High school wrestler Louden Swain is a man obsessed, trying to shed 23 pounds in a dangerously short time and take on Shute, the undefeated, tough-as-nails 168-pound champion who’s the best wrestler in the state. Matthew Modine stars as the mop-headed student undeterred in his Vision Quest…until the day a sexy drifter (Linda Fiorentino) threatens to pin Louden and his dreams to the mat of unrequited love. The hit soundtrack features Journey’s “Only the Young,” Foreigner’s “Hot Blooded” and John Waite’s “Change.” In her first film, Madonna shines while performing “Gambler” and “Crazy for You.” You’ll go crazy for Vision Quest.

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Video Quality

Vision Quest was released on Blu-Ray in 2017 courtesy of the Warner Archive with a fetching 1080p transfer derived from a 2K scan of the Interpositive. The transfer retains the glorious texture of the natural film grain that resolves consistently in all backdrops. No signs of compression artifacts or banding were spotted throughout. There is a world of detail ready to be discovered within the small community and in some of the school scenes. This is not the most outwardly colorful film, but key pieces of clothing and production design make up for this with some bold hues. This transfer represents the look of the era admirably. Warner Archive allows this one to look really great.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray features an ideal DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track that favorably showcases the original soundscape. The emotionally rousing score is treated respectfully and balanced well within the mix. The same goes for the diegetic music such as the Madonna’s appearance singing in the bar. Dialogue is crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by sound effects like motorcycle noises. This track provides a presentation free of any obvious blemishes or digital anomalies that would hinder the viewing experience. You could not ask for much more from the track. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for those who desire them.
Special Features

Theatrical Trailers

- Green Band Trailer (1:30)

- Red Band Trailer (1:40)

Final Thoughts

Vision Quest is a fine blend of sports movie and first-love delirium all in one entertaining package. Sure the protagonist can be a bit insufferable at times, but the performance from Matthew Modine keeps you on his side throughout the highs and lows of his journey. Linda Fiorentino plays the “dream girl” to perfection while bringing nuance to her character when the story allows for it. While we would have loved more of this, we are grateful for the depth we get. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation but nearly no special features. If you are a fan of the era, it is worth adding to your collection. Recommended

Vision Quest can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

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

Disclaimer: Warner Archive 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.