Flashdance Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Flashdance" benefits significantly from a new 4K remaster, marked by director Adrian Lyne's involvement. The resulting 1080p transfer is nearly flawless, preserving the film’s organic, filmic quality. The interplay between shadow and light, particularly in the steel mill scenes and dance sequences, is superbly balanced. The high-definition video captures excellent contrast with deep black levels, though minor instances of black crush can be noticed. Colors are tonally balanced with realistic primary shades and well-rendered secondary hues. Notably, the title and credits appear richer compared to the earlier 2013 release, with reds being more vivid and blues more accurate. Grain structure remains pleasingly intact, lending an authentic texture to facial features, costumes, and set designs.

Detail levels are striking across varied scenes, from the gritty worksite terrain to the vibrant dance academy settings. Close-ups reveal appreciable lifelike textures in skin, hair, and fabrics, although some minor inherent softness persists in select shots without detracting significantly from the overall clarity. The consistent depth of field in bar performances and interior scenes adds significant dimension, enhancing viewer immersion. Blacks are adequately handled despite occasional grayish tones in darker scenes, likely due to the film's original lighting conditions. Nevertheless, discernible details in shadows and darker elements maintain a commendable representation.

Paramount’s treatment ensures that “Flashdance” stands out in this new release, delivering an enriched visual experience. Color reproduction effectively captures the contrast between Pittsburgh’s gloomy backdrop and the lively dance scenes, with flashy stage lights and car headlights adding vibrancy. Flesh tones are natural, showing a slight coldness consistent throughout the film. Instances of Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) are minimal and subtle, preserving the film's texture without significant smoothing artifacts. Overall, this Blu-ray release exemplifies a careful balance between modern technological enhancement and respect for the original film’s aesthetic.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 channel mix provided on this Blu-ray release of "Flashdance" is exemplary, preserving the high standards set by previous versions. The audio track vividly captures the essence of the 1980s with its dynamic and lively pop-rock tunes that dominate the front soundstage, giving an invigorating music experience. While predominantly front-oriented, the soundtrack interjects just enough rear support to fully immerse listeners, particularly during music-driven sequences. The LFE performance remains tight and punchy, contributing to the overall clarity without overwhelming the other auditory elements. Dialogue is clear and well-balanced with the instrumental score, although occasionally it does lean towards a more compressed output during quiet scenes.

From orchestral flourishes to atmospheric noise, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix ensures that every component of the film's audio landscape is meticulously rendered. The track excels in creating a robust and lively environment for the film’s iconic dance sequences and energetic montages. During non-musical segments, the sound remains clean and natural, offering precise dialogue reproduction and balanced effects. Dynamic range is well-executed, with a focus on natural bass response that provides solidity without distortion. The spatial audio elements meticulously place city and workplace sounds, enhancing the immersion while maintaining an organic auditory experience. This audio presentation successfully merges nostalgic energy with modern technical precision, making it a definitive choice for audiophiles and film enthusiasts alike.

The Blu-ray of "Flashdance," part of the Paramount Presents line, offers a succinct yet engaging collection of extras that provide additional context and insights into the film. Despite the omission of some previously available features, this release includes newly added content like "Filmmaker Focus: Director Adrian Lyne on Flashdance," which, though brief at under six minutes, delivers captivating behind-the-scenes details on lighting, music, and the film's impact. The packed featurettes, "The Look of Flashdance" and "Releasing the Flashdance Phenomenon," involve contributions from producers, costume designers, and key actors who reveal interesting tidbits on production choices and the movie's cultural significance. The iconic theatrical trailer rounds off the offering, adding a nostalgic touch. This collection is undeniably informative yet leaves fans wanting more comprehensive coverage.

Extras included in this disc:

• Filmmaker Focus: Director Adrian Lyne on Flashdance: Insightful interview on the film’s production and legacy.
• The Look of Flashdance: Comments from cast and crew on visual and production design.
• Releasing the Flashdance Phenomenon: Discussion about the movie’s unexpected success and cultural impact.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer for the film.

"Flashdance" (1983) stands as a quintessential 80s film, capturing the spirit and energy of the era through its iconic soundtrack and unique visual style. Directed by Adrian Lyne, it follows the journey of Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals), a welder by day and exotic dancer by night, who dreams of studying at the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance. With encouragement from her boss and boyfriend, Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri), Alex faces her fears and pursues her passion. The film's narrative might be considered thin, with an emphasis on style over substance, but it is undeniably engaging, primarily due to its memorable dance sequences and catchy soundtrack featuring hits by Michael Sembello and Irene Cara.

The film's technical aspects are noteworthy. Paramount’s new Blu-ray release includes a fresh 4K scan, enhancing the visual experience while maintaining the nostalgic essence of the original. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack ensures the music plays out with crystal clarity, further immersing viewers in the film's dynamic atmosphere. Though some extras from previous releases are absent, the package retains compelling content, appealing to both new viewers and long-time fans.

While "Flashdance" may not offer deep character development or a complex plot, its impact on popular culture cannot be overstated. It sparked a renewed interest in dance films and influenced many music videos with its innovative melding of music and movement. Jennifer Beals' performance, although supported by dance doubles, established her as a defining figure of 80s cinema. The film’s success was unexpected, particularly given Paramount's initial skepticism, but it remains a beloved piece of cinematic history, celebrated for its infectious energy and iconic moments.

The Paramount Presents edition of "Flashdance" presents a refined but imperfect upgrade to this cult classic. Featuring a new 4K scan supervised by director Adrian Lyne, the visual quality showcases remarkable improvement with enriched colors and more defined visuals. However, it must be noted that this enhancement is not dramatically different from the already decent 2013 release. The audio remains faithful to its previous incarnation, offering an immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that continues to complement the film’s iconic soundtrack.

Despite the upgraded picture quality, the release falls short in terms of supplemental content. Half of the bonus features from the 2013 edition have been omitted, replaced with new but less substantial extras. This selective inclusion is a critical point for avid collectors who value comprehensive behind-the-scenes insights. The packaging, while tasteful, does little to compensate for this lack, though it maintains a level of premium feel that might attract new buyers.

In summary, the Paramount Presents edition of "Flashdance" largely satisfies in terms of audiovisual fidelity but leaves something to be desired in terms of extras. For those who prioritize cutting-edge visual and audio quality, this release is a worthwhile investment. However, if you already own the 2013 Blu-ray version, the new edition may not warrant a double-dip.

This new Paramount Presents edition of Flashdance is just about what the doctor ordered. It has a brand new 4K scan of the film which looks lovely, a nice packaging set, but is slightly (only slightly) hindered by a strange lack of extras from the previous edition. We have a brand new extra added to the list, but half of the original slew of extras found on the 2013 disc are strangely missing (and there seems to be enough space on the disc to accommodate them). As a lover of extras this does perturb me, but as someone who puts huge stock in good quality audio and video specs, I’m more than willing to overlook it for the beautiful transfer we got in trade.