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Young Guns
[Blu-ray 4K]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Lionsgate Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (23rd November 2023). |
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The Film
 I never saw "Young Guns" in the theatres during its release in 1988, I caught this film on TV a few years later and loved every minute of it. It was a western with a modern twist to it. It could almost be described as a rock 'n' roll western and for a teenage kid growing up in the 90's it just hit the right notes. Given years of maturity and a chance to revisit the film, I now see it more as a guilty pleasure. The film tells the story of John Tunstall's (Terence Stamp) group of regulators, who are hired outlaws that work his ranch and look after his property and "regulate" his belongings against his competitor Lawrence G. Murphy (Jack Palance) and his Santa Fe Ring. The Regulators are made up of six young men William H. Bonney AKA Billy The Kid (Emilio Estevez), Doc Scurlock (Kiefer Sutherland), Chavez y Chavez (Lou Diamond Phillips), Dick Brewer (Charlie Sheen), Dirty Steve Stephens (Dermot Mulroney) and Charley Bowdre (Casey Siemaszko). Lawrence G. Murphy an all around evil businessman wants to keep his stranglehold of the beef market in New Mexico decides to eliminate the competition by murdering John Tunstall with the aid of his Santa Fe Ring that includes the sheriff. Witnessing the murder, the regulators swear revenge. They get deputized to bring the men who committed the murder to justice but instead go on a killing spree until every man of the Santa Fe Ring is dead. The news hits the governor of the regulator's actions and revokes their deputy status. Now they are on the run from the not only Murphy's men but also the law! Estevez delivers a charismatic performance as Billy the Kid. His portrayal captures the rebellious spirit and unpredictable nature of the legendary outlaw. The ensemble cast, including Sutherland and Phillips, adds depth to the characters, creating a band of outlaws with distinct personalities. The chemistry among the actors contributes to the film's overall appeal, making the camaraderie of the "Regulators" believable and engaging. That, and it appears that with this cast we have some high wattage 1980's sex appeal that has a little something for all audiences to gawk over. The cinematography in "Young Guns" is another noteworthy element. Cinematographer Dean Semler captures the vast landscapes of the American Southwest with sweeping shots that showcase the beauty and harshness of the frontier. The film's visual style successfully immerses the audience in the rugged, sun-soaked terrain of the Old West. Semler is no stranger to photographing rugged landscapes prior to this film he photographed "The Lighthorsemen" (1987), and the two "Mad Max" instalments "The Road Warrior" (1981) and "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" (1985). However, "Young Guns" falters in its attempt to balance historical accuracy and cinematic storytelling. While it draws inspiration from real events, the film takes significant liberties with the facts, creating a narrative that strays from the historical record. This departure may disappoint viewers seeking a more authentic depiction of the Lincoln County War and the characters involved. The film's inclination towards sensationalism and romanticism compromises its potential as a faithful historical drama. The pacing of "Young Guns" is uneven, with moments of intense action followed by slower, less engaging scenes. The narrative struggles to maintain a consistent rhythm, leading to a disjointed viewing experience. Certain plot points feel rushed, hindering the audience's ability to fully invest in the characters and their motivations. A more measured approach to storytelling could have allowed for a more immersive and satisfying narrative arc. The soundtrack, composed by Anthony Marinelli and Brian Banks, adds a contemporary flavor to the Western genre, incorporating rock and pop elements. While the music complements the film's energetic and rebellious tone, it may feel out of place for purists seeking a more traditional Western score. The soundtrack, though memorable in its own right, contributes to the film's departure from the genre's established conventions. "Young Guns" is an entertaining Western that succeeds in certain aspects, such as its strong cast and visually captivating cinematography. However, its departure from historical accuracy, uneven pacing, and unconventional soundtrack may leave some viewers wanting more from a genre that often thrives on authenticity. Despite its shortcomings, "Young Guns" remains a nostalgic piece of 80's cinema that offers a unique take on the legendary figure of Billy the Kid and can be considered an entertaining piece of brainless popcorn entertainment. The key here is to have fun and not take it too seriously.
Video
Lionsgate surprised many with the announcement of this release for 4K, and even more of a pleasant surprise was that this transfer is a brand new 4K restoration done from the original camera negative. Presented in the film's original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1 in 4K 2160p 24/fps mastered using HEVC compression and features HDR10 and Dolby Vision enhancement. The overall result is a brighter image than what we've previous seen on other formats, but manages to retain the film's original look with pleasing grain, nice detail and textures, deep backs. The print looks nice and clean without any artefacts or image distortions that can commonly plague movies from this era. This new 4K is the best this film has ever looked and fans of the film will be pleased with the results and make this a reasonable upgrade over previous releases.
Audio
Two audio tracks are included in English Dolby Atmos along with an English LPCM 2.0 Stereo, which appears to be ported over from the film's LaserDisc release. But I'm here for the new Atmos track, this film lives and dies on its 80's soundtrack and the Atmos mix delivers in spades, while it's not as complex and detailed as modern mixes, the audio holds up with solid and clear dialogue, decent surround activity that feels immersive and engaging. It's a nice upgrade. Optional subtitles are included in English, English for the hearing impaired, and Spanish.
Extras
Lionsgate has ported over most of the legacy supplements from previous releases and also included a brand new documentary. Below is a closer look. DISC ONE: 4K UHD This disc features the film in 4K 2160p 24/fps and accompanying it is the audio commentary from 2003 which includes actors Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney, and Casey Siemaszko who have gotten together for a bit of a reunion. This a fairly good track the three talk about their characters and provide some nice stories about working on this film, you get the general idea that these guys had a great time making this film and came away with good memories of the experience. What also caught me was that they spoke of some deleted scenes that are not on the disc! Although the track is great there was the occasional silence and why wasn't director Christopher Cain involved? Apart from these two issues this is an overall enjoyable track to listen to. "How the West Was Wild: Making Young Guns" is a new 2023 documentary (35:53), features new and archival interviews with the key cast and crew, and a look at the making of the film including some cool never-before-seen screen tests ad outtakes from the shoot. Fans will embrace this new feature and it makes a welcomed new addition to this release. "Billy the Kid: The True Story" is a 2003 documentary (32:17), this extra chronicles the life of the Kid until his death at the young age of 21. While this documentary is not directly related to the making of the film at all, this is a nice extra that gives the viewer some background information on one of the most infamous of the main characters in "Young Guns". The disc also includes the film's original teaser trailer (1:16) and its original theatrical trailer (1:28). DISC TWO: BLU-RAY This disc features the film in standard HD 1080p 24/fps and features all the same extras as on the 4K disc. The audio commentary with actors Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney, and Casey Siemaszko. "How the West Was Wild: Making Young Guns" 2023 documentary (35:53), the "Billy the Kid: The True Story" 2003 documentary (32:17), plus the film's original teaser trailer (1:16) and its original theatrical trailer (1:28). The package also includes a code for a digital copy version of the film.
Packaging
Packaged in a 2-disc keep case housed in a cardboard slip-case.
Overall
"Young Guns" is a Western film that attempts to blend historical accuracy with a dash of Hollywood flair. While it has its merits, it falls short in certain aspects, hindering its potential as a truly memorable Western.
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