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True Romance – 4K Remastered Limited Edition Review


Quentin Tarantino is a director that has had many hits, critically and commercially, over a long period of time but True Romance was the first script he sold in order to initially finance his directorial debut Reservoir Dogs.

The film was made in 1993 by director Tony Scott, who wisely kept most of the snappy dialogue and structure, and you can tell almost immediately that this has the Tarantino stamp all over it.

Elvis\-worshipping comic book store employee Clarence Worley (Christian Slater) is minding his own business at a Sonny Chiba triple bill when Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette) walks into his life and from then on, the two are inseparable. Within 24 hours, they’re married and on the run after Clarence is forced to kill Alabamas possessive, psychopathic pimp. Driving a Cadillac across the country from Detroit to Hollywood, the newly-weds plan to sell off a suitcase full of stolen drugs to fund a new life for themselves… but little do they suspect that the cops and the Mafia are closing in on them. Will they escape and make their dream of a happy ending come true? 

Tony Scott did a fantastic job with a supporting cast to die for which includes Christopher Walken, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Dennis Hopper and Chris Penn as well as a pace that never lets up with some great set pieces and brutal violence.

The scene between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper is one of the finest pieces of acting and dialogue in any film and is deservedly widely acclaimed. The ending is one of the few parts that the director changed, but overall this is probably my favourite Tarantino films even if it wasn’t directed by him.

True Romance has been released before on Blu-ray with an OK transfer, but this new 4K remastered version done from the negatives from Arrow improves it in every way, clarity and depth are much more prominent and any fan should not hesitate to upgrade.

Audio has a striking DTS 5.1 MA mix and with a superb soundtrack which gives it a real boost when listening via a good surround system. Extras are plentiful, some new and some ported over from the previous release –

  • New 4K restorations of both the Theatrical Cut and the Directors Cut from the original camera negatives by Arrow Films.
  • Limited Edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck.
  • 60-page perfect-bound collectors booklet featuring new writing on the film by Kim Morgan and Nicholas Clement.
  • A 2008 Maxim oral history featuring interviews with cast and crew, and Edgar Wrights 2012 eulogy for Tony Scott
  • Double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck.
  • Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions.
  • High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of both cuts.
  • Original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS\-HD MA 5.1 surround audio.
  • Audio commentary by director Tony Scott
  • Audio commentary by writer Quentin Tarantino
  • Audio commentary by stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette
  • Audio commentary by critic Tim Lucas
  • Select scene commentaries by stars Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Brad Pitt and Michael Rapaport
  • Brand new select scene commentary by star Saul Rubinek
  • New interview with costume designer Susan Becker
  • New interview with co-editor Michael Tronick
  • New interview with co-composers Mark Mancina and John Van Tongeren
  • New interview with Larry Taylor, author of Tony Scott: A Filmmaker on Fire
  • New interview with Daniel Storm, co-founder of the annual True Romance Fest
  • Deleted scenes with optional commentary by Tony Scott
  • Alternate ending with optional commentaries by Tony Scott and Quentin Tarantino.
  • Electronic press kit featurettes, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Tony Scott, Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper and Gary Oldman
  • Trailers, TV spots Image galleries 

So a fantastic package, not sure if the heavily censored theatrical cut is needed, but this is one of the few films to have a full audio commentary by Quentin Tarantino and comes totally recommended. (Also available in 4K UHD).

FILM – 10 PICTURE – 9 AUDIO -9 EXTRAS – 9

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