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    WSR Detailed DVD Review
    Babe
    Widescreen Special Edition
    Genre: Family

    Reviewed In Issue 79 (Dec 2003) Of Widescreen Review®

    Stars:
    James Cromwell & Magda Szubanski

    WSR Review Scores
    WSR Picture Rating: 3.5
    DD Sound Rating: 4
    DTS Sound Rating: 4
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score: 4.5
    Internet Links
    http://www.universalstudios.com/home
    Special Features
    Universal


     DVD General Information

    (Studio/Distributor): Universal Studios Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 22972
    (MPAA Rating): G
    (Rating Reason):

    		 NA
    (Retail Price): $19.98
    (DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
    (Widescreen Edition): Yes
    (Full Screen Edition): No
    (Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
    (Running Time In Minutes): 92
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): No
    (Regional Coding): 1
    (Theatrical Year): 1995
    (Theatrical Release): Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release): No
    (DVD Release Date): 09/23/03
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

     Credits Information

    (Director): Chris Noonan
    (Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
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    (Director Of Photography): Subscribe Now!
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    (Costume Designer): Subscribe Now!
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    (Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
    (Re-Recording Mixers): Subscribe Now!
    (Executive Producers): Subscribe Now!
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      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!
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      WSR Narrative Review
    Special Notes:
    Also available in a 2-Pack with the sequel. Also available in a 1.33:1 (4:3) full screen edition.

    Story Synopsis:
    Based on the book "The Sheep-Pig," By Dick King-Smith, "Babe" is a delightful fable that is filled with fun and laughter. When Farmer Hoggett (Cromwell) wins Babe (voice by Christine Cavanaugh) in a raffle, he sees more in the little pig than just Christmas dinner. At his fairytale farm, Babe finds it difficult to stay within the order of animal life because of his admiration of his surrogate sheepdog mother. When Babe helps rescue Farmer Hoggett

    DVD Picture:
    Finally, "Babe" is available on DVD in widescreen format! (The title was originally released several years ago only in a modified full screen version, though the LaserDisc before that was in widescreen format.) The anamorphically enhanced 1.85:1 DVD picture tends to appear a bit dark, even in the midday scenes. While the picture can exhibit good sharpness, fine details can appear a bit soft at times. Colors are vivid and intentionally over-the-top to enhance the fairytale story. The green meadow grasses are vibrant and the sky is a bright blue. Fleshtones are quite natural. The source element is revealing of some dirt and grain. There is some edge enhancement noticed that gives objects an unnatural halo and pixelization can, at times, cause an undesirable

    Soundtrack:
    The 5.1 audio presentations deliver a lively, delightful listening experience through an animated, nicely recorded music score that offers supple spaciousness and envelopment. The fidelity is slightly dated in comparison to current standards for soundtrack production, but the engagement of the spatial soundfield is certainly worthy of commendation and is as good as, or better than, many of the current productions. Dialogue sounds slightly forward, and is fairly well-integrated with the visuals. The surrounds figure actively throughout, and there

    Reason #48 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    In addition to Widescreen Review, I subscribe to several audio/video publications, such as Sound And Vision, Stereophile, Stereophile Guide To Home Theater, Audio Video Interiors, and peruse through the myriad of British audio video publications when I go to Borders, Barnes & Nobles, or Tower Records. I must acknowledge that Widescreen Review is one of the better ones because it is more like a trade publication than a magazine full of advertisements. Moreover, Widescreen Review was one of the first publications to delve into DVI and more importantly, HMDI, which I deem important because it can make a lot of the current products out there obsolete. Put simply, Widescreen Review is The New York Times of audio/video publication. In other words, if you want real news, you read The New York Times. To stay on top of what’s happening in the audio/video industry, you read Widescreen Review. Enough said.

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