• Login
    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Adventures Of Baron Munchausen, The
    Genre:Action Adventure

    Reviewed In Issue 02 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    John Neville, Eric Idle, Sarah Polley, Oliver Reed, Robin Williams.

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 5
    Sound Rating: 4
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals
    Terry Gilliam’s commentary on analog track 2 is illuminating with insights into the director’s creative vision of filmmaking. The supplemental section contains four sequences deleted from the final release and outtakes from the King of the Moon scene with Robin Williams. There is an analysis of the film’s script, including storyboards documenting scenes never filmed and a detailed accounting of one of the most outrageous production stories in film history, featuring interviews with co-writer Charles McKeown, producer Thomas Schuhly, production designer Dante Ferretti, and costume designer Gabriella Pescucci. The original theatrical trailer, production sketches and historical notes on the character of Munchausen with clips and stills of previous film versions are included.

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Criterion Collection
    (Catalog Number): CC1281L
    (MPAA Rating): Not Rated
    (Retail Price): $124.95
    (Running Time In Minutes): 126
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): No
    (Theatrical Release): 1989
    (LD Release Date): 12/92
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Terry Gilliam
    (Screenplay/Written By): Charles McKeown & Terry Gilliam
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Michael Kamen
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Dante Ferretti
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Peter Hollywood
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): NA
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Thomas Schuhly

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.75:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.73:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo SR
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital): No
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    A marvelous imaginative fantasy adventure about the travels and exploits of a legendary 18th century German storyteller. A maddening compilation of inventive special effets and eccentric characters take the viewer on a ride to the moon, the bowels of the earth and the belly of a whale, all the while ensuring fun family entertainment.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The full feature CAV presentation, produced by Eric Saks, is a delightfully satisfying tour de force. I was impressed by the absolute perfect transfer and sound of this production. The picture was digitally transferred using a 35mm intermediate positive element and a 35mm Dolby Stereo® magnetic master sound element. It is presented in its original European Technovision® theatrical aspect ratio of 1.75:1 (measured at 1.72:1). The perfectly color balanced picture image is sharp and pristine without a trace of noise artifacts.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack presents a very aggressive Dolby Surround® soundfield which effectively complements the visual wizardry of this bizarre adventure. The masterful music score by Michael Kamen is beautifully recorded. The dynamics are powerful from the hauntingly quiet ambience of the moon to the cannon shot explosions in battle scenes with the invading Turkish army.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
    (Aggressive System Surround): No
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
    (Aggressive Split Surround): No
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): No
    (Directionalized Dialogue): No
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    Superb Cinematography:
    Reference LaserDisc:
    Collector Edition: