One summer, two boys went in search of a dream…and found the friendship of a lifetime. Joseph Mazzello and Brad Renfro star in this heartwarming adventure story filled with laughter, compassion and the enduring power of hope. New to a quaint, riverside community, eleven-year-old Dexter (Mazzello) and his single mom are quickly shunned when it’s learned the boy has AIDS. Next door lives Erik (Renfro), a lonely latch-key bully who surprisingly initiates a friendship. But trouble soon finds the two-some after they read a tabloid that suggests a New Orleans doctor has a cure. Determined to find him, the boys build a raft and set sail down the mighty Mississippi, “Tom Sawyer” style, in a magical, often hilarious journey that gives Dexter a chance to experience life as it should be lived and will change both boys’ lives forever.

For thoughts on The Cure (1995), please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/Y08eFDia-wI?t=2395]

Video Quality

The Cure (1995) gets somewhat of an upgrade to Blu-Ray courtesy of Mill Creek Entertainment, but it is a ways away from a flawless presentation. The transfer is sourced from an older master provided by Universal Pictures for its Blu-Ray debut. Compared to other releases this year from the company, this release does not suffer as much in terms of compression artifacts and macroblocking. These elements are not absent, but they are not quite as egregious as other discs.

Skin tones are fairly natural and detailed, but the presentation offers up some fairly unimpressive black levels. Be prepared for some black crush, but not among the worst in comparison to other discs from the label. The image retains some texture in small aspects of the photography such as costumes and production design. The colors are one of the standout aspects of the disc, as particular elements of the environment pop off the screen with a nice vibrancy. Mill Creek Entertainment has provided a Blu-Ray disc that is a fine step up from DVD, but it does not quite hit it out of the park like a new master may have.

Audio Quality

This new Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that captures the intention of the film effortlessly. The dialogue holds up favorably, coming through clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. The score provided here is so emotional from Dave Grusin, and it is presented with great clarity. Songs also maintain a pleasing fidelity as they fill up the room. The environmental effects are delineated nicely from the din of classrooms to specific nature sounds. The track avoids any instances of age related wear and tear or distortion. This is a track that represents the film in an enjoyable manner. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

The most notable aspect of this release is the “VHS-Style” slipcover that ships with the packaging sporting some superior cover art. There are no on-disc special features.

Final Thoughts

The Cure (1995) has some very dated elements which can be a bit frustrating and hurtful to modern audiences, especially. Setting aside some of the more regressive elements, the journey of friendship and life lessons is one that effectively tugs at your heartstrings. The performances from our two long leads are very impressive and show how capable they are of delivering when it counts. Mill Creek Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a serviceable A/V presentation and virtually nothing in the way of special features. This could use a fresh master, but those who have been clamoring for the title should be glad to own this in HD.

The Cure (1995) is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Mill Creek Entertainment 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.