Thanks for checking out our Rocky Horror Picture Show 35th Anniversary Bluray Review
Genre: Comedy Musical
Directed by: Jim Sharman
Staring: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O’Brien, Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell, Meat Loaf
Released: September 26, 1975
BluRay 35th Anniversary Bluray Released: October 19th, 2010
THE GENERAL IDEA
The story, narrated by a criminologist, tells the tale of newly engaged couple, Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, who find themselves lost and with a flat tire on a cold and rainy, late November evening.[1] Seeking a phone with which to call for help at a nearby castle, Brad and Janet discover a group of strange and outlandish people who are holding an Annual Transylvanian Convention. They watch, still wet from the rain, as the Transylvanians, servants, and a tap dancing groupie, dance the “Time Warp”, the film’s signature song.
They are soon swept into the world of Dr. Frank N. Furter, a bizarre and self-proclaimed “sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania”. The ensemble of convention attendees also include servants Riff Raff, his sister Magenta, and a groupie named Columbia.
THE GOOD
The video quality was not changed at all, however the soundtrack for the film was replaced by the studio recordings featured on the official soundtrack release. It makes the film work better, and the memorable songs have more impact than the rough presentation originally released in previous formats.
The real benefit is the heaping pile of special features and bonus material offered here.
– Audio Commentary with Richard O’Brien and Patricia Quinn.
– A Few From The Vault: Deleted scenes and outtakes.
– Alternate opening (in black & white)
– Two theatrical trailers
– Alternate misprint ending
– Mick Rock (A Photographer).
– Mick Rock’s Picture Show (A Gallery).
– Poster gallery and Pressbook gallery.
– Rocky Horror Double Feature Video Show (from the 1995 Beacon Theatre, New
– York 10th Anniversary Celebration)
– Don’t Dream It, Be It: The Search for the 35th Anniversary Shadowcast Pt. I.
– An-tic-i-pation: The Search for the 35th Anniversary Shadowcast Pt. II.
– Rocky-Oke: Sing It!
– The Midnight Experience: The Late Night Double Feature Picture-in-Picture
– Show, Vintage Callback Track, Prop Box and Trivia Track.
For the real fan there are hours of extra footage and features to explore.
Seeing Tim Curry’s first film, as well as a young Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick is a lot of fun too.
THE BAD
The charm of this film is not lost on the Bluray release, but the visual quality is not improved. This is a direct transfer of the movie which is effective, but there was no remastering or quality upgrades as far as the visuals go. This will be better than that VHS bootleg you inherited from your parents.
The packaging is unique in that it comes as a special edition “book” with the movie tucked in its inner back cover. The pages of this small bluray case sized volume are filled with images from the movie, but don’t really offer anything you can’t already see in the film. They are just presentation fluff.
The movie itself holds up for what it is. A series of nonsense scenes of spectacle and amusement, but introducing this cult classic to new audiences is a tough sell. There is no real plot, nor outcome.
OVERALL
The movie is great, and still is what it is. The longest running movie in theaters (never ended its “limited release” still showing to this day in theaters) and is a lot of fun to re-live.
I give The Rocky Horror Picture Show 35th Annivserary Bluray a 8 out of 10 for the film itself and the healthy donation of special features and bonus material.
