Weird Science (Special Edition) [Blu-ray]

Weird Science hits that magical sweet spot between goofy, inventive, and endlessly fun — and Kelly LeBrock is absolutely iconic in it. She’s literally the embodiment of every teenage boy’s dream in the wackiest, most delightful way. What keeps me watching again are the laugh-out-loud moments, the creative special effects, and the way the movie perfectly captures that “right time, right place” 1980s spirit. It’s equal parts absurd and charming, with just the right dose of sci-fi fantasy and teen comedy. Forty years later, it still holds up for its quirky humor, imaginative premise, and pure nostalgia. If you love retro flicks that don’t take themselves too seriously and still get the concept just right, this one’s an easy five-star classic.

The 1985 PG-13 teen comedy "Weird Science" followed on the heels of writer/director John Hughes' acclaimed directorial efforts "Sixteen Candles" (1984) and "The Breakfast Club" which were big successes both critically and financially. "Weird Science" did well at the box office but at the time received a more mixed critical reception than his prior two films. It is definitely nowhere near as thematically serious as "Sixteen Candles" or "The Breakfast Club" were. "Weird Scrience" did show a different side of John Hughes in that he was not afraid to just kick back and have zany fun. The cast is excellent with the sadly deceased Bill Paxton in my opinion stealing the movie with a scene chewing performance as Chet. Kelly LeBrock as the dream woman created in a computer by the two male teen leads is positively gorgeous, enticing, vivacious, luminous and incredibly sexy while also delivering an excellent performance in her own right. Her body is a true work of art! Anthony Michael Hall is just as good as he was in John Hughes' previous two films and he is matched step for step by Ilan Michael-Smith. "Weird Science" is definitely a product of its time but has aged well in terms of its overall comedy and approach in my opinion. Universal initially brought "Weird Science" to DVD back in 2008 in a decent special edition. The film made its blu-ray debut back in 2013 which mirrored the DVD release's special features but upgrading the picture quality to HD of course. Sadly though the HD transfer done for the DVD release is what was used for the first blu-ray which by 2013 was sorely lacking and had huge room for improvement. Arrow Video in 2019 came to the rescue with a new special edition blu-ray release of the film which presents it in style with a huge upgrade in picture quality over the original blu-ray. Arrow Video for their edition oversaw a brand new 4K restoration from the original camera negative in the film's theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 utilizing the AVC codec at a very high bit rate staying in the mid to upper 30's for the most part. Simply put the film looks amazing on this new blu-ray. Detail is markedly increased and colors look fantastic and natural. Contrast and black levels look close to perfect. No digital tinkering was done so the film retains its natural grain structure. Arrow Video's transfer blows away Universal's initial blu-ray without breaking a sweat. Audio is presented in 2 channel master audio sounding clear and punchy with dialogue levels coming through very clear. English subtitles are included for the hearing impaired. As far as extra content goes, the new disc offers 3 different cuts of the film including the theatrical cut (94 min.), an extended cut (96 min. 36 sec.) and the television cut (94 min. 6 sec.). Both the theatrical and extended cuts are from the 4K restoration and presented in widescreen whereas the television cut is in 1.33:1 standard definition full frame. The extended cut consists of 2 extra scenes which I am not sure why they were cut out other than to perhaps tighten the movie up a bit more. The television cut also can be watched using a picture in picture option to see how alternate lines of dialogue and censoring techniques were used to make the PG-13 teen sex comedy conform to at the time more restrictive television standards. The rest of the extraa are as follows: - Additional Scenes (2m 45s, HD) These are the two scenes that are found in the extended version of the film. - Casting Weird Science (6m 3s, HD) A all-new interview with casting director Jackie Burch, explaining how the film’s ensemble cast was assembled. - Dino the Greek (6m 55s, HD) A newly filmed interview with actor John Kapelos on his experience playing Dino in the film. - Chet Happens (19m 38s, HD) A newly filmed interview with special makeup effects creator Craig Reardon on how the infamous “Chet-blob” was created. - Fantasy and Microchips (10m 46s, HD) A newly filmed interview with editor Chris Lebenzon on his experience cutting the film together. - Ira Newborn Makes the Score (13m 43s, HD) A newly filmed interview with composer Ira Newborn on his experiences working with director John Hughes and producer Joel Silver. - It’s Alive! Resurrecting Weird Science (16m 41s, SD) An archival featurette produced for the film’s 2008 DVD release, featuring interviews with cast, crew, and admirers, including Anthony Michael Hall. - Theatrical Teaser (2m 37s, HD, 1.33:1) - Theatrical Trailer (1m 34s, SD, 1.33:1) - TV Spots (1m 1s, SD, 1.33:1) - Radio Spots (4m 50s, SD) - Image Galleries Shooting Script (133 images) Production Stills (119 images) Poster and Video Art (22 images) The film comes in a slip case featuring newly commissioned cover art. The actual sleeve can be flipped around to have the original poster art too. Lastly a 43 page booklet is also included with additional critical insight into the film as well as its production. While the lack of any commentary tracks is a little bit disappointing, Arrow Video's special edition of "Weird Science" is superb in every way. The new 4K restoration is a thing of beauty and the new extras are plentiful and informative with the prior DVD and blu-ray extras being ported over too. Fans should pick this new blu-ray edition up without any hesitation.

