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WSR Detailed DVD Review
Nativity Story, The
Genre: Drama

Reviewed In Issue 119 (Apr 2007) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Keisha Castle-Hughes, Oscar Isaac, Hiam Abbass, Shaun Toub & Alexander Siddig

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 3
DD Sound Rating: 4
DTS Sound Rating: NR
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: 2.5
Internet Links
www.thenativitystory.com

Special Features
Special features are limited to two theatrical trailers and DVD-ROM features. Plus up-front previews.


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): New Line Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 10668
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Rating Reason):

For some violent content
(Retail Price): $28.98
(DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): Yes
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 101
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 2006
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 03/20/07
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): Catherine Hardwicke
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  DVD Picture Information

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  DVD Sound Information

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  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Christmas in April? Sure, why not? Ripped straight from the Bible, this as-old-as-time (literally) tale revisits Mary (Castle-Hughes) and Joseph (Isaac), her Immaculate Conception, their travel to Bethlehem in search of an inn, the birth of the Messiah, a visit from three wise men, and the wrath of a paranoid King Herod (Ciaran Hinds). The Nativity Story premiered at The Vatican on November 26, 2006. (Jack Kelley)

DVD Picture:
The desaturated, anamorphically enhanced 2.32:1 DVD is encoded at very low data rates during many scenes, perhaps due to the inclusion of both a widescreen and full-screen version on the same side of the disc. The result is an image that can be muddled by encoding artifacts, which are then exasperated by the noticeable edge enhancement. It is a shame, because there are times when the images are captured very well, with good definition and impressive shadow delineation. (Danny Richelieu)

Soundtrack:
Dialogue often sounds boxy in the Dolby