REVISITING THE WOLFMAN (2010)

Posted a few days ago at Blu-ray.com was this announcement of the 4K Blu-ray Collector's Edition (what isn't these days?) of the 2010 Universal remake?/re-imagining? of THE WOLF MAN due to hit the market this October 22.

Directed by Joe Johnston and starring Benicio del Toro, Emily Blunt, Gemma Whelan, Simon Merrells, Hugo Weaving and Anthony Hopkins it pretty much fell flat on its hairy face when released in theaters. The Los Angeles Times added it to their list of "costliest box office flops of all time" and Peter Travers wrote in ROLLING STONE, "The Wolfman bites, but not — I think — in the way the filmmakers intended." After the fusillade was over, it took Universal about a decade to get over it and try something else from their Monsterverse.

Pre-release promotional poster.

Attracted by the moody and atmospheric photography shown to full effect by the trailer, I went to see it when it was released to theaters. Unfortunately, that's about all it had to offer, moody and atmospheric photography by Shelly Johnson (CAPT. AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, JURASSIC PARK III). I expected a lot more from this venerable franchise than the so-so story and crappy CGI, although it was a smart move to hire Rick Baker on as one of the makeup artists (64 of them credited!). Benecio del Toro just doesn't seem right for the role of a terminally-brooding Larry Talbot, and I don't know if it was the lighting, camera angle or what, but I do have to say that in a couple of shots he did remind me of Lon Chaney, Jr. I've never been a big fan of Emily Blunt so I had that thought going in. I think the biggest casting mistake was using Anthony Hopkins as Sir John Talbot. Frankly, I think he is simply to well-recognized an actor for a role like this, especially during his fight with his son during the finale -- you're just thinking, "Hannibal Lecter is jumping around and kicking ass like a WWE fighter?". With all the personnel listed on IMDB's site for this film -- and I mean it goes on and on -- it leaves one wondering what happened. Maybe it's the old saying, "Too many cooks spoil the stew"?

 

The Wolfman Collector's Edition 4K Blu-ray

Description: Inspired by the classic Universal film, The Wolfman stars Benicio del Toro (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Sicario) as Lawrence Talbot, a haunted nobleman who returns to his family estate after his brother's fiancé, Gwen (Emily Blunt, A Quiet Place, Edge of Tomorrow), begs him to help find her missing love. Reunited with his estranged father (Anthony Hopkins, The Silence of the Lambs, Nixon), Talbot sets out to find his brother ... and discovers that a beast with an insatiable bloodlust has been killing villagers, and that a suspicious Scotland Yard inspector (Hugo Weaving, The Matrix, V For Vendetta) has come to investigate. But as he hunts for the nightmarish beast, Talbot discovers a horrifying destiny for himself.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

DISC ONE: 4K BLU-RAY – UNRATED DIRECTOR'S CUT

• NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM (2024)
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• DOLBY ATMOS AUDIO TRACK
• NEW Audio Commentary By Film Critic Drew McWeeny
• Optional English subtitles for the main feature

DISC TWO: 4K BLU-RAY – THEATRICAL VERSION

• NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM (2024)
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• DOLBY ATMOS AUDIO TRACK
• Optional English subtitles for the main feature

DISC THREE: BLU-RAY – UNRATED DIRECTOR'S CUT & THEATRICAL VERSION

• NEW 4K RESTORATIONS OF BOTH VERSIONS OF THE FILM
• NEW Audio Commentary By Film Critic Drew McWeeny (Unrated Version)
• NEW "Of Fur and Fang" – Folklorist & Author Karen Stollznow on Werewolves and The Wolfman
• NEW "The Wolfbane Blooms Again" – Makeup Effects Artist David Elsey on The Wolfman
• Alternate Endings
• Deleted And Extended Scenes
• "Return Of The Wolfman" – Featurette
• The Beast Maker" – Featurette
• "Transformation Secrets" – Featurette
• "The Wolfman Unleashed" – Featurette
• Optional English subtitles for both versions of the film

Promotional screensavers:

Lobby Cards:

A lithograph by Basil Gogos to coincide with the film.