Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

*batteries not included Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 22, 2016

Life is difficult. Maneuvering through it occasionally requires a helping hand, sometimes with the little stuff and almost always with the big stuff, particularly when it's the little man forced to stand and fight with, or flee from, someone much bigger. That helping hand can come in many forms, including a literal extended hand of aid, behind-the-scenes support, or even just a kind word and a pat on the back. But that helping hand usually doesn't look like this. In *batteries not included, a handful of New Yorkers refuse to leave their homes when a developer tries to force them out. They find tangible support, and emotional reassurance, in the most unlikely of allies and make a few new friends along the way. The movie is as charming as it is heartfelt, a soothing tonic of cinematic grace blended with a sincere human element that has allowed it to remain a timeless experience that speaks to all of the good in the world, and just a little bit beyond.

An old New York apartment building is set for demolition to make way for a brand new tower. Most of the residents have packed up and left, happy to leave the site and pocket the bribe money they've been given to facilitate the move. Only a few stubborn holdouts remain, and even some serious intimidation at the hands of hired henchman Carlos (Michael Carmine) and his band of thugs can't make them budge. The holdouts include the elderly Frank and Faye Riley (Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, respectively), who have lost a son and run a diner on the building's bottom floor; a quiet retired boxer named Harry Noble (Frank McRae); an artist named Mason Baylor (Dennis Boutsikaris); and a pregnant woman named Marisa Esteval (Elizabeth Peña). Even as the building is trashed and the threats don't stop, they hold out hope that someone, anyone, anything will come to their aid. They get their wish, but certainly not in the form they were expecting. They quickly come to realize that two little disc-shaped machines, presumably from another world, have come to help. They rebuild the damage Carols has done and, gradually, gain the trust, admiration, and friendship of the five holdouts. But will their assistance be enough to stand up to shady business practices, thuggery, and underhanded tactics that could take the building out from under them, or worse?

It's practically impossible not to like, maybe even love, *batteries not included on at least some level. It's an endlessly charming movie that espouses good values mixed with a bit of family-friendly movie magic. It's sweet and smoothly made, populated by lovable characters who are opposed by clearly dislikable villains and one character who seems always on the cusp figuring things out and getting off the wrong side of the ledger. The movie's premise is agreeable and approachable. It thrives on outward simplicity in all facets -- the conflict, the character dynamics -- but it doesn't forget the much more profound and deeply rooted complexities of human emotions that are tangibly apparent in each character, all of whom embody some sort of relatable quality, qualities that are also in many ways reflected in the visitors by actions alone. By the end, the film's moving, honest, and hopeful outlook on life is affirmed, even in light of its fantastical premise that's really more about subtexts than it is the literal images that appear on the screen.

Those literal images, however, are the beneficiaries of what would today be labeled rather "crude" visual effects, but like the rest of the film they espouse a certain charm that's missing in today's digitally laden effects that, as they become more real, often appear less authentic. *batteries not included finds a perfect mix of technical complexity and visual simplicity in its effects, utilizing practical when, well, practical and optical effects that give the movie something of a mystical charm that seems to only reinforce the notion that the movie is less about what's seen at face value and more about the humanity that lingers underneath. Performances are superb all around, too. Each actor is gracious and likable. No performance is forced or phony. They all understand the movie's underlying purpose and play to that sweetness that permeates the movie. Legendary Filmmaker Steven Spielberg executive produced, and there's an unmistakable Spielberg influence that runs through nearly every frame of Matthew Robbins' (Dragonsalyer) direction, an easy-come blend of artful construction meets agreeable approachability meets just enough movie magic to piece it all together with a personable, enjoyable fit and finish.

*batteries not included Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Universal's 1080p transfer for 1987's *batteries not included doesn't begin with promise. Severe wobble is evident in the opening titles and definition disappoints, but the image tightens up considerably once the titles give way to the movie proper. Details often soar. The movie has plenty of rich textures to play with, and frequently presents each one with very impressive clarity and tactile definition. Urban rubble is particularly well textured and tangible, but so too are the more fatigued accents around the apartments, worn down surfaces in the diner, and fine bits of scrap and random trash and treasure alike. They all enjoy a refined level of both raw and intimate detailing that brings the movie's rather limited locales to pleasing life. Likewise, clothing textures capture a healthy bit of detail, and finer skin details on younger and older characters alike reveal every intimate essence. Grain remains intact, spiking at times and usually over darker scenes. Colors are healthy and honest. A dreary brown dominates, but splashes of other colors on clothes and accents around the apartments stand out with considerable nuance and natural vibrancy. On the down side, black levels are prone to crush and background macroblocking is seen in scant quantities. These are generally minor concerns, however, in a much larger, and very attractive, film-quality presentation.

*batteries not included Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

*batteries not included features a technically sound but sonically underwhelming DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Musical definition is fine, largely staying across the front but enjoying a wide-berth presence across the three main speakers. More uptempo notes find a little more positive energy, instrumental clarity, and depth. Heavier sound effects lack any kind of punch. A building demolition near film's start, for example, tosses a little debris into the back but fizzes out rather than offer the sort of prodigious weight one might expect of such a moment. Smaller little details, various crashes and clanks on a much smaller scale, offer fair definition but don't often stray very far from the center. Dialogue is well defined, clear, center-grounded, and expertly prioritized.

*batteries not included Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

All that's included is the *batteries not included trailer (480i, 1:24). No "top menu" is included. This extra, as well as set-up options, must be selected in-film from the "pop-up" menu.

*batteries not included Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

*batteries not included has left a legacy that embodies good-spirited movie magic. It's an endlessly lovable movie, built around a simple premise that becomes fantastical and serves to only reinforce core human values. It's very well made, enjoying direction that underscores its qualities and performances that accentuate its humanity. Universal's Blu-ray release is disappointingly absent any meaningful extras, but video and audio are quite nice and nothing short of a revelation for those who grew up watching the movie on VHS and HBO. Recommended.