True Romance (1993) {Arrow Video Blu-ray Review}

Reviewed by Jason Lockard

In 1993 Top Gun director Tony Scott joined forces with a hot young screenwriter Quentin Tarantino to bring to theaters an crime romance film that would play host to a cavalcade of superstar actors and actresses.

Arrow Video known for giving cult films deluxe Blu-ray releases fans crave, are now giving True Romance it's time to shine on Blu-ray. 
 
A comic-book and Elvis fanatic Clarence (Christian Slater, Heathers) and a prostitute named Alabama (Patricia Arquette, Medium) fall in love. Clarence breaks the news to her pimp and ends up killing him. He grabs a suitcase of cocaine on his way out thinking it is Alabama's clothing. The two hit the road for California hoping to sell the cocaine, but the mob is soon after them.

Along with Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette is an star studded cast including; Dennis Hopper (Waterworld), Val Kilmer (Tombstone), Gary Oldman (Bram Stoker's Dracula), Brad Pitt (Fight Club), Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter), Bronson Pinchot (Perfect Stranger), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction), Michael Rapaport (Atypical), Saul Rubinek (Warehouse 13), Conchata Ferrell (Two and a half men), James Gandolfini (The Sopranos), Anna Thomson (Unforgiven), Victor Argo (King of New York), Chris Penn (Footloose), Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan), Gregory Sporleder (Renaissance Man), Maria Pitillo (Godzilla), Kevin Corrigan (Grounded for Life), Paul Ben-Victor (Allagash), Michael Beach (Soul Food), Eric Allan (House if Cards), Laurence Mason (Stich) and Ed Lauter (The Longest Yard).

True Romance is not a film for the faint at heart. There is a lot of violence, drug use, extreme profanity and nudity. Now me I am not a fan of the ultra violent and extreme profanity laden films, but fans of Tarantino films will not be bothered by it.

For this Blu-ray release the film has been restored in 4K for both the theatrical cut and the director’s cut from the original camera negatives by Arrow Films. The high definition 1080p presentation also brings with it two audio options the original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio. There is also optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

The new 4K scan looks and sounds pretty great. But that is not all that is included in this Blu-ray. Arrow Video added some quite impressive amounts of bonus features. Take a look at what is included.

* Limited Edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck

* 60-page perfect-bound collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Kim Morgan and Nicholas Clement, a 2008 Maxim oral history featuring interviews with cast and crew, and Edgar Wright’s 2012 eulogy for Tony Scott

* Double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck

* Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions

* Audio commentary by director Tony Scott

* Audio commentary by writer Quentin Tarantino

* Audio commentary by stars Christian Slater & Patricia Arquette

* Audio commentary by critic Tim Lucas

* Select scene commentaries by stars Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Brad Pitt and Michael Rapaport

* Brand new select scene commentaries by stars Bronson Pinchot and Saul Rubinek

* New interview with costume designer Susan Becker

* New interview with co-editor Michael Tronick

* New interview with co-composers Mark Mancina and John Van Tongeren

* New interview with Larry Taylor, author of Tony Scott: A Filmmaker on Fire

* Deleted scenes with optional commentary by Tony Scott

* Alternate ending with optional commentaries by Tony Scott and Quentin Tarantino

* Electronic press kit featurettes, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Tony Scott, Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper and Gary Oldman

* Trailers and TV spots

* Image galleries

With a gorgeous 4K scan and loads of bonus features fans of this film will be in seventh heaven. The film is just not one for me! But if you are a fan of Tarantino screenplays True Romance will be right up your alley. You can add this Arrow Video Blu-ray by heading over to Amazon today.

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