Last Action Hero appears in both an aspect ratio of approximately 2.39:1 on this 4K UHD Disc. This became a solid reproduction of the film.
Overall sharpness satisfied. A few interior shots felt a little soft, but those remained minor and created no real distractions during this largely well-defined presentation.
No issues with jagged edges or moiré effects materialized, and I saw no edge haloes. Grain seemed natural, and I witnessed no print flaws.
Colors tended to be positive, as the film offered a fairly natural palette – albeit one that remained semi-subdued in the “real world” and a bit more elevated in “Slater world”. HDR added heft and emphasis to the hues.
Blacks were deep and firm, and shadows appeared solid. HDR brought extra impact to whites and contrast. I felt pleased with this strong image.
Downconverted to Dolby TrueHD 7.1, the Dolby Atmos soundtrack of Last Action Hero came with very few reasons for complaint. Audio quality was solid, with speech that seemed natural and concise.
Music felt rich and vibrant, and effects provided good pop. Those elements came across as full and clear, with appealing low-end..
The soundfield provided a nearly constant level of activity. With one action scene after another, the flick offered an environment that used all the channels in a satisfying manner.
Gunfire and explosions filled the room, and car chases zoomed around the setting. Quieter sequences seemed pleasing as well; rain and other elements used the speakers to flesh out the environments. Even after 30 years, this remained a top-notch auditory experience.
How did the 4K UHD compare to the Blu-ray from 2010? The Atmos soundtrack became a little more involving, though the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundfield boasted nearly as much activity. I thought low-end response worked better for the 4K, though, as the BD’s bass could seem a bit too overcranked.
The 4K’s visuals became the more obvious step up in quality, as it looked better defined, cleaner, and more vibrant than the Blu-ray. Though the BD worked fairly well, the 4K easily beat it.
On the 4K disc, we find a mix of extras, and we open with an audio commentary from director John McTiernan. He offers a running, screen-specific look at story/characters, cast and performances, sets and locations, stunts and action, editing, music and related domains.
My only complaint here stems from a fair amount of dead air. McTiernan goes quiet too much of the time.
However, when the director speaks, he offers a shockingly blunt view of his film. This commentary feels more like self-flagellation at times, as McTiernan frequently relates all the mistakes he made.
Essentially McTiernan feels Hero should’ve been more comedy/fantasy and less action. Given that I think the movie’s attempts at humor tend to flop, I don’t know if I agree, but I do concur that the flick’s inconsistent tone harms it.
McTiernan does offer some praise – mainly for the actors – and throws out some useful production notes. I like his discussion of his preferred editing style.
Still, it’s McTiernan’s willingness to criticize his own film that makes the commentary memorable. Rarely do directors self-evaluate in such a frank manner, and this aspect of the track means it becomes memorable.
From 1993, a Behind the Scenes Featurette lasts six minutes, 36 seconds and offers notes from McTiernan, producer Stephen J. Roth and actors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charles Dance, and Austin O’Brien.
We get basics about story and characters as well as cast and performances. Expect a lot of promotional hype and little insight.
Six Deleted and Alternate Scenes fill a total of nine minutes, eight seconds. “It’s Payback Time” becomes the longest of these at 4:09, and it brings more of Danny and Jack in the “real world”.
It attempts a bit more depth/emotion as well as some added exposition. Another allows us greater screen time for Danny’s mother at the end of the story, but this feels like a sluggish finale to the movie.
As for the rest, they tend toward a little more story material and some action. None of those pieces feel especially substantial, though.
In addition to the film’s trailer, we get a music video for “Big Guns” by AC/DC. It mixes movie clips with a stage performance from the band as well as some unique footage of Schwarzenegger in character.
The latter acts as a relatively minor aspect of the video – and seems reminiscent of the promo for GnR’s “You Could Be Mine” created for 1991’s Terminator 2.
Nonetheless, Schwarzenegger adds some spice, especially when he emulates guitarist Angus Young. The song seems forgettable and the video does little to excel, but it becomes decent.
The included Blu-ray copy replicates the 2010 disc and includes no real extras, as it only provides a collection of Previews. It presents ads for Snatch, The Da Vinci Code, Ghostbusters, A River Runs Through It, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Angels & Demons, Michael Jackson’s This Is It, Zombieland, The Stepfather, Armored, Soul Power, and It Might Get Loud. No trailer for Hero shows up here.
If you were like most people and skipped Last Action Hero because of all the negative reactions, you may want to give it a chance and see what you think. I won’t claim it delivers a classic, but I think it seems more entertaining than its reputation would indicate. The 4K UHD comes with solid picture, excellent audio and a few bonus materials. This doesn’t turn into a great movie, but it usually works, and the 4K becomes its best reproduction to date.
To rate this film, visit the DVD review of LAST ACTION HERO
