Outlaw, sex symbol, poet, late-’60s rock god — the mercurial Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer) lives on in The Doors, Oliver Stone’s psychedelically resplendent film that breaks on through in mind-blowing 4K. With his band The Doors (Kyle MacLachlan, Frank Whaley, Kevin Dillon), lead singer Morrison explores the outer reaches of sound, spectacle, and performance, shocking and mesmerizing a generation. But as scandals mount, and drugs take their toll, Morrison leaves L.A. for France with his wife, Pam (Meg Ryan), putting the capstone on, in his own words, “The strangest life I’ve ever known.”

For thoughts on The Doors, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

The 35th anniversary 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Doors from the Lionsgate Limited line comes in its original 2.39:1 in 2160p with Dolby Vision. The film was first released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in 2019, a release which we have not viewed. This new 4K UHD Blu-Ray is not the exact same disc that was released previously thanks to new special features and the presence of the theatrical cut exclusively. This release does come with a new accompanying Blu-Ray derived from the same source to make comparisons, which may entice some viewers. There are actually elements that seem to fare better on the Blu-Ray disc, but this 4K UHD Blu-Ray holds up as a pretty enjoyable viewing experience.

The transfer reveals a favorable depth of field in the various locations that we visit around the globe. There is an uptick in texture and fine detail at play compared to its Blu-Ray counterpart, which makes each space feel more dynamic. There are peculiarities within the production design and costumes to observe and delight in. The grain from the 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative renders beautifully without any unnatural swarming or digital noise. We also did not spot any notable print damage or other shortcomings. Close-ups of skin and makeup effects are always as clear as you want. There are definite benefits to this 4K upgrade.

The more inconsistent element appears to be the implementation of Dolby Vision. While we don’t have the previous 4K to judge in comparison, the included Blu-Ray takes on a different look compared to the 4K UHD release that is a bit more pleasant than the supposedly superior format. The colors of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray are not bad in a vacuum, but it has a slightly more jaundiced appearance that feels a bit less complex than you would expect from DP Robert Richardson. While this could be a color space error, it could be a deliberate grading choice within the HDR presentation that did not completely work out for the better. The film impresses more in the black levels that avoid major crush or banding. The highlights in the film push quite hot at points, but they typically stay firmly defined with no instances of blooming. This disc avoids all major encoding shortcomings such as compression artifacts. Those with the previous 4K UHD Blu-Ray will likely be swayed more by the supplemental upgrade rather than the video side of things.

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with a fabulous Dolby Atmos presentation that springs to life to capture all of the nuances of this musical journey. When you are watching a movie about a legendary band, you want to feel fully immersed in every tune. Every sequence gifts you with a stunning sonic palette that gives your system a workout. The utilization of the height channels makes this one suitably immersive. The overhead channels are especially welcome during some of the performances in a way that makes it feel more visceral. Sounds are impeccably rendered with pinpoint directionality from the more raucous outings to interpersonal moments of dialogue.

Dialogue is presented crisp and clearly without ever being overshadowed by any of the accompanying sonic elements. The crowd noise and other rock and roll sounds provide an enveloping soundscape that jolts throughout all the speakers. Ambient details are plentiful and quite satisfying in the rear and overhead channels. The music envelopes the room in an effective manner that transports you into this world. The low end is very active when it needs to be during the concerts. Most will agree that the audio experience is one of the most impressive parts of this disc. Optional English, English SDH, and Spanish subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Lionsgate has provided The Doors with a sleek new SteelBook that is truly lovely in person. Video of the Steelbook can be found at the top of this review.

Oliver Stone Intro: A new two-minute introduction from Oliver Stone in which he explains why the theatrical cut is his preferred cut.

Val, Oliver & Jim – The Making of Morrison: A new 27-minute retrospective on the movie and Val Kilmer’s incredible performance as Jim Morrison, as told through new interviews with director Oliver Stone; performers Kyle MacLachlan, Frank Whaley, and Kathleen Quinlan; and Jack and Mercedes Kilmer, children of Val Kilmer. Not only are the insights extremely compelling, but you also get some really cool footage of audition tapes and more.

Legacy Special Features

- Audio Commentary: Co-writer/Director Oliver Stone

- The Doors – The Road of Excess Documentary: A 39-minute documentary that details the creation of the film from the initial development through production and release.

- 14 Deleted Scenes with Intro by Oliver Stone (44:03)

- Original DVD Featurette (6:19)

- The Doors in L.A.(19:37)

- Jim Morrison – An American Poet in Paris (52:08)

- Interview with Oliver Stone (31:10)

- Interview with Sound Editor Lon Bender (17:40)

- Teaser, Theatrical Trailer & TV Spots (5:19)

Final Thoughts

The Doors is not the pinnacle of the career of Oliver Stone, but it stands as an engaging take on the exploits of an iconic group whose legacy still looms large to this day. Stone takes some directorial risks that mostly connect in the end due to the psychedelic nature of the band. The main reason to tune in is the undeniable performance from Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison. As opaque as the character can be, Kilmer always keeps you glued to the screen. Meg Ryan also holds her own in a thinly written role. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released the 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a fetching SteelBook package with a decent A/V presentation and some cool supplements. If you are a fan of the film, this is a solid release overall. Recommended

The Doors is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in Limited Edition 35th Anniversary Steelbook Packaging through Lionsgate Limited.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home 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.

For major deals and money off on Amazon, make sure to use our affiliate link! If you are purchasing any of the latest and best in physical media at MovieZyng, you can support us using our affiliate link.