If there's one format that's not even big enough for Barbarella's charms it is widescreen. Why then have we had to endure the awful pan and scan outings of this film so far? Thankfully Paramount have risen to the challenge and released this deep space tingler onto DVD in 2.35:1 letterbox format with truly cosmic results.

"Barbarella" may indeed be laden with the most bizarre sets and Jane Fonda but it always suffered from a rather harsh and grainy print that dated and ruined the film. Paramount should therefore give themselves a pat on the back for this near pristine transfer of the film onto DVD. Given the age of it there is still some print damage but the garish colours are splendidly strong and sharp. In Chapter 12 where Jane Fonda stands against a waterfall the image is crisp and clear, while the light guns in chapter 18 dazzle like never before.

The sound is a mono 1.0 track. It would have been nice if Paramount could have given this busy film a 5.1 encoding like Warners did for the equally batty, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", but the track is nevertheless clear and punchy.

Features extend only to a trailer and some interesting notes in the DVD booklet. But to see this bonkers film in such good shape is a real treat and makes it far more enjoyable than it used to be in its previous fudgy incarnations.

Chapters: 19
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby Digital 1.0
Extra Features: Scene selection, trailer, multiple languages and subtitles, English for the hearing impaired