King Kong Blu-ray Review

"King Kong" makes its grand appearance on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer, presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and encoded using the VC-1 codec, courtesy of Studio Canal. Highlighting its accessibility, the disc offers a main menu setup available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, and Japanese, demonstrating a careful consideration for a diverse audience. This release shares its video qualities with an earlier HDDVD version, presenting an unrestored but commendably strong visual experience. The image showcases good contrast and commendable clarity, with details that are particularly pleasing and stable, even when projected digitally. While minor fluctuations and some digital noise are observed, alongside occasional tiny film flecks, these are minor distractions that do not significantly detract from the viewing experience.

The color reproduction stands out impressively; with a palette that brings rich and well-saturated hues of blues, greens, reds, yellows, blacks, and whites to the forefront. Such vibrancy enhances the visual narrative of "King Kong," providing a substantial enhancement over previous Region-A SDVD releases. Despite the noted issues of digital noise and the rare presence of fleeting imperfections, the overall visual fidelity remains undiminished. An essential aspect to note is the treatment of film grain, which, while occasionally blending with digital noise, is preserved, ensuring that the film's original texture and feel remain intact. This fidelity to maintaining film grain adds an authentic cinematic quality to the Blu-ray presentation.

The disc's compatibility spanning regions A and B guarantees accessibility for a broad audience base without concern for regional locking - a detail paramount for international viewers. It should be mentioned there's no PAL content impeding the loading of the main menu, facilitating a smoother user experience for those in applicable territories. Studio Canal’s transfer of "King Kong" on Blu-ray embodies a careful balance between preserving the film's original aesthetic charm and embracing the technical capabilities of modern home cinema.

The Blu-ray edition of "King Kong" presents viewers with three distinct audio tracks: an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, a French DTS-HD HR 5.1, and a Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 option. After conducting a thorough listen of the primary English track and comparing it intermittently with its French and Spanish counterparts, it becomes evident that the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, despite lacking an uncompressed mono option which some purists might prefer, stands out as the superior choice. Notwithstanding its qualities, the track displays a lack of comprehensive restoration, noticeable through slight imbalances in its audio composition—namely, a robust bass, underutilized rear channels, and appropriately tempered high frequencies, alongside occasional dynamic shifts between the music score and dialogue.

The French DTS-HD HR 5.1 and Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks, however, do not offer a comparable audio experience, with the Spanish version, in particular, feeling decidedly lackluster. In light of these observations, the recommendation leans unequivocally towards the English track for those seeking an immersive viewing. However, it's critical to note that this track could have benefited from further refinement to smooth out the apparent audio inconsistencies. Such inconsistencies include random bursts from the score and minor fluctuations in dialogue clarity, displaying a missed opportunity for achieving a uniformly pristine audio presentation.

Studio Canal, while not delivering an uncompressed audio option, has included a variety of subtitle choices (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and Japanese) that cater to an international audience. These subtitles are thoughtfully integrated within the image frame, enhancing accessibility without intruding on the visual experience. Despite its shortcomings, the Blu-ray’s English audio track offers a satisfactorily robust experience that, while not fully restored to perfection, provides a sufficiently engaging auditory complement to the visual spectacle of "King Kong."

The Blu-ray extra presentation of "King Kong" offers a mixed bag for enthusiasts and technical aficionados. While it intrigues with exclusive content, including a featurette spotlighting renowned make-up effects guru Rick Baker, its inherent limitation comes from the PAL format encoding of its major extras. This unfortunate choice renders the Making of, Deleted Scenes, and even the Original Theatrical Trailer inaccessible to North American Blu-ray players without specific regional capabilities or adjustments. However, users can unlock all supplemental features by setting their device's native country to Japan, leveraging the shared NTSC system with the U.S. and Canada. This workaround adds a layer of complexity but ultimately provides a gateway to these otherwise region-locked treasures.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making of: Insightful interview with Rick Baker, discusses the intricate make-up effects.
• Deleted Scenes: Compilation of ten scenes not included in the final cut.
• Original Theatrical Trailer: The film's first promotional material, capturing the essence of King Kong.

John Guillermin's 1976 rendition of "King Kong" makes its way to Blu-ray through the efforts of French distributors Studio Canal, sidestepping North American availability. This presents a unique opportunity for enthusiasts and cinephiles alike to revisit or discover this iconic piece for the first time in high definition without region lock restrictions and without the hindrance of obligatory French subtitles. The disc itself provides a modest array of extras including a making-of featurette, a selection of deleted scenes, and the film's trailer, which complement the main attraction but leave the viewer desiring more in terms of special features.

Upon revisiting the film, it's impossible to ignore its aged appearance, which may deter those with a preference for more contemporary visuals. However, this dated quality contributes significantly to the film's charm, offering an atmosphere rich with nostalgia that newer movies can seldom replicate. This sense of nostalgia is amplified by John Barry's evocative score and the poignant visuals of King Kong atop the World Trade Center, elements that could stir emotions in even the most stoic viewer. The storyline follows the ambitious venture of Petrox Company and the ensuing discovery and exploitation of King Kong, yielding an adventure that, despite its age, remains engaging thanks to its solid cast and production values.

The performances in "King Kong" (1976) are generally commendable with Jeff Bridges and Charles Grodin among others delivering likable performances, though Jessica Lange's debut is notedly less assured. Despite this, the film holds its ground as not just a piece of cinematic history but as a narrative enriched with thematic depth and visual storytelling. Whether one views it as a product of its time or as a timeless epic, "King Kong" '76 invites a complex conversation on how far film has come and what has perhaps been lost in the evolution of spectacle cinema.

The Blu-ray release of John Guillermin's "King Kong" by Studio Canal epitomizes a commendable effort in presenting this classic in the best possible light, given the limitations inherent to its original production quality. The meticulous care invested in its transfer underscores a commitment to preserving the film's legacy, while navigating the technical constraints. This release, as it stands, likely represents the pinnacle of visual and auditory restoration for this film without undergoing an extensively funded restoration process. The enhancement of visual fidelity and audio clarity contributes to a rejuvenated viewing experience, affirming the dedication to quality.

In engaging with this Blu-ray edition, aficionados of "King Kong" will discover a newfound appreciation for the film's intricate details and cinematographic nuances, previously overshadowed by dated technology and wear. The package serves not only as a testament to the film's enduring appeal but also as an example of how modern technology can breathe life into classic cinema, making it accessible and enjoyable for both longstanding fans and new audiences alike. This release encapsulates a significant achievement in film preservation and presentation, highlighting Studio Canal's role in championing cinematic history through adept restoration techniques.

In conclusion, the Blu-ray presentation of "King Kong" by Studio Canal is emblematic of both a technical triumph and a labor of love towards the film's historical significance. It delivers an enriched viewing experience that likely surpasses previous editions in both visual spectacle and narrative immersion. While acknowledging that this may be as refined as the film gets without a comprehensive restoration, it's a definitive recommendation for collectors and cinephiles. This edition not only honors the legacy of "King Kong" but also sets a precedent for the treatment of classics in the digital age.