DVD exhibits an HD-originated picture that opens with an appropriately cold appearance. Shortly, the story moves inside the Hermitage Theater, to a warmer, richer color palette with lots of golden hues. However, contrast can seem a bit low at times. The picture on DVD often seems soft and smeared; a higher resolution medium (such as D-VHS or HD-DVD) would be needed to help replicate what it would be like to walk through the theater in person. Edge enhancement is not a problem, and there is minimal pixelization. (Suzanne Hodges)

    Soundtrack:
    The Dolby

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