7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A drifter discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to wake up to the fact that aliens have taken over the Earth.
Starring: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George 'Buck' Flower, Peter JasonHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 25% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
They have taken the hearts and minds of our leaders. They have recruited the rich and the powerful. And they have blinded us to the truth.
They may live, but fear not! Roddy Piper and Keith David are here to chew bubble bum and kick alien tail in They Live, Director John
Carpenter's brilliant Sci-Fi satire all about modern society's unwitting slavery under everything from consumerism to politics. It's perhaps the
ultimate
conspiracy theory movie (or real-life trickle-down economics Horror show, depending on whom one asks), a tale that depicts the dangers of an
unaware
populace's figurative
sleep, or more specifically, the populace's literal blindness of and naiveté concerning
what's really happening all around, about who or what truly controls the world, about the open enslavement of man by those who would do
harm below the shiny surface and beyond the false sphere of safety and security. Of course the movie is fundamentally a work of fiction (at least,
one can hope it's
fiction; there appears to be no aliens masquerading as people running around) but it rings its truths below the surface -- it blares its
truths, really -- as a warning sign to all who blindly follow the lead, who keep
their
eyes
closed, ears shut, and mouths sealed to the world they see unfolding around them, perhaps inwardly decrying decline but doing nothing about it for
fear of retribution or ridicule or, perhaps, sheer uncertainty of where to begin. It's rather simplistically displayed and resolved in the film, nothing a
few
tough hombres and a handful of guns cannot make right, but the social commentary runs much deeper and it's Carpenter's core story, not
the
superficial action, that makes They Live a rousing success of thought-provoking cinema.
"I have blood on my face?"
They Live's Blu-ray presentation has it moments that will leave viewers wondering just what sort of transfer they're getting, but generally the image holds up quite well. To be sure, there are some scattered problem spots. There are a handful of soft shot and a couple of downright smudgy spots throughout. Quite a few scenes take on a rather pasty, processed, noise-reduced, unnaturally digital sort of look. Edge enhancement creeps in a few times as well, surrounding various objects with an unnecessary and unnatural glow. On the other hand, the image is quite stable and very crisp. Grain does remain over the image, solidifying some fabulous detailing that reveals complex facial lines, fine textures on Nada's hiking gear, wear and tear on dirty and worn garments, stucco around the church, and brick and concrete in alleyways. Colors are wonderful, yielding superb balance, natural brilliance, and a pleasant appearance, from faded denim to creepy alien facial hues seen in color rather than the film's noted black-and-white, sunglasses-filtered shots. Skin tones are accurate and blacks don't dive too far towards crushing levels. Certainly, the image could stand some refinement and minor polish; it's not perfect, but this is easily the best They Live has ever looked for home viewing. Fans should be very pleased with the results.
They Live features a quality DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The film isn't big budget and it's not brand new, and the track doesn't hide those qualities. It's robust and fun but not so precise as to blur the line between media and real life. The film opens with some ridiculously heavy and somewhat unkempt bass; it sounds more like a car parading down the street with a dozen subwoofers pounding away from the trunk more than a tight movie soundtrack element, but things clean up nicely from there. Music enjoys fine front-end spacing and very good clarity. Atmospherics will impress, whether the din of the construction site, general city ambience, or more aggressive elements like police sirens and hovering helicopters that all naturally fill the stage. Gunfire tears through the stage and plays with that over-pumped 1980s feel about it, but the effect is genuine and works well in context. Dialogue is accurate and remains grounded in the center channel. All told, this is a very strong audio presentation from Scream Factory.
They Live contains a very healthy and wholly filling array of extra content, notably a fine audio commentary track and several new
retrospective interviews with cast and crew.
They Live is a legitimate classic of the somewhat unheralded variety, a movie with minimal outward ambitions but plenty of commentary that's both buried under the surface and weaved right on top of the action. It's a thought-provoking and intelligent picture wrapped up in the guise of a dumb 80s action film, and the combination works beautifully. John Carpenter's direction is outdone only by his writing, and the lead performances are superb within the context of what the film requires of them. This is a strong picture that holds up well and remains one of the more intelligent of the 1980s crop of Science Fiction and muscular Action pictures. Scream Factory's Blu-ray release of The Live features good video, fine audio, and a nice collection of extras. Highly recommended.
Collector's Edition | Exclusive Bubble Gum Pink 7" Vinyl
1988
Collector's Edition | Sacred Bones Records Exclusive Red-and-Blue Swirl 7" Vinyl + NECA action figure of Frank Armitage
1988
Collector's Edition | Exclusive Bubble Gum Pink 7" Vinyl + NECA action figure of Frank Armitage
1988
Includes Enamel Pin Set+Exclusive Poster
1988
Collector's Edition | Exclusive Black-and-White Swirl 7" Vinyl
1988
1988
Collector's Edition
1988
Collector’s Edition | Limited Edition to 10,000
1988
2014
2016
2016
2018
Collector's Edition
1995
Collector's Edition
1985
Standard Edition
1981
Collector's Edition
1987
Collector's Edition
1984
2016
1990
1988
2019
2018
2000
1982
1987
2011
Director's Cut
1986
Collector's Edition
1984