PENTATHLON (Bruce Malmuth, 1994)

[JuV]

I've always watched the German Blu-ray release and the quality is sufficient enough for a 1080i release. I know the UK and German transfers are identical, but it looks like the UK release has become a bit more pricey. The German release however can be found (used) for about €3 on Amazon.

There are two different Blu-rays in the UK:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Pentathl ... ray/45427/

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Pentathl ... ay/134228/

The Blu-ray in the second link is from Universal.
Maybe Universal's Blu-ray is the best Blu-ray of all?

I didn't know there were 2! I know the German release I have and the Anchor Bay release are identical at least. No idea about the Universal release, but it appears to be OOP now. And like Jox said, most likely just a repack (according to Blu-ray.com the Universal release is also just 1080i).

Regardless, none of these Blu-ray releases are exactly fan-pleasing. But probably the best release we'll have for a good while. I could see DigiDreams pick this up one day, but their releases arguably aren't great either. I doubt there's a lot of demand for a proper remaster of this.

[Jox]

Regardless, none of these Blu-ray releases are exactly fan-pleasing. But probably the best release we'll have for a good while.

It beats a 4/3 VHS or one of the very few full screen DVD that came out in early 2000s

[JuV]

Regardless, none of these Blu-ray releases are exactly fan-pleasing. But probably the best release we'll have for a good while.

It beats a 4/3 VHS or one of the very few full screen DVD that came out in early 2000s

Oh, for sure! The old DVD I had was quite poor.

I know there is a post for Dolph films available in HD, but is there one for films that aren't (at least not on a physical format)?

I've been upgrading a few titles recently to get rid of some 4:3 DVDs, and noticed a chunk of the 90s and 2000s films have never been released on Blu-ray.

[Jox]

I know there is a post for Dolph films available in HD, but is there one for films that aren't (at least not on a physical format)?

I've been upgrading a few titles recently to get rid of some 4:3 DVDs, and noticed a chunk of the 90s and 2000s films have never been released on Blu-ray.

I didn't think of it!

I wouldn't mind having one, do you think it'd be particularly useful, what would we say apart from quoting the missing titles?

The list is fairly short (from the top of my head):
COVER-UP
BRIDGE OF DRAGONS (the upscaled German disc doesn't count)
STORM CATCHER
JILL RIPS
AGENT RED
RETROGRADE (the upscaled German disc doesn't count)
MISSIONARY MAN
PUPS ALONE
SEAL TEAM

[JuV]

I wouldn't mind having one, do you think it'd be particularly useful, what would we say apart from quoting the missing titles?

I'm not sure what extra information you could add to the post besides titles not available on Blu-ray. But I think it would definitely be a nice overview to have for those wanting to upgrade titles or new fans/collectors. You could split them in categories like these.

"Not available on Blu-ray:"

"Available on Blu-ray, but upscaled":

"HD remaster exists, but no physical release:"

The list is fairly short (from the top of my head):

I couldn't find Blu-ray releases for Fat Slags, Tour De Pharmacy or SAF3. And some Blu-ray releases aren't the most English friendly either (Italian Blu-ray for "Larceny" has forced subtitles according to Blu-ray.com).

[Jox]

I'm not sure what extra information you could add to the post besides titles not available on Blu-ray. But I think it would definitely be a nice overview to have for those wanting to upgrade titles or new fans/collectors. You could split them in categories like these.

"Not available on Blu-ray:"

"Available on Blu-ray, but upscaled":

"HD remaster exists, but no physical release:"

Thanks for your suggestions. Feel free to create the new topic, or I will soon. I've been meaning to include 4K UHD releases somewhere as well...

I couldn't find Blu-ray releases for Fat Slags, Tour De Pharmacy or SAF3.

You got me here, I didn't think of those, well done! Even on DVD these titles are not that common to come by...

And some Blu-ray releases aren't the most English friendly either (Italian Blu-ray for "Larceny" has forced subtitles according to Blu-ray.com).

Yes, indeed the Italian has forced subs and yet it's the sole Blu-ray edition anywhere. I now have a player where you can slide down the forced subs off the screen which is good for this kind of release.

[JuV]

Thanks for your suggestions. Feel free to create the new topic, or I will soon. I've been meaning to include 4K UHD releases somewhere as well...

I've created a post here. I think I got everything, but It's possible I've forgotten something. If so, let me know so I can update it

[Jox]

RIP David Soul
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67895679
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radi ... es-aged-80
https://variety.com/2024/tv/obituaries- ... 235862532/




He was very candid when I exchanged emails with him in 2011:

I'm afraid I don't have the time now as I'm working full-out on a project on Pablo Neruda. I'll be in Chile for the next several months.

What I will say is that PENTATHLON was a terrible film.... very heavy-handed... insubstantive, cheap and derivative. Dolph was lovely but the film was shit. Dolph, as I recall, wanted to do good work, to show he was an "actor", not just an action hero - muscle man. The director (can't remember his name) was all over the place and the film was horrible.

Good luck and best to Dolph.

DAVID


Can I just ask you what made you take the part?

Nobody MADE me take the part. They never have. I managed it all by myself ... mainly because the bank wanted to take away my home. In short, I needed the money. Such is the actor's life. So, don't judge! We've all been there at one time or another. Also, I grew up in Berlin from 1949 to 1956 where my dad worked with refugees fleeing from East Germany. I identified with the basis of the story.

Sorry to hear about Renee [Coleman]. She's a lovely woman. [after I told David that she quit acting soon after the film]

Happy New Year.

DAVID

[Jox]

‘Pentathlon’ Soundtrack Album Released
http://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/07/30 ... -released/

Dragon’s Domain Records has released the first-ever soundtrack album for the 1994 action thriller Pentathlon co-written and directed by Bruce Malmuth and starring Dolph Lundgren, David Soul, Roger E. Mosley and Renée Coleman. The album features the film’s original music composed by David Spear (Fear No Evil, Exterminator 2, No Retreat, No Surrender 2, The Creature Wasn’t Nice, Mortuary Academy, Kiss Daddy Goodbye) and performed by the Brookline Symphony Orchestra. Visit Amazon or any other major digital music services to stream/download the soundtrack and also listen to the composer’s main title track below.



Here’s the track list of the album:

1. Main Title (3:11)
2. The Olympics (6:32)
3. Eric Defects (4:36)
4. The Next Morning: After Work (2:49)
5. Nazi Meeting (1:26)
6. Running Up the Hill (3:03)
7. On the Fence (2:55)
8. Eric and Julia (1:42)
9. Beach Attack (3:04)
10. I Forgive You (1:36)
11. Julia Pins Eric (1:26)
12. Shoots Creece (1:52)
13. The Duel (1:43)
14. Mueller Takes Over (2:43)
15. Direct Feed (3:34)
16. The Finish Line (2:31)
17. Star Lite Bar (Bonus) (1:03)
18. Get in the Car (Damaged) (0:28)
19. Nazi Rap (Bonus) (2:50)

https://www.qobuz.com/fr-fr/album/penta ... k3iwvw10wb (buy on CD quality)
https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0DBJNNM6R
https://open.spotify.com/album/1QMazCOS ... BqLlK7nFhg
https://music.apple.com/us/album/pentat ... 1760051161

Main title:

[Jox]

I must say that it is refreshing to revisit David Spear's score alone, as it always seemed a rather weak one. Isolated from the film, you can appreciate it a bit more, its orchestrations and its attempt at tackling various styles, which go from classic fanfare music to jazz and rock fusion, as well as melancholic tunes kind of reminiscing composer Erik Satie... (Now if only they could release Joel Goldsmith's JOSHUA TREE, since they do a lot of his scores)

[Jox]

Now available on physical CD!
https://buysoundtrax.myshopify.com/coll ... avid_spear
https://www1.screenarchives.com/title_d ... D-EDITION/
https://www.musicbox-records.com/fr/cd- ... thlon.html

CD includes Digital Download/Digital Booklet

David Spear began his career orchestrating many film scores for Elmer Bernstein including AIRPLANE, ANIMAL HOUSE, HEAVY METAL and GHOSTBUSTERS. After his Broadway debut as Music Director of MERLIN, THE MAGICAL MUSICAL, Spear wrote scores for three Academy Award nominated films: RAINBOW WAR, BALLET ROBOTIQUE, and THE COURAGE TO CARE. He composed the music for the Emmy Award winning National Geographic documentary, SURVIVING EVEREST. One of his first major scores was for the 1981 vampire thriller FEAR NO EVIL, composed in collaboration with the film’s writer/director Frank LaLoggia. He led the Indianapolis Symphony for the 2008 premiere of THE LANGSTON HUGHES PROJECT featuring Ice-T and the Ron McCurdy Quartet. A dedicated educator, Spear served as faculty at Berklee College of Music (1991-1995), USC Thornton School of Music (1995-2006), NYU (2009-2013), and at Portland State as 2017 Artist-in-Residence. His work in academia and industry thrives on decades of creative collaboration with many notable artists, directors and scholars.

Dragon’s Domain Records presents PENTATHLON, featuring music composed and conduted by David Spear for the very first time on compact disc. The music has been mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland and the liner notes have been written by author David Hirsch.

PENTATHLON is a limited edition release. PENTATHLON is expected to begin shipping the week of September 2, 2024.