Body Heat - Kathleen Turner

directed by Lawrence Kasdan
USA 1981

Hot and sticky, though never less than sumptuously deodorized, this is a neon-shaded contemporary noir romance: all lust, greed, murder, duplicity and betrayal. As credulously myopic lawyer Ned and slinky femme fatale Matty progress from dirty talk to dirty deeds (a disposable husband, a contestable will), there's the pleasure of unravelling a confidently dense yarn for its own sake, alongside the incongruous experience of finding yellowing pulp fiction classily rebound, or hearing a '40s standard of romantic unease re-recorded with digital precision. Whether the movie-movie cleverness becomes as stifling as the atmosphere Kasdan casts over his sunstruck night people is all down to personal taste, but there's no denying the narrative confidence that brings the film to its unfashionably certain double-whammy conclusion.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Theatrical Release: April 1st, 1981

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Warner - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC

(Warner - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Warner (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	Warner Region 1 - NTSC	Warner (Deluxe Edition) Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC
Runtime	1:53:04	1:53:00
Video	1.74:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.87 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.98 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate : Warner (original)
Bitrate: Warner (Deluxe Edition)
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	English, French, Spanish, None	English, French, Spanish, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.74:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (2:37 / 4:3) • Cast and Crew (text screens) • Behind the Scenes (text screens) NOTE: Full Frame version on opposite side of original DVD DVD Release Date: November 19th, 1997 Snapper case Chapters 30	Release Information: Studio: Warner (Deluxe Edition) Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • 5 'Lifted Scenes' (9:29) • Three New Featurettes Body Heat: The Plan (17:05) The Production (16:15) The Post-Production (10:36) • 1981 interview footage with Kathleen Turner and William Hurt (12:35) • Theatrical Trailer (1:33) DVD Release Date: October 24th, 2006 Keep Case Chapters 30

Comments

Although image differences don't appear as prominent as we have seen in other comparisons - they do exist. The old edition (came out back in 1997!) is cropped on all 4 edges, but most noticeably on the sides. The Deluxe edition is brighter, cleaner and smoother with far less digital noise, but skin tones are a shade redder. Overall, I definitely think it is an improvement. The new is also dual-layered to the old's single layer.

Audio and subtitle options are the same with the the Deluxe edition sub font being less bold and not as intrusive. The original is in a dreaded snapper case where the Deluxe is in s standard keep case.

The attraction of the Deluxe Edition are the supplements - about 10 minutes worth of Deleted Scenes (5 of them) - three New Featurettes (Body Heat: The Plan (17:05), The Production (16:15) and The Post-Production running10:36). I enjoyed the 12-minute long 1981 interview footage with Kathleen Turner and William Hurt (12:35). They have also thrown in a theatrical trailer. There are no liner notes. I would have expected a commentary (possibly with Kasdan), but I guess it wasn't in the cards.

The film has strong atmosphere and performances - a great throwback from classic noir in an updated story. The Deluxe edition is priced to sell and we think it is a worthwhile purchase.

- Gary Tooze

DVD Menus

(Warner - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Warner (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC RIGHT)

Screen Captures

(Warner - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Warner (Deluxe Edition) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC BOTTOM)
Subtitle Sample: Not exact frame