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January 22, 2013

Movie Review: The Blue Lagoon (1980, Blu-ray, Twilight Time)



Review By: Rob Sibley

Twilight Time has brought “The Blue Lagoon” to Blu-ray for the first time and it's a sight to behold. The release is limited to 3000 copies so if your a fan of this picture be sure to obtain a copy ASAP.

Let me start off by saying I am a huge fan of this film. As much as I love a good ultra violent action or horror film I have a soft spot for the lighter side of cinema. I remember staying up till 1 in the morning when I was a kid to see “The Blue Lagoon”. All my friends at school were talking about it. Take in mind when I was 5 years old the film was already 15 years old. But boy o boy was it an event. Everyone in my class was staying up to catch this film.



Seeing Brooke Shields nude was a big thing back in the day (even if it was a body double).

So really it was my first taste of sexuality on film, but it's handled with such an innocent hand that the filmmakers deserve credit for making what easily could have been another exploitation picture.


Directed by Randal Kleiser, fresh off the success of “Grease” and written for the screen by Douglas Day Stewart who'd go on to considerable fame for Officer and a Gentleman and the Gary Oldman flick The Scarlet Letter.

The plot to this picture is is simple. Two children are shipwrecked on a tropical island in the South Pacific. With no adults to guide them, the two make a simple life together, unaware that sexual maturity will eventually intervene. 


We watch them as they slowly grow up and even have a kid on the Island. Brooke Shields & Christopher Atkins have a perfect on screen chemistry. They both capture the innocence of their characters. Something that was missing from the dreadful reboot “Blue Lagoon: The Awakening” which was a Life Time movie...

They even made a sequel which is more of a remake “Return the blue lagoon” starring a young and ultra hot Milla Jovovich. Which is worth a look if your a Milla fan and what red blooded American male isn’t?

At the end of the day your either a fan of Blue Lagoon or your not. But this reviewer loves this film. 


The Blu-ray from Twilight Time is a revelation. I can easily say out of the thousands of Blu-rays I own this is easily one of the most delightfully impressive transfers I've ever seen on the format. The film is treated to a AVC encoded 1080p transfer in it's original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. It's stunning, there is nothing wrong with this transfer. The colors pop off the screen giving you that wonderful 3D effect and luckily no DNR was used so you still get the comforting film grain. This is a great film with an OUTSTANDING transfer. 


The Audio is just as great, we get a TS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. Everything is crisp and clear, you feel like your on the island with the characters. My only gripe? Maybe the original Mono track would have been appreciated but I'm a stickler for that.

The extra's are highly impressive and worth the price alone. We get not one but two terrific commentary tracks. The first featuring Randal Kleiser, Brooke Shields and Douglas Day Stewart. Everything you could possibly want to know and more is on this track.

Second commentary has director Randal Kleiser and actor Christopher Atkins. This track is a riot, with plenty of funny on set stories being told. Both Kleiser and Atkins share some wonderful stories.

We also get three teaser trailers, the films theatrical trailer and a vintage 11 minute featurette. 


Like I said before Twilight Time is becoming the next Criterion. They put some much love into their Blu-rays. This film is a delight and the Blu-ray is a must own. HIGHLY RECCOMENDED.

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