...it builds an amiable relationship with its audience that promotes repeat viewing.
Video:
For this Blu-ray, VC-1, 1080p, BD50 edition, Warners Bros. worked with restored and remastered elements in a widescreen transfer that measures its original aspect ratio of 2.40:1. Like WB's previous standard-definition release, this high-def Blu-ray version displays a reasonably clear picture, with very little grain except that which is inherent in the print, noticeable mainly in outdoor location shots, especially at night. The overall picture quality is a tad dark, but colors show up vividly--deep, rich, and true. The picture is well detailed most of the time, with occasional periods of softness.
I compared about a dozen identical, side-by-side still shots from the Blu-ray disc and the anamorphic widescreen standard-def disc and found in all but a few cases that the BD looked sharper, crisper, and clearer, as we might expect. I could far more easily decipher license plate numbers in high-def, for example, and I could discern subtle facial features more easily. In the several cases where the Blu-ray was not markedly superior, I thought the two images looked pretty much alike. Understand that I was using a Toshiba HD DVD player to upscale the standard-definition image, which was already pretty good. So, for the BD to look even better in most comparisons tells me the Blu-ray is a distinct improvement over the SD, which, as I say, is as it should be. Otherwise, what's the point?
Audio:
On Blu-ray, WB provide a lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track in addition to regular Dolby Digital. Here, the comparison was easy because both soundtracks come from the same disc, so there was no need to switch between players. Needless to say, I thought the TrueHD sounded best, although the differences were quite small. Indeed, without the almost instant comparison, I doubt that I or most other listeners would notice any difference. Anyway, midrange clarity seems marginally improved in TrueHD, dynamic impact strengthened, and general smoothness increased. While there is still a slightly bright, forward, metallic-sounding lower treble that is hard to tame, the lossless track does its best with what it has. You'll also find some decent surround activity on the disc, even though the filmmakers probably didn't have five-point-one playback in mind when they initially recorded it.
Extras:
The Blu-ray disc contains all of the extras found on WB's Two-Disc Special Edition, and more. As on the SD edition, though, they're in standard-def. First up is an audio commentary with director Joel Schumacher. Next is "The Lost Boys: A Retrospective," twenty-three minutes of cast and crew reminiscences and tributes. After that is "Inside the Vampire's Cave," which includes four featurettes: "A Director's Vision," "Comedy vs. Horror," "Fresh Blood: A New Look at Vampires," and "The Lost Boys Sequel," about eighteen minutes total. Then, there is "Vamping Out," thirteen minutes on the makeup and creations of Greg Cannom. Following that, there's "The Return of Sam and the Frog Brothers: The Story of the Two Coreys," about four minutes; a "Multi-Angle Video Commentary with Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, and Jamison Newlander" in three parts; "A World of Vampires," an interactive map that provides brief remarks about vampires around the world; and "The Vampire Photo Gallery." The section I liked best, though, was "The Lost Scenes," around fifteen minutes of deleted material. Finally, there is a music video, "Lost in the Shadows," with Lou Gramm, and widescreen theatrical trailer.
Things conclude with thirty-two scene selections; English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian spoken languages; English, French, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, and Swedish subtitles; English captions for the hearing impaired; and pop-up menus. Oddly, I could not find any bookmarks or a guide to elapsed time on the disc. Also, Warner Bros. do not include a chapter insert, but they do provide a paper that lists a series of "Lost Boys" photographs you can order from the WB Photo Collection (www.wbphotocollection.com).
Parting Thoughts:
The popularity of "The Lost Boys" has grown steadily since its release, and today it enjoys a distinct cult status. The movie may not offer a lot in the way of serious frights or even originality, but it is most definitely weird and decidedly funny. So, if it's not taken too seriously, it builds an amiable relationship with its audience that promotes repeat viewing. Certainly, the improved picture and sound of high-definition Blu-ray encourage a person to watch it again.
