The Fisher King Blu-ray Review

Image Entertainment delivers "The Fisher King" on Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer, maintaining the film's authentic, filmic quality. The source print exhibits a natural, light layer of grain, highlighting the movie's detailed cinematography. While some shots appear soft and contrast can be occasionally weak with hazy black levels, the transfer overall retains a pleasing clarity, especially in close-ups. The refined textures and enhanced vibrancy in scenes, such as the Red Knight's visions and the visually bold Chinese restaurant sequence, showcase the film’s dynamic palette effectively. The presentation is devoid of artificial enhancements, preserving its natural look.

Despite a few minor blemishes, like small specks and light grain, the video quality remains free of significant compression issues or heavy noise. Colors are robust with realistic skin tones, and Gilliam’s unique visual style is well-represented, providing strong contrast and deep black levels for much of the film. The transfer significantly upgrades from previous DVD releases, exhibiting better-resolved textures and a greater sense of clarity. Fans of Gilliam's work will appreciate how his energetic camerawork and imaginative art design are brought out vividly in this Blu-ray presentation, delivering a visually compelling experience.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track on "The Fisher King" Blu-ray offers a faithful auditory experience that remains true to the film's original sound design. This track is not subjected to any digital alterations or remastering, preserving the authenticity of its source. Such a mix isn't particularly surprising for a film from the early 1990s, where rear channels primarily provide light ambiance and occasional musical bleed. While it may lack extensive surround sound immersion, it compensates with impressive clarity and a satisfying dynamic range, showcased effectively during the film’s more intense sequences. Throughout, there are no hisses, pops, crackles, or dropouts.

Dialogue is consistently clear and easy to understand, maintaining a full and crisp quality across the front soundstage. The music, including notable tracks like Chill Rob G's “The Power,” comes through with ample heft and vibrancy. Directionality across the soundstage is well-managed, with appropriate effects and music cues accurately placed. Rear activity may be subdued during typical scenes, offering faint echoes of score and ambiance, but it appropriately heightens during Parry's hallucinations with surrounding creepy voices, booming effects, and a noticeable low-end rumble. This balance between the audio elements ensures neither overwhelms. While not overwhelming with immersion, the auditory bursts align well with the film's visual creativity peaks, providing a solid listening experience.

Optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles are included, enhancing accessibility without compromising the track's integrity. Overall, this Blu-ray’s audio presentation delivers robust clarity and a respectable dynamic range, making it a commendable experience for both purists and casual viewers.

The Blu-ray extras for Terry Gilliam's "The Fisher King" are disappointingly sparse, especially given the film’s storied production history and the wealth of behind-the-scenes stories that could have enriched the viewer's experience. Notably absent are any supplements from the Criterion Collection laserdisc, leaving only a single piece of additional content. While fans of Gilliam’s work often find the tales of his productions as compelling as the films themselves, this release offers no such insights, ultimately missing an opportunity to provide a deeper understanding of this 1991 classic. The included trailer is presented in high-definition with LPCM 2.0 sound, but additional content is sorely missed.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: The movie's theatrical trailer is presented in 1080p and LPCM 2.0 sound.

Terry Gilliam’s The Fisher King represents a notable shift in the filmmaker’s career, diverging from his typical high-concept, effects-heavy narratives to a more intimate, character-driven drama. Penned by Richard LaGravenese, the script retains many Gilliam-esque elements such as the Grail mythology, mental illness, and hallucinatory aesthetics, seamlessly blending them into the gritty backdrop of late '80s and early '90s New York. While lacking the grand scale and elaborate special effects of Gilliam's previous works like Time Bandits or Brazil, this film leverages its deeply human story and emotionally resonant themes to create a unique romantic drama.

Jeff Bridges stars as Jack Lucas, a shock-jock radio host whose life spirals into depression after his insensitive advice leads to a caller committing a gruesome mass shooting. Stripped of his former glory, Jack finds an unexpected path to redemption through his interactions with Parry, portrayed by Robin Williams. Parry is a delusional homeless man questing for the Holy Grail, a fantasy that masks his profound grief from losing his wife in the same tragedy Jack inadvertently instigated. The evolving friendship between Jack and Parry forms the core of the narrative, embodying themes of mutual healing and second chances. Both actors deliver compelling performances underscored by an authentic blend of humor and pathos, with Williams' portrayal of Parry striking a perfect balance between manic energy and tender vulnerability.

Visually, Gilliam’s directorial style permeates every frame, with distorted camera angles and surreal depictions bringing a magical realism to the otherwise grimy urban setting. Standout scenes include the breathtaking transformation of Grand Central Station into an impromptu ballroom and the haunting vision of the Red Knight. These elements infuse the film with a blend of whimsy and poignancy. While the screenplay occasionally falters with expository dialogue and a predictably saccharine conclusion, Gilliam’s visual flair and the robust performances from Bridges and Williams ensure that The Fisher King remains an emotionally rich and cinematically engaging experience.

"The Fisher King" on Blu-ray offers an exceptional viewing experience, capturing the unique blend of quirkiness and emotional depth that defines Terry Gilliam's films. The visual and audio quality has been significantly improved from previous DVD releases, presenting the film with enhanced clarity and detail that honor its original aesthetic. Colors are vibrant without being oversaturated, and the image retains a pleasing level of grain that speaks to the film's authenticity. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is both crisp and immersive, promoting an engaging auditory experience that complements the film’s narrative intricacies.

However, it is noticeable that the re-release lacks the extensive bonus material found in the Criterion Collection laserdisc edition. This omission may be a sticking point for hardcore fans and collectors who seek comprehensive insight into the film's production. Despite this, the Blu-ray stands out due to its strong technical presentation and the emotional resonance of its story about two broken men finding solace in their unique friendship. The absence of additional supplements does little to detract from its core value—offering the film as it was meant to be seen.

Since it falls between the over-the-top fantasy of Terry Gilliam's earlier films and the one-two punch of "12 Monkeys" and "Fear and Loathing," "The Fisher King" is sometimes overlooked and underappreciated. This shouldn't be so. It's very funny, occasionally moving, and while the eccentric touches are definitely still there, the film is arguably the closest Gilliam has ever come to making a realistic, traditional Hollywood-style drama. The movie's Blu-ray presentation is unquestionably a significant step above prior DVD versions, but fans may balk once again by the fact that none of the bonus material from the Criterion Collection laserdisc has been ported over. Still, if you're a fan of the film—or a newcomer to this tale of two broken men who heal each other through their friendship—this Blu-ray release is certainly the best way to see it. Recommended.