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Summary: La Femme Fatale (The Technical Aspect of the DVD Release)
Review: La Femme Nikita is one of the most captivating action-drama films that will always be on my top ten list of favorite dvds of all time. I am so glad that I purchased my copy last year before the studio/distributor decided to discontinue it. (dvd version). The only complaints with the quality of the now defunct dvd edition issued by Pioneer is that it lacks the true Dolby Digital 5.1 surround capability. The Egyptian-like Dolby Digital trademark graphics logo and sound at the very start up of the disc are in 5.1 surround. However, when the actual movie starts many will notice their dvd players kicking to the regular surround mode and not Dolby Digital. Also,video-wise, digital artifacts from the transfer are noticeable such as digital blocking (shades of color value and lighting that do not blend smoothly as on VHS or "real life" time, example: the different colors of the sky while the sun is setting or rising). Another fault with the digital compression quality is if you look carefully at the smoke from the weapons used in the drugstore shooting scene as well as the pattern on Nikita's bed comforter, both the smoke and pattern move in a very "stiff" like quality. There is also a transitional time-lapse scene where the seasons change and you can see the trees from full bloom (spring) to bare (winter)where the leaves and other obvious seasonal changes occur very roughly (no smooth flowing transition). Maybe, these are the technical reasons Pioneer stopped production of this version. Hopefully, they bring back a more improved version with bonus features, director's comments, etc. The pre-existing menu options are very limited. So, before you think it is your dvd player or the "natural" characteristics of the digital format, think again. There are other dvd titles on the market where such artifacts or annoying anomalies are non-existent (smooth, natural flowing movement of action); It sometimes all depends on who is pressing or processing the dvd. Otherwise, the colors on the dvd are very rich and bright. Detail of hair,whiskers, eyelashes and other facial and bodily features are sharply defined and crystal clear. Due to the outstanding and remarkable story, plot, acting and cast this dvd earns 5 stars (but not the technical side)...
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Summary: One of my favorite movies
Review: "La Femme Nikita" is one of my favorite movies because of its story and visual style. The movie is about a criminal junky who gets a second chance in life, but only to work for the French Intelligence. She is trained to become a seductive yet lethal weapon. Once relieved of her training, she falls in love with a charming romantic, but soon her new life slowly begins to ruin from the senseless violence she must carry out as a part of her new job. The two lives she lives begins to get in the way of each other, eventually she must decide which life will take over and which life she'll leave behind.
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Summary: A cut above the typical Action Yarn!
Review: This is a stylish film from french director Luc Besson. The leggy Anne Parillaud gives a star-making performance in the title role, she makes Nikita a complex, multi-layered character, she smoothly crosses the lines between violence and tenderness. The soundtrack is perfect and sets the tone for the uniquely crafted action-suspense sequences. Much more intelligent than the typical action movie, but it is also a fascinating character study of a unique nature; the fact that one mistake in Nikita's life can ruin her chances of having a normal life in the future and how it breaks up her love relationship is not the kind of sub-plots that you put in an action movie, yet they are necessary and well-done. Extras: spot 'Catherine' from Truffaut's 'Jules And Jim'. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film an 8!
Rating:
Summary: Soundtrack playback quality poor, Story-line is engaging
Review: Watched this movie at a cinema in London when it was first released there. Thoroughly enjoyed the movie and the sound-track then, but was sorely disappointed with the quality of the sound-track for the movie on this DVD. The music was one of the strong points of the movie. It set the mood/tone for movie. It remains a wonderful movie to watch but would have been even better if the sound-track had been re-mixed or digitally enhanced. The 5 star rating is for the movie only. Soundtrack would have got one half star or none if there were a rating for it.
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Summary: I CANNOT find ANY reason NOT to buy this DVD!
Review: The finest action thriller ever appeared on the big screen. The excellency of filmmaking and acting in this movie puts all Hollywood studios to shame. The picture quality of this DVD is superb unlike other reviews' claim. The only problem I've ever witnessed happened during the time of fasting forward and skipping chapters. There would be a brief moment (0.5-0.7 "second") of image distortion. It's too minor. BTW, it's more enjoyable watching the film in French with English subtitle rather than in English dubbed audio. The translated script are much better in writing.
Rating: 
Summary: Badly produced DVD
Review: I agree with the guy below about the picture quality. I liked this movie, but once I started noticing (about five minutes into it) the terrible compression, I couldn't keep my eyes off it. For those who aren't sure what that means, picture this: large chunks of the screen will freeze for a second or two. It's the only DVD I own that's done this badly. Why spend $20 to own a movie if it's going to look lousy?
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Summary: Nikita still a sharp shooter
Review: I recently showed this film to a friend who was too young to see it when it was first released. We were thoroughly engaged! After 10 years this film still packs a punch. It has aged very well. DON'T watch the English or Spanish Dubs. It's a French film that is best experienced in its original language. I noticed that the subtitles missed some of the French; the dub does even less justice; example: "merde" is translated as "for chrissake" (not quite the same thing). Can you imagine the gaffs in a dubbed version where some idioms are just not translatable? For anyone who enjoys first rate acting, this film is a must. Anne Parillaud's performance is flawless, especially in her assassin scenes; one moment she's shooting with deadly aim, the next moment she's in tears, overwhelmed by the tension of the circumstance. If you have an audio-visual library, this is one film to include in your collection; it just might not be available at your local video-rental store when you fancy watching it.
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Summary: Quality is actually very good
Review: I hesitated to buy this movie on DVD because I read the review that states the quality is poor. But I was positively surprised when I watched it. As a matter of fact the quality is very good. I played it on a medium priced player and mid size TV and didn't notice any moiré at all. This copy is comparable to any good DVD version on the market right now. Do yourself a favor and get this thrilling French movie which for all its violence has good acting. Especially Anne Parillaud gives an excellent performance. And short but memorable Jean Reno as the "cleaner", a character that spawned an entire movie (The Professional). In a nutshell: a very good example of European thriller filmmaking and a nice break form all those run-of-the-mill Hollywood productions.
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Summary: My favorite Luc Besson's movie ...by far!
Review: Intelligent denunciation of governement activities. What's worse? Violence or "legal" violence. Anne Parillaud in one of her most breathtaking role. As a junky she is given a second chance in life by becoming a killer for the french government, but is it worth it? Hundred times better ( if it's not more) than its remake (Point of no return).
Rating: 
Summary: Great Movie. Terrible DVD
Review: Once again, a DVD producer has chosen to release a substandard product. Add "Pioneer" to the list of DVDs I will not buy. This is a VERY POOR reproduction. Some of the artifacts detract from the movie in a very strong manner. For example, the entire DVD is full of moire patterns and bad compression artifacts. Some of the aliasing and moire is so distracting that it causes ones eyes to be drawn inescapably to them. I will never buy another DVD until I have had an opportunity to view the production quality first. This is a very shoddy way for the DVD producers to treat their audience. To pay more for a DVD and then have it contain less quality than a VHS tape is, in my mind, criminal. The actual movie (story, acting, directing) is pretty good and I would give this 4 stars, but the media quality is so bad I just don't know what to do.
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