Due for release from Paramount Pictures on November 15, 2022 is the 4K Ultra HD Edition of the 1961 classic 'Blue Hawaii'. It comes as a two-disc set with a region free 4K Ultra HD and a region A Blu-ray disc (regions B, C untested).
Technical specs: Video Codec: HEVC / H.265 Resolution: Native 4K (2160p) HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10 Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1 Information on the audio and subtitles are not available yet.
About time too! Beyond Baz Luman's Elvis there are no Elvis 4K discs yet. And if my maths is right there are only 16 Elvis films available on Blu-ray so far. If you buy this 4K disc it won't play on a normal Blu-ray player, you will need a 4K player. That will then play this disc on a normal TV, but you will need a 4K capable TV to enjoy the improvement in picture quality. They seem to bundling a standard Blu-ray disc in with most 4Ks, but there won't be a picture improvement on that!
'Blue Hawaii' was huge box office in 1961 but it rarely draws favourable comment now and some of its soundtrack songs take quite a hammering even on websites such as this. It's ironic that an obsolete movie has been upgraded for the elite, specialty 4K market just as the far more popular 'Elvis On Tour' documentary is about to be re-released (bundled with CD's in a boxed-set) with no refurbishment of its visuals or audio. One would think that, if only spurred by self-interest and the profit motive, such matters might have been thought through differently by the producers.
Blue Hawaii in 4K?! Jesus, it's not even in my top ten Elvis films! You know what I would like, and definitely buy, in 4K, or even in HD Blu-ray? All the footage available of "Elvis - That's The Way It Is" and "Elvis On Tour." Now that would be something to look forward to.
@EJF, Man, you are so right. It is amazing how long fans have been discussing this. The fans deserve so much more and the known Material by Elvis deserves to be given special treatment. Also, the unknown Material should be revealed. For example, the Boxed Set of EOT coming in December, is something special of course and I will purchase it. But, what if, the four shows and Rehearsals being given to us in Audio form, were to be in Video form? Would fans buy it? Better believe they would!!!!
