WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Passion In The Desert
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 31 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Ben Daniels, Michel Piccoli

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 4.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): New Line Home Video
(Catalog Number): ID4315LI
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 91
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date): 12/98
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Lavinia Currier
(Screenplay/Written By): Lavinia Currier
(Story): NA
(Music): José Nieto
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Amanda McArthur
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Nicolas Gaster
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Joel McCleary & Stephen Dembitzer
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Lavinia Currier

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

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Passion In The Desert is based on the novella by classic French author Honoré de Balzac and tells the story of Augustin Robert (Ben Daniels), a young army officer lost in the Sahara desert. At a point where he can barely go on, he is led to water by a wild leopard, and the two develop a tentative and unusual bond.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture exhibits sharp and detailed images with excellent clarity. Colors are inconsistent, sometimes appearing natural and richly hued in the desert, while at other times, images appear slightly oversaturated with orangeish fleshtones. Minor noise is apparent throughout as well as occasional artifacts. Contrast is nicely rendered, as is shadow detail, though at times wanting in the darker scenes. The images of the desert are wonderful on the 1.85:1 transfer.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Surround soundtrack is nicely dimensional with an intimate presence that wraps into the surround channel to produce aggressive envelopment. The music score is beautiful with a wide and deep soundstage. Sound effects are quite dynamic, and the sounds of nature are quite naturally spatial sounding. Bass extension is deep and powerful even in the surround channel. Dialogue sounds generally natural though at times revealing of its ADR-processing. The leopard voicing is absolutely spine-tingling.
(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:
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison: