Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

Free Willy Blu-ray Movie Review

Foam Home

Reviewed by Michael Reuben August 4, 2015

Director Simon Wincer's Free Willy was a world-wide sensation that spawned three sequels, a hit song by Michael Jackson and a campaign to liberate its aquatic star, the orca named Keiko, from captivity, much as Keiko's character was freed at the conclusion of the film. So archetypal that it's been parodied by everyone from The Simpsons to South Park, the film is a classic boyhood adventure that follows the template of Steven Spielberg's E.T. almost to the letter, but it's so well done that Free Willy achieves its own stature.

Abandoned by his mother, an embittered twelve-year-old named Jesse (Jason James Richter) chafes at placement with sympathetic foster parents, the Greenwoods (Michael Madsen and Jayne Atkinson), but finds solace in a developing friendship with Willy, the "killer whale" at the seaside theme park, where he's been sentenced to clean up the graffiti he left. Neither the Native American keeper, Randolph (August Schellenberg), nor the park's trainer, Rae (Lori Petty), can get Willy to perform. The park's mercenary owner, Dial (Michael Ironside), is furious over the money he's losing, and his assistant, Wade (Richard Riehle), wouldn't mind arranging an "accident" so that his boss can collect on a $1 million insurance policy should Willy happen to die.

Although Jesse's growing friendship with the orca sparks hope that he might be able to coax him into a successful show, it becomes clear to the lad that Willy's true desire is to rejoin the family (or "pod") from which he was removed when he was forced into captivity. A series of unlikely events results in a desperate race to the sea with the fragile Willy suspended on a tractor trailer and the Greenwoods pitching in to help save the day. Lest there be any doubt that those who insist on holding Willy captive are evil, the ship that captures him in the opening sequence is named "Pequod", which was the doomed ship commanded by Captain Ahab in Moby Dick.

Free Willy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Newly transferred by Warner's MPI for this 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray, Free Willy looks terrific, with its exquisite location photography showcasing the Pacific Northwest by Robbie Greenberg (Under Siege 2). Blacks are solid, detail is plentiful, and the palette (which, not surprisingly, favors shades of aquatic blue) is beautifully reproduced. As with its other catalog titles this week (Innerspace and Blast from the Past), Warner has placed Free Willy on a BD-50 with a higher-than-usual average bitrate: here, 27.94 Mbps.

Free Willy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

According to the credits, Free Willy was released in Dolby Surround. The Blu-ray features a lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 track that reproduces Willy's splashing, diving, cavorting and cries with realistic precision and deep bass extension (especially when the huge mammal dives into the water). Other sound effects such as boats at sea, land vehicles in pursuit and, in one scene, breaking glass, are equally vivid. Basil Poledouris' adventure score is rousing and effective.

Free Willy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Conversation with Bob Talbot—Wildlife Cinematographer (480i; 1.33:1; 5:31).



• Michael Jackson "Will You Be There" Music Video (480i; 1.33:1; 3:49).



• Whale Ballet Montage (480i; 2.40:1, enhanced; 2:45).
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• Trailer (480i; 2.40:1, enhanced; 1:59).

Free Willy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Although Free Willy sets its heart against the practice of imprisoning orcas, especially in tanks that are too small for them, it does perpetuate the myth that these are friendly creatures whose ways we can understand. The orcas used in closeup are animatronic, but it's hard to watch actor Jason James Richter patting Willy's tongue after the tragic events at Seaworld recounted in the documentary Blackfish (for which Seaworld is still running ad campaigns as damage control). Like the fabulous escape with which it concludes, Free Willy is pure fantasy—beautifully told and now beautifully brought to Blu-ray. Recommended.