Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Christine Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 21, 2016

John Carpenter's "Christine" (1983) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British label Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailers and TV spots for the film; audio commentary with the American director and actor Keith Gordon; twenty deleted scenes; three featurettes with cast and crew interviews; and isolated score. Also included with this release is a 24-page illustrated booklet with writings on the film and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. Region-Free.

The beauty

Arnie Cunningham (Keith Gordon, Dressed to Kill) knows that he is a loser. He isn’t attractive, no one likes his jokes, and he does not have a car. He also isn’t rich. But even if he was, it would not have made any difference because every single girl knows that he is still a virgin.

While passing by a rundown shack with his best friend Dennis Guilder (John Stockwell, Dangerously Close), Arnie sees an old and rusty 1958 Plymouth. He immediately falls in love with the car and much to Dennis’ disappointment decides to buy it with his savings. Before he writes a check for $250.00, Arnie is told that the car goes by the name of Christine and that years ago he first owner suffocated to death inside it.

When Arnie’s parents refuse to let him keep Christine at home, he drives her to Will Darnell’s (Robert Prosky, Thief) garage and begins working on it. A few weeks later, the restored Christine impresses Leigh Cabot (Alexandra Paul, Dragnet), the local beauty, and Arnie goes out on a date with her. At the end of the date, however, Leigh tells Arnie that even though Christine looks beautiful she does not feel comfortable in it.

Meanwhile, a few of the area’s troublemakers decide to remind Arnie that ugly losers are not allowed to dream big. They quietly enter the garage where Arnie keeps Christine and completely destroy the car. Soon after, another car looking exactly like Christine begins harassing them.

John Carpenter’s film looks rather dated now, but it has not lost its charm. In fact, because technology has evolved so much and contemporary horror films use so many digital effects to get the type of atmosphere they need, now it is a lot easier to appreciate Carpenter’s tremendous vision and enthusiasm. They truly are what make Christine worth seeing.

There are some obvious differences between the film and Stephen King’s novel -- in the novel the rich characterizations are far more important than the evolution of the conflicts -- but the changes are logical and actually enhance the film’s personality. Whether it is the right personality is something that has been debated since the film was released in 1983 -- and justly so, since King’s words rarely translate well to film -- but as interpreted by Carpenter Christine’s story is both enjoyable and visually pleasing.

Gordon undergoes a massive character transformation, but it is very convincing. The erotic sequences where he connects with Christine are amongst the film’s highlights. Stockwell and Paul are also very convincing. There are a couple of excellent cameos as well. Harry Dean Stanton plays a curious detective who senses that Christine is not an ordinary car, while Prosky is the vulgar owner of the garage where Christine is restored. Roberts Blossom, one of the stars in Don Siegel’s Escape from Alcatraz, is difficult to recognize, but he is the old drunkard that sells Christine to Arnie.

The soundtrack features original music by Carpenter and classic tracks by George Thorogood and The Destroyers (“Bad to the Bone”), The Rolling Stones (“Beast of Burden”), Ritchie Valens (“Come on, Let’s Go”), Buddy Holly (“Not Fade Away”), and Bonnie Raitt (“Runaway”), amongst others.

Christine Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, John Carpenter's Christine arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release has been sourced from the same master that Sony also used in Germany for their local release. Unsurprisingly, I could not see any notable discrepancies between the two. The overwhelming majority of the film looks quite good, though it has to be said that there are some obvious inherited fluctuations. For example, the opening sequence where Christine is seen in the factory was shot on Fuji film to achieve the dated and softer brownish look (see screencapture #14). Depth is typically good, but there are areas where some light black crush emerges and as a result shadow definition isn't optimal. There are no traces of problematic degraining corrections. Grain is mostly well exposed and resolved, though you should keep in mind that because of the different shooting technique mentioned earlier you are likely to notice some minor shifts between different segments. Colors are stable and natural, though ideally I think that saturation should be even better, with a more convincing range of nuances. There are no stability issues. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

Christine Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

Unlike the German release, this release has a stereo track and I viewed the entire film with it. I thought that it was excellent. I am fairly certain it was redone when the master was prepared a few years ago because depth and especially balance are outstanding. You can experiment with the two tracks, but I prefer the stereo track.

Christine Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Trailers and TV Spots - presented here are two original trailers and TV spots for Christine. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080p).
  
  1. Original Trailer One
  2. Original Trailer Two
  3. Original TV spot One
  4. Original TV spot Two

• Audio Commentary - director John Carpenter and actor Keith Gordon (Arnie Cunningham) spend a great deal of time explaining exactly how different sequences were shot and how the various special effects were done (the information about the reconstruction shots is particularly interesting), and discuss the awkward moments during the romantic sequences, some of the cuts that were made, the film's unique atmosphere, etc. The commentary initially appeared on the R1 Special Edition DVD release of Christine.

• Deleted Scenes - a gallery of deleted scenes. (26 min, 1080p).
  
  1. Arnie and Dennis Driving to School
  2. Arnie Bullied in Auto Shop
  3. Arnie Leaves for Darnell's in Junked-Out Christine
  4. Arnie Breaks Down in Dennis' Car
  5. Darnell and Friend Talk to Arnie as He Fixes Up Christine
  6. Arnie Visits Dennis at the Hospital
  7. Bullies Trashing Christine
  8. Leigh and Arnie Walking to Darnell's
  9. Leigh Visits Dennis in the Hospital
  10. Mom Looks in on Arnie Sleeping in Bed
  11. Arnie Visits Dennis in the Hospital Again
  12. Junkins Questions Arnie in School Parking Lot
  13. Leigh Dumps Arnie on the Phone
  14. Bully Crushed by Car
  15. Junkins Questions Arnie at Darnell's
  16. Leigh Calls Dennis
  17. Leigh and and Dennis Talk on Couch
  18. Dennis and Arnie Driving in Christine
  19. Arnie Sees Dennis & Leigh at a Hamburger Stand
  20. Leigh and Dennis for Arnie in the Bulldozer

• Christine: Fast and Furious - in this featurette, director John Carpenter and writer Bill Philips discuss the adaptation of Stephen King's best-selling novel and the production history and visual style of Christine. Also included are clips from interviews with producer Richard Kobritz, actors Keith Gordon, John Stockwell and Allexandra Paul, and stunt coordinator Terry Leonard. In English, not subtitled. (29 min, 1080i).

• Christine: Finish Line - in this featurette, director John Carpenter, writer Bill Philips, and producer Richard Kobritz explain how Christine was scored (including how the rights to George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone" were secured). In English, bit subtitled. (8 min, 1080i).

• Christine: Ignition - in this featurette, producer Richard Kobritz recalls his interactions with Stephen King (initially, he was sent Cujo but he did not like it) and explains how Christine became a film. Director John Carpenter and writer Bill Phillips also address some of the key differences between the book and the film. In English, not subtitled. (12 min, 1080i).

• Isolated Score - presented as LPCM 2.0.

• Booklet - included with the release is a fully illustrated 24-page booklet featuring:


• Jeff Billington's essay "Cars and Girls" (2016). The author is a film historian and schoolteacher in the Lake District.
• John Carpenter's Guilty Pleasures - director John Carpenter wrote this piece thirteen years after the release of Christine and on the occasion of the release of Escape From L.A. It is reprinted here with permission from Film Comment (September/October 1996).

Christine Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

British label Indicator/Powerhouse Films' upcoming Blu-ray release of director John Carpenter's cult film Christine is sourced from the same master Sony Pictures have used and licensed for other releases in different territories. There is some room for improvement, but I think that the end result is quite pleasing. The Blu-ray release is Region-Free. RECOMMENDED.