Posted in: 4K/Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, Movies, Paramount Pictures, Review | Tagged: clue, Shout! Factory

Review: Clue – 4K Ultra HD + Blu-Ray Collector's Edition

Yes. We did it. We reviewed Clue in 4K. We watched it, so much! It flamed- Flames! On the side of our face! Breathing, breathle...

What could I possibly say about the movie Clue that hasn't already been said, documented, and pontificated upon in the almost four decades since its release? The once box-office flop turned comedic cult classic has been analyzed, dissected, frequently quoted, had websites dedicated to it, costumed movie nights in theaters featuring it, had essays written about it, stage plays performing the scripted version of it, and it even received one of Buzzfeed's best articles ever written about the making of it with everyone alive at the time interviewed for it (which we encourage you to check out when you have a free hour). The film is an obsession for many, including myself, which is why I was excited to see it receive a 4K Ultra HD Collector's Edition release from Shout! Factory. However, in the almost 40 years since its initial release, there have been a few different versions of the film released for home media. So how does this stack up, and is it worth your money?

Starting with the film, I decided to review this in the most obnoxious way possible. I have the 2000 DVD copy, as well as the 2012 Blu-ray release, in my collection, and the film is currently available for streaming on Paramount+  (as of when we're writing this review). All of these were viewed on a Samsung QLED Smart TV, so they all had an equal chance of being shown in the best light. The DVD is clearly a lift from the original VHS edition released in 1986 with zero features and looks as grainy as I remember when I saw it in late-night syndication. The 2012 version cleans it up a little and tries to provide better audio, but hindsight is 20/20, and it's pretty clear that edition was a cash grab with few improvements. The Paramount+ version has HD enhancements, but it still has a hint of grain to the picture. This all-new 4K edition of Clue finally clears all of that out, as they have remastered it with a 4K scan of the original negatives from the cameras.

They also give the audio a scrub with DTS-HD revival of the original mono track, which helps out some of the jokes over the years that are occasionally garbled or lost in ADR. This is both a benefit and a hindrance because it showcases just how much of Clue was later re-recorded. There are always the obvious ones, like when Col. Mustard (Martin Mull) screams, "How can you make jokes at a time like this?" Or when Prof. Plum (Christopher Lloyd) says, "Oh, shucks." which has clearly been dubbed over him saying "Oh, shit" to help give it the original PG rating in 1985. But now this points out how even more lines sounded like they were naturally recorded on set, but it's now clear they weren't. If that bothers you, it's going to stand out even more now. If you don't care, you'll enjoy the enhanced audio that gives the iconic soundtrack a new life. The same can be said for the 4K Ultra HD upgrade.

The visuals for this version of Clue are absolutely stunning, as you can see every detail put into this extraordinary setpiece they made for the film. However, it also shows off the movie magic a little too clearly as you see the stunt doubles for the upstairs collision, looking nothing like the cast they impersonate. Or the rain coming down outside looking very Hollywood and not natural at all. But again, if that's something you can put out of your mind, you'll enjoy seeing the details of the costumes from Mrs. White and Mrs. Peacock (Madeline Khan and Eileen Brennan, respectfully). And if you thought you enjoyed Mrs. White going off about "Flames- on the side of my face!" or Tim Curry's famous retelling of the events as Wadsworth, this puts a brand new life on moments such as those. You might even pick out details you may have missed, such as when Plum and Ms. Scarlett (Lesley Ann Warren) run to the door in the rain, you'll see every car the characters drove to the house in matches the color of the characters from the board game.

Beyond the film are the special features, which are located on the upgraded Blu-ray edition (for those who don't have the ability to watch it in 4K Ultra HD). In past releases, the special features amounted to two whole options. The ability to have a random ending picked instead of seeing all of them, and a chance to see the original theatrical trailer, which has lines not used in the film. Shout! Factory literally puts every prior release to shame by actually adding real bonus features. You have three interviews for this release: one with Writer/Director Jonathan Lynn, one with Associate Producer Jeffrey Chernov, and one with film music historian Daniel Schweiger, who discusses the film's original score by John Morris. It isn't much for diehard fans, but it's far more than we've received in the past. It would have been nice to try and talk to the cast about it one last time, or have a standalone soundtrack to listen to, or maybe find some of the lost scenes that never made the final cut (which, knowing Paramount, is sitting in their studio vault in refrigeration). We appreciate what we got, but there could have been more.

Ultimately, this edition of Clue is worth the buy. That's especially true if you're THAT kind of Clue fan. Over the years, I've come to find more people who experience this for the first time, trepidatiously watching it with friends as they walk into it like Mr. Green and Yvette (Michael McKean and Colleen Camp, respectfully) exploring the attic. They don't know what to think of it until they see it, and within a few months, they're quoting it as if they've watched it for years. This is the version to own if you're obsessed with the film this way and really want to show it off to new people these days, as it brings out the best of everything. Could it have been better? Sure. But considering the slim pickings we got in prior releases, this is a welcomed upgrade. Probably the last great version of it we'll get for some time.

Now that the review is over, would anyone care for fruit or dessert?

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!