Taxi Driver Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Taxi Driver Blu-ray Movie Review

A third release of a singular classic.

Sony has re-released the critically acclaimed 'Taxi Driver' to Blu-ray for the third time. The first release contained an extensive catalogue of supplemental content while the second removed extra features in favor of a 'Mastered in 4K' 1080p transfer. This third release contains most all of the extras from the first (details in the "Extras" field below") and the same video and audio presentations from the second. One new key supplement has been added, and new cover art is included. Curiously, Sony did not issue the film on the UHD format, favoring instead another, and largely redundant, Blu-ray release.

Taxi Driver Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a video quality review, and additional screenshots, please click here.

Taxi Driver Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For an audio quality review, please click here.

Taxi Driver Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sony's latest re-release of Taxi Driver contains one new supplement and most the material from the previously released Blu-ray. All that's not included are the Interactive Script to Screen feature, BD-Live functionality, and the long-abandoned MovieIQ. This release also ditches the lobby cards that were included with the original release. This is essentially, then, a combination of the first two releases with an added supplement, spread across two discs. The new supplement is marked as such, and reviewed. For reviews of carry over material, please click here. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

Disc One:

• Original 1986 Commentary With Director Martin Scorsese and Writer Paul Schrader Recorded by The Criterion Collection.
• Commentary with Professor Robert Kolker.
• Commentary with Writer Paul Schrader.
• New! Tribeca Film Festival 40th Anniversary Q&A (1080p, 41:56): From the Beacon Theatre, Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro introduce the film prior to a Tribeca 40th Anniversary screening. The piece then cuts to Mara Webster's introduction of a Q&A session with key cast and crew of the film. Kent Jones moderates Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Paul Schrader, Michael Phillips and Harvery Keitel. De Niro opens with a joke about his most famous line. The assembled talent discuss the script and influences, Paul Schrader calling the script "self-therapy," Scorsese's draw to the script, De Niro's preparations for the role, initial casting and the cast's desire to work in the movie, improvs, the weather during the shoot and how it translated into the film, De Niro's haircut for the film, Bernard Herrmann's score, a key sound effect at the end of the movie, and the film's release.
• Producing Taxi Driver.
• God's Lonely Man.
• Influence And Appreciation: A Martin Scorsese Tribute.
• Taxi Driver Stories.
• Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver.
• Travis' New York.
• Travis' New York Locations.
• Taxi Driver Theatrical Trailer.

• Making Taxi Driver.
• Intro to Storyboards by Martin Scorsese.
• Storyboard to Film Comparison.
• Galleries.

Taxi Driver Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This 40th anniversary release of Taxi Driver is a godsend for those who don't yet own the film on the high definition format. With the best video and audio presentations available and all of the key supplements, including a terrific new sit-down with key cast and crew, it's the (current) definitive Blu-ray release of one of cinema's great treasures. For those who already own either, or both, of the previous issues, this is a tough sell, even with the new extra. Sony's failure to release a UHD is baffling and disappointing. Hopefully soon. Until then, the recommendation is for newcomers to pick up this release and those with one or both of the others in their libraries to hold off.