As a lifelong cinema enthusiast with a soft spot for action-packed movies that leave me breathless and yearning for more, I must say that Point Break is one of those rare gems that never fails to captivate me. The film’s unique blend of high-octane adrenaline-fueled sequences, a talented cast, and Kathryn Bigelow’s deft directorial hand make it an enduring classic.
For some time, a screenplay known as “Point Break” circulated. Initially titled “Johnny Utah,” it centered around an FBI agent infiltrating a group of surfers suspected to be the notorious gang of bank robbers called The ex-Presidents. At that time, James Cameron was involved but was heavily engaged in the planning for Terminator 2. Consequently, the project was handed over to Kathryn Bigelow, who would later divorce him. Notably, she had recently gained recognition with her movie “Blue Steel” starring Jamie Lee Curtis.
In the initial proposal, Bigelow suggested casting Keanu Reeves as the main character, a decision that faced resistance since he was known for his roles in the “Bill & Ted” series, which portrayed him as a laid-back space cadet. However, they needn’t have been concerned as he proved to be a perfect fit for the role. Co-starring with him was the late Patrick Swayze, whose action prowess was well-established through films like ‘Road House’ and ‘Next of Kin’. Supporting them was Lori Petty, who primarily appeared in TV shows at that time. Her unique appearance differed significantly from what producers might have envisioned as the blonde beach babe for the surfer love interest. Additionally, Gary Busey was also cast, and, based on a retrospective featurette included in this new release, he was, to put it mildly, somewhat unpredictable at that time.
In an unprecedented move for a Hollywood action film, a woman took the helm and executed each sequence with finesse. From the thrilling surfing scenes to the heart-pounding skydiving stunts, everything looked spectacular – yes, even Patrick Swayze performed his own skydives, albeit only under strict orders from the film’s financiers due to safety concerns. However, when he wasn’t on set, he continued practicing, a secret kept hidden from the producers. The entire cast underwent fight training, with one exception: Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Excited for a major fight scene, he arrived on set only to be disappointed when the fight coordinator knocked out his character in a single punch. This was due to Kiedis’ lack of attendance at the required training classes.
The movie, titled Point Break, premiered on November 22, 1991, only a few months following the second Bill & Ted film. It performed well at the box office, earning $83 million, and plans for a sequel were made for 1993. However, the studio ultimately decided against it. Despite a brief resurgence in surfing films, none could match its success. Instead, its impact was most noticeable in Nick Frost’s character in Hot Fuzz. Given its popularity, a remake seemed natural, but the 2015 version with an uninspiring cast fell short of recapturing the magic of the original.
In this new version, the movie is presented on 4K UHD for the first time, and the surf sequences are stunningly beautiful. However, the disc falls short in its extra content, offering additional scenes, featurettes titled “Make or Break,” “Ride the Wave,” “Adrenaline Junkies,” “On Location: Malibu,” a Still Gallery, and the original trailer. This edition comes in a two-disc 4K UHD collector’s set, complete with a high-quality O-ring, as well as an exclusive, limited-edition poster and four art cards. Both this special edition and a separate Blu-ray release will contain over 45 minutes of additional features.
1. All these elements are archived features from past disc versions, and a director’s commentary would have been particularly valuable for this 4K UHD release. However, Point Break still stands out as one of the better early ’90s action films that helped shape Keanu Reeves’ career as an action star in movies like Speed, The Matrix, and John Wick.
Here’s the Pont Break trailer……
“Point Break will be available in 4K Ultra High Definition, Blu-ray, DVD, and digital platforms starting the 5th of August 2024, distributed by Icon Film Distribution”
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2024-08-03 02:24