ADDITION: Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray September 17': Firstly, this is the another Arrow Blu-ray release that is being simultaneously released in both region 'A' (US) and 'B' (UK). It is the exact same package on both continents with a few minor cosmetic differences. As Michael Brooke informs us on Facebook in regards to Day of Anger: 'As the producer of Arrow's release, I can confirm first hand that the UK and US discs are absolutely identical: we only paid for one master, so there's no doubt about this at all! Which means that no matter which package you buy, the discs will play in any Region A or B setup (or Region 1 or 2 for DVD - and in the latter case the video standard is NTSC, to maximise compatibility). The booklets are also identical, but there are minor cosmetic differences on the disc labels and sleeve to do with differing copyright info and barcodes, and the US release doesn't have BBFC logos.' Thankfully this Blu-ray is the same situation and available to most fans of A Fish Called Wanda.

NOTE: An MGM Blu-ray came out in 2012, HERE. We don't own it to compare.

Arrow's Blu-ray is described as a "Brand-new 4K restoration from the original negative, produced by Arrow Films exclusively for this release". It improve over the SD transfers in all the usual areas - tighter, more detail, it is brighter, has more information in the frame and supports the grain texture to a higher degree. Flesh tones are warmer and all colors richer, bordering on saturation, and deeper (see Wanda's pink sweater in the 5th large capture below). This is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate, and looks impressive - especially beside the DVDs.

Audio is transferred via the option of a robust DTS-HD Master surround bump or faithful linear PCM mono track at 1152 kbps  (both in 24-bit). There are a handful of demonstrative effects that carry surprising depth but mostly the audio is represented via clean and clear dialogue. The score is by John Du Prez (also composed for Monty Python's The Meaning of Life) and supports the film's subtler scenes well. The uncompressed sounds flawless. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and my Oppo has identified the Blu-ray as being a region FREE.

Arrow stack the Blu-ray with extensive extras include the old commentary by writer and star John Cleese, the 48-minute documentary John Cleese's Final Farewell Performance from 1988 on the making of A Fish Called Wanda featuring interviews with actors Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin, Kevin Kline and director Charles Crichton. Something Fishy is a 1/2 hour a 15th anniversary retrospective documentary featuring interviews with Cleese, Curtis, Kline and Palin, executive producer Steve Abbott and director of photography Alan Hume. Fish You Were Here is a 1/4 hour documentary on the film's locations hosted by Robert Powell. There are 24 deleted/alternative scenes with introductions by Cleese running about 30-minutes in total. What is new is a 17-minute appreciation by Vic Pratt of the BFI National Archive and new interviews with composer John Du Prez, production designer Roger Murray-Leach, executive producer Steve Abbott and makeup supervisor Paul Engelen. There is the 5-minute Message from John Cleese, a tongue-in-cheek introduction recorded for the film's original release, an image gallery, Trivia track (plays during film - see sample below) and a theatrical trailer. The first pressing features writing on the film by Sophie Monks Kaufman and being dual-format has a second disc DVD.

Always funny and capable of being watched at any time - A Fish Called Wanda is a timeless comedy of extremes, physical gags, extravagant personalities and witty dialogue - delivered with perfect timing by the likes of Cleese, Curtis, Kline and Palin. This Blu-ray has immense value. Strongly recommended!  

***

ON THE DVDs: I wouldn't say the new 2-disc Collector's Edition image isn't perfect, but it is light years ahead of the old non-anamorphic one. Sharper, brighter colors, clearer... better subtitles (and more options), upgraded audio, more extras etc. etc. The new image does have a few poorer points - some digital noise, I suspect some black/red boosting and a few speckles can still be seen. There was a 2-disc 'Deluxe Edition' that came out in 2004 and it wouldn't surprise me if not much has been updated from that by MGM. But I don't own it so I can't be positive, although extras look suspiciously duplicated.

The Cleese commentary is as engaging as he is, but there are some gaps. He talks a lot about the cast and crew - his inspiration - and elicits much praise to Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis. The Trivia pop-ups are kind of gimmicky and I can't see too many people being amused by them. There is a 2nd disc with some interesting material and a cute 'Message From John Cleese'. It shows a mark up from usual MGM thrown-together digital discs and I'm glad to own it. Apologies that I couldn't compare to the Deluxe but this appears to be the same price tag. 

Gary W. Tooze