International Press Release Arrow Video Press Release: Lifeforce (1985) (4k UHD) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Coming to 4K UHD in February from Arrow Video

Lifeforce 4K UHD

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:

Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films of the 116-minute International Cut, plus a 4K restoration of the 101-minute Theatrical Cut from the original negative
Original lossless stereo audio plus optional 5.1 DTS-HD MA Surround and Dolby Atmos remixes for both cuts
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing for both cuts
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dan Mumford
Collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Frank Collins

DISC ONE – INTERNATIONAL CUT:
4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Audio commentary by director Tobe Hooper, moderated by filmmaker Tim Sullivan
Audio commentary by visual effects artist Douglas Smith, moderated by filmmaker and scholar Howard S. Berger
Audio commentary with make-up effects artist Nick Maley, moderated by filmmaker Michael Felsher
Isolated music and effects track
Cannon Fodder: The Making of Lifeforce, an epic look at the genesis, production and release of the film, featuring interviews with Hooper, associate producer Michael J. Kagan, editor John Grover, actors Aubrey Morris and Nicholas Ball, make-up artist Sandra Exelby, screenwriter Michael Armstrong, sound designer Vernon Messenger, art designers Tom Adams and Roger Stewart, and effects artist John Schoonraad
Space Vampires in London, an archive interview with Tobe Hooper
Dangerous Beauty, an archive interview with Mathilda May
Carlsen’s Curse, an archive interview with Steve Railsback
Textless opening sequence
Theatrical trailers

DISC TWO – THEATRICAL CUT:
4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Isolated music and effects track
Interview outtakes from Mark Hartley’s Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films, featuring Hooper, Armstrong, Grover and Messenger
Split screen comparison with TV version

 

[dpippel]

I wonder if this transfer of the Theatrical Cut will be the same as the first 4K UHD release from Shout! in 2023? That also features a "NEW" scan of the OCN, done in 2021. I doubt they rescanned it.

 

[titch]

I'm always bemused by the utter indifference to this deranged 1985 Tope Hooper classic on this forum - Shout! Factory's previous 4K release received a total of two - count 'em: TWO comments. No reviews. Lifeforce was filmed in 70mm and that alone usually generates a stir from the armchair cinephiles and pixel peepers. It had a great reappraisal by Peter Sobczynski when Shout! Factory released it, and it has a large cult following.

2315 Words On "Lifeforce." Yes. "Lifeforce." | Far Flungers | Roger Ebert

Released in the summer of 1985 to critical scorn and near-total commercial indifference, the sci-fi/horror hybrid "Lifeforce" has spent most of the following 28 years languishing in obscurity. If it was remembered at all, it was either because of its massive financial failure--which helped doom...

www.rogerebert.com

As Glenn Kenny noted, "the best Hammer movie Hammer never made while at the same time kind of wholly and irrefutably a Cannon film".

After umpteen blu-ray releases and the previous inferior 4K release, Arrow Video will now release the definitive superior International Cut in 4K (which Shout! Factory only included on a blu-ray). 70mm, people!

 

[dpippel]

Agreed! As you mentioned, this film is almost like an uber-Hammer production with the Camp-O-Meter cranked to 11. It's a gem, although Steve Railsback does start to grate on the nerves after the first hour. Luckily for us, Mathilda May in all her glory mostly makes up for that, and a notable performance by Patrick Stewart sweetens the pot even further. It's an example of B-movie making at its best IMO, and I watch it every year. Looking forward to this Arrow package!

 

[Worth]

…Lifeforce was filmed in 70mm and that alone usually generates a stir from the armchair cinephiles and pixel peepers…

…After umpteen blu-ray releases and the previous inferior 4K release, Arrow Video will now release the definitive superior International Cut in 4K (which Shout! Factory only included on a blu-ray). 70mm, people!

It had 70mm blowups, but it was shot in anamorphic 35mm and VistaVision for some effects work.

 

[JoshZ]

It had 70mm blowups, but it was shot in anamorphic 35mm and VistaVision for some effects work.

Thank you. I was just about to go look up the technical specs, because that 70mm claim did not sound right to me.

 

[titch]

It had 70mm blowups, but it was shot in anamorphic 35mm and VistaVision for some effects work.

Thanks for the correction. I was unsure whether it was "merely a blow-up", as several sources have stated that it was filmed in 70mm - Hooper himself is quoted as saying “I thought I’d go back to my roots and make a 70 mm Hammer film. There’s something very cool about that for me.”

5 Things You Might Not Know About Tobe Hooper’s Underseen ‘Lifeforce’

5 Things You Might Not Know About Tobe Hooper's Underseen 'Lifeforce'

www.indiewire.com

But somebody, claiming inside knowledge and authority, over at blu-ray.com did post convincingly that it was shot in anamorphic 35mm - the aspect ratio on Lifeforce supports that.

 

[Worth]

You can see it in the behind-the-scenes footage.

 

[bujaki]

I've always liked this movie ever since I saw it during its first run. I particularly enjoy Ms. May.

 

[dpippel]

Let's also not forget that the effects in this film were done by John Dykstra, and it was scored by Henry Mancini, with some cues later contributed by Michael Kamen and James Guthrie.

 

[titch]

Let's also not forget that the effects in this film were done by John Dykstra, and it was scored by Henry Mancini, with some cues later contributed by Michael Kamen and James Guthrie.

There's quite a good archive article on that.

Henry Mancini on Scoring Lifeforce

While the name of Henry Mancini is most often linked with the light pop-jazz music he composed for films such as CHARADE, HATARI (remember the Baby Elephant Walk?) and the PINK PANTHER films, he ha…

cnmsarchive.wordpress.com

 

[Keith Cobby]

Good film, I've always preferred the 80's effects work (Thing, Fly etc) to today's CG fest. Seen Lifeforce a few times over the years but always been somewhat disappointed by the presentation. The Arrow looks like the one to get but will wait for reviews.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Thank you. I was just about to go look up the technical specs, because that 70mm claim did not sound right to me.

“Lifeforce”: The 70mm Engagements

The film has always looked lousy because of...ugh...J-D-C Scope so don't expect much.

 

[dpippel]

“Lifeforce”: The 70mm Engagements

The film has always looked lousy because of...ugh...J-D-C Scope so don't expect much.

The existing 4K release of the Theatrical Cut looks pretty damned good.

 

[titch]

“Lifeforce”: The 70mm Engagements

The film has always looked lousy because of...ugh...J-D-C Scope so don't expect much.

You always say stuff like this. The Shout 4K UHD looks decent (not lousy) but of course Arrow will better that, with their own commissioned scan and Fidelity In Motion mastering.

 

[Chuck Mayer]

I'll definitely go in for this. I watched it for the first time a few years ago, and some parts were great, and some parts I was less enthused about. But it is very creative, and eminently watchable.

 

[Robert George]

...I particularly enjoy Ms. May.

Everyone does.

 

[Nelson Au]

I just saw this thread, wow, another title coming from Arrow films that’s already had a 4K release in the US. I guess I’ll be making another pre-order after pre-ordering The Great Escape.

 

[TheSteig]

Ive been kicking the tires on this one. Im at the point where I don't think I need to upgrade everything. At least that's one of the factors..

 

[titch]

Sold out on day one.