WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Barcelona
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 14 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Taylor Nichols, Chris Eigeman, Tushka Bergen, Mira Sorvino, Pep Munné, Hellena Schmied, Nuria Badia, Jack Gilpin & Thomas Gibson

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3.5
Sound Rating: 3
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): New Line Home Video
(Catalog Number): ID2993TU
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $$39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 101
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1994
(LD Release Date): 3/1/95
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Whit Stillman
(Screenplay/Written By): Whit Stillman
(Story): NA
(Music): Mark Suozzo
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Jose Maria Botines
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Christopher Tellefsen
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Whit Stillman

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.83:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Barcelona, is a light romantic comedy from Whit Stillman, writer/director of the much-acclaimed film Metropolitan. The story is about a young American working in Barcelona, Spain at the end of the Cold War and his extroverted cousin, a Navy officer waiting for his as-signment with the sixth fleet, who comes for an extended stay. The two spend their time looking for romance but find themselves at the brunt of anti-American feelings. Ted is the salesman, played by Taylor Nichols, and the brash cousin is Fred (played by Chris Eigeman). The quarrelsome two, who try to outdo each other in conversational sparring amidst culture differences and anti-American attitudes find romance with a group of glamorous trade show translators, but disaster strikes leaving Fred in a fight for his life.

LaserDisc Picture:
The matted 1.83:1 picture is richly hued with fully saturated color and deep solid blacks. But overall the colors are unnatural in appearance, especially fleshtones which are rendered with an orange hue, and the picture lacks the detail of the better transfers. Some slight grain and noise is apparent throughout.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby Surround® credited soundtrack is not really the enveloping surround desired but mono disguised with the ambient surround provided by the music score.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: