Disc Reviews
Spaceballs 4k Review
If you were the right age in 1987 – young enough to have grown and lived through Star Wars, Star Trek and were at least aware of the likes of Alien, and if the words Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein meant you were about to be in for a real treat. And for many, this Mel Brooks spoof on science fiction became a fast fan favourite. The aforementioned early films are indeed his best work, but Spaceballs deserves to be held in the same competition as some of his best. The film didn’t have the greatest reputation from critics back then, and it only seems going forward that the fans’ word of mouth and opinions online have helped garner the film the reputation it deserves – which is, to this day, probably the best science fiction parody ever made, and a sequel is on the way!
So, what makes it? Well, there are tons of things. Brook’s overreliance on Jewish culture is a given, the cheesy set designs (clearly not done on a huge budget, but enough to get the point across. Even some of the matte paintings are fun to look at. But it’s down to the characters created and the situations they get into. Bill Pullman makes for a loveable rogue in the hero role in Lone Star. Daphne Zuniga is brilliant as the pampered daddy’s girl. Princess Vespa, you also want to root for – especially once you see the size of her hair dryer! John Candy is the hero’s sidekick (the Chewbacca role- but here he’s half man, half dog). Joan Rivers puts in a game voice performance as Vespa’s robotic maid. Mel Brooks shows up in two performances as the evil president of the Spaceballs, but also as the wise “Yoda” figure who helps out the heroes. But if there has ever been a man who stole a film from every person around him, then it’s Rick Moranis as the whiny little runt, Dark Helmet. Just the look of the guy will have you grinning from ear to ear, made more hilarious when he does actually show his face and then everything about his performance changes as he relentlessly questions and complains about everything. And naturally, any physical harm put upon anyone in this film largely falls down on him, and every time he gets hurt or undermined by anyone it’s an absolute blast. Moranis makes up about 75% of the biggest laughs in this film and without him everyone would simply be lost in space!
This is a proper nerd’s spoof, and to hear that most of the main players that are still with us are returning for the sequel some 40 years later is exciting – and that includes a formerly retired Moranis! They had better make it worth our while and have him there from start to finish!
Looking at the extras, this is pretty much pulled over from previous editions from DVD to Blu-ray and 4K (If you have the Kino Lorber edition, then you pretty much have this), but there’s plenty of it. A half hour making of featuring a lot of the cast and crew, and then a second, which primarily features Brooks being interviewed for the film 25 years after it was made. There is a good chat between him and one of the co-writers in an archival feature. The third writer gets a say in the commentary that Brooks also hosts. After so many years, Brooks can’t help but repeat some of the stories he has already told many times, which is why it’s no biggie that they haven’t interviewed him again for the 40-odd-year anniversary, as he would likely just spew the same old guff again. There is a funny little minute featurette which plays the film at “ludicrous speed”, and even a fun little short that points out some of the film’s goofy mistakes.
With a sequel heading out way next year, this one is well timed. It’s aged better than critics gave it credit for at the time and endured. Which goes to show you – the kids that grew up on it still love it. Critics Schmitics.
Steven Hurst
4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless 2.0 stereo audio
• Original 70mm 6-track mix in DTS-HD MA 4.1 surround
• Optional remixed 5.1 DTS-HD MA surround audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary by writer/producer/director/actor Mel Brooks
• Spaceballs: The Documentary, an in-depth look at the making of the film
• Farce Yourself! Spaceballs and the Skroobing of Sci-fi, a featurette in which Mel Brooks looks back on the making of the film
• In Conversation: Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan, a conversation between the two writers about the film’s genesis
• John Candy: Comic Spirit, a retrospective look at the life and career of the late comedian
• Archival behind-the-scenes featurette
• Storyboard-to-film comparison
• Film Flubs, a humorous look at the film’s goofs and continuity errors
• Watch Spaceballs in Ludicrous Speed
• Mawgese and Dinkese alien soundtrack extracts
• Exhibitor trailer, with introduction by Mel Brooks
• Theatrical and teaser trailer
• Spaceballs: The Behind-the-Movie Photos
• Spaceballs: The Costume Gallery
• Spaceballs: The Art Gallery
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring two choices of original artwork
• Double-sided foldout poster
• Four postcard-sized artcards
Spaceballs is out on 4K Blu-Ray March 16th