…by me!

A while back I happened to catch the theatrical version of the film Supernova on TV and couldn’t help but re-watch it (you can read my review here).  I noted in my review that I had seen the film once years ago, on DVD, and that version of the film was “R” rated (the theatrical release was PG-13).  Despite the film’s many, many, many flaws, I was fascinated with it, if only because of the talent in front of and behind the cameras.

Anyway, I wrote my review and, considering the film’s non-reception and audience lack of interest, I assumed the DVD would be the last I ever heard of the film.

No one would be crazy enough to release the movie on BluRay…right?

Much to my shock came the announcement that Shout! Factory was doing just that (read about that here).  Considering the company’s previous movie releases, I was hoping they would include some really interesting special features.  The previous DVD release included several “cut” scenes, among them a darker alternate ending.  I was hoping this BluRay might include Mr. Hill’s initial “cut” of the film, made shortly before he abandoned the project.

Well, such is unfortunately not the case.  But if you’re like me and find the film and its history fascinating, this BluRay is certainly worth getting…though compared to the special features present on other Shout! Factory releases it may not be quite as robust as one might have hoped.

To begin, the version of the film presented on this BluRay is indeed the “R” rated version found on the DVD.  The theatrical version is nowhere to be found and I think that’s a shame.  Because of this I can’t compare the different cuts more directly but its safe to say the R rated version is the one that features the topless appearances by actress Robin Tunney.

I’ve already gone into the plot of this movie before so I won’t repeat myself.  Instead, let me focus on the extras.  Here’s what you get:

1) New interviews with actors Lou Diamond Phillips and Robert Foster (I really wish they could have interviewed lead actor James Spader but neither he nor any of the other actors involved in this film, including Angela Bassett and Robin Tunney, make appearances) and producers Daniel Chuba and Jack Sholder.  What each of them present is an interesting behind the scenes look at how the film -let’s be blunt here- rolled off the rails and ultimately failed.  Their stories are informative without being nasty.  They rightfully praise certain elements within the movie (if nothing else, the cinematography is quite gorgeous) but do not try to convince you this film is somehow better than it is.

Lou Diamond Phillips offers one of the more interesting comments when he states that it is a testament to director Walter Hill’s creativity that when he left the film there was enough material left behind to make as coherent a movie as the one that was ultimately released.

Unfortunately, I believe this is the only “new” extra you’re going to find on the BluRay versus the DVD version released many years before.

2) Deleted scenes.  Several deleted scenes, all of which I’m pretty sure were on the previous DVD version, appear here and give you a glimpse into what might have been.  The original voice of the ship’s A.I. computer “Sweetie” was a whole lot more annoying than the one they ultimately settled for.  Worse, a second male A.I. voice was present in the cut scenes of Spader’s investigation in the mining colony and, incredibly, this one was just as annoying as the unusued “Sweetie” voice.  So glad they got rid of that!  Finally, you get the much darker alternate ending.  I happen to like this ending more than the “uplifting” one present in this cut.

3) The theatrical trailer.  Ugh.  While Supernova was far from “great” or even “good”, it is astonishing to witness the film’s inept trailer.  What you see embedded below is easily far worse than the film it was trying to “sell”.  Thankfully, none of those 70’s rock songs were present in any way-shape-or-form within the movie itself.

Interestingly, the theatrical trailer features several glimpses at cut sequences.  Even more interesting, the special effects of the spaceship, at least to my eye and on the BluRay, appear sharper in this trailer than what was presented in the film.  It seems the makers of the film decided to add a soft light around the ship effects when they released the final cut.

So, for what its worth, this is what you get if you’re willing to take a risk and pick up a copy of the BluRay release of Supernova.  Again, buyer beware.  Just because this film fascinated me doesn’t mean it’ll do the same for you!