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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (June 2020): Kino have transferred the Oliver Stone produced 5-part TV mini-series Wild Palms to a dual Blu-ray package. It is cited as being from a "Brand New 2K Master". The 1.5 hour pilot and second episode are on the first Blu-ray with three episodes being on the second. Both are dual-layered. The filmed portions look excellent via two dual-layered discs with max'ed out bitrates, but part of this looks like it may have been filmed on video - specifically the text credits sequences (after the title it reverts to crisp 1080P) or, strangely, when there are some (2 or 3) burned-in subtitles for foreign-language (Japanese). I have never seen this before. Luckily, it is only a fraction of the presentation but the discrepancy is easily noticed when it does occur (see four samples below). With plenty of outdoor lighting, the original TV broadcast 1.33:1 image is very impressive in 1080P with consistent grain and visible make-up in extreme close-ups. Looked great on my system. 

NOTE: We have added 66 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language (some Japanese.) There aren't a massive amount of effects - some sci-fi related (holographic projections etc.) but the audio may be notable for the film's score by Ryuichi Sakamoto (Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, The Last Emperor, Wings of Honneamise, Love is the Devil, High Heels), sounding rich with consistent dialogue in the lossless. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers consist of commentaries for each of the 5 episodes - four of them being 'new'. I only sampled each one and did not have time to listen to completion. The first, pilot episode: Everything Must Go, has star James Belushi & executive producer / writer / creator Bruce Wagner. Bruce cites the series as an 'idiosyncratic epic' and Jim Belushi states right off the bat that this series had 2 of the 3 actors in his career that actually stunned him with their thespian prowess; Robert Loggia, Dana Delany and (not in Wild Palms) Michael Caine. In the episode: Rising Sons, we get a commentary by star Dana Delany with Bruce Wagner and admit that they co-incidentally live right beside each other. There are two commentaries by director Keith Gordon - on The Floating World and Hungry Ghosts. Lastly, is a new audio commentary by director Phil Joanou on Hello, I Must Be Going. and he extols Angie Dickinson describing her as iconic and the star of the series.

Wild Palms is... wild - a futuristic, mystery, tech-thriller with a super cast. The pilot kinda grabbed me and it evolves into a thought-provoking conspiracy in the vein of John Carpenter's They Live marrying the extravagance of Phillip K. Dick. The plot includes implanted chips and a weird cult. It kinda meanders with holograms and some romance but I was keen enough to watch it to completion. It has a niche following that remember it being broadcast and have wanted to revisit. These fans will be pleased that Kino have brought it to this dual Blu-ray package with the 5 commentaries. It's unconventional to say the least and the cast and stellar video improve the experience. Some may be interested to see Kathryn Bigelow's involvement and it has been placed in our TV Neo-Noir section.

Gary Tooze