SCHOOL DAZE (1988) (Sony 35th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Review)

 

SCHOOL DAZE (1988)

35 Anniversary Edition 4K Ultra HD 

Label: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: R
Duration: 120 Minutes 
Audio: English Dolby Atmos (TrueHD 7.1), DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles 
Video: Dolby Atmos 2160p Ultra HD Widescreen, 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1) 
Director: Spike Lee
Cast: Lawrence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell, Ossie Davis, Kadeem Hardison, Spike Lee

Spike Lee's (She's Gotta Have It) sophomore film was the musical-comedy School Daze (1988) and was based in part on his own experiences as a student at the historically black Morehouse College, the events of the film occurring during Homecoming Weekend at the college. The film stars Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) as the politically active anti-apartheid protestor Vaughn "Dap" Dunlap who leads a group of student known as "Da Fellas", which includes Grady (Bill Nunn, Do The Right Thing), Monroe, (James Bond III, Def By Temptation), Jordan (Branford Marsalis, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno), Edge (Kadeem Hardison, Def By Temptation), and Booker T. (Eric Payne, Juice). The flick also stars Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad) as Julian "Big Brother Almighty" Eaves, the president of the Gamma Phi Gamma feat, who along with his frat's Big Brothers  Chucky (Rusty Cundieff, director of Tales from the Hood), Dr. Feelgood (Cylk Cozart, White Men Can't Jump), Lance (Tim Hutchinson, Tales from the Hood), X-Ray Vision (Darryl M. Bell, TV's A Different World), and General George Patton (Leonard L. Thomas, King of New York) show up to disrupt the protest causing friction between the Greeks and the non-Greeks. Other players include Spike Lee playing Dap's cousin Half-Pint who is driven to become a "Gamma man"; having pledged to Gamma Phi Gamma, where the pledges are referred to as Gammites, which also include Doo-Doo Breath (Anthony Thompkins, TV's Diff'rent Strokes), Double Rubber (Guy Killam, TV's Better Days), Mussolini (Kevin Rock, Malcolm X), Mustafa (Dominic Hoffman, TV's Hangin; with Mr. Cooper), Yoda (Roger Guenveur Smith, Summer of Sam), Slim Daddy (Erik Dellums, TV's The Wire), and Sir Nose (Kirk Taylor, Death Wish 3)

Another storylines involves the frat adjacent sorority The Gamma Rays lead by Tisha Campbell (Jane Toussaint, House Party), who get caught up in rivalries, with non-Greeks by way Dap's girlfriend Rachel Meadows (Kyme, TV's Chicago Hope) over the politics of hair and skin color. 

The flick is lighthearted but heartfelt, touching on serious social issues like skin politics, social activism, and hazing in the black communities at schools, and chock full of some kinetic dance numbers via a step competition featuring dance numbers choreographed by Otis Sallid (Fame). The music is pretty bumpin' and very late-80's; but not exactly my cup of tea then or now, but I certainly enjoy it more now, as back in '88 I was a somewhat close-minded teen and a total metal head, and this would have been absolute anathema to me. The film is well-crafted with a terrific cast and some nicely layered characters that offer more than the usual college fraternity comedy that came before it and after. Also be on the lookout for Joe Seneca (The Blob) as school President McPherson, and Ossie Davis (Bubba Ho-Tep) as Ossie Davis as Coach Odom. 

Audio/Video: School Daze (1988) gets a new 4K Ultra HD release from Sony to celebrate it's 35th anniversary, presented here in 2160p Ultra HD widescreen (1.85:1) with Dolby Vision WCG enhancement. The source showcases filmic looking grain textures, clarity and depth were quite pleasing and black levels are solid. The WGC tone-mapping really brings out the primaries, but isn't overbaked, things look natural. The 4K resolution also brings out some nice fine detail and texture in the image as well. Audio comes by way of new Dolby Atmos remix, as well as the uncompressed DTS-HD MA 2.0 and 5.1 audio with optional English subtitles. The Atmos track is solid, it's not showy or overly immersive but it delivers the dialogue with clarity, and the music comes through full-bodied and robust with a solid low-end. 

Extras are carried over from the previous 30th Anniversary Blu-ray, we get a fairly subdued Audio Commentary with Director Spike Lee, and a thankfully more engaging Audio Commentary with Cast Members Tisha Campbell, Rusty Cundieff, Bill Nunn, Darryl M. Bell and Kadeem Hardison. 

The a 33-min Anniversary of School Daze Q&A with Cast & Crew featuring director Spike Lee, actors Campbell and Hardison, and casting director Robi Reed. The 24-min 

Birth of a Nation with the cast who talk about the themes of the film; the 19-min College Daze with Lee and cast talking about their own college experiences; the 20-min Making a Mark behind-the-scene featurette; plus 14-min of Music Videos for "Be One" Music by Phyllis Hyman, "Da Butt" by EU, and "Be Alone Tonight" by The Rays featuring Tisha Campbell, Jasmine Guy, Paula Brown, and Angela Ali. 

The single-disc 4K Ultra HD arrives in a standard black keepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork featuring the original movie poster for the film. There is no accompanying or a digital copy of the film.  

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary with Director Spike Lee
- Audio Commentary with Cast Members Tisha Campbell, Rusty Cundieff, Bill Nunn, Darryl M. Bell and Kadeem Hardison
- Anniversary of School Daze Q&A with Cast & Crew (33 min) 
- Birth of a Nation (24 min) 
- College Daze (19 min) 

- Making a Mark (20 min)

- "Be One" Music Video by Phyllis Hyman

- "Da Butt" Music Video by EU
- "Be Alone Tonight" Music Video by The Rays, Tisha Campbell, Jasmine Guy, Paula Brown, and Angela Ali

Available from www.MovieZyng.com