Stripes (1981) - 4K Ultra HD Evaluation

      Stripes, 1981.

      Directed by Ivan Reitman.

      Featuring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, P. J. Soles, John Candy, Sean Young, Judge Reinhold, and John Larroquette.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Sony has released a 4K Ultra HD edition of Stripes, previously included in Columbia Classics: Volume Two, now as a standalone Steelbook. It retains the mix of classic and new bonus features along with a code for a digital copy. If you're a fan of the movie and missed out on that box set, this is an ideal opportunity to grab it.

      I received this title alongside Gandhi for review on the same day. It was quite a shift: from a serious epic about a man who renounces materialism to inspire change in India to a comedy about two friends who whimsically decide to join the U.S. Army, leading to a string of funny escapades.

      Interestingly, Stripes acted as a sort of refreshment, still standing strong as a quintessential, raucous 80s comedy. Bill Murray and Harold Ramis portray John Winger and Russell Ziskey, respectively. After John experiences a disastrous day losing his job, home, and girlfriend, he persuades his friend Russell to enlist in the Army with him.

      They find themselves in boot camp with a motley crew of misfits, including Dewey “Ox” Oxberger (John Candy), who joined to shed some pounds; Francis “Psycho” Soyer (Conrad Dunn), who truly lives up to his name; and others. John Larroquette appears as Captain Stillman, who is intent on shaping them up, while Sean Young and P.J. Soles play military police who become romantically involved with Russell and John, respectively.

      The group's antics lead them to Europe, where Russell and John steal a prototype, the EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle, that they're meant to be guarding so they can visit their girlfriends. When Stillman assembles the platoon to retrieve the vehicle, things go awry and they unintentionally end up in Czechoslovakia, nearly causing a significant diplomatic incident with the Soviet Union, prompting Russell and John to initiate a rescue mission.

      Understanding the Cold War context of the 80s enhances the story. While the U.S. is understandably cautious of Russia today, the Soviet Union was perceived as the major threat back then, capable of launching nuclear weapons at any moment. I’ll skip the in-depth geopolitical analysis and simply highlight the importance of this adventure in the film, as it likely wouldn’t resonate the same way in today's context.

      This 4K Ultra HD Steelbook version of Stripes is identical to the one included in the Columbia Classics: Volume Two set released in 2021. Along with a digital copy code, it comes with Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD discs featuring both theatrical and extended versions of the film, plus a solid collection of extras (no new content was produced for this 2025 edition). The extended version presents an additional international escapade that is entertaining but adds little to the overall narrative, explaining its original omission.

      The 4K disc includes the theatrical trailer and two featurettes totaling about 44 minutes: "40 Years of Stripes With Bill & Ivan: That’s The Fact, Jack!" and "40 Years of Stripes with Bill & Ivan: Lighten Up, Francis." Created for the 2021 release, these feature Murray, director Ivan Reitman, and cinematographer Bill Butler reminiscing about the film from a four-decade perspective.

      The remaining bonus content is on the Blu-ray disc, beginning with an informative commentary track (exclusive to the extended version) featuring Reitman and writer/producer Dan Goldberg. They reflect on the film during its 20th anniversary and offer valuable insights.

      Another key extra is "Stars and Stripes," a two-part documentary detailing the film’s making, sourced from the 2012 Blu-ray release. It runs just under an hour and grants Reitman and Goldberg significant screen time, overlapping somewhat with their commentary but still providing valuable content for fans.

      Finally, a collection of deleted scenes totaling about 29 minutes completes this release.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook