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The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Release Date: Available now
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment
Packaging/Materials: Blu-ray "ECO-BOX"
Year: 1994
Rating: R
Running Time: 1:43:20
MSRP: $19.99
THE FEATURE
SPECIAL FEATURES
Video
1080p high definition 2.35:1
Standard and high definition
Audio
DTS-HD Master Audio: English 5.1 / DTS: French 5.1,
Stereo
Subtitles
English SDH, Spanish, French
None
Note: The following includes material from my review of the 2007 DVD edition.
The Feature: 4/5
After an urgent phone call, Tony (Hugo Weaving) agrees to a drag show gig out in central Australia - far away from the comforts and tedium of Sydney - and recruits friends and fellow performers Bernie (Terence Stamp) and Adam (Guy Pearce) to go along. Their trip through the desert yields both expected and not-so-expected misadventures. Their bright pink bus breaks down, but the world's most open minded mechanic comes to fix it; they experience hateful discrimination from some but also are met by acceptance and respect by others. Though the film is hilarious and outrageous in its depiction of Australia's unique brand of female impersonation, it's the message about people's inherent goodness that anchors the film and keeps it from being mere spectacle (and a series of fabulous musical numbers).
Video Quality: 4.5/5
The film is correctly framed at 2.35:1 and presented in 1080p with the AVC codec. The transfer features warm, deep color, strong and stable blacks, and contrast that exhibits the full range of values with no signs of compression. Specks of dirt and dust pop up here and there, but otherwise the image is remarkably detailed, sharp and crisp, beautifully showcasing the rugged Australian landscape. Under close scrutiny there's hints of edge haloing, but detail in skin, hair and fabrics remains quite striking. There is the occasional edgy shot in terms of sharpness and exposure, but given the consistency of the image these are likely issues inherent to the source.
Audio Quality: 4/5
The DTS 5.1 mix is largely front-focused, with surrounds providing slight support for the musical numbers rather than directional effects. Dialogue is consistently detailed, clear and intelligible, despite the strong Aussie accents, though some of the slang may be lost to some. LFE is nowhere to be found, but bass activity provides good depth to the track during the music cues.
Special Features: 4/5
The extras include all the items from the 2007 DVD release, with the exception of the "Frocks, Frill and Fotos" image gallery.
Commentary by Director Stephan Elliot is thorough, interesting and entertaining, with highlights being the negotiations over music rights and the challenges of shooting on the bus.
Birth of a Queen (29:20, SD) is a nicely produced retrospective, but Director Stephan Elliot is the sole interview subject. He provides some great stories and facts about the film, but additional interviews with cast and crew would have been appreciated.
Deleted Scenes includes title cards explaining the context of the excisions.
How Trumpet Got His Name (1:11, SD)
Check-In at the Checkers Motel (1:28, SD)
An Outtage Before Dinner (1:49, SD)
Auntie Picks Up the Pieces (2:38, SD)
Tidbits from the Set (6:08, SD) includes 13 interview clips with cast and crew, taped on location.
The Bus from Blooperville (9:35, SD) is an extensive and humorous reel of gaffes.
Theatrical Trailer (2:37, HD)
Theatrical Teaser Trailer (1:52, HD)
Recap
The Feature: 4/5
Video Quality: 4.5/5
Audio Quality: 4/5
Special Features: 4/5
Overall Score (not an average): 4/5
MGM Home Entertainment turns in a fine presentation for a one-of-a-kind roadtrip film from Down Under. The special features carry over most of the items from the 2007 DVD edition, though owners may want to hold onto it if they especially enjoyed the image gallery. However, the release as a whole is recommended for those looking to upgrade as well as first-time purchasers of the title.
