The Karate Kid heads to the Crossroads (1986) Vintage Video DVD Review

Ralph Macchio has been in a couple of iconic films My Cousin Vinny and The Outsiders. But for me and many other people Ralph will always be Daniel the Karate Kid. In 1986 Ralph Macchio took the lead role in Crossroads a film that was inspired by the legend of blues musician Robert Johnson. 

In the 1980s many people would visit Blockbuster or the mom and pop video rental store to enjoy this and many other films. Now the good folks at Mill Creek Entertainment are brining nostalgia back to the to the world with their Vintage Video DVD physical media line of classic movie DVDs and Blu-rays. Now Crossroads is the next one to get this treatment.

The film follows a guitar student Eugene Martone (Ralph Macchio) who tours the Deep South with an old blues man (Joe Seneca), chasing a lost song written by Robert Johnson. Than finds himself struggling with the devil and his destiny when he goes down to the Crossroads.

This was the first time for me watching this film and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. This film is rated R so there is a fair amount of profanity. But that is about it. There is no nudity and just a very mild bar fight. 

The film is filled with great southern atmosphere and a tremendous cast that Joe Seneca (The Saint of Fort Washington, Wilma, School Daze), Robert Judd (Fight for your life), Jami Gertz (Sixteen Candles, The Lost Boys and Square Pegs), Tim Russ (Star Trek Voyager, Spaceballs), guitarist Steve Vai there is also a cameo appearance by Blues legend Frank Frost.

Mill Creek Entertainment has transferred this film to DVD in anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio the audio is Dolby digital and finally there is a option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. The transfer looks really nice for a film that is 36 years old. The print is crisp, but doesn't loose the grittiness that gives the film the cool atmosphere.

Now for bonus features. There is just the English subtitles. I would love to have seen some cool bonus features. Maybe and interview with Ralph Macchio or a trailer. But that is the only real downside I can see with this release.

I love the Vintage Video DVD slipcover (seen above). But there are people that are not a fan of these, well don't worry. the actual DVD insert is a standard cover. So Mill Creek Entertainment has got everyone covered. And me personally I love the two separate pieces of artwork. 

Director Walter Hill's film Crossroads has become kind of a forgotten film and that is a shame. I hope with this new DVD release that a new generation will discover this film and maybe gain new fans.

If you love those Vintage Video DVD style releases as much as I do you need to head over to Amazon and order your copy of Crossroads. It is defiantly worth it.   


Out of 4 film reels (4 being the best) Mill Creek Entertainment's DVD release of Crossroads receives...