Boom! Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Boom! Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 16, 2019

In 1968, “Boom” was a bomb written by Tennessee Williams and starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. These days, the feature has new life a cult title, with certain audiences embracing the picture’s volatile nature and unforgettable decoration. “Boom” isn’t an easy movie to admire, but for those who elect to work on it, this adaptation of Williams’s play, “The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore,” provides some funky highlights, offering the rare chance to watch two major stars try to make sense of a languorous art film that has no distinct identity.

“Boom” is difficult to interpret and even more troublesome to sit through, watching Taylor and Burton scream at each other for nearly two hours. Of course, they’ve done that before, but Williams’s screenplay is particularly impulsive, going off on tangents without reward, trying to emerge as an understanding of life and death as it commands the human experience. Mostly, it’s a feast for the eyes, with incredible achievements in costuming and set design carrying the viewing event, while Italian locations are exquisite, giving viewers something to study when the movie drifts off into nothingness.

Boom! Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on HD after a spotty home video history, "Boom" certainly has plenty to show off during the AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Age is unavoidable, along with cinematographic limitations, but the overall viewing experience preserves the brightness of the locations, which retain appreciation for distances and height. Character ornamentation is open for study, with costuming a major focal point of the production, deliver billowy cottons and smooth silks. Facial surfaces are enjoyable, showcasing wear and tear on the actors. Colors are satisfactory, showcased with vibrant works of art and the cool blues of the open water. Makeup is also a highlight, with deep reds. Source has some challenges, with mild speckling, scratches, and hair.

Boom! Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Age is a little more apparent in the 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix. Again, production limitations are found, with extensive dubbing flattening voices from time to time. Slight volume fluctuations are encountered, but nothing severe. Dialogue exchanges are basic, but the essentials of hostility are easy to follow. Scoring does a bit better, and while crispness isn't present, the moods of John Barry's unusual score are understood. Atmospherics are loud, with the sounds of crashing waves common throughout the listening event. Hiss is detected.

Boom! Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features filmmaker John Waters, and if one must see "Boom," it's probably best to watch it with a man who's completely taken by the effort. Waters refuses to see the picture as "bad," preferring to celebrate its mistakes and screwy presence, delighting in production elements and behind the scenes gossip. When that information runs out, he becomes a moviegoing pal, pointing out frame details and identifying scenes that directly influenced his own filmography. Waters is always a joy to listen to, and his humor and expertise is sorely needed here.

• "The Sound of a Bomb" (19:28, HD) is an interview with the Alonso Duralde, the always affable film critic and longtime fan of "Boom." Duralde presents his own interactions with the movie, and attempts to provide some production context, exploring the troubled history behind the pairing of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, sharing their scandals and filmmaking collaborations. An analysis of the feature is provided, with Duralde appreciating its insanity. The interviewee also details his meetings with John Waters, finding a film print of "Boom," allowing Waters to tour with the picture, sharing it with audiences. A brief summary of home video history is shared, along with a mention of how the endeavor has managed to influence Duralde's everyday life.

• Photo Gallery: Color (4:34) collects film stills, publicity shots, and BTS images.

• Photo Gallery: B&W (4:50) offers film stills, publicity shots, and BTS images.

• Photo Gallery: Publicity and Promotion (3:51) provides a look at poster art, press kit pages, and newspaper ads. Also supplied is a look at John Waters's personal collection of art and literature, along with photos of a gag "Boom 2" tie.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:21, SD) is included.

Boom! Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Boom" revels in excess and fatigue (the stars were allegedly wrestling with addiction during the making of the movie), with most of the run time delivering a sense of wandering fury that's not all that interesting to watch. Camp appeal is there for the taking, but if that doesn't seep into the system in the first half, the rest of the feature is painful to sit through.