Import Corner: The Demolitionist (Digidreams) Blu-ray Review + 1080p Screenshots + Packaging Shots

Digidreams gives us another Video Store Classic with The Demolitionist, a film that had so much potential but never really embraces its wackiness.

Studio: Digidreams

Release Date: March 10th, 1995 (theatrical) / July 28th, 2014 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 1 hour 32 minutes 58 seconds
Region Code: FREE

Discs: 2 discs (1 BD, 1 CD)
Picture: 1080p (1.77:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: German Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 / English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0
Subtitles: German
Slipcover: No
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Nicole Eggert, Richard Grieco, Bruce Abbott, Heather Langenkamp, Susan Tyrrell, Peter Jason
Written by Brian DiMuccio, Dino Vinden
Directed by Robert Kurtzman
Rating: FSK: 18 (strong violence, some nudity and language

Note: This blu-ray is available separately or in the Cyborgs - Gegen Die Cyborgs Hat Die Menschheit Keine Chance Blu-ray Box Set that contains the following films:

Nemesis

Nemesis 2: Nebula

Nemesis 3: Time Lapse

Nemesis 4: Death Angel

Hologram Man

The Demolitionist

American Cyborg: Steel Warrior

Slinger

Class of 1999

Prototype

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Poster

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What's It About?

A murdered police officer is brought back to life by a cold-hearted scientist to serve as "The Demolitionist", the ultimate crime-fighting weapon in a city overrun by criminals and internal corruption.

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Video/Audio

This is another Digidreams letdown. I don't think this film has ever looked good but it could have looked a lot better than what we have here. Detail can be pretty decent and then it can be crap. There is some black crush in some of the nighttime scenes. The film has a slightly washed-out look. I don't know if that is how the film is supposed to look or if the transfer is off. It does not appear that any (or very little) DNR was used here as we can see hairs and scratches at various points in the film. I would have liked this transfer to be better but this is probably the best we will ever get.

The audio comes in German and English, both in 5.1 and 2.0. The audio is fine. Nothing ever gets lost in the shuffle and the dialogue is crisp and clear.

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Extras/Packaging

Trailer 1 (1m 42s, SD, 1.33:1)

Trailer 2 (1m 47s, SD, 1.33:1)

Slide-Show (1m 28s) auto plays in silence.

Making Of (13m 34s, SD, 1.33:1) This looks like it was made for the film's laserdisc release. It consists of Robert Kurtzman providing commentary over preproduction footage.

Artwork-Galerie (1m 12s) autoplays and runs silent

Behind the Scenes (1h 17m, SD, 1.33:1) This is actually fly-on-the-wall footage of the making of The Demolitionist.

Deutsche Presse (1m 18s) autoplays in silence

Featurette (4m 30s, SD, 1.33:1)

Storyboard-Zeichnungen (translates to "drawings") (9m 28s) again, autoplays in silence

Interview mit Robert Kurzman (17m 34s, HD, 1.78:1) A decent enough interview although most of the info here is repeated elsewhere.

Prduktionszeichnungen (translates to "production drawings") (1m 59s) This is the third still gallery. It also autoplays in silence.

Audiokommentar Robert Kurtzman, John Esposito, and John Bissem (?) (can't find this guy listed on imdb.com)

Presskit (6m 4s) the fourth and final still gallery. This one too autoplays and runs silent.

THE DEMOLITIONIST's packaging is fine. The double-sided blu-ray cover features the same artwork on both sides. The German rating is featured on one side and not on the other. The blu-ray case holds 2 discs. One blu-ray and one CD containing the film's soundtrack.

The blu-ray disc is REGION FREE

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Overall

THE DEMOLITIONIST isn't as fun as I had hoped. I liked it but it has its problems. The film doesn't have that much action in it and what we do have is kind of bland. The film is well made, and there are a ton of recognizable actors here but don't expect too much from it. There are some ridiculous aspects to the film but they are just aspects. I wanted to the film to be a lot more sure of itself and really embrace the wackiness of the whole thing. The film actually tries to have the satire that ROBOCOP had, which this film is a copy of, but it falls flat. I also figured that the film would have more makeup effects in it as it is directed by one of the founders of KNB but it doesn't. I think that this is a missed opportunity all around.

The blu-ray, from Digidreams, is a mixed bag. The picture and sound are just fine with the picture being fairly flat at times. The special features make for that by being plentiful and good. This release goes for a lot of money, for some reason, but if you can get it for cheap, I would say give it a chance. It didn't really work for me but it might for you.

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Extras/Menus