By Lee Pfeiffer
Warner Home Video has released a deluxe Blu-ray edition of director Oliver Stone's 1991 film JFK to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The movie was a lightning rod for controversy upon its initial release and film critics and historians still debate the film today. Stone, who has made clear he is a firm believer that in the theory that JFK's murder was part of a greater conspiracy plot, altered many key historical events in order to make these theories more convincing to audiences. Stone defended this decision as being within the realm of "artistic license" and claimed that, as a filmmaker, his primary goal was to make a compelling movie. His critics cited their belief that, to impressionable audience members, his powerful movie would be confused with established fact. No matter where you stand on the debate, virtually everyone agreed that the movie was a gripping, expertly-made thriller. It earned 8 Oscar nominations, winning two.
The Blu-ray boxed set is outstanding in terms of content and quality. The set presents Stone's "director's cut" of the film (the original theatrical cut is not included, having apparently been disowned by Stone), a feature length documentary titled Beyond JFK: A Question of Conspiracy, deleted/extended scenes and feature length commentary. There is also an episode of the TV series Olvier Stone's Untold History of the United States titled JFK: To the Brink that delves into the various foreign crisis the new President had to deal with. A theatrical trailer is also included.
The set contains a separate DVD that has other excellent bonus programming including the 1963 feature film P.T. 109 that recreates how Kennedy won his stripes as a WWII hero (Cliff Robertson plays JFK, having been personally chosen by the President for the role). The film is enjoyable enough in its own right but, aside from the Kennedy connection, it's basically a standard WWII adventure. Robert Culp and Ty Hardin co-star. There is also a new feature length documentary titled JFK Remembered: 50 Years Later as well as the acclaimed vintage feature film documentary John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums which has been remastered for this release. There is a wealth of bonus collectibles including book of JFK quotations, reproduction of his inaugural address, reproduction of Kennedy campaign poser, 20 photos and correspondence fro te the JFK Presidential Library and a 44 page photo book. Nobody seems to excel at these "everything-but-the-kitchen sink" boxed sets like Warner Home Video does. Somebody over there deserves praise for their creative bonus collectibles that are included in so many of their boxed sets.
In all this is a magnificent release on every level.
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There are various other options for purchasing the Blu-ray aside from the boxed set, as outlined below on the official official press release.
BURBANK, Calif., August 21, 2013 – November 22, 2013 will mark 50 years
since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and Warner Bros. Home
Entertainment (WBHE) will commemorate this tragic chapter in U.S. history by
honoring one of our most influential presidents with the release of a new collection
featuring the award-winning motion picture, JFK. Director Oliver Stone’s controversial
highly-charged story surrounding the tragedy debuts November 12 as
JFK 50 Year Commemorative Ultimate Collector’s Edition (JFK UCE) on Blu-ray™.
Stone’s film is considered one of the most provocative of
our time. In addition to box-office success and critical acclaim, it captured eight
Academy Award®[i] nominations
(including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor), winning two
(Best Cinematography and Film Editing). It also won Stone a Best Director
(Motion Picture, 1992) Golden Globe® and ultimately played a major
role in the national debate that lead to passage of the 1992 Assassination
Materials Disclosure Act.
Stone directed from a screenplay he wrote with Zachary
Sklar. The all-star cast includes Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon,
Gary Oldman, Sissy Spacek, Jack Lemmon, Joe Pesci, Donald Sutherland, Laurie
Metcalf, John Candy, Walter Matthau, Sally Kirkland, and Edward Asner.
The JFK UCE includes the Director’s
Cut with 17 additional minutes not seen in theaters and will feature three
captivating documentaries – Oliver Stone’s JFK: To the Brink, the insightful
look at the JFK presidency that was included in his 2012 Showtime Series, “The Untold
History of the United States;†the brand-new JFK Remembered: 50 Years Later from filmmaker Robert Kline; and John F. Kennedy: Years of
Lightning, Day of Drums, a
documentary produced by George Stevens, Jr., and written and directed by
Bruce Herschensohn, who also composed the music. The film was named one of the
Ten Best Films of 1965 by the National Board of Review.
