WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Raising Arizona
Genre:Comedy

Reviewed In Issue 20 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson, John Goodman, William Forsythe, Frances McDormand, Randall “Tex” Cobb

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2
Sound Rating: 2.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 519185
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 94
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1987
(LD Release Date): 3/1/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Joel Coen
(Screenplay/Written By): Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
(Story): NA
(Music): Carter Burwell
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Jane Musky
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Richard Hornung
(Editor): Michael Miller
(Supervising Sound Editors): Skop Lievsay
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): James Jacks
(Co-Producers): Mark Silverman
(Producers): Ethan Coen

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.82:1

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:
Raising Arizona is an outrageous dark comedy about parenting—sort-of. Holly Hunter stars as Ed, the cop who repeatedly books H.I. McDonnough (Cage) for his addiction to robbing convenience stores. When H.I. temporarily gives up his criminal ways to marry her, things go well with the newlyweds until Ed painfully announces that she is barren. Adoption is not an option because of H.I.’s criminal record. About this time, wealthy Nathan Arizona and his wife become the proud parents of quintuplets. And feeling the Arizonas have their hands full, H.I. and Ed decide to share in their blessing by taking one of the babies as their own. Tension builds within the new family when H.I.’s old prison buddies come calling and a Lone biker is bent on finding the missing Arizona infant.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.82:1 matted picture is problematic with inconsistent colors, reddish hued fleshtones and a generally uneven presentation. The picture is sharp but lacks detail. There is no noise or artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The sound is thin and bright, and wanting in the bass and lower midrange octaves. Essentially mono, stereo usage is minimal.
(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: