Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Grease Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 9, 2018

Paramount first released Director Randal Kleiser's world-famous Musical phenomenon 'Grease' to Blu-ray in 2009 to fair result at a time when the format was still in its relative infancy. For the film's 40th anniversary, now deep into the Blu-ray lifespan, the studio has re-released the film to the 1080p format in both this DigiBook edition as well as in SteelBook packaging which also includes 'Grease 2' and 'Grease Live,' currently the only way to own those films on Blu-ray. A companion UHD has also launched simultaneously with this Blu-ray, lacking either type of collectible packaging. The studio has included new video and audio presentations alongside several new bonus features, packed in alongside various legacy extras from the 2009 disc.

It’s a new year at Rydell High School, and something rad is happening: National Bandstand has chosen Rydell as a venue for a broadcast, right from the school gymnasium. As the excitement builds for the year on the very first day, some of the girls greet a new Australian student, Sandy (Olivia Newton-John), who spent her summer vacation on a hot fling with local boy Danny (John Travolta). The two believed they were going their own separate ways at the end of summer, with Sandy returning home to Australia, but they are indeed in school together, unbeknownst to either at first, even as they’re pining for one another and reminiscing about their time together. But when they are made aware of one another’s presence at school, Danny drops the nice guy persona that won Sandy’s heart in favor of the cool guy façade he puts on in front of his friends. Both are heartbroken, expressing it in different ways. Can true love be enough for Danny to overcome the embarrassment that comes with wearing his heart on his leather-clad sleeve, or will hubris keep him from reuniting with the girl of his dreams? It’ll take honest reflection, and several song-and-dance numbers, to find out.

Grease may be remembered for its infectiously catchy tunes and a career-defining part for Jon Travolta, but the film is at its best in a character driven capacity, when the tenderness between Danny and Sandy turns to tension when Danny cannot bring himself to be himself in front of his friends. Grease is a movie about appearances. It's how people look and how people are perceived. Both Danny and Sandy must take that journey through peer pressure and high school life (unfamiliar as that high school life may be today, decades removed from its setting and decades removed from the movie's creation) and sift through their emotions, exploring whether they can change not necessarily who they are, but who they appear to be if their relationship is to blossom as both desire. The movie is a bit overstuffed with surrounding teen drama, peering into cliques and peer pressure and issues like teen pregnancy, with much of it feeling like filler, but the core story entertains, the songs are contagiously fun, and the performances are largely very good.

For more thoughts on the film, see the Blu-ray.com review of the 2009 Blu-ray here.

Grease Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Grease was previously released to Blu-ray in 2009 to decent, if not unspectacular, result. For the film's 40th anniversary, Paramount has returned to the film and released a "fully restored" Blu-ray from the original negative which was "scanned and received extensive clean up and color correction." While I do not own the original 2009 release and cannot perform a direct comparison, this new 40th anniversary edition certainly delivers a positive all-around viewing experience. Both detail and color are nicely rendered. Grain is not pronounced but there are some visible spikes in darker scenes, such as during a nighttime pep rally in chapter four. Black levels do present with impressive depth and accuracy with minimal appearance of crush. Colors are bold. There's a nice variety throughout the cheerful 1950s landscape. Pink jackets, red cars and athletic apparel, various shades in a diner, all of them are spunky and well saturated, and they stand out against some of the darker and less vibrant backgrounds and black leather jackets the boys tend to wear throughout the film. Details hold strong. Environments are crisp, clothes are sharp and revealing, and skin textures are naturally complex. The image certainly doesn't match the intimacy of superior pictures or even the film's companion release UHD, which is a fairly sizable leap forward for detail and color alike, but everything is presented with quality definition and attention to detail, appearing very true to the original film source. There are some softer focus edges and sporadic images that appear somewhat pasty and artificial, both seemingly inherent to the source, but there are no significant signs of print deterioration or encode anomalies of note.

