The Bad News Bears Blu-ray

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

Directed by Michael Ritchie
USA 1976

The coach is waiting for his next beer. The pitcher is waiting for her first bra. The team is waiting for a miracle. Consider the possibilities when former minor leaguer Morris Buttermaker takes a job offer to coach the Bears, a bunch of misfits who have no baseball talent. Realizing his dilemma, Coach Buttermaker brings aboard girl pitching ace Amanda Whurlizer.

***

A major surprise as one of 1976's top grossing films. THE BAD NEWS BEARS is a movie about children that is refreshing, utterly believable, and quite cleverly funny. Walter Matthau is at his absolute best as the grumbling beer-guzzling former minor-league pitcher who gets roped into coaching a band of half-pint misfits somewhat loosely called a team. With this bunch in uniform, it's impossible to get caught up in the suburban competitive spirit that drives other adults to extremes of parental discipline. So, instead, the Bears have a good time.

Posters

Theatrical Release: April 5th, 1976

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Review: Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Released on Blu-ray by Paramount on March 30th, 2021:
Distribution	Imprint #31 - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:42:07.579
Video	1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,416,838,179 bytes Feature: 29,428,125,696 bytes Video Bitrate: 30.99 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 2902 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2902 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Imprint 1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,416,838,179 bytes Feature: 29,428,125,696 bytes Video Bitrate: 30.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Scott Harrison (2020) Theatrical Trailer (03:09) Limited Edition slipcase on the first 1500 copies Blu-ray Release Date: March 5th, 2021 Transparent Blu-ray Case inside slipcase Chapters 12

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Imprint Blu-ray (March 2021): Imprint now brings the 1976 comedy classic "The Bad News Bears'' to Blu-ray, on a dual-layered disc. The 1.78:1 1080p HD image exports a moderate amount of detail, while the high bitrate keeps the image running smoothly. Sometimes the image quality takes a dip, especially noticeable around the 29:40-minute mark. These issues could be due to the source material. Darker scenes show a bit of detail, though I suppose the contrast could be more dramatic, if some future restoration allows for it. While Imprint doesn't list the source material here, I would wager to say that this is not from a 4K source/restoration. Still nothing to shake a stick at.

Imprint provides two audio options for their Blu-ray of "The Bad News Bears”. The first is the film's original 2.0 Stereo track in 24-bit linear PCM. The other option is a 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master audio track which sports some mild yet effective separation in the various channels. I would recommend the linear PCM track though, if not just for authenticity. While the music is by Jerry Fielding, the stand-out piece of music (that I will forever associate with this film) is Georges Bizet's 'Carmen'. There are optional English subtitles on Imprint's Region FREE Blu-ray.

The sole extra (aside from the film's trailer) is a new audio commentary by polymath (film historian, novelist, scriptwriter, playwright and film writer) Scott Harrison. Harrison talks a lot on the background of the film as well as the film's status as a beloved comedy classic. The screen specific commentary is thoughtful and not at all rushed, I look forward to more commentaries by Harrison. As mentioned, the film's trailer also appears on Imprint's Blu-ray.

Michael Ritchie's "The Bad News Bears" (written by Bill Lancaster, of "The Thing" fame) is one of the all-time great comedies. Imprint's Blu-ray features a decent transfer of the film, as well as an all new commentary that fans will surely want to check out. Recommended.