"One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach: All the damn vampires."
For this Blu-ray, VC-1, 1080p, BD50 edition, Warners Bros. worked with restored and remastered elements in a widescreen transfer that measures its original aspect ratio of 2.40:1. Like WB's previous standard-definition release, this high-def Blu-ray version displays a reasonably clear picture, with very little grain except that which is inherent in the print, noticeable mainly in outdoor location shots, especially at night. The overall picture quality is a tad dark, but colors show up vividly--deep, rich, and true. The picture is well detailed most of the time, with occasional periods of softness.
I compared about a dozen identical, side-by-side still shots from the Blu-ray disc and the anamorphic widescreen standard-def disc and found in all but a few cases that the BD looked sharper, crisper, and clearer, as we might expect. I could far more easily decipher license plate numbers in high-def, for example, and I could discern subtle facial features more easily. In the several cases where the Blu-ray was not markedly superior, I thought the two images looked pretty much alike. Understand that I was using a Toshiba HD DVD player to upscale the standard-definition image, which was already pretty good. So, for the BD to look even better in most comparisons tells me the Blu-ray is a distinct improvement over the SD, which, as I say, is as it should be. Otherwise, what's the point?
Audio:
On Blu-ray, WB provide a lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track in addition to regular Dolby Digital. Here, the comparison was easy because both soundtracks come from the same disc, so there was no need to switch between players. Needless to say, I thought the TrueHD sounded best, although the differences were quite small. Indeed, without the almost instant comparison, I doubt that I or most other listeners would notice any difference. Anyway, midrange clarity seems marginally improved in TrueHD, dynamic impact strengthened, and general smoothness increased. While there is still a slightly bright, forward, metallic-sounding lower treble that is hard to tame, the lossless track does its best with what it has. You'll also find some decent surround activity on the disc, even though the filmmakers probably didn't have five-point-one playback in mind when they initially recorded it.
Extras:
The Blu-ray disc contains all of the extras found on WB's Two-Disc Special Edition, and more. As on the SD edition, though, they're in standard-def. First up is an audio commentary with director Joel Schumacher. Next is "The Lost Boys: A Retrospective," twenty-three minutes of cast and crew reminiscences and tributes. After that is "Inside the Vampire's Cave," which includes four featurettes: "A Director's Vision," "Comedy vs. Horror," "Fresh Blood: A New Look at Vampires," and "The Lost Boys Sequel," about eighteen minutes total. Then, there is "Vamping Out," thirteen minutes on the makeup and creations of Greg Cannom. Following that, there's "The Return of Sam and the Frog Brothers: The Story of the Two Coreys," about four minutes; a "Multi-Angle Video Commentary with Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, and Jamison Newlander" in three parts; "A World of Vampires," an interactive map that provides brief remarks about vampires around the world; and "The Vampire Photo Gallery." The section I liked best, though, was "The Lost Scenes," around fifteen minutes of deleted material. Finally, there is a music video, "Lost in the Shadows," with Lou Gramm, and widescreen theatrical trailer.
Things conclude with thirty-two scene selections; English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian spoken languages; English, French, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, and Swedish subtitles; English captions for the hearing impaired; and pop-up menus. Oddly, I could not find any bookmarks or a guide to elapsed time on the disc. Also, Warner Bros. do not include a chapter insert, but they do provide a paper that lists a series of "Lost Boys" photographs you can order from the WB Photo Collection (www.wbphotocollection.com).
Parting Thoughts:
The popularity of "The Lost Boys" has grown steadily since its release, and today it enjoys a distinct cult status. The movie may not offer a lot in the way of serious frights or even originality, but it is most definitely weird and decidedly funny. So, if it's not taken too seriously, it builds an amiable relationship with its audience that promotes repeat viewing. Certainly, the improved picture and sound of high-definition Blu-ray encourage a person to watch it again.
"One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach: All the damn vampires."
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[release]23961[/release]