Michael Scott
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Streets of Fire: Collector's Edition
Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score:
Movie:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Final Score:

I think fans had almost given up on getting a domestic release of Streets of Fire on Blu-ray. It has been released in 5 or more other countries, with universal seemingly unconcerned about dropping the rock and roll fable onto Blu-ray, content to let the HD DVD be the only next gen release available. So color me tickled pink when Shout Factory announces that the film is finally coming, and on their premier Shout Select line to boot. Their Shout Select line has had fantastic results so far (with a few notable exceptions like Death of a Salesman) and Streets of Fire certainly delivers all of the goods. New 2K master, check. New special features, check. 2-disc special edition with reversible cover art (which both are amazingly well done) and slipcover? Check. Add those all together and you have a fantastic release that does the cult classic justice for once.
Streets of Fire plays like a mix of Sam Spade and 1980s rock culture, with over the top dialog and copious amounts of machismo playing center stage. Rock diva Ellen Aim (Diane Lane) is kidnapped by motorcycle gang leader Raven Shaddock (a baby-faced Willem Defoe) and her boyfriend/manager Billy Fish (Rick Moranis) decides to hire a mercenary to get her back. This mercenary just so happens to be Ellen’s ex-lover, a soldier of fortune turned merc by the name of Tom Cody (Michael Pare). A guy who used to rule the streets before he left to join the army. Saddling up with homeless soldier McCoy (Amy Madigan), Tom Cody ropes Billy Fish into coming along for the ride to save the woman they both love.
Saving her turns out to be pretty easy. It’s the getting out and getting away with it that may be the hard part. Raven is a madman and vows to hunt down the lone wolf and his girl and exterminate them both. Jumping on a bus of traveling musicians, Tom, Billy, Ellen and McCoy make it back, but Tom has other plans. He and Raven have unfinished business and it’s the only thing a man can do when another man challenges you. Strip down to your undershirt and battle your nemesis in the middle of the street with everyone (including the cops) watching and cheering.
The movie is one of Walter Hill’s best films, in my opinion, and still a blast to watch. People in today’s society may not remember Michael Pare that much, but in the mid 80’s he was being pushed as the next big thing. For some reason he really didn’t get a WHOLE lot of traction, but was a personable character who could play the tough guy role pretty well. He’s still running around playing bit parts here and there today, but his most notable claim to fame was being top billed in movies like The Philadelphia Experiment, Village of the damned, Warriors, and Into the Sun. This is probably one of his earliest and best roles, but he’s framed by some very young superstars that do just as well. Rick Moranis is fairly tame from his more comedic self, but he can play the douche bag character to a T, and that’s exactly what he does here. Diane Lane and Willem Defoe don’t get a whole lot of screen time, but Defoe hams it up to level 10 and Lane plays the damsel in distress well. There’s even cameos with Bill Paxton, Robert Townsend and Mykelti Williamson to round it out. A cheesy array of characters, but pure and utter fun from start to finish
Rating:
Rated PG by the MPAA
Video:

Audio:

.
Extras:

• RUMBLE ON THE LOT: Walter Hill's Streets Of Fire Revisited -- A Feature-Length Documentary Featuring Interviews With Director/Co-writer Walter Hill, Actor Michael Paré, Amy Madigan • And Art Director James Allen
• Vintage Featurettes: Rock And Roll Fable, Exaggerated Realism, Choreographing The Crowd, Creating The Costumes, From The Ground Up
• Music Videos
• Theatrical Trailer
• On Air Promos
• Still Gallery
Final Score:

Shout Factory has delivered a simply amazing 2 disc collector’s edition (all of the special features are on a second disc so the main feature has plenty of bitrate to work with). The transfer is NEAR perfect (some minor print damage keep it from that), and the supplements are well worth digging into. This is one of Walter Hill’s most “cult” level of flicks, and one of my personal favorites for the over the top machoism and tongue in cheek humor. Rick Moranis and Michael Pare are at the top of their game and we even get to see a baby face Willem Defoe for a few minutes. Imperfect, but hilariously fun, Streets of Fire finally gets a U.S. release on Blu-ray and I can finally retire my HD DVD from 2007. Well worth picking, highly recommended.
Technical Specifications:
Starring: Lee Montgomery, Joseph Campanella, Athur O'Connell
Directed by: Walter Hill
Written by: Walter Hill, Larry Gross
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 AVC
Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 5.1, English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Studio: Shout Factory
Rated: PG
Runtime: 93 Minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: May 16th, 2017
Recommendation: Highly Recommended
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