Hotel Colonial Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Hotel Colonial Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 12, 2020

1987’s “Hotel Colonial” is a forgotten film with known stars, sucked into the black hole of obscurity for features that just weren’t strong enough to stand the test of time. It’s not a particularly strong endeavor, with co-writer/director Cinzia Th. Torrini lacking an appreciation for pace and tense dramatics, but she’s pretty good with oddity, making room for several bewildering moments that should rightfully attract fans of moviemaking strangeness in international offerings. It’s not every day a picture comes along offering the sight of Robert Duvall in a blonde wig wrestling a python. There’s a cult classic in here somewhere.

The “Hotel Colonial” story isn’t much, with John Savage playing an Italian man trying to find his terrorist brother, who’s hiding in South America, eventually emerging as a bad man who doesn’t want to be found. Most of the picture is devoted to travel, following the main character as he meets locals and takes in the history of the land, eventually leading into the deep jungle. Savage is mild, paired with Rachel Ward for some extras thespian energy, but “Hotel Colonia” is all Duvall, who shows up at the hour mark with a bananas-broad Spanish accent, playing a character who keeps a pet hawk and causally mows down wild monkeys with a machine gun (don’t worry, the production is quick to note animal violence in the effort is faked).

Hotel Colonial Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation isn't a fresh scan of "Hotel Colonial," but offers a passable look at the obscure feature. Detail remains softer but within reach, providing a faint sense of facial surfaces and, in the case of Duvall, artificial hair lines. Grain remains on the chunky side. Locations retain depth, best with city tours and jungle visits. Animal action is also textured. Colors are adequate, with decent greenery and cultural hues, and skintones are natural. Delineation is passable, rarely losing frame information. Source is in decent condition, with mild speckling and scratches.

Hotel Colonial Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA track offers serviceable dialogue exchanges, which emerge a tad quieter than the rest of the elements, and ADR is obvious at times. More compelling are scoring cues and soundtrack selections, which come through with ideal precision, offering distinct instrumentation and steady South American beats. Atmospherics are adequate, examining village bustle and jungle movement.

Hotel Colonial Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (8:17, HD) with John Savage discusses his early involvement with "Hotel Colonial," with the actor working in Italy, meeting director Cinzia Th. Torrini, taking a liking to the filmmaker. Savage recounts time with his co-stars, marveling over Rachel Ward's beauty and Robert Duvall's idiosyncrasy, and he clarifies Italian comedian Massimo Troisi's involvement. Animal and environmental care was prized by the production, and Savage highlights his own knowledge of python behavior. Travel appreciation closes the brief conversation, as Savage shares his memories of location and local communities.

• And a Home Video Trailer (:29, SD) is included.

Hotel Colonial Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Hotel Colonial" is quite tedious up to Duvall's entrance, and then it becomes bewildering, suddenly stepping on the gas when it comes to actor indulgence and "Apocalypse Now"-style thematic missions, trying to carve out a fine point on dull film.