In addition, the JFK UCE includes the feature film
drama, PT 109, about Kennedy’s World War
II experiences as a skipper in the South Pacific. The JFK UCE also contains
commemorative items from the Kennedy Presidential Library: collectible
reproductions of family and presidential photos, a campaign poster from the
1960 presidential campaign, and a copy of Kennedy’s historic inaugural address.
Lastly, there is a 32-page book of famous quotations, and a 44-page JFK movie
photo book.
The JFK 50 Year Commemorative Ultimate
Collector’s Edition will sell for $59.99 SRP. The documentaries JFK
Remembered: 50 Years Later and John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of
Drums will also be available on DVD separately, for $5.94 and $11.97
SRP respectively. Untold History of the United States, containing JFK: To
the Brink, will make its U.S. Blu-ray debut October 15.
Special
Features:
- JFK: To The
Brink – Chapter
from Oliver Stone’s “Untold History of the United Statesâ€
- New Documentary -- JFK Remembered: 50 Years Later
- Remastered Documentary – John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums
- Feature film -- PT
109
- Commentary by Director Oliver Stone
- Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy
- Multimedia Essays
- Assassination Update – The New Documents
- Meet Mr. X: The Personality and Thoughts of
Fletcher Prouty
- Deleted/extended scenes with commentary by
director Oliver Stone (production audio only)
- Theatrical trailer
About The UCE’s Special Features
JFK: To
the Brink: This documentary is Chapter
6 from the powerful historical series “Untold
History of the United States,†a ten-part Showtime
Original Series, debuting on Blu-ray October 15 through WBHE. The in-depth,
surprising, and totally riveting series, co-written by Stone with Peter Kuznick
and Matt Graham, was directed and narrated by Stone. This one-hour segment
sheds valuable additional insight into JFK’s presidency during the Bay
of Pigs; on the brink of total war during the Cuban Missile Crisis; through
early Vietnam; JFK's attempts at peace with Khrushchev; and finally the
President’s assassination
JFK Remembered: 50 Years Later: 50 years after his assassination on November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy
remains as vital and compelling as when he was first elected. This documentary
reacquaints us with the first Irish-Catholic president and the youngest in U.S.
history, presenting images and personalities frozen in time. From Kennedy's
nomination to his election, from his inspiring inaugural address to the Bay of
Pigs, from civil rights and racial struggles to space exploration, from the
Berlin Wall appearance to his leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis,
Kennedy ranks among the great presidents in the history of the United States.
John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums (1965): This
documentary tribute to President Kennedy was named one of the
Ten Best Films of the Year by the National Board of Review. Produced by George
Stevens Jr. for the United States Information Agency (USIA), it was narrated by
Gregory Peck, and written and directed by Bruce Herschensohn, who also composed
the music. The film chronicles the thousand days of JFK’s presidency, featuring
numerous clips from speeches and an intimate look at Kennedy family life. It
was not originally intended for the general public; however, the quality was
considered so outstanding that a special act of Congress allowed it to
eventually be shown theatrically.
PT 109 (1963): Before Kennedy was president, he was a hero
in World War II. Based on the book by Robert
J. Donovan, this film stars Academy Award®-winning actor Cliff
Robertson (Best Actor in a Leading Role --Charly
1969) as Lieutenant Kennedy. While a young captain of a PT boat in the South
Pacific, Kennedy lead his men in a daring rescue of American Marines stranded
on a small island inside the area of Japanese control. On another mission, a
Japanese destroyer sliced the small boat in half, and miles from the nearest
island Kennedy proves himself a hero with his efforts to save his crew.
Also Available Individually
JFK
Remembered: 50 Years Later (Documentary)
Pricing: $5.94 SRP
Run Time: 120 Mins.
Cat/UPC: 1000411226/ 883929346851
John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums
(Documentary)
Pricing: $11.97 SRP
Run Time: 85 Mins.
Cat/UPC: 1000435145/
883929371914
The Untold History of the United States (contains JFK: To the
Brink)
Street Date:
October 15, 2013
Order Due Date: September 10, 2013
Pricing: $49.99 SRP
Run Time: 801 mins
Catalog #: 1000420438