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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Baaria

    Featured In Issue 161, November 2011

    Picture3.5
    Sound3.5
    WSR Score5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Image Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    ID732902BD
    (MPAA Rating):
    Not Rated
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $29.97
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    151
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    2009
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    10/18/11
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Giuseppe Tornatore
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    DTS HD Lossless 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Baaria describes the progress of a young man—as well as that of his country—as Peppino takes work as a shepherd to support his family in the small Sicilian town of Bagheria, nicknamed "Baaria" by its residents. During the next five decades he experiences a gamut of emotions and awakenings, as he finds the love of his live, is a witness to dramatic political change and intellectual upheaval, and discovers a destiny he could have never imagined. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include commentary by Giuseppe Tornatore, a conversation with Tornatore by Mario Sesti (SD 25:51), the featurette Backstage (SD 29:34), a Venice Film Festival Special Event (SD 14:17), deleted scenes (SD 01:48), a photo gallery, a poster gallery, and the theatrical trailer.

    The 1.78:1 1080p AVC picture exhibits a stylized, dated look with a slight sepia-filtered effect. As a result, color fidelity is effectively stylized, with generally weak hues and saturation. Fleshtones are uneven as well, but at times are natural looking. Contrast is crushed and blown-out, thus black levels are weak and shadows far less dramatic. Resolution is far less detailed, with an overall softer focus. As the film progresses through the years, the picture quality progressively improves as well. Still, the result suggests an era of long ago and nicely supports the storytelling. (Gary Reber)

    The Italian-language DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is a mishmash of sounds and music, with a forward-dialogue presence. Ennio Morricone's music is at times light, expansive, and supportive. Fidelity is a bit light and strident sounding, though, at times there is effective fullness and good bass extension. Surround envelopment, at times, is strong and aggressive, particularly music and atmospherics, but without particularly distinctive directionality. The soundtrack is not particularly distinguished, and the overall sonics definitely convey a uniquely "Italian" feel. Still, the soundtrack is supportive and really carries the storytelling. (Gary Reber)

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    No one covers the issues in more detail than Widescreen Review. No one else has the breadth and depth of different review systems on which to base transfer quality opinions. Gary Reber has given more editorial space to important Home Theatre trends and technologies than anyone in the industry, AND he has Joe Kane and Greg Rogers on his staff as advisors/columnists. 'Nuff said.

    Jason Matthew Cook
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