Grease Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For its 40th Anniversary release, Paramount has not changed the encode or channel configuration from the 2009 Blu-ray, but the studio has nevertheless tinkered with the track. For this new take on the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack, "audio was enhanced from a six-track mix created for an original 70mm release." The track is hardly a revelation, but it offers a solid enough foundational listen. The track is fairly front-heavy, but the musical numbers are satisfyingly rich and wide. The American Bandstand segment in chapter 11 stretches the system and offers impressive instrumental clarity throughout the range. There's not much immersion, even as surrounds are engaged (though listeners would be hard-pressed to really notice), but the aggressive frontside push minimizes the missing impact of a more effective wraparound sensation. A few basic sound effects present with enough distinction and stage presence to please, such as deep, rumbly engine revs during the race near film's end. Dialogue is largely fine and sonically defines much of the movie beyond song and dance numbers interspersed throughout. That said, it does have its moments of struggle, perhaps the most notable coming just prior to that aforementioned race where words are notably harsh-edged and slightly garbled. Much like the video presentation, this is an imperfect soundtrack, but it certainly serves the film well enough, and during its critical music moments in particular.

Grease Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Grease's 40th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray ships in DigiBook packaging and contains many extras, most of which carry over from the previous "Rockin' Rydell" release, several of which are new. New extras are marked as such, and reviewed (note that I do not have access to a copy of the original 2009 release and markings of what extras are new is based on the Blu-ray.com review of that 2009 disc, written by another reviewer, as well as the press release provided by Paramount). A UV/iTunes digital copy code is included with purchase.

The DigiBook is attractive, with a nicely textured faux-leathery yearbook-type cover with embossed lettering ("Rydell High," "Yearbook," and "Grease"). The rear cover includes no artwork, though it does ship with a typical info cluster sheet attracted. Inside is disappointingly brief content. The full color glossy pages include a morning announcements sheet, some character images and artwork (with each page decorated to appear as if someone wrote in the book) and a commencement announcement sheet. Underneath the staggered-stacked Blu-ray and DVD is an image from the film. In short: the outside looks and feels great while the inside is a disappointment. See screenshots 21-25 for a few pictures.

• Audio Commentary: Director Randal Kleiser and Choreographer Patricia Birch.
• Introduction by Randal Kleiser (480i, 0:24): Available both under the special features tab and as an option when the selecting the "Play" menu button.
• Rydell Sing-Along: Karaoke versions of songs form the film with an option to play all during the movie.
• The Time, The Place, The Motion: Remembering Grease
• NEW! Grease: A Chicago Story (1080p, 24:30): A look back at the original stage production in Chicago. With Grease co-creator Jim Jacobs and others, the piece looks at origins and inspirations, Jacobs' collaboration with Warren Casey, writing the story, its stage debut, transition to Broadway, legacy, and more.
• NEW! Alternate Animated Main Titles (1080p, 3:44): A 'rough demo" recently uncovered in the Paramount vaults, finished especially for this 40th anniversary release.
• NEW! Alterante Ending (1080p, 0:45): Only previously available by way of a black and white work print. It is now being shown in color for the first time.
• Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes (480i, 10:17 total runtime): Includes an Introduction by Randal Keiser and the following scenes: "T"-Birds Harass Eugene -- Extended, Classroom Announcements -- Extended, Pink Ladies and Sandy at Lunch -- Extended, She's Too Pure to Be Pink -- Extended, Intro to Summer Nights -- Deleted, Rydell Pep rally -- Extended, Kenickie and Danny Outside Frosty's -- Deleted, The Stroll -- Extended, National Bandstand -- Alternate, At the Dance -- Alternate/Extended, and Thunder Road -- Deleted.
• Grease Reunion 2002 -- DVD Launch Party
• Grease Memories from John and Olivia
• The Moves Behind the Music
• Thunder Roadsters
• John Travolta and Allan Carr "Grease Day" Interview
• Olivia Newton-John and Robert Stigwood "Grease Day" Interview
• Photo Galleries
• Theatrical Trailer

Grease Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Grease was a hit when it released and has become a cultural icon with serious staying power, now 40 years since its debut. For the film's milestone anniversary, Paramount has re-released the favorite on Blu-ray with a brand-new 1080p transfer and a new multichannel soundtrack (though in the same Dolby TrueHD 5.1 configuration as the previous release). A few new extras are included, on top of the prodigious pile of supplements from the previous edition. However, the UHD offers an improved picture quality. Recommended, but 4K capable fans should go with that version instead, even if it disappointingly lacks special packaging.