Pee-wee's Big Adventure 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Pee-wee's Big Adventure 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Pee-wee Herman was becoming a big deal for actor Paul Reubens in the 1980s. He scored attention with the creation, and success when generating a stage show for the nerdly character, earning spots on late night television and the attention of Hollywood producers. In 1985, “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” was the first real nationwide test of the character’s appeal, pairing Reubens (who co-scripts with Phil Hartman and Michael Varhol) with director Tim Burton, a young talent making his feature-length debut with the endeavor. The idea was to take Pee-wee’s strange ways and stick them into a story about an outsider hunting for his stolen bicycle, but something wonderful happened to the project during its creation. Burton and Reubens found a way to take something potentially goofy and turn it into a splendid celebration of cinematic imagination, with visual and performance mischief found everywhere in the endeavor. “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” is a special film, sharing an exquisite amount of playfulness and low-budget inventiveness during its run time, allowing Burton to run wild with his youthful interpretation of Pee-wee’s bizarre world of panic, road trip connections, and indefatigable determination to right a horrible wrong.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

"Pee-wee's Big Adventure" was originally issued on Blu-ray by Warner Brothers in 2011, and returns with a new release from Criterion, listed as "supervised and approved by director Tim Burton, this new 4K restoration was created from the 35mm original camera negative." The movie has been successfully refreshed for its UHD debut, with the Dolby Vision viewing experience bringing out vivid colors, working with cinematography and design elements that favor the power of primaries. Deep reds are especially strong, identifying the power of the bike's paint job and dinosaur statue lighting. Pee-wee's presence also maintains authority with his white and gray appearance. Greenery is distinct as the story visits multiple locations, and store signage is defined. Skin tones are natural. Detail is excellent, allowing viewers to appreciate frame information that was slightly smeared out on the old Warner Brothers disc, securing all kinds of decorative additions. Skin particulars are inviting, preserving differences in age and makeup, and costuming stays fibrous. Interiors deliver dimensional looks at house tours, and exteriors supply depth, periodically examining the vastness of some settings and the length of the studio tour finale. Blacks are deep, capturing evening activity. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is fine and film-like.

The last 18 screencaps (beginning with the close-up of Francis) offer comparison shots from the Criterion (top) and Warner Brothers (bottom) releases.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix from the previous Blu-ray release is present on the disc, but the default choice on the UHD is a 2.0 DTS-HD MA track, which Criterion recommends enabling "Dolby Pro Logic decoding on your receiver to properly play" the mix. The 5.1 experience shows its age and limitations, with the 2.0 offering more natural and inviting. Dialogue exchanges are clearly delivered, securing sometimes strange performance choices and yelling matches without slipping into distortive extremes. Scoring remains sharp and balanced, supporting the cartoon moods of "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" with authority. Soundtrack selections are also defined. The listening event maintains a wider presence as times, and sound effects are distinct.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet contains an essay by Jesse Thorn.

• Commentary #1 features director Tim Burton and co-writer/actor Paul Reubens.

• Commentary #2 features composer Danny Elfman.

• "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" (28:09, HD) is an interview with director Tim Burton, conducted by Richard Ayoade. Burton shares his thoughts on revisiting the film for the Criterion release, and tracks the development of his career in the 1980s, going from Disney animation to the making of his first feature, responding to the "sampler platter" vibe of the project. The interviewee describes his mental state during production and his approach to preparation. Burton also shares his relationship with actor Paul Reubens, understanding the many sides of the performer and the character of Pee-wee Herman. The pair discuss creative ideas and execution, and Burton's ownership of his projects through his innately artful ways.

• "I Meant to Do That" (37:38) collects memories on the making of "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" from production designer David L. Synder, producer Richard Abramson, co-writer Michael Varhol, and editor Billy Weber. Abramson recalls his first encounter with Paul Reubens/Pee-wee Herman, watching the performer on "Late Night with David Letterman," soon becoming his manager. Varhol explores the development of the story for the film, which originally was conceived as a "Pollyanna" remake before the creative direction of the project changed. Snyder went from time on "My Science Project" to the Pee-wee film, personally selected by previous collaborator Tim Burton for the job. The helmer's journey on the production is charted, winning the gig due to the visual triumph of his short, "Frankenweenie." Creative achievements are analyzed, pushing the crew to generate an entire world on a small budget, and a few inspirations are revealed. Danny Elfman's music is celebrated, and the star-studded premiere of "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" is fondly remembered.

• "Paul Reubens in Conversation" (36:10, SD) is a 2005 discussion of Pee-wee Herman with the actor, beginning with the origin story for the character and his initial discovery of director Tim Burton. Biographical information is provided, including a lasting influence of circus life picked up during Reubens's childhood. The creative process for "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" is examined, highlighting scripting and acting choices, and even roads not taken, including a push to cast Sean Connery to play Pee-wee during the closing film-within-a-film sequence. Reubens fields questions from the audience, sharing stories from the making of the picture and his construction of the Pee-wee character.

• "40th Anniversary Reunion" (24:25, HD) is a panel discussion of "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," hosted by comedian Dana Gould. Interviewees include co-writer Michael Varhol, producer Richard Abrahamson, editor Billy Weber, production designer David L. Synder, animated effects artists The Chiodo Brothers, and actors Elizabeth Daily, Diane Salinger, and Mark Holton. The discussion follows the development and execution of the film, picking up amusing anecdotes along the way, and talk of the Paul Reubens is shared. Gould works extremely hard to keep the conversation on the go, cracking jokes along the way, and it's amusing to watch Daily not enjoy his sense of humor.

• Deleted Scenes (11:06, SD) are offered, covering the wonders of The Amazing Larry and his flying toupee, an encounter with Boone the Bear, time with hospital visitors, and an extended studio lot chase (including a spaceship cameo from the miniseries "V").

• A Theatrical Trailer is included.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One could certainly debate the overall effectiveness of Burton as a filmmaker, especially in recent years, but he's on fire in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," overseeing an intensely colorful and free-spirited endeavor that plays to his strengths in eccentricity and humor, selling the screenplay's wonderful understanding of character with surprising ingenuity as Pee-wee's cross-country quest takes dips into animation and moviemaking reverence. Composer Danny Elfman adds ideal support with his circus-tinged score, helping to really sell the imagination of the offering, and there's Reubens, who gives the feature such a boost of impishness with his inimitable lead performance. "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" is such a joyful viewing experience and a superbly handmade picture, capturing artistry and comedy spirit as Burton and Reubens combine forces to make an unforgettable big screen debut. The highlights in the film are numerous, the characters lovable and rascally, and the pure artistic adventure of it all is truly magical.