This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Five years later and Tony Manero’s Saturday Night Fever is still burning. Now he’s strutting toward his biggest challenge yet—making it as a dancer on the Broadway stage. Screen legend John Travolta (Grease, Face/Off) is larger than life as he recreates his iconic character in this spectacularly visual musical that also sizzles with sensational performances by Cynthia Rhodes (Flashdance, Dirty Dancing) and Finola Hughes (Aspen Extreme) as the women in Tony’s life. Like its predecessor, Staying Alive pulsates with the groove-powered excitement of 5 new Bee Gees songs plus Frank Stallone’s high-intensity scoring which includes his hit, “Far from Over.” And watch closely to catch a Hitchcockian cameo appearance by producer-director-writer-superstar Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Rambo)!
For thoughts on Staying Alive, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Staying Alive makes its anticipated debut on 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Classics with a really pleasing 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative. The Blu-Ray disc that accompanies this release is derived from the same new restoration, which can also be purchased separately if desired. The film has not been released on Blu-Ray prior to this, so direct comparisons are limited to only the new Blu-Ray disc. We love when a title skips over a simple Blu-Ray upgrade and goes right to 4K UHD. The improvements from the new Blu-Ray to the 4K UHD are obvious, but even those not 4K UHD capable will be treated to a nice release.
The Dolby Vision presentation harnesses the heightened, deep colors courtesy of cinematographer Nick McLean throughout free from unnatural color grading. Specific articles of clothing and distinct lighting choices prominently leap off the screen with vibrancy. The transfer remains pleasantly crisp throughout with little in the way of softness or fluctuation outside of some opticals. Highlights are more stable and brilliant without ever blooming. Black levels are deep and allow the picture to maintain a tremendous amount of depth and detail in shadowy environments. The command over contrast and overall clarity is rewarding to the cinematography, especially in unique details within the production design and the flashy clothing.
The film features a good amount of natural film grain that complements the narrative well with perhaps only a touch of grain management here and there. Rest assured, this is no Saturday Night Fever level travesty, and this sequel has the bittersweet honor of outshining the original in visual beauty on physical media. A lot of grain remains intact and typically resolves naturally free of clumping and swarming. There are a few fleeting moments where the Paramount master falters in clarity, but these are fleeting moments at worst. The film shows off a world of nuances never before seen on home entertainment. The frame is packed with glorious detail and texture in any interior or various costumes. Kino Classics has done a really nice job with this one.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray presents the movie with a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio lossless track that captures this soundscape very well. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear even during more bustling moments in public spaces. The track balances every element of the audio so no one facet gets drowned out with sound. The surround channels in the 5.1 mix provide some nice additional texture to the world, but nothing ever appears to be pulling focus unnaturally. Directionality of the sound is never an issue thanks to its careful placement. The all-important score and soundtrack establishes the atmosphere within this narrative, and it flows out with pleasing fidelity. The low end is not intended to be a powerhouse within the confines of the story, but it adds some texture to a few moments. This audio presentation more than gets the job done here. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Historian David Del Valle and Ed King of the Irish Film Institute deliver a very informative new commentary track in which they discuss the development of the film, the rocky road to landing on the final version of the script, where John Travolta was at this point in his career, the direction of Sylvester Stallone, the background of some of the ensemble cast members, the reception and legacy of the film and more.
- Alive and Kicking – Interview with Actress Finola Hughes: A 15-minute interview with Hughes in which she discusses where she was at in her career at this point, rehearsing in front of some big name stars, earning a Razzie Award for her performance, the shooting locations, going to Studio 54 with Travolta, the costumes she wore in the pictures, her general experience on set and more.
- TV Spots: A minute-and-a-half collection of TV spots is provided.
- Radio Spots: A two-minute collection of radio spots is provided.
- Trailer: There is a Home Video Trailer (1:03), Teaser Trailer (1:22) and Theatrical Trailer (2:59) provided for Staying Alive. There are also trailers provided for Moment By Moment, The Experts, Times Square, Zoot Suit and Hard To Hold.
Final Thoughts
Staying Alive is a misguided sequel to a movie that has not aged particularly well in the current cultural consciousness. That being said, the legacy of this follow-up is unfairly steeped in complete negativity, when in reality the film has plenty of fun moments if you divorce yourself from it being a sequel. There are so many laughable elements here, but there is a sense of unabashed fun if you like dance films and seeing John Travolta look cool and deliver questionable dialogue. Don’t let its infamous reputation scare you off completely. Kino Classics has given this one a 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade with a great A/V presentation and a solid array of legacy special features. If you are a fan of the film and have yet to pick it up, you will love this release. Recommended
Staying Alive is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.