WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Kafka
Genre:Thriller

Reviewed In Issue 03 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Jeremy Irons, Theresa Russell, Joel Grey.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4.5
Sound Rating: 5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Paramount Home Video
(Catalog Number): LV15124-WS
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $34.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 100
(Color Type): Color With Black & White Sequences
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1991
(LD Release Date): 02/01/93
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Steven Soderbergh
(Screenplay/Written By): Lem Dobbs
(Story): NA
(Music): Cliff Martinez
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Gavin Bocquet
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Steven Soderbergh
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Paul Rassam & Mary Johnson
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Stuart Cornfeld & Harry Benn

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.80:1

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:
Kafka is the ominously suspenseful and complex story of Kafka (Jeremy Irons), a staid and reclusive insurance clerk and aspiring writer who searches for the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of a friend to discover a terrifying secret of bizarre and abominable human-subject research at the castle headquarters of a powerful organization.

LaserDisc Picture:
Director Steven Soderbergh has created a sinister, and hypnotic maze of images set in old-looking 1919 Prague, Czechoslovakia. The primarily black and white cinematography is very effective in depicting the shadowy world of the setting as is the transition to color at the moment of discovery. The D-1 digital video transfer is pristine and film-like with good black and white contrast and shadow detail. The transfer is matted at 1.80:1 from the 35mm black and white and color interpositives.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is excellent with a warmth and richness that nicely supports the hypnotic mood. The Dolby Surround® envelops with a constant eerie presence.
(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: