Extreme Prejudice (Vestron Video Collector's Series) Blu-ray Review + Screenshots

Name another film that has Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Michael Ironside, Clancy Brown, and Maria Conchita Alonso, directed by Walter Hill and a story by John Millius. If ever their was a film that defined "Badass Cinema" Extreme Prejudice would that film.

Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: April 24th, 1987 (theatrical) / May 17th, 2022 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 1 hour 44 minutes 59 seconds
Region Code: A (locked)
Picture: 1080p (1.85:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH
Slipcover: Yes
Digital Copy: Yes (VUDU or Google Play)
Starring: Nick Nolte, Powers Booth, Maria Conchita Alonso, Clancy Brown, and Michael Ironside
Written by Deric Washburn
Directed by Walter Hill
Rating: R (strong bloody violence, drug use, language, and brief nudity)

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Poster

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What's It About?

When they were kids Texas Ranger Jack Benteen used to be best friends with drug kingpin Cash Bailey. At present, however, the only element linking them together is Jack's girlfriend Sarita, who used to be with Cash. She returns to Cash as a voluntary hostage to make certain that Jack keeps his hands off the drug lord's operation. On top of that, there is a meticulously planned drug bust, in which both Jack and Cash butt heads with CIA-funded paramilitary Maj. Paul Hackett, following his own agenda.

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Film Review

I had never seen EXTREME PREJUDICE until I picked up this blu-ray. I had really great things about it, but every release until now has been full screen only and I didn't want my first viewing to be like that in this day and age. It would have been understandable in the VHS days, but we do things right nowadays when it comes to watching films the way they were supposed to be seen. Thankfully, Lionsgate decided to release the film through their Vestron Video line of blu-rays.

To describe what happens in this film would be doing it a disservice. The film needs to be experienced while watching it, not reading about it. What I will say about the film is that it is nice and violent, the way it should be. In fact, I have to say that 1987 has to have been one of the more violent years for film, with this film along with PREDATOR and ROBOCOP giving us the violent goods at the box office. Every shootout feels real but is still really cool. Walter Hill knows how to put an action scene together. I mean, he worked with Sam Peckinpah, so he should.

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Video/Audio

I was hoping for a new transfer here, but leave it up to Lionsgate to give us an old ass transfer. Everything looks fine, but it is so old that it must have been done at the beginning of a Blu-ray's time on earth or maybe it's older than that. The picture is flat with almost no depth to the picture. Colors look ok. I was hoping they would look a bit better but they don't. There is some film grain present in the darker scenes, but it gets really light when the light comes back in.

The included DTS-HD Master Audio track fares better than the picture. Dialogue is clear and crisp and the gunshots in any of the action scenes have a nice bass to them. It isn't great bass, but it is there and I appreciate that. Jerry Goldsmith's score sounds great too.

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Extras/Packaging

Audio Commentary with film historians C. Courtney Joyner and Henry Parke

Isolated Scene Selections with audio interview from music historian John Takis

Interview with director Walter Hill (58m 52s, HD, 1.78:1) This is a fascinating interview with Walter Hill that covers almost his entire career.

The Major's Agenda (22m 57s, HD, 1.78:1) An interview with Michael Ironside

The War Within (24m 25s, HD, 1.78:1) A fun interview with Clancy Brown

Capturing the Chaos (15m 11s, HD, 1.78:1) An interview with DP Matthew F. Leonti

Teaser Trailer (1m 4s, HD, 1.78:1)

Theatrical Trailer (2m 13s, HD, 1.78:1)

TV Spots (2m 13s, SD, 1.33:1) 4 TV Spots

Vintage EPK (6m 54s, SD, 1.33:1)

Still Gallery (9m 56s, HD, 1.78:1) Selections from the film's score play as the stills play automatically.

All of the special features Lionsgate has given us are worth the time to watch. Every interview offers something to the film and we are grateful for that. A lot of times, there will be interviews on a disc that are a waste of time, but the ones here are not like that. I appreciated every interview and commentary track here.

Lionsgate brings us EXTREME PREJUDICE as part of their Vestron Video Collector's Series blu-ray line. The front cover features some very striking artwork that has been used for other blu-ray releases around the world. While I do wish that they had used the film's original theatrical poster, this is a nice alternative. Inside the eco-friendly blu-ray case, you will find the blu-ray disc featuring the same artwork as the slipcover and a digital copy code that will you can redeem at VUDU or Google Play.

The disc is REGION A (LOCKED)

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Overall

EXTREME PREJUDICE is a fun flick that gets a little too lost in its own story to be a true classic. This, however, is a small complaint in the bigger picture. The film is still a lot of fun and has one of the greatest casts ever assembled. The direction from Walter Hill is top notch and the acting is great. Lionsgate has given us a good blu-ray that would have been so much better had they given the film a new transfer. Still, this is worth the money they are asking.

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Extras/Menus