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WSR Detailed DVD Review
Blue Thunder


Special Edition
Genre: Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 108 (May 2006) Of Widescreen Review®

Stars:
Roy Scheider, Warren Oates, Candy Clark, Daniel Stern & Malcolm McDowell

WSR Review Scores
WSR Picture Rating: 4
DD Sound Rating: 3
DTS Sound Rating: NA
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score: 5
Internet Links
http://www.cthv.com

Special Features
Packed with more features than the previously released DVD, this disc includes audio commentary by director John Badham with editor Frank Morriss and motion control supervisor Hoyt Yeatman, an eight-minute Building Blue Thunder featurette, a 44-minute three-part making of documentary that covers different stages of production, an eight-minute 1983 promotional featurette, three storyboard galleries, the theatrical trailer, and previews.


 DVD General Information

(Studio/Distributor): Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 10888
(MPAA Rating): R
(Rating Reason):

(Retail Price): $1994
(DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
(Widescreen Edition): Yes
(Full Screen Edition): Yes
(Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
(Running Time In Minutes): 109
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Regional Coding): 1
(Theatrical Year): 1983
(Theatrical Release): Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release): No
(DVD Release Date): 04/04/06
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

 Credits Information

(Director): John Badham
(Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
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(Costume Designer): Subscribe Now!
(Editor): Subscribe Now!
(Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
(Re-Recording Mixers): Subscribe Now!
(Executive Producers): Subscribe Now!
(Co-Producers): Subscribe Now!
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  DVD Picture Information

(Principal Photography): Subscribe Now!
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
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(Measured DVD Letterbox Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!

  DVD Sound Information

(DVD Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
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(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
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  WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Blue Thunder is a vivid action thriller surrounding Frank Murphy (Roy Scheider), a veteran officer pilot who is chosen by the military to test the Blue Thunder Special

DVD Picture:
The anamorphic 2.35:1 DVD picture exhibits a nicely remastered picture, with smooth images that are generally sharp and detailed. While blacks are slightly milky, color fidelity is much more natural and well balanced than the previous DVD. Still, these black levels often lack true depth. Images are sharper with better detail and definition. Fleshtones are sometimes brownish in hue, but overall color fidelity is generally natural. Shadow delineation is improved, with better image detail in the darker scenes. The DVD betters the LaserDisc, but sometimes appears hazy. (Suzanne Hodges)

Soundtrack:
While the remastered and repurposed Dolby