The Apple Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The Apple" features an AVC encoded image in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, offering a remarkably polished presentation for this cult classic. Undergoing a fresh 1080p transfer, it delivers a significant upgrade over the previous DVD release. The HD treatment provides a better grasp of the film’s production intricacies, allowing viewers to appreciate the costuming, set decoration, and choreography with satisfying levels of detail. Close-ups reveal compelling facial textures, and broader shots preserve their integrity. Colors, especially the hearty primaries and vibrant neon hues, vividly sustain the disco-era aesthetic. Skin tones are consistently natural, and although whites have a few bloomy moments, overall delineation remains intact. The film grain is fine and filmic, contributing to an authentic cinematic feel. Moreover, the source material is in excellent condition, free of distracting damage or aging artifacts.

This new restoration by Scorpion Releasing and Kino Lorber will delight fans of "The Apple." The enhanced detail levels invite repeated viewings to notice the myriad of quirky design choices previously unnoticed. The makeup effects, flamboyant costumes, and futuristic production design are clearer and more immersive. Colors are notably vibrant with robust primary saturation, enhancing the zany visual experience. Additionally, the black levels are deep and inky, providing excellent shadow separation that adds depth to the image. This transfer exceeds expectations, ensuring that “The Apple” can be enjoyed with renewed vibrancy and clarity. Notably, the mysterious Screening Print cut remains absent from this release due to its unknown whereabouts.

The audio presentation of "The Apple" on Blu-ray offers an exemplary 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix, enhancing the overall auditory experience significantly. Notable improvements include a boost in volume and definition, particularly in musical numbers where sharp instrumentation and clear vocals dominate. Dialogue exchanges maintain their integrity despite the film's age, with crisp highs during moments of heightened emotion or busy crowd scenes. The scoring is well-supported, effectively accentuating the mix and adding depth to the auditory experience.

The DTS-HD MA 2.0 mix elevates the film's sound quality to an unprecedented level, ensuring songs like "Coming For You" are showcased with vibrant clarity. Dialogue remains clear and engaging, seamlessly integrated with robust song and dance numbers that fill the mix with substantial weight. The faithful rendering of sound effects enhances the film’s atmospherics, particularly evident in scenes such as Mr. Boogalow's BIM building, where a realistic echo complements the large room setting. Free from hiss, pops, or age-related anomalies, this mix is both pristine and meticulously crafted to support the eccentric nature of the film.

Overall, the audio presentation of "The Apple" on Blu-ray successfully combines clarity and dynamic range, making it a compelling experience for both film enthusiasts and audiophiles. The sound mix captures the essence of the film’s unique musicality and eccentric charm, providing an immersive and high-fidelity listening experience.

The Blu-ray release of "The Apple" boasts a range of robust extras, primarily highlighting insights from Catherine Mary Stewart. Her in-depth interview offers valuable context about the film's creation, her selection through a casting call, and her experiences with fellow actors like Grace Kennedy and George Gilmour. Stewart shares amusing anecdotes, the challenges of lip-synching, and memories of deleted scenes. Her audio commentary, moderated by Nathaniel Thompson, repeats some stories from the interview but enriches the overall experience with engaging flow and expanded details about her career and the film's tribulations and eventual cult status. Though the Rifftrax commentary and extended screening print are absent, this collection of features is commendable for fans and film enthusiasts alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Featuring moderator Nathaniel Thompson and star Catherine Mary Stewart.
• Catherine Mary Stewart Interview: In-depth discussion regarding her time on the film.
• Theatrical Trailer: Includes snippets of deleted scenes.

"The Apple" attempts to ride the wave of late '70s musical phenomena such as "Grease" and "Saturday Night Fever," but instead veers into schlock territory helmed by Cannon Films' Menahem Golan. Set in the future of 1994, the film follows a narrative where the world is controlled by music mogul Mr. Boogalow (Vladek Sheybal) and his BIM (Boogalow International Music), a label whose omnipresent tunes keep humanity subservient and dancing. The story centers on naive Canadian singers Bibi (Catherine Mary Stewart) and Alphie (George Gilmour), who are seduced by promises of fame and torn apart by the morally corrupting influences of Boogalow's world. While Bibi succumbs to these temptations, Alphie resists and faces a tumultuous journey seeking redemption with a community of outcasts led by an aging Hippie (Joss Ackland).

The film is a chaotic amalgamation of semi-camp and semi-sincere biblical allegories, most prominently showcased in a literal depiction of Bibi biting into an oversized apple during a trip to Hell, underscoring its themes of temptation and spiritual malaise. Visual and musical extravagance is abundant, with lavish sets and flamboyant costumes that define its high points. However, the plot suffers from incoherent storytelling, abrupt transitions, and a heavy-handed use of metaphorical elements which may feel overly obvious to the point of farce. Even dramatic moments are undercut by unintended comedy, such as a ludicrous scene where firefighters abandon their duties to engage in state-mandated exercise routines.

Despite its lack of traditional cinematic quality, "The Apple" has endured as a cult favorite largely due to its earnestness and eccentric charm. Its outlandishly endearing performances, coupled with zany musical numbers, make it an entertaining watch, especially when viewed in the right mindset—be it fatigued or under the influence. The production's earnest endeavor to create a meaningful rock musical ends up delivering instead an unintentional comedic gem, turning its many flaws into part of its peculiar appeal. Whether approached with serious critique or casual enjoyment, "The Apple" holds an unmistakable place in the canon of cult cinema.

Scorpion Releasing and Kino Lorber have delivered a remarkably well-crafted Blu-ray presentation of "The Apple," a widely recognized cult classic from the Cannon Group. The film, directed and written by Menahem Golan, is notorious for its bold and flamboyant take on the rock-musical genre, a testament to its era's eccentricities. Despite lacking traditional cinematic greatness, "The Apple" offers an incredible entertainment value through its campy charm and over-the-top narrative execution. The visual and audio transfer on this Blu-ray release is outstanding, elevating the overall viewing experience to new heights. Viewers will appreciate the meticulous restoration that ensures vibrant visuals and immersive sound quality.

The extras included in this release are both comprehensive and insightful, although the absence of the Screening Print remains a slight disappointment for die-hard fans. Nonetheless, the supplements provide substantial context and background, enhancing appreciation for this unique piece of cinema history. The film's spirited soundtrack and engaging absurdity contribute to its status as a musical trainwreck that has garnered affection over the years.

"The Apple" is a bad movie, perfect for cult consumption. However, it's never dull, is reasonably successful in the soundtrack department, and it's quite fun to watch, especially when Golan whiffs on grand ideas, including a climatic reveal of hippies as the source of all that's good in the world, and an appearance from God, aka Mr. Topps (Joss Ackland), who drives to Earth inside a flying Rolls Royce. There's plenty of confusion to go around, as Golan loses control of the feature rather quickly, but The Apple achieves success in different ways, completely committing to its absurdity, watching the production aim to please to the best of its ability. It's not a picture that commands respect, but its goofiness is engaging, even endearing, emerging as one of the better musical trainwrecks of the era.