‘Young Guns’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook Review – A Charismatic, Star-Filled Western Adventure

The year is 1878, Lincoln County. John Tunstall, a British ranch owner, hires six rebellious boys as “regulators” to protect his ranch against the ruthless Santa Fe Ring. When Tunstall is killed in an ambush, the Regulators, led by the wild-tempered Bill the Kid (Emilio Estevez), declare war on the Ring. As their vendetta turns into a bloody rampage, they are branded outlaws, becoming the objects of the largest manhunt in Western history.

For thoughts on Young Guns, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/ZKxNTPdeCv4?si=JrfbsQxznOAgI3TD&t=1896]

Video Quality

Lionsgate presents Young Guns with a pretty tremendous 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that easily destroys any previous release of the film. The ancient Blu-Ray release from way back in 2007 has always been trash, so fans are sure to rejoice that this has finally been given the respect it deserves. This new transfer is derived from a restoration conducted by StudioCanal which returns the film to its former glory. This release even restores the film to its intended 1.85:1 aspect ratio instead of the previously utilized 1.78:1 ratio. Any previous bits of damage have been nearly eradicated with next to nothing popping up that would stand out as a blemish. There are no obvious signs that any grain reduction has been applied, as you get a pretty favorable sheen that is gritty but mostly resolves well. Sensitive viewers may find the picture to be overly textured, but it looks terrific. It helps reveal the nuances in the costumes and within the western expanses. 

The Dolby Vision HDR truly shows its worth as it finds the subtleties of the visual palette. The stylistic flourishes of the feature are represented well as each setting appears to be showcased without fault. Skin tones look natural and color saturation does not stumble in any meaningful way. Highlights offer greater stability without veering into blooming. The black levels reveal a greater amount of depth and detail in shadowy environments. Detail and clarity are a standout along with the natural film grain which remains intact. This film has never been treated as well as this, so fans should delight in the upgrade from Lionsgate. 

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a new Dolby Atmos track that offers a formidable audio experience for this dusty adventure. Audio purists will also be pleased to know the original LPCM 2.0 stereo track is also included, and it sounds very nice. Dialogue stays pretty focused on the front channels with only the occasional call from off-screen or other sonic flourishes. The score and other atypical music is used perfectly to establish the unique vibe of the story, and this track handles it without issue throughout the duration of the film. There is never a moment where it threatens to overshadow competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. The soundscape captures the precise sound design of the film with perfect fidelity. 

The raucous environmental sounds are delineated effectively alongside everything else. The addition of the height channels enriches things quite a bit as it supplements the other channels for a more expansive experience. The low end response proves to pack a punch when the tussle warrants it. There do not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. Whether you are indulging in the latest in audio technology or serving up the original mix, you are in for a treat with this presentation. Lionsgate has treated the movie well. There are optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles provided. 

Special Features

Lionsgate has provided Young Guns with an optional sleek new Steelbook available exclusively at Best Buy that is truly lovely in person. The case comes with a removable plastic slipcase that replicates a Wanted Poster aesthetic on the front and back. The artwork underneath is an animated depiction of a larger Billy The Kid over smaller versions of the rest of the crew underneath him. The rear features an animated depiction of the results of a deadly shootout. The interior sports an animated depiction of a dusty western expanse. The release also comes with six character art cards styled to look like playing cards. Video of the set can be found at the top of the review. The on-disc content is as follows:

• Audio Commentary: Actors Dermot Mulroney, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Casey Siemaszko offer a fun commentary track that delivers an informed overview of the production of the film, amusing anecdotes from the set, good banter between them, and more. 

• How The West Was Wild – Making Young Guns: A new 36-minute retrospective on the film with participants such as writer John Fusco, Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney, Casey Siemaszko, director Christopher Cain, and many more. In this piece you get to understand the origins and inspirations of the project, the casting of the feature, the music in the project, the stunts, the film’s legacy, and more. 

• Billy The Kid – The True Story: A 32-minute featurette that acts as an educational deep-dive into the background of the real Billy The Kid

• Trailers: This disc provided the Teaser Trailer (1:16) and the Theatrical Trailer (1:28).

Final Thoughts

Young Guns is a bustling bit of ‘80s excess as the filmmakers take the classic Western structure and run it through a youthful filter that tosses away some key rules while still respecting the history of the genre. The cast assembled is full of charisma and serves the movie well enough with their charm if not raw natural talent. The script is a bit light on nuance or thematic excavation, but as pure entertainment, it is hard to turn your back on it. Lionsgate has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a stunning A/V presentation and a good selection of new and archival special features. Fans can also find a lovely SteelBook package exclusively at Best Buy. If you are a fan of the film, this new release is a no-brainer. Highly Recommended 

Young Guns is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a Standard and SteelBook edition.

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.