Import Corner: The Bounty: Limited Edition (Imprint Films) Blu-ray Review + 1080p Screenshots + Packaging Shots

The Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson classic, The Bounty, gets the royal blu-ray treatment with amazing picture and sound along with a metric ton of special features.

Studio: Imprint Films

Release Date: May 4th, 1984 (theatrical) / June 28th, 2023 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 2 hours 12 minutes 55 seconds
Region Code: FREE

Disc Count: 2
Picture: 1080p (2.35:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English LPCM 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH
Slipcover: No (hard box)
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, Daniel Day-Lewis, Liam Neeson, Laurence Olivier, and Edward Fox
Written by Robert Bolt
Directed by Roger Donaldson
Rating: AUS: PG (mild threat, mild violence)

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Poster

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What's It About?

William Bligh (Anthony Hopkins) was a real-life sea captain who, in 1787, steered HMS Bounty on a 27,000 mile voyage into danger, chaos and madness. After 31 days battling severe sea squalls and Bligh’s ever-increasing cruelty, the weary crew is relieved to land on the tropical island of Tahiti. But soon their tyrannical captain wants to set sail again and the desperate men turn to first mate Fletcher Christian (Mel Gibson) to help take the ship by force.

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Video/Audio

Taken from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, and presented in the film's original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, THE BOUNTY looks great. The budget flick has always looked great and this transfer makes it look even better. Film grain is thin but present and detail is high throughout. Colors, especially when they get to Tahiti. The browns and blacks on the ship are both very strong. Skin tones look accurate. This is an incredibly healthy transfer.

The included 2.0 and 5.1 tracks are both great but my money goes to the 2.0 track as that is the original track used in its theatrical release.

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Extras/Packaging

Disc 1: The Film + Extras

Audio Commentary by director Roger Donalson, producer Bernard Williams, and production designer John Graysmark
Audio Commentary by historical consultant Stephen Walters
"The Making of The Bounty" - Documentary narrated by Edward Fox (52m 36s, SD) Starts out with a warning about the master materials not being the best. The picture quality looks like it was taken from a VHS copy and it looks pretty bad but the contents are great. I really loved the way this was put together with a mixture of history and behind the scenes footage.
"The Bounty on Film" (12m 26s, HD, 1.33:1) Here we have a short look at the different adaptations of this story.
Theatrical Trailer (2m 7s, HD, 1.78:1)

Disc 2: Extras

"A Fated Ship" - Documentary (48m 28s, SD, 1.33:1) Here we have a doc about the construction of the titular ship with tons of behind-the-scenes footage.
"In Bligh's Wake" - Documentary (48m 5s, SD, 1.33:1) Here we have doc about the sailing of the ship from New Zealand (where it was constructed) to Tahiti (where filming happened)
"A Desperate Enterprise" Directing The Bounty" - Interview with director Roger Donaldson (22m 32s, HD, 2.35:1) Donaldson was hired to write the sequel to Conan the Barbarian but was offered The Bounty instead. Speaks fondly about the cast and crew and the problems of shooting at sea.
"A Long Hard Voyage: Adapting Mutiny on the Bounty" - Featurette (36m 22s, HD. 2.35:1) This is a very thorough look at each of the film adaptations of the book.
"Limits of Endurance: Scoring The Bounty" (27m 37s, HD, 2.35:1) We get a history of Vangelis up to The Bounty. We then get a breakdown of the music and how it fits with the film.
"Making Waves" Feature-Length Documentary with The Bounty Crew"(2h, HD, 1.78:1) This is a two hour making of featuring various crew members recounting the making of The Bounty.
"Mixing Waves" - Interview with dubbing mixer John Hayward (31m 23s, HD, 1.78:1) Dubbing mixer John Hayward gives us a history of his work leading up to The Bounty and then breaks down his work on the film.
"Voyage of Out Own" - Interview with second unity cameraman Douglas Milsome (28m 6s, HD, 1.78:1)
The Bounty - Production Slideshow (37m 33s, HD, 1.78:1) I have never seen a slideshow go for almost 38 minutes. It autoplays with the score from the film. It is actually a really nice watch.

THE BOUNTY comes to us from Imprint Films and they have done a spectacular job with the packaging. The outer box is a hard box with beautiful artwork (one of the film's theatrical posters) along with a still from the film on the back. The top of the box lifts off to reveal the contents inside.

Inside the box are two 14m clear blu-ray cases, one for each disc. Disc 1 features an alternate poster as it's cover. There is inner artwork featuring a still from the mutiny scene. The disc's artwork is the same as the blu-ray case. The second disc's case features another of the film's posters as its artwork. The inner artwork is of the ship arriving in Tahiti. The disc art is the same as the disc's blu-ray case artwork.

Lastly, there is a 56-page booklet with an essay about the film's turbulent production history by Stephan Walters along with original production notes and an in-depth look at the story. Behind the scenes stills are peppered throughout the booklet as well.

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Overall

THE BOUNTY is an almost good film. I found it to be exciting at certain parts but also boring at other times. Anthony Hopkins is great in the film but Mel Gibson is not. I would say that this is Gibson's worst performance. He is just so bland and uninteresting. The film has some serious pacing issues as well. The mutiny does even happen until an hour and a half into the film. The film looks incredible and it is really well made. The score is also amazing and really fits the film well. It is a shame that the script and editing couldn't have been better.

I haven't seen a blu-ray package this thorough in a long time. This set covers everything in regards to the making of the film as well as the story behind the real mutiny. The picture and sound are equally great as well and the packaging is so beautiful.

PLEASE NOTE: I was sent this blu-ray for review. This has not changed any of my opinions. My review is my own.

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Extras/Menus