Outland - Arrow Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

As our own Mr. Duarte already wrote an excellent review of the film way back in 2012, I’ll largely let his words stand. For my part, Outland is a great flick. It might not be the best Science Fiction film, nor is it the best Western film ever made, but by combining archetypes of both genres, it’s a slick stylish production that delivers big entertainment value. Peter Hyams working as writer and director (and uncredited director of photography) keeps the film moving at a swift pace without sacrificing character development. Withinin minutes, we know the good guys and the bad guys and the few allies caught in between. I really do love the idea that this film could exist within the Alien universe as another shady company does their own shady crap to punch profits at the expense of their workforce. It’s a great setup for a science fiction feature with a very lived-in feel. 

Here’s what Mr. Duarate wrote for his Outland Blu-ray Review 

'Outland' wasn't the first film to shift elements of the western to a sci-fi environment, and it certainly won't be the last, but it's still a relatively unique combination, one that makes for a wonderfully entertaining motion picture that might otherwise be thought of as a generic crime thriller. In fact, it could be argued that the marriage of the two genres essentially masks a rather simple plot that could just as easily take place on modern-day Earth. But the subtlety and restraint shown by writer/director Peter Hyams when merging the two vastly different styles manages to elevate the story into something fresh and terrifically engaging. Aspects of either genre serve only as backdrop or narrative device for telling this crime drama that serves as a clever indictment of corporate conspiracy and greed which devalues the lives of the working class.

Set in the far distant future, the merger of the two genres is immediately apparent but never brought to the forefront, something in the fashion of 'Star Wars' with lawless gunslingers walking about. Instead, it's an understated framework inside a remote mining outpost functioning on Io, one of Jupiter's many moons, and order is kept by a small band of peacekeepers, led by Sean Connery as Federal Marshal O'Niel. It's one of the reasons I find the movie so brilliant and still highly enjoyable. Hyams isn't constantly reminding his audience of what he's doing beyond the initial opening with the explanatory title cards. Yet, there's a rustic Wild West appeal to the overall film, thanks in part to the stage design and the cinematography of Stephen Goldblatt.

Story-wise, Hyams doesn't shy away from stock characterization, such as Connery epitomizing the rugged town sheriff. As the bringer of justice and social order to the seemingly chaotic frontier of space, Connery's O'Niel stumbles upon a conspiracy to hide several unsolved deaths of miners. There isn't a whole lot for the Scottish actor to do other than act the determined and deeply committed lawman, but what he does he does exceptionally well, being a hard-nosed peacekeeper that won't back down in a fight. Hyams does give the character a bit of depth as a married family man on the brink of losing what he cherishes the most because he believes so strongly that what he's doing is the right thing to do. And as with everything else, Connery shines in these moments, carrying the thought of his wife and son heading back to Earth without him in his eyes and powering his will to fight.

Helping the marshal discover a secret drug-ring operating within the colony is the feisty, contentious town doctor, played delightfully by Frances Sternhagen. She's perfect as the spirited foil, almost comic-relief, to Connery's stern temperament, coming to his cause at just the right moment when the man needs the assistance the most. Her involvement in the cover-up is somewhat of a mystery because she doesn't perform autopsies of the dead, though it does become fairly clear when the sergeant (James Sikking), replacing the customary trusty deputy, turns out to be paid a hefty sum to look the other way. While two dealers appear to do most of the footwork, the man at the center of it all is none other than the head-honcho of the mining facility (Peter Boyle doing his best as the greedy, ruthless landholder typically seen in Westerns).

We could argue that last bit is a spoiler, but in actuality, Hyams makes that little piece of information pretty obvious early on. Discovering who's behind this large-scale crime is not really the point. In fact, it's used within the narrative as a means of generating tension and suspense because we know who the cause of the rampant drug use is, hiding the deaths of innocent workers in order to keep profits rising. As O'Niel follows the clues and gathers the evidence to prove his suspicion, those involved will do anything to defend the flow of money, driving the plot toward a spectacular 'High Noon' showdown. Filled with a cold mechanical atmosphere and the ethereal music of Jerry Goldsmith, Peter Hyams's 'Outland' is wildly entertaining sci-fi western warning of a corporate future where our greatest enemy remains the monetary greed plaguing our society.

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 
At long last, Outland makes the long journey to 4K UHD thanks to the good folks at Arrow Video. For this review we were issued a check disc, so outside of any major changes this should be the deal we get to see in the final product which will include slipcover, reversible art, poster etc. The film and bonus features are pressed on a BD100 disc. 

Because I don’t have the liner notes available, I can’t swear to the restoration process beyond the noted from the original 35mm negative. Whichever way Arrow went and how they achieved what they wanted, it’s a dynamite upgrade. For a film that I like to believe rests a little higher than an average cult classic, Outland had a pretty terrible release history. The DVD was abysmal and the first Blu-ray was only a little better. This edition from Arrow in all honesty can be considered definitive. Now, by design, this film was never “beautiful.” This isn’t the kind of sci-fi film that makes you marvel at majesty, if anything it’s the opposite. This is a film that makes you marvel in the grime. The space suits look like they’ve been used for decades. Nothing outside of the hospital clinic space looks “clean.” In fact, this viewing was the first time I noticed that even the crisp white uniforms of the support staff had stains like recycled uniforms that barely get washed. All of that clean detail is on display. Film grain is well resolved, perhaps a bit more noticeable than some may like to see but it still look authentic and cinematic. I was also impressed to see that the Introvision shots all looked pretty damn good and held up nicely. The Dolby Vision grade is right on point, Connery’s blue uniform is nice and bold. The reds get a lot of play, and the yellow space suits all enjoy some nice pop. Being a Hayms film, it can be pretty dark, the man likes his shadows! But, blacks are nice and inky and shadows look stronger here than past releases. Front to back, a great looking disc.

On the audio front, we have a strong DTS-HD MA 5.1 track that plays very similar (if not identical) to the Blu-ray with an LPCM 2.0 track. Again because I don’t have the liner notes, I’m not sure if the old Megasound encoding from the old 70mm tracks were used again or not, but it remains a dynamic mix. It might not be the most aggressive surround mixes by today’s standards, but it gets the job done and delivers an immersive experience. On top of the flavor of another intergalactically ominous Jerry Goldsmith score, the film offers numerous sequences of “getting to know” the base. We see all of the workers milling about, doing day-to-day routine tasks and through that we have a nice rich soundscape. We get the tight and confined crew quarters. The loud pulsating bars. The hollow echoes of a racketball court. When the big action setpieces hit, they’re appropriately impactful. It’s a strong full-spread track. Now the included 2.0 track handles the load nicely on its own, but can feel a bit tighter - which given certain sequences actually sounds pretty good. Especially for the third act that has this narrow claustrophobic vibe. Of the two, I feel I have to lean toward the 5.1, but both deliver. Dialog is clean for both. The action beats sound great for both. The Goldsmith score is eerie and ominous for both. 

Not content to leave a great flick with a terrific A/V presentation, Arrow also gives us a splendid assortment of bonus features. We still get the solid Hyams audio commentary alongside a new commentary from film critic Chris Alexander which is a nice fan-driven but informative track. After that we get three excellent interview segments as well as two video essays to round out the selection before we get to the promotional materials. All told, we have over two hours of new extras on top of two commentaries to enjoy.

• Audio Commentary featuring Peter Hyams
• Audio Commentary featuring Chris Alexander 
• A Corridor of Accidents: An Interview with Peter Hyams (HD 52:08)
• Stephen Goldblatt Rememebrs Filming Peter Hyams’ Outland (HD 29:01)
• The Introvision Files - William Mesa on Outland (HD 34:05)
• No Place For Heroes (HD 18:22)
• Hollywood Outland (HD 21:22)
• Teaser Trailer
• Theatrical Trailer
• Image Gallery

Is Peter Hyams’ Outland one of the greatest films of all time? Certainly not. But, it’s a damn good and very entertaining adventure. The classic example of the Space Western, Sean Connery delivers a solid every-man performance as our resident sheriff out to do the right thing at any cost. Some may nitpick the seemingly selective presence of gravity on the mining colony, but the attention to character development and the impeccable production design shouldn’t be ignored. A modest box office success, the film held on in the home video market. It’s been everpresent from VHS through Blu-ray, but it never received the bonafide Special Edition treatment it deserved. That changes with this excellent 4K release from Arrow. On top of the excellent Dolby Vision transfer and great audio, we have a fantastic assortment of new bonus features to sift through - nearly an hour alone just for Peter Hyams to talk about his career and the making of the film. Highly Recommended