WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

La Femme Nikita
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 21 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Anne Parillaud, Jean-Hughes Anglade, Tcheky Karyo, Jeanne Moreau.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 4
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Vid
(Catalog Number): LVDM5471WS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 117
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1990
(LD Release Date): 2/1/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Luc Besson
(Screenplay/Written By): Luc Besson
(Story): NA
(Music): Eric Serra
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Dan Weil
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): NA
(Editor): Dan Weil
(Supervising Sound Editors): NA
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Jeróme Chalou

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Technovision
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.39:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
This is a thrilling story of a young woman, Nikita (Parillaud), who’s vicious street smarts get her unwillingly recruited into a secret government organization. Over the course of three years, Nikita is broken and transformed into a sophisticated assassin named “Josephine.” After attaining new identity, values and skills; Nikita is released into the outside world to await the dreaded government call to duty. Before her first assignment, Nikita adapts to a normal life on her own, even falling in love with the quiet romantic Marco (Anglade). Just as things begin to feel safe and Nikita learns to trust, she is hauntingly reminded of her obligation to the secret service when she is ordered to kill.

LaserDisc Picture:
The Technovision® scope frame is 2.35:1. The picture is sharp but often lacks detail and color fidelity is inconsistent, sometime exhibiting a brownish hue, although colors are vivid and fleshtones are overall natural. Shadow detail is often poor and slight noise permeates. The subtitles appear beneath the elevated picture so as not to cut off by a widescreen set.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is well recorded with natural dialog and excellent bass extension. Ambiant sound effects provide an aggressive surround presence, and the music score is dynamic and spacious with excellent soundstage imaging. An English dubbed version of the soundtrack is on the analogue tracks.
(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: