Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “Troy”
Wolfgang Petersen’s “Troy” got a pretty bad rap when it debuted in 2004, but public opinion has softened over time, and it’s gained a respectable cult following in the ensuing years. Though its deviations from the source material remain a major sticking point among fans of Homer’s “The Iliad,” if you can forgive the many changes within David Benioff’s script, there’s actually quite a lot to like about “Troy,” from its grand scale to the thrilling battle sequences to some solid performances from the likes of Eric Bana, Brad Pitt and Peter O’Toole. The Hector/Achilles fight is a particular standout, while the overall quality of acting talent on display is quite impressive. Arrow’s 4K remaster of both the theatrical and director’s cuts, produced using the original 35mm camera negative, is also a highlight of this three-disc set, breathing new life into the forgotten epic at just the right moment. Though it may lack the artistry of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” “Troy” is an entertaining spectacle in the vein of “Braveheart” and “Gladiator” that has aged remarkably well.
Extras include a picture-in-picture commentary, a collection of behind-the-scenes featurettes, a collector’s booklet with essays by film critic Priscilla Page and Oxford professor Laurie Maguire, and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“Popeye” (4K) — The executives at Paramount were probably already counting the money in their heads when they first heard the pitch for 1980’s “Popeye.” After all, a big-screen adaptation of one of the most iconic cartoon characters of the period, directed by two-time Oscar nominee Robert Altman and starring up-and-coming comedian Robin Williams, certainly seems like a surefire hit on the surface. What could go wrong? As it turns out, a lot. “Popeye” isn’t just a disaster — it’s catastrophically bad in just about every way, from the decision to stage the movie as a quasi-musical to its nearly two-hour runtime. Though Williams (in his feature film debut) and Shelley Duvall are perfectly cast as Popeye and Olive Oyl, respectively, the movie’s lack of a cohesive narrative or tone ensures that you’ll quickly tire of their vaudeville schtick. “Popeye” is a surreal fever dream of a movie that feels like it was made on a bet, and the only logical reason for Paramount even considering releasing this on 4K is because the studio is still trying to recoup its money on the vast amounts of drugs that were likely consumed during its production. Extras include a retrospective with Williams and Altman, a cast featurette, footage from the premiere and more. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