These two nerds create a bombshell lady with one guy's brother's computer. It's a funny movie. The lady goes with the nerds to there high school and acts like she's their gal and it blows other students minds away. Great movie. It's a classic to watch.

This was one of my favorite movies as a teenager in the 80s.

This is a great movie and I'm happy to own it in 4k, but I'm trying to figure out the decisions made here: Why release a 4k with a blu-ray and without a digital copy, and WHY would you send a SINGLE disc in a two disc case (you can see the clips for the middle "tray" that usually exists). This could have easily been sent in a single 4k disc box if it was only going to be one disc, but a blu-ray would have been nice for those people that might be planning on upgrading to a 4k player in the future but wanted to own this now before it goes out of stock.

There's a certain magic in taking a classic, and giving it a modern twist. Here we have a re-imagining of 1930s Frankenstein for a teenage audience. In turn, we uncover the, true, inner drives of “loner” teens. Back to the vibrant decade of the 1980s, where two teen boys found themselves caught in a whirlwind: In the iconic film “Weird Science.” The eccentric characters, the intense situations, and the Alternative soundtrack: it's like a time capsule. It touches on everything that made the 80s singular. Also, who can resist the charms of Anthony Michael Hall and Kelly LeBrock at the height of their magnetism? This is certainly a John Hughes film: we have a blend of comedy, heart, and insight into the teenage psyche; it bears the fingerprints of a true Hughes experience. Within each of us there is a need to assert our authentic self, journey down a path of self-discovery, and put our positive stamp on our group of people, for most of us we begin to embark on this journey during our teens. It's a journey that transcends decades. The angst, the experimentation, they're all part of the growth experience, especially in the teen years. ===== Themes ===== John Hughes understood the importance of the teen years to an individual’s growth. In his films he deals with the teen experience in a more serious and sober way. So then, his films carry universal themes of teenage rebellion, the critical longing for acceptance, and the search for deeper connections, they're the heartbeat of his 80s work – including, “Weird Science.” Mentorship: it’s about more than just sharing wisdom; it’s about nurturing human potential, instilling values, and offering support when the path is tricky. Both ancient legends and modern-day dramas speak of mentorship: Kelly LeBrock is the mentor in this movie – she is unconventional in her methods. The quest: a type of Creation story. Creation of the ultimate fantasy lady, (the perfect woman, embodied by the elegant Kelly LeBrock.) ===== Technical Details ===== My copy of the film is the Blu-ray, by Arrow Video. I can’t imagine this film looking any better. However, the extras are not that compelling.

Me gusto las escenas extras y la calidad de video.

Une créature de rêve, un beau film avoir absolument pour les ados , qui aurons des beaux rêve d'amour , suite à des échecs amoureux et comment retrouver le véritable amour avec une merveilleuse femme de leur vie, un vrai comte sur l'amour, avoir dans votre collection PERONIN Pascal

Muy contento de tenerla en la colección, ha llegado muy rápido y en perfectas condiciones, gracias.

Story, casting, directing and performances are all excellent and it's one for repeat viewing. Looks great on blu-ray.

Tutto ok bellissimo film divertente