The Fly (1986)

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I was thinking in the first half "why do people hate this it's pretty solid" and then the second half just gets dumber and dumber with worse and worse editing and action.

I watched it on cable and had a similar reaction, but my expectations were so low going in that I still think semi-positively about the movie. The villain's fate is very satisfying. I have a kind of unofficial sorting method for sequels, where some sequels stand-alone and I would consider them separate and distinct movies in my collection, and some sequels are so bad that I wouldn't want them at any price, but then some sequels I do like to keep but I file them as a bonus feature on the original rather than a stand-alone movie. The Fly II would be one of those.

[BluCollector13]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Well Criterion could do said remaster. Or Scream. I don't really care who does it but I would buy the hell out of it.

I third this since I doubt Fox would go full out on a remaster.

If Scream Factory got a hold of it, I'd like to hope they could do two 5.1 tracks, one with the original synth/stinger effects that were in the original release and the remastered tracks from the DVD/Blu minus said synth/stingers along with the stereo tracks.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I'm not knocking it too hard, it was entertaining, I just thought the climax fight and stuff was really poorly done. If that had been better then the whole movie would have been pretty solid IMO.

Someday they'll remake The Fly again I am sure, and yes I bet he flies.

Yeah, maybe go back to the original story, where there were two versions of the genetic mix, and concentrate on the more-fly version, with the exception being it grows larger. If the more-human version develops wings theoretically they would have to be huge to get him off the ground, but either way it could be particularly hideous.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

I remember hearing a few yrs back I think that Cronenberg was interested in directing another reboot of The Fly & that he has some ideas about it already. That's obviously gone nowhere so far.

Cronenberg actually revealed what happened. Sorry no source, but I love his Fly so much I followed everything related to it (including the Opera.) Fox wouldn't give him the budget he wanted to do it right, so he let the idea go.

[Mr.B]

Originally Posted by MJD64

I saw the '86 Fly theatrically and it simply isn't a visually vibrant movie; once a blu attains a certain vintage many fans cry out for a remaster but the truth is The Fly may well look as good as it's going to. Sure, you may get some slight improvements but it's never going to be an eye-opening revelation.

I think this is true of a lot of older titles on blu.

Have you seen Blood Simple blu-ray from Criterion? The movie was shot two years earlier than The Fly and with smaller budget, and yet it looks stunning in 4K restoration. The same goes for The Terminator, Aliens, Sid & Nancy (StudioCanal restoration), To Live and Die in L.A. - it proves that movies from this era CAN look great.

[jh901]

Originally Posted by Mr.B

Have you seen Blood Simple blu-ray from Criterion? The movie was shot two years earlier than The Fly and with smaller budget, and yet it looks stunning in 4K restoration. The same goes for The Terminator, Aliens, Sid & Nancy (StudioCanal restoration), To Live and Die in L.A. - it proves that movies from this era CAN look great.

Films from any era can look great on blu if source is handled well and entire digitization process is excellent. Sure, there are examples of films which won't jump off the screen no matter what, but I say the blu transfer is the problem most of the time.

Heck, even low budget Rocky (remaster) is glorious.

[seanb003]

Has anyone grabbed The Fly with the coloring book and cardboard cover art from Walmart?

[RD1973]

Originally Posted by seanb003

Has anyone grabbed The Fly with the coloring book and cardboard cover art from Walmart?

Coloring book?! The kiddies are gonna love that.

[kyrieeleison]

Originally Posted by seanb003

Has anyone grabbed The Fly with the coloring book and cardboard cover art from Walmart?

Picked it up a couple days ago. Already threw away the faceplate. The gummy adhesive they used warped the plastic. I know it doesn't matter, but I'll probably end up replacing it with one of the extras I have lying around.

The coloring book is pretty neat, though. I'll probably hand it off to my nephew.

[SpectralNight]

This is such a legendary remake.
Seems like it's waaay overdue for a "special" release of some sort.
Is the transfer as good as it could be?

Anyone know if this is a film Criterion could release?
My guess is they already would have, if they were allowed, since they've put out some of Cronenberg's other masterpieces.

Still, at the very least, I'd like something for the US market with some cool packaging like other countries have received.https://d1m6vmmwsgiy3l.cloudfront.ne...31-1476012.png

[StingingVelvet]

I think this is too big a seller for Fox to give it to Criterion or whoever right now. They'd probably rather do a new UHD release like Predator and Die Hard got. With the Disney deal though who knows what will change.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

With the Disney deal though who knows what will change.

Be afraid, be very afraid!

[Darkstream]

I find it strange that this film didn't even get one of Fox's Deadpool slipcovers. I didn't collect those covers, but this is one of Fox's best films ever, so I find it sad that they covered a lot their biggest movies, but missed this one. They could have had The Fly on the cover with Deadpool's head on it, or maybe a Deadpool's hand splatting the fly with a flyswatter.

[Monterey Jack]

The existing transfer looks pretty good considering how old the disc is, and it's loaded with ALL of the extras from the superb 2-disc DVD set, so I don't really know what Criterion or Scream Factory could add.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

The existing transfer looks pretty good considering how old the disc is, and it's loaded with ALL of the extras from the superb 2-disc DVD set, so I don't really know what Criterion or Scream Factory could add.

The transfer looks fine, but this film really deserves to look great.

[SpectralNight]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

The existing transfer looks pretty good considering how old the disc is, and it's loaded with ALL of the extras from the superb 2-disc DVD set, so I don't really know what Criterion or Scream Factory could add.

Glorious supplementals!

[captainjoe]

Yeah the supplements are pretty damn solid. If criterion got this I could see them maybe adding a new interview or two plus a 4k remaster in a perfect world.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

The transfer looks fine, but this film really deserves to look great.

Which means we'd better better off Fox holding it and putting out a UHD rather than Criterion a barely different, new blu-ray.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW

Which means we'd better better off Fox holding it and putting out a UHD rather than Criterion a barely different, new blu-ray.

I'd take a 4k remaster on blu, but yes a UHD would be much better.

[klauswhereareyou]

Hopefully we can get a 4K remaster before Disney buries this movie.