The Film
The trippy classic rock opera from 1975 makes a comeback as The Who's Tommy, the Movie debuts on Blu-ray. The star (musician)-studded film entertains with a seduction from Tina Turner as a prostitute, Elton John as a contender in a pinball competition, and others who dance onto and off the screen as Tommy (Roger Daltry) stands there blind, deaf, and dumb. Jack Nicholson even sings a few notes as The Specialist who is able to diagnose Tommy's ailments but not able to cure him. While the film has the distinct look of a British production circa 1975, it stands up to the reverence around the rock opera for fans of The Who.
The Picture
The 1.85:1 picture has a grainy quality to it. Yet still it is the best the film has looked since playing in theaters. You do really see the blank look on Tommy's face and whole body. Likewise, you see the alternating desperation and frustration on his mother's and stepfather's faces. There is a visual difference between the boy's real life and scenes in the mirror. When Tommy follows himself into the junkyard to find the pinball machine, there's a crispness to the image as the boy's spirit comes alive. The same effect is used for the moment he gains true awareness.
The Sound
Not a spoken word in the film, the music and lyrics fill the sound field with 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio. Purists will be happy to know the movie can be played with the original quintaphonic 5.0 soundtrack, with DTS-HD Master Audio encoding, without the subwoofer channel. This is handy if you're inclined to place five full-range horn speakers around your living room for maximum authenticity and sonic impact. While it's all song, the melodies pour in from different directions. You'll definitely want to listen to this over a high quality home theater surround system for greatest enjoyment.
The Extras
To say the extras are disappointing would be an understatement. The Blu-ray is so devoid of special features that there isn't even a tab in the menu. The only extra Sony added is movieIQ+sync to connect you to "real-time information on the cast, music, trivia and more while watching the movie." Real time information on Oliver Reed will tell you he died in 1999; John Entwistle passed away in Las Vegas in 2002. This is to be expected for a film that's 35 years old. You may be happy to look up that Ann-Margret has just completed production on two films. There's really nothing extra on this disc. Sony, we won't be fooled again.
Final Thoughts
It's pretty easy to assume that fans of The Who will want Tommy on Blu-ray for their collections. And despite the lack of extras, fans are sure to be pleased with this sonic and visual extravaganza. Another similar assumption is that those who ask "Who?" when you say "Do you like The Who?" need not rush to buy this film on Blu-ray. For the audio and video quality, it's worth having in your collection for songs performed by The Who, Elton John, Tina Turner and other musicians of the time.
Product Details
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