Reviewed By Jason LockardThe term 'Spaghetti western' was a title used for Italian made western films. These films were quite popular and many were made. A lot of these westerns get released on cheap DVDs and the video quality is very bad.
Arrow Video has been releasing some of these westerns on special edition blu-rays. The quality has been stunning on the ones I've seen. So the next one to get a blu-ray treatment in 1976's Keoma
The film follows Keoma (Franco Nero), a half-breed former Union gunfighter, returns to his home town to find his half-brothers in alliance with a gang who tyrannically run the town. With the help of his father and George, an old Black friend, he vows revenge.
Keoma shows compassion to those in need and brings justice to the wicked. Throughout the film Keoma is visited by the apparition of an older woman who saved him during the massacre of an Indian camp.
While Keoma is a basic western tale, it's presented in a unique way. It has the slight feel of sci-fi, Shakespeare, religious allegory and a little of a musical, with the songs of Guido and Maurizio De Angelis. The cinematography is stunning. It is so unique of a presentation, I consider this a must watch for any film fan.
Arrow Video did a tremendous job with this new 2K restoration that was from the original 35mm camera negative. It is presented in it's original widescreen format. In High definition 2.35:1 aspect ratio and Uncompressed mono audio in English and Italian soundtracks. The colors are brilliant and vibrant. The blue of the sky, the green of the grass, it's just glorious.
As if a newly restored version of this film wasn't enough, Arrow Video goes above and beyond yet again. The bonus features are amazing. Check these out:
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
• New audio commentary by spaghetti western experts C. Courtney Joyner and Henry C. Parke
• The Ballad of Keoma, a new interview with the legendary star Franco Nero
• Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust, a new interview with director Enzo G. Castellari
• Writing Keoma, a new interview with actor and writer Luigi Montefiori AKA George Eastman
• Parallel Actions, a new interview with editor Gianfranco Amicucci
• The Flying Thug, a new interview with actor Massimo Vanni
• Play as an Actor, a new interview with actor Volfango Soldati
• Keoma and the Twilight of the Spaghetti Western, a newly filmed video appreciation by the academic Austin Fisher
• An Introduction to Keoma by Alex Cox, an archival featurette with the acclaimed director
• Original Italian and international theatrical trailers
• Gallery of original promotional images from the Mike Siegel Archive
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips
• Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Simon Abrams and Howard Hughes
As always Arrow Video goes above and beyond the call of duty and brings the fans a release they can't get anywhere else.
The beautiful restoration, the loads of bonus features, the very cool reversible sleeve and the collector's book. No doubt this is a western film lovers dream come true.
So if you love the western genre, Keoma is a film I highly recommend. Head over to MVDShop.com or Amazon.com and pre-order your copy today.
* Release date 4/16/2019
Moral Rating: Violence, mild profanity, racist language
Audience: Teens and adults
Genre: Western
Length: 1 Hour 41 Minutes
Released: 1976
Blu-ray Rating: A+
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