Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Weird Science Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 24, 2019

Don’t go looking for much in the way of logic in Weird Science, John Hughes’ 1985 opus about two unrepentant nerds named Gary Wallace (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt Donnelly (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) who manage to create the woman of their dreams courtesy of what looks like their Radio Shack computer (replete with 5 ½ inch floppy disc drive). It’s a patently ridiculous premise, but for those who are willing to go with it, Weird Science provides quite a few laughs along the way, and it’s one of the prime examples, along with The Woman in Red, of why Kelly LeBrock, who portrays the computer generated woman named Lisa, was considered one of the most iconic beauties of the 1980s.

Weird Science has had a number of previous releases on Blu-ray courtesy of its parent studio Universal, and I refer you to my colleague Brian Orndorf’s Weird Science Blu-ray review of one of those prior Universal releases for a plot summary and also as a resource to compare screenshots. I will point out that Brian is a considerably bigger fan of the film than I am, and so my overall score reflects my somewhat lesser opinion of the film.

Weird Science Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Weird Science is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration:

Weird Science has been exclusively restored by Arrow FIlms and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with 5.1 and stereo 2.0 audio.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K resolution on a Lasergraphics Director at EFilm, Burbank.

The film was graded and restored at Pinewood Studios, London. Picture grading was completed on a DaVinci Resolve and restoration was completed using PF Clean software. Audio remastering for the stereo and 5.1 mixes was also completed at Pinewood. The extended version sourced additional 35mm for these sections.

All materials for this restoration were made available by NBC Universal.

As Brian pointed out in his review of one of the old Universal releases, there was a pretty aggressively processed looking appearance, including rampant filtering and a kind of ugly muddy appearance. Things are significantly improved on this new Arrow version, and the first thing that some ardent videophiles will notice about the screenshots accompanying this review is the obvious grain field. Grain can look positively chunky at some times during this presentation, especially considering the surplus of old style opticals and compositing. Grain can occasionally take on a slightly yellow appearance, but in my estimation looks generally natural throughout. The pre-credits sequence through the credits is understandably a bit rough looking, with somewhat wan densities, but once the "actual" film starts, things improve markedly. The Arrow release looked at least somewhat brighter to my eyes, but the palette still looks generally natural and quite vivid. While there are some very noticeable differences in color temperature between the Arrow and Universal releases, and opinions will no doubt vary, again in my estimation the overall color timing on this release is much better than on the Universal, but I've tried to provide several screenshots that mimic or come close to Brian's in his review so that fans can do full size side by side comparisons and see what they think. Fine detail is materially improved throughout the presentation, with everything from Lisa's clothing textures to the slimy surface of Chet after he's been "transformed" attaining new precision and definition.

Weird Science Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Arrow offers either a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 or 2.0 track on the Theatrical Version and a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track on the Extended Version. Fans of Oingo Boingo's wacky title song will probably want to opt for the surround mix just for that, but the surround mix also provides a glut of nicely immersive sound effects throughout, especially in a number of what amount to set pieces, namely the "creation" of Lisa, the "appearance" of a missile somewhat later, and then the "return" to normalcy late in the film. Other score elements provide a nice surround listening experience as well. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. While the stereo versions don't have quite the low end energy of the surround, they're mixed exceptionally well, with smart prioritization and excellent fidelity.

Weird Science Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Theatrical (HD; 1:34:00) and Extended (HD; 1:36:38) Versions of the film are accessible under the Play Menu.


• Edited for TV Version (HD; 1.33:1; 1:34:06)


• Split Screen Comparison (HD; 18:16) is found under the Edited for TV Version menu and has side by side comparisons of how the censors attempted to deal with various issues.


• Additional Scenes (HD; 2:45) offers the snippets from the Extended Version that aren't in the Theatrical Cut.


• Casting Weird Science with Jackie Burch (HD; 6:03) is a newly done interview with the film's casting director.


• Dino the Greek with John Kapelos (HD; 6:55) is a new interview with the actor.


• Chet Happens with Craig Reardon (HD; 19:38) is a fun interview with the film's makeup effects creator.


• Fantasy and Microchips with Chris Lebenzon (HD; 10:46) features the film's editor.


• Ira Newborn Makes the Score (HD; 13:43) features the film's composer.


• It's Alive! Resurrecting Weird Science (HD*; 16:41) is an archival featurette produced for the film's DVD release in 2008.


• Theatrical Teaser (HD; 2:37)


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:34)


• TV Spots (HD; 1:01)


• Radio Spots (4:50)


• Image Galleries

  Shooting Script

  
  

  Production Stills

  
  

  Poster and Video Art

*720

Arrow has also provided a nicely appointed insert booklet, with two really fun essays, "Electric Venus; or, How I Learned to Stop Caring and Love Weird Science" by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, and "Pictures from a Magazine: Reflecting on E.C. Comics' Influence on Weird Science" by Amanda Reyes. The booklet also includes stills and technical information.

Weird Science Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

John Hughes is often associated with teen focused films, but many of them like Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink (still evidently kind of strangely still missing in high definition) tended to focus on females. Weird Science is positively dripping in teenage testosterone (sorry for any unwanted mental images), and it provides some raunch along with sweeter, more sentimental, laughs. The film ultimately is a bit of a shaggy dog story, but it's kind of interesting how it in a very real way tends to foster male empowerment (something Lisa herself addresses overtly late in the film). Performances are goofily enjoyable and some of the special effects, while probably dated to modern day eyes, are rather charming. This new Arrow release markedly improves the technical merits of the older Universal releases, and per Arrow's usual way of doing things, they've also assembled some fun supplements. Fans of this film should certainly consider an upgrade, which this certainly is, but even for the public at large, Weird Science comes Recommended.