The 90s action classic Point Break gets an impressive 4K Restoration from Shout Studios’ Shout Select line.
The Film
Point Break is the perfect cinematic experience. A cinematic experience that enraptures you with its tale so wholly that you never once question anything, including the most ridiculous actions, in the film.
Director Kathryn Bigelow from the moment the film begins to the ending credits grips you by the throat and doesn’t let go. She has a command of storytelling, visuals, and style that’s unmatched during this era in genre. * The one-two-three punch of Near Dark Blue Steel, and Point Break proves this undeniably.
No one else could have directed Point Break. Bigelow takes the ridiculous premise of Bank Robbing Surfers and the young FBI agent who goes undercover to find them and gives it the sense of urgency it needs. Adding the mythic slow motion bromance female gaze pushed the film over the top to instant classic status. There isn’t a moment that you don’t believe once under the trance of the film’s visuals. You don’t for a second realize the ridiculousness of the ever-escalating mayhem to the point where in its final moments we watch a man attempt to surf a 100-foot tidal wave.
Every choice made in the film is the right one and only adds to Point Break’s perfection as cinema. There isn’t a need for verisimilitude in this exercise in adrenaline and machismo. Case in point the brilliance of casting Keanu Reeves as an FBI Agent named Johnny Utah, who was a Quarterback for “the” Ohio State. That sentence even back in 1991 didn’t make sense until you saw the film. In the world of the film… it makes absolute sense. As much sense as casting America’s Sweetheart at the time, Patrick “Ghost” Swayze as Bodhi the philosophical surfing bank robber looking for the perfect wave. In the world that Bigelow has created, Swayze is the only man who could have said, “BACK OFF Warchild, I’m serious” and made it feel like both a threat and a call for peace.
Point Break crystalizes its place in action cinema history when out of emotional frustration Reeve’s Utah unloads a full clip from his 9mm Sig Sauer into the air. You are in the moment fully invested because of Bigelow’s direction. You don’t care that this may be one of the most reckless acts a Federal Agent could do. Never mind where those stray bullets land. You’re with Utah and his emotional heartbreak that he can’t shoot Bodhi – his bromantic soulmate.
It’s at that moment Point Break goes from an action film to a Legendary cinematic experience. One that will be ripped off but never duplicated.
*maybe only matched by James Cameron whose run of Terminator–Aliens–The Abyss–Terminator 2: Judgement Day stands as the GOAT run of action filmmaking. Not even Spielberg has a run like this (though if 1941 never happened).
The Transfer
The all-new 4K Restoration of the Film from an Interpositive in Dolby Vision (HDR 10 Compatible) is a true marvel. The film has looked acceptable on both DVD and Blu-ray. On 4K UHD, Point Break finally looks the way it did in the theaters when it opened in July of 1991. The image is free of any digital artificing or crushed blacks. There is none of the dreaded DNR or other tricks to clean the image or color grading to take it away from the original 35mm presentation. The grain structure, contrast, and color reproduction all mimic the look of Cinematographer Donald Peterman’s accomplished work as projected on 35mm. The transfer is also free of any scratches or dirt. In summary, Point Break in this UHD edition is reference quality, a true upgrade in every respect.
The Extras
The Special Features include the following;
- Additional Scenes
- Four Featurettes: “It’s Make Or Break,” “Ride The Wave,” Adrenaline Junkies,” And “On Location: Malibu”
- Still Gallery
- Theatrical Trailers
Note: All special features reside on the Blu-Ray disc.
Additional Scenes (4:35) – consists of 7 deleted and extended scenes. “Angelo rants during his testing”, “Johnny watches Tyler surf”, “Johnny brings his surfboard to work”, “Johnny and Tyler out in the Ocean”, “Tyler finds out that Johnny is an FBI Agent”, and “Bodhi talks about his Bank”. Note all are taken from what looks like a VHS dupe of an AVID feed, so the quality is bad, to say the least.
Four Featurettes – archival featurettes from the DVD/Blu-ray
- It’s Make Or Break (23:03) – this is the making of the film. The featurette looks at the origins, development, casting, production, and release. The making of is fairly in-depth with anecdotes about would-be casting; Bigelow’s fighting for Keanu Reeves casting; Swayze’s wanting to play Bodhi when initially offered Johnny Utah; the casting surfers in the roles; working with Bigelow – including her directorial style; the infamous chase scene; how they built the bank robbery scenes; how they accomplished the skydiving – including the infamous single shot Swayze did; the danger of the surfing stunts; and much more with comments by Director Kathryn Bigelow, Stars Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, John C McGinley, Gary Busey, Lori Petty, screenwriters W. Peter Iliff, Rick King, and other cast and crew.
- Adrenaline Junkies (6:01) – this featurette looks at the stunt work and set pieces in the film from the Stunt Crew and the actors that created them.
- On Location: Malibu (8:32) – this featurette looks at the various locations in and around Malibu California hosted by co-stars from the film BoJesse Chris John Philbin.
- Ride The Wave (6:08) – this featurette looks at surfing, surf culture, and the ocean – how it all relates to the movie.
Theatrical Trailers (4:14) – includes three trailers, one two-minute, and two one-minute teasers.
Still Gallery (2:17) – this gallery consists of 27 images that range from Production Stills and Behind the Scenes photographs. The gallery can be navigated using your remote’s chapter stop buttons or run automatically.
The Final Thought
Shout Studios’ 4K UHD of Point Break is a perfect example of a 90s Action Classic Restored picture and sound to perfection. Highest Possible Recommendations!!!