The Puppet Masters Blu-ray - Donald Sutherland

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Stuart Orme
USA 1994

TRUST NO ONE! Here's the edge-of-your-seat sci-fi thriller, based on the classic novel by Robert A. Heinlein (Starship Troopers), that delivers unrelenting suspense and nonstop action. Donald Sutherland (Klute, Ordeal by Innocence) leads a team of top-level government agents who make a chilling discovery: extraterrestrial beings have landed and are quickly taking control of the residents of a small Midwestern town - manipulating their bodies and minds like puppets. Faced with an escalating crisis as the creatures multiply and spread, the team must somehow eliminate the seemingly unstoppable aliens. Eric Thal (A Stranger Among Us), Julie Warner (Indian Summer), Keith David (They Live), Will Patton (No Way Out), Richard Belzer (TV’s Law and Order: Special Victims Unit) and Yaphet Kotto (Truck Turner) co-star in The Puppet Masters, filled with riveting special effects and heart-stopping action that is sure to thrill everyone.

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An alien spacecraft sets down in rural Iowa, and top-secret government agents Andrew Nivens (Donald Sutherland) and his son, Sam (Eric Thal), are sent to investigate. Coming along is NASA biologist Mary Sefton (Julie Warner), and together they make a startling discovery: alien parasites capable of taking over the minds of human beings. And the creatures are multiplying. The race is on for the team to stop the invaders before they turn all of humanity into zombie slaves.

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Theatrical Release: October 21st, 1994

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Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Also available in a bare-bones Mill Creek Double Blu-ray with *Deep Rising*:
Distribution	Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:49:09.376
Video	2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 37,471,315,571 bytes Feature: 30,857,963,520 bytes Video Bitrate: 31.93 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1846 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1846 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 1555 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1555 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino 2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 37,471,315,571 bytes Feature: 30,857,963,520 bytes Video Bitrate: 31.93 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • NEW Audio Commentary by director Stuart Orme with film editor David Yardley Robert A. Heinlein The Puppet Grand Master (29:04) • NEW interview with star Julie Warner (10:57) • NEW interview with actor Keith David (8:45) • NEW interview with actor Richard Belzer (8:36) • NEW Interview with Special Effects Supervisor Larry Odien (13:48) • Limited Edition Booklet Essay by Samuel R. Delany • NEW Commissioned Art by Jacob Phillips • Limited Edition O-card Slipcase • Reversible Art • Theatrical Trailer (1:45) Blu-ray Release Date: December 4th, 2018 Standard Blu-ray Case inside cardboard sleeve Chapters 12

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Kino Lorber present the 1994 science-fiction alien invasion film The Puppet Masters to a new, stacked, Special Edition Blu-ray package. It's on a dual-layered Blu-ray in 1080P with a high bitrate. It can look a shade inconsistent with some weaker visual as well as some impressive detail in close-ups. It is in the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio and looks clean in-motion with a small amo8nt of depth.

The film is presented in its original 2.0 stereo, with a 16-bit DTS-HD Master Audio track as well as the option of a similarly encoded 5.1 surround track that does have some separation in the film's many effects. The film features a supportive score by Colin Towns (Born of Fire, Rawhead Rex). The audio quality is decent and dialogue is clear and audible. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray.

Kino load this Special Edition with many new supplements including a new audio commentary by director Stuart Orme with film editor David Yardley remembering the production and the filmmaking process. Robert A. Heinlein The Puppet Grand Master is a 1/2 hour documentary with editor and author Robert Gleason, literary agent Eleanor Wood, author and screenwriter David Gerrold, plus author Brad Linaweaver providing input on the transition from book to film. There are almost an hour's worth of new interviews with star Julie Warner, with actor Keith David, with actor Richard Belzer, with Special Effects Supervisor Larry Odien and a theatrical trailer. The package has a limited edition booklet with an essay by Samuel R. Delany and newly commissioned, reversible, art by Jacob Phillips and a limited edition O-card slipcase.

This alien-invasion rehash has elements of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and They Live - and fans of those film will delight in the similarities - plus it has the class of Donald Sutherland. I enjoyed it and was very attentive to this simple effective sci-fi flic! The Blu-ray transfer is pleasing and there are extras out the wazoo plus a commentary, new interviews and nice packaging. A superior popcorn'er that we can easily endorse!