Welcome back fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs!
When I was a young boy, I saw the science fantasy film Krull inside the movie theater here in the Philippines. In the decades since, I saw Krull occasionally on cable TV. I never owned a copy of the movie on DVD or Blu-ray.
For the fans of the 1983 movie reading this, be aware that Krull is now available on 4K Blu-ray Steelbook and you can order it online right now.
The cover of Krull 4K Blu-ray steelbook.
This is what you will get when you purchase Krull 4K Blu-ray steelbook.
For the 4K Blu-ray purists reading this, it has already been confirmed that Krull will be rendered in native 4K by default! Moving further, posted below are the technical details from the Blu-ray.com page.
Video
Codec: HEVC / H.265
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Audio
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Subtitles – English SDH
Discs – 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray Disc, Two-disc set (1 BD-100, 1 BD-50)
Digital – Digital 4K, Movies Anywhere
Packaging – SteelBook
Playback – 4K Blu-ray: Region free, 2K Blu-ray: Region A
A scene from Krull. (photo source – IMDB.com)
I am not a fan of Krull but it still is entertaining to watch again from time to time. One of things I like the most about it is the fact that its visual effects involved practical effects as well as optical effects. The cinematography of real-life locations remains very pleasing to the eye which makes the film a lively reminder that computer-generated imagery (CGI) will never match the detail, scale and beauty of location shooting. When it comes to the cast of the film, Ken Marshall plays a likable hero and the supporting cast include a very young Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane.
If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, cinematic trends, Blu-ray releases and more relevant stuff, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576
Welcome back fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs!
More than forty years ago, I first saw Tron on home video and despite the limitation of the format, I was astounded by the science fiction film directed by Steven Lisberger. For me, Tron is truly a one-of-a-kind type of movie that had a very mesmerizing setting (the digital world), video gaming elements included in the narrative, an early look at computers becoming significant in business and society, mind-blowing visual effects and the performances of the memorable cast that include Jeff Bridges (Flynn), Bruce Boxleitner (Tron), David Warner (Ed Dillinger) and Cindy Morgan (Lora).
Originally released in 1982, TRON opened the gateway to a bold new universe of computer-generated wonder, inspiring a generation with its visionary storytelling and pioneering special effects.
Front of Tron 4K Blu-ray in Steelbook form.
The back of Tron 4K Blu-ray Steelbook.
TRON was digitally scanned and carefully restored by The Walt Disney Film Restoration team, who corrected dirt, warping, and other imperfections to ensure pristine image quality. The work was supervised by director Steven Lisberger.
When a brilliant video game maker (Jeff Bridges) hacks the mainframe of his ex-employer, he is beamed inside an astonishing digital world and becomes part of the very game he is designing. It’s an epic adventure that everyone will enjoy! Some flashing-lights sequences or patterns may affect photosensitive viewers.
For the 4K Blu-ray purists reading this, it has already been confirmed that Tron will be rendered in native 4K by default! Moving further, posted below are the technical details from the Blu-ray.com page.
Video
Codec: HEVC / H.265
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Original aspect ratio: 2.20:1
Audio
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Audio descriptive
Subtitles – English SDH, French, Spanish
Discs – 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray Disc, Two-disc set (1 BD-66, 1 BD-50)
Playback – 4K Blu-ray: Region free, 2K Blu-ray: Region A
While it is a fact that the Walt Disney Company (AKA the Woke Disney Company) does not an excellent record on releasing its popular and best movies on 4K Blu-ray, I think Tron 4K Blu-ray deserves attention and if its 4K visuals are of top-notch quality with the involvement of the movie director, I just might consider it for purchase someday. Very soon, we will see some reviews of Tron 4K Blu-ray before the September 16 release.
If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, cinematic trends, Blu-ray releases and more relevant stuff, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576
To make things clear, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is just one of many Studio Ghibli feature films that will be playing through SM Cinema branches with the Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 launching today. Other Studio Ghibli feature films include My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, The Wind Rises and Ponyo. All of those anime productions were directed by Miyazaki but in my personal anime viewing experience, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind remains the most memorable one.
A captivating piece of art from the 1984 anime feature film of Hayao Miyazaki.
To put things in perspective regarding the Studio Ghibli Fest 2025, posted below is an excerpt from the lifestyle news article of GMA Network. Some parts in boldface…
The Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 is happening this month, and six films from the highly acclaimed Japanese animation studio will be screened in select local cinemas.
SM Cinema announced the happy news on its social media pages last August 31.
“Six worlds. Endless wonder. One big screen. From Totoro’s forest to Chihiro’s spirit world, journey back into the imagination of Hayao Miyazaki and experience the timeless magic of Studio Ghibli,” it said.
Several classic Studio Ghibli films will be screened in select SM Cinemas nationwide from September 10 to 16.
Here is a list of the films part of the Studio Ghibli Fest 2025: Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, The Wind Rises, Ponyo, (and) Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
These are the SM Cinema branches around the country showcasing the Studio Ghibli anime feature films. (source – SM Cinema)
Why Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is significant
Among the works of Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is the one that resonates with me the most and I have a long history of viewing the anime feature film. The first time I saw it was in its mid-1980s, butchered English-dubbed version titles Warriors of the Wind on home video. Being so young back then, I was not aware of the original Japanese version and I simply enjoyed what was presented in English. The leading lady Nausicaä was renamed as Princess Zandra while the Ohm were referred to as gorgons.
For the newcomers reading this, the 1980s was not exactly a good time of anime productions being released in the West in English and alterations for the Western market was the norm. Warriors of the Wind was more than 20 minutes shorter than the original Japanese version.
In the early 2000s, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was released uncut with a new English-dubbed version (plus English subtitles with the original Japanese audio) involving the talents of Patrick Stewart, Uma Thurman and Alison Lohman. The footage that was missing in Warriors of the Wind easily made the new version – released on DVD in 2005, Disney Blu-ray in 2011, GKIDS and Shout! Factory Blu-ray in 2017, and limited edition steelbook Blu-ray in 2020 – a must-buy for both fans and anime enthusiasts who enjoy classics.
I myself acquired the 2005 DVD of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind by trading an old video game for it and enjoyed it a lot. I saw both the English-dubbed and English-subtitled versions in different times, and the complete footage added to my enjoyment of it. If I were to make comparisons, I prefer the 1984 film over Princess Mononoke (I had a Blu-ray copy of it).
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind on Blu-ray disc format (limited edition steelbook version) is still available for purchasing online and you only need to click here. I wonder when will a 4K Blu-ray version of it be announced.
The Japanese movie poster from 1984.
What it is lacking for me is the experience of watching Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind on the big screen inside the movie theater. This is why I am personally interested in replaying it at an SM Cinema branch during the week-long Studio Ghibli Fest 2025. At the same time, it is rare for anime classics to be screened in movie theaters here in the Philippines. As much as I love watching movies on Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray format in the comfort of home, the cinema experience is still the best way to watch a movie. Definitely better than streaming!
If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, cinematic trends, Blu-ray releases and more relevant stuff, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576
Author Carlo Carrasco 