6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The first movie about the famous golden mutt. Benji is a stray who has nonetheless worked his way into the hearts of a number of the townspeople, who give him food and attention whenever he stops by. His particular favorites are a pair of children who feed and play with him against the wishes of their parents. When the children are kidnapped, however, the parents and the police are at a loss to find them. Only Benji can track them down, but will he be in time? If he can save the day, he may just find the permanent home he's been longing for.
Starring: Peter Breck, Deborah Walley, Patsy Garrett, Edgar Buchanan, Cynthia SmithFamily | 100% |
Romance | 13% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Benji rightly earns a good name as a simple and sweet movie. It's baked into its era and ingrained into the public consciousness as the little underdog doggie movie that became a sleeper hit when nobody would touch it, out-earning some high profile peers like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Chinatown, and Death Wish in the year of its release. It's basic almost to a fault, minimally plotted and simply defined, but even as the film feels repetitive and plays predictably, its inherent charms, and its lead's charming canine personality, elevate it above its limitations. It's a rare movie that's not particularly great in a traditional critical sense but something of a classic, anyway, thanks to the boundless love and infectious glee that's ever-present with every watch.
Benji's Blu-ray release is the beneficiary of a brand new restoration and transfer sourced from the original 35mm film elements. It's an honest presentation of a low budget, dated film, and while the results are far from perfect, the image largely pleases given the budget nature of the release. Wobble and dirt accompany the opening title sequence, and the clean-up efforts have come up a little short as various signs of print deterioration, including speckling and stray vertical lines, are present throughout the feature. The presentation does retain a largely pleasing grain structure, accentuating the core detailing that's pleasantly sharp and robust, whether considering natural environments and grasses, clothes, faces, or animal fur. Textural definition and sharpness across the board prove satisfying, whether in brightly lit outdoor locations or the slightly murkier interior at the old abandoned house where Benji and the kidnappers stay. Colors enjoy a healthy, robust presentation, yielding positive saturation and intensity in everything from green grass to clothes. Nighttime black levels reveal honest depth and shadow detail while flesh tones appear accurate. Benji's 1080p transfer may not be perfect, but this is a largely satisfying and filmic presentation.
Benji's LPCM 2.0 uncompressed soundtrack obviously lacks any big sonic splashes, but listeners can expect a well-realized presentation of a fairly pedestrian original source. Musical clarity is a bit limited, but separation and spacing are fine with instrumentals wider and vocals more localized near the front-center channel. Basic sound effects enjoy adequate distinction and, as applicable, stage width. Dialogue is clear but lip sync does seem a little off in places, perhaps a result of the ADR process. Examples include Mary's dialogue in the film's first scene and the cat lady at the 44:40 mark.
Benji's Blu-ray release features an audio commentary track and a couple of other goodies. A DVD copy of the film and a Mill Creek digital copy
code are included with purchase.
Benji gets by on its charm, which is present in ample quantities. The story is simple, the acting is below par, and stretches of the film are dull and repetitious, yet the film proves an agreeable escape because of its cute little four-legged star who stands amongst the giants of animal movie and TV stars from over the years. The film is also hopelessly dated in 2018, but its instantly recognizable star remains a timeless treasure in movie history. Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of Benji contains a solid enough 1080p transfer, acceptable two-channel sound, and a good commentary track. Recommended.
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