Customer Reviews

Jade [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

While I think this movie is very fun and trashy, the DVD has only the r-rated version. On video, one can buy the unrated director's cut, which has about 10 minutes added (this includes a little more nudity, dialogue and the ending is changed substantially). Just buy the video, and the film was shot at an aspect ration of 1:1.85, so you're not missing that much since it's not letterboxed.

This film first intrigued me because I'm always interested in thrillers like "Rising Sun" or "Sliver", mostly because I really love those solemn-turn-to-explosive kind of films. I always seem to find a good amount of adreneline in these movies, even where most people only see uneventful and boring elements. In fact those scenes, which can be seen with amazing clarity in "Jade", have a subtle emotional intensity that brings out a sense of sophistication, and fulfills a lot of reality within these situations. It's wonderful how strong this film was in all departments: plot, performance, action, emotion, atmosphere, and ability to make a strong mark in the thriller genre. You will also enjoy Caruso's performance, as he does that kind of character well, but you won't be able to forget Linda Fiorentino's and Palminteri's great performances. It has it's share of good ol' American film noir intrigue: infidelity, paranoia, political corruption, and a few car chases, but all of those things are accomplished extremely well in this film, setting a standard for those elements, I'm sure. And if you could make a big deal about "Ronin"'s car chases, then this cool caper will give you a coronary.

I had no expectations as Paramount typically does some kind of DNR thingy with their 80s/90s titles, so I was just hoping to see a nice preservation of some Bay Area locales. By the time the credits rolled on this theatrical BD cut, I wasn't disappointed, it just had some serious issues.

Admittedly, I enjoyed watching this Basic Instinct clone (at last count there were 28 identical/similar characters, scenes, etc.), so between the sights, characters and score I felt sure Michael Douglas was going to cameo any second, but Loreena Mckennitt's The Mummers' Dance version of Mystic's Dream adds a nice feel throughout (although misplaced in half the scenes). The end result is laughable, but I figure one is reading this to hear about the BD.

The picture quality is vastly improved over the other products available; The colors have been enriched, the majority of artifact has been removed, the flesh tones have been glorified and depending on the camera being used - the views of the Bay Area show a decent time capsule preservation from 94/95. The cons: The resulting edge fuzz is prevalent, there is TONS of grain on most of the interiors, and the intermittent artifact/film fade pops up in some irritating spots. Overall - a decent upgrade but there is still plenty to pick apart.

The sound is a mixed bag. The DTS felt like it was forced as the outer channels were getting used heavily, even in the smallest of scenes, to the point where is was mixed incorrectly a few times. The vocals were drowned out in some of the louder sequences by outer channel garbage, and there were a couple of scenes where the post-production must have missed the timing (lips clearly not matching the words). The score sounds clear though, and any time Mckennitt sