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[tab title="Movie Review"]

Weird Science (1985)

You’re dead meat, Pilgrim.  Highly quotable and completely off its rocker in all the best ways possible, Weird Science is back in circulation thanks to the lovable charm of two high school losers as they go from zeroes to heroes for one fantastical weekend in a pink Cadillac through the streets of Chicago. 

"Highly quotable and completely off its rocker in all the best ways possible"


The opening of John HughesWeird Science, now remastered and scanned in 4K from the original negative thanks to Arrow Video, is a classic scene in 1980s cinema.  Two geeks, Gary (Anthony Michael Hall, Sixteen Candles) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith), sick of their status at Shermer High School, are gawking at the girls in gym class.  They are soon “pantsed” by a couple of bullies and left exposed for all the girls to laugh at.  But the boys, both computer nerds, get the last laugh in this comedy.

Hilariously awkward and full of the usual Hughes charm, Weird Science is best described as a goofier side of the Hughes world.  It takes its inspiration from Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein and mutates both of those “campy” horror films into an effects-heavy comedy as two boys “make” their own woman thanks to a powerful storm, a couple of strong computers, and a knack for hacking into the power company’s terminal.  What follows is a rowdy series of situations involving blues bars, a wild house party, some Mad Max-inspired party crashers, and freezing Wyatt’s grandparents in a closet. {googleads}

And it’s all because these two boys are curious and completely clueless about the opposite sex. Good thing this wild tale stills holds up!

Using Wyatt’s computer, the two hatch a plan to create their dream woman – and following a massive power surge, that woman unexpectedly appears in the form of Lisa (Kelly LeBrock). Gorgeous, intelligent, and blessed with limitless magic powers, Lisa makes the boys’ dreams come true . . . but what about Wyatt’s gun-toting psycho older brother Chet (Bill Paxton), and the two bullies (Robert Downey Jr and Vamp’s Robert Rusler) determined to put them back in their place? Weird Science (1985)

The film might have not been a hit with the critics, who in large part felt the film was too broad in its comedy and way too much of a wild fantasy, as the film spirals out of control thanks to an over-the-top party, a suddenly blue kitchen, a slimed-out “muppet” version of Paxton, and an outrageous title song by Danny Elfman’s Oingo Boingo.  But, as the critics often were when it came to Hughes, they were dead wrong as the film, thanks to its controlled chaos, has gone on to become a cult classic.  Perhaps, one of two (the other being Career Opportunities) in Hughes’ now celebrated filmography.

This brand-new HD release of Weird Science sports a brand-new restoration by Arrow Films from a 4K scan of the original negative.  There are two versions of the movie included with the release, one being the original Theatrical Version of the film (clocking in at 94 mins), plus a new seamlessly-branched exclusive Extended Version (97 mins), featuring two additional scenes newly remastered in high-definition.

She’s alive!

5/5 beers

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Weird Science (1985)

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Arrow
Available on Blu-ray
- July 23, 2019
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: English SDH
Audio:
English: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

This brand-new HD release of Weird Science sports a brand-new restoration by Arrow Films from a 4K scan of the original negative.  The image is crisp and black levels – especially on the streets of Chicago – absolutely POP. Colors are bold, bright, and shadows are thick with lines and deep blacks. The night scenes – and there are a lot of them – are detailed and heavy with edges. The colors, thanks to some awesome lighting effects, are bold and bursting with color. Saturation levels are on point and so too is the restored audio. There are three versions of the movie included with the release, one being the original Theatrical Version of the film (clocking in at 94 mins), plus a new seamlessly-branched exclusive Extended Version (97 mins), featuring two additional scenes newly remastered in high-definition.  There is the original lossless stereo audio, plus 5.1 DTS-HD MA surround option (theatrical version only), as well as original English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • None

Special Features:

You get three versions of the film, including the edited-for-TV version of the film (SD only, 94 mins), plus comparison featurettes highlighting the alternate dubs and edits. Fans can also watch additional scenes from the Extended Version separately. There are also brand-new featurettes about the making of the movie. With a BD-ROM of the original shooting script, a new slipcover, and a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tracie Ching, fans of Hughes’ Weird Science will definitely be wanting to get their hands on this release.

  • Casting ‘Weird Science’, an all-new interview with casting director Jackie Burch
  • Dino The Greek, a newly-filmed interview with supporting actor John Kapelos
  • Chet Happens, a newly filmed interview with special makeup creator Craig Reardon
  • Fantasy and Microchips, a newly filmed interview with editor Chris Lebenzon
  • Ira Newborn Makes The Score, a newly filmed interview with the composer
  • It’s Alive! Resurrecting Weird Science, an archive documentary featuring interviews with cast, crew and admirers, including star Anthony Michael Hall
  • Theatrical trailers, TV spots and radio spots
  • Image galleries

Blu-ray Rating:

  Movie 5/5 stars
  Video  4/5 stars
  Audio 4/5 stars
  Extras 4/5 stars

Overall Blu-ray Experience

4.5/5 stars

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[tab title="Film Details"]

Weird Science (1985) blu-ray

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Runtime:
94 mins
Director
: John Hughes
Writer:
John Hughes
Cast:
Anthony Michael Hall, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Kelly LeBrock
Genre
: Comedy | Romance | Sci-fi
Tagline:
If you can't get a date, make one!
Memorable Movie Quote: "Gary?... By the way, why are we wearing bras on our heads?"
Theatrical Distributor:
Universal Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date:
August 2, 1985
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
July 23, 2019
Synopsis: If you can’t get a date… make one! After proving himself the king of heartfelt teen flicks with Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, writer-director John Hughes infused the genre with a hefty dose of wacked-out sci-fi comedy in Weird Science, a film where every teenage boy’s wildest fantasies come to life.

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[tab title="Art"]

Weird Science (1985) blu-ray

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