There are movies which, whether you’ve seen them or not, no matter where your cinematic knowledge or pleasures come from, you have knowledge of and the understanding that the film is generally received well. Some of these movies are regarded as classics; whether they be known as that because of merit or their cultural impact can differ. When it comes to Kathryn Bigelow’s 1991 Point Break, it is safe to say it has the distinction of being a classic for both the merit of the film and the cultural impact as Point Break seems to be a movie that defies generations and has audiences fall in love with its story no matter their age or when they’re first viewing it.
What makes Point Break such a great film is a combination of all factors which bring it together as a whole. While Bigelow (Near Dark) does use some masterful direction, the screenplay written by Rick King (Hot Shot) and W. Peter Iliff (Patriot Games) is perfectly executed by the cast of Patrick Swayze (To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar), Keanu Reeves (Speed), and Gary Busey (Predator 2) having the chemistry of a lifetime. The combination of all three elements brings forth one of the most exhilarating crime thrillers of the ‘90s that transcends time. The movie focuses on Johnny Utah (Reeves) as he is working undercover for the FBI under orders from Pappas (Busey) to find the gang that have been robbing banks during the summer season. Johnny meets Bodhi (Swayze) and believes he is going to lead the FBI to the gang responsible for the bank robberies or is the ring leader behind the robberies themselves. The film is a non-stop adrenaline rush which brings the film to the forefront of entertainment and garners the prestigious title of a classic.
Now, with all that being said, it is important to look into the newest home release of Point Break, and, this time, in glorious 4K UHD. The restoration comes to audiences from Shout! Studios under their Shout! Select brand, and the restoration itself comes from an interpositive. Now, Shout! not only brings collectors some of the nicest and most pristine transfers that exist, but they usually pack a ton of goodies and extras for fans to sink their teeth into to justify the boutique prince point on the release. With Point Break specifically, that is where it lacks as there are no new features on this release, there is solely the new transfer and the legacy features. Now, while this may be a deal-breaker for the average cinephile, anyone who cares about slipcovers will not be left with a choice as there is a gorgeous slipcover attached to this Shout! release that is the same as the original poster which happens to be the same art on the trap sheet in the case itself. Moreover, while Shout! has proven to, on occasion, release an edition and then a few months or a year later possibly re-release the film on steelbook, there is usually not a difference in the disk itself. So, if you’re wanting Point Break on 4K but are disappointed at the lack of features and hope the possible steelbook release will get features, there isn’t reason to hold one’s breath as that is unprecedented at this time.
Now, if you’re still on board with this release of Point Break (which honestly, the lack of features shouldn’t sway one away from buying this, but maybe wait for a sale), the presentation is absolutely flawless. The Dolby Vision HDR10 is breathtakingly beautiful and crisp making the 33-year-old movie look timeless. The only issue with this presentation is that it takes away all the grain, while some grain would have made the presentation look more authentic to the time period as the movie certainly has elements that make it feel dated, but still plays off more as a modern period piece. While the lack of grain is the only downside as it was there naturally, it doesn’t create a smoothed picture either, so the lack of grain doesn’t create a distorted picture. Overall, the image quality and presentation of Point Break on 4K UHD from Shout! is arguably the best the film has looked in ages, and is undeniably the best way to watch this modern-day classic starring two of the best actors to ever do it. As Bodhi would say, the movie is “100% pure adrenaline”.
Point Break Special Features:
4K Disc
- *NEW* 4K Restoration of the film from an interpositive
- In Dolby Vision (HDR 10 Compatible)
- Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, 2.0
Blu-ray
- *NEW* 4K Restoration Of The Film From An Interpositive
- Additional Scenes
- Four Featurettes: “It’s Make Or Break,” “Ride The Wave,” Adrenaline Junkies,” And “On Location: Malibu”
- Still Gallery
- Theatrical Trailer
Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray December 5th, 2023.
For more information, head to the official Shout! Studios Point Break webpage.
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Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews
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