He has been in classics and cult classics during his career. And in 1980 he was in a film that is not considered the best, but has gained that cult status over the years. That film is The Island, and now, thanks to the good folks at Kino Lorber it is receiving a Blu-ray and a 4K UltraHD release.
Synopsis: For 300 years, a terrifying secret has been kept from the outside world! Screen legend Michael Caine (The Ipcress File, Dressed to Kill) stars as Blair Maynard, an investigative writer who doggedly tracks one of the most baffling mysteries of modern times—the disappearance of pleasure boats and passengers from within the Bermuda Triangle of the Caribbean. During his investigation, he and his twelve-year-old son are captured by savage raiding pirates who need his services to improve their degenerated gene pool. When his son is converted to the pirates’ heathen ways and turns against him, Blair must come to his rescue in this action-packed super-thriller.
The screenplay was written by Peter Benchley who also wrote the book this film was based on. Of course he is probably best known for Jaws. But make no mistake about it The Island is not Jaws. The Island is an 80s adventure film with a sprinkle of horror, that you would have picked up at the video store.
Directed by Michael Ritchie (Prime Cut) and featuring great performances by Michael Caine and David Warner, perfect cinematography and a wonderful score. The Island, while not an Academy Award-caliber film, the film is a fun adventure. And after all that's why we go to the movies it for the fun of it!
Kino Lorber's KL Studio Classics has transferred The Island to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The Audio track is an English 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio. There is also the option for English Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
This transfer is taken from a brand new HD master of a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. This new restoration is clean and the colors are vibrant. For this Blu-ray edition of The Island, we see a few bonus features included. Take a look at what is included on this disc.
Special Features:
• New Audio Commentary by Action Film Historian Mike Leeder
• New Audio Commentary by Film Historian Howard S. Berger
• Theatrical Trailer (Newly Mastered in 2K)
With two different audio commentaries, we get double the thoughts on this film, and two different thought processes. Both commentaries are extremely insightful and worth the listen. And the addition of the new remastered trailer is very cool. Although it would have been nice to see some more bonuses. This is still pretty good.
If you love 80s adventure cinema, well, The Island on Blu-ray or 4K is definitely a film you should pick up for your collection. While not a wonderfully grounded drama, it is an over-the-top adventure you'll never forget. Head over to Kino Lorber or Amazon and order your copy today.
Out of 4 film reels (4 being the best) the Blu-ray of The Island receives......
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