Dirty
Dancing: 30th Anniversary Edition (1987/Lionsgate Blu-ray w/DVD)
Picture:
B+/B- Sound: B+/B- Extras: B Film: B
Emile
Ardolino's 1987 romantic classic Dirty Dancing starring
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey celebrates its 30th Anniversary in
this new Blu-ray edition from Lionsgate that is sure to please fans
and respectively, introduce a new audience to the film. Full of
romance and impressive choreography, the film showcases the late
actor Patrick Swayze at the height of his fame and pulls at the heart
strings of women everywhere just in time for Valentine's Day.
The
film also stars Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes, Jack Weston, and Jane
Brucker.
In
1963, Frances "Baby" Houseman (Grey), a sweet daddy's girl,
goes with her family to a resort in upstate New York's Catskill
Mountains. Unexpectedly, Baby becomes infatuated with the camp's
dance instructor, Johnny Castle (Swayze), a man whose background is
vastly different from her own. Baby lies to her father to get money
to pay for an illegal abortion for Johnny's dance partner. She then
fills in as Johnny's dance partner and it is as he is teaching her
the dance routine that they fall in love. It all comes apart when
Johnny's friend falls seriously ill after her abortion and Baby gets
her father, who saves the girl's life. He then learns what Baby has
been up to, who with and worse - that he funded the illegal abortion.
He bans his daughter from any further association with "those
people" while the romance between Baby and Castle is growing
only more serious. Will she obey her father's wishes or follow her
heart?
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1
(from the older
Blu-ray
HD master from previous releases) and a newly restored DTS-HD MA
(Master Audio) 7.1 lossless track, its hard to argue that this isn't
the best presentation of the film yet available in any format (until
the inevitable 4K Ultra HD edition lands) and is an improvement over
the previous release of the film on Blu as it dies a better transfer
of the old master. The film has great cinematography and the details
are captured impeccably and impressively. Also included is a
standard definition DVD version of the film with an anamorphic 1.85:1
aspect ratio and a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track that sounds fine for
the format, but doesn't compare to the Blu. As well, a digital copy
of the film is included.
Special
Features...
Never
Before Seen Intimate Interviews with Swayze
Happy
30th Birthday Salute with Celebrity Fans
Outtakes/
Deleted/ Alternate/ Extended Scenes
Cast
Interviews with Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze, Eleanor Bergstein, and
more
Two
Filmmaker Commentaries
Music
Videos
plus
a larger, fancier special edition box has also been issued for
diehard fans who might want even more.
This
packed release is a must for fans of the film and a great gateway for
those who are experiencing it for the first time. Great release!
As
we've covered the film as much as any release in our website's
history, here's more on the movie from other writers...
Keepsake
Blu-ray Box
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10005/Dirty+Dancing
20th
Anniversary Blu-ray
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5492/Dirty+Dancing
Ultimate
Edition DTS DVD release
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/853/Dirty+Dancing+-+Ultimate+Edition+(DTS+DVD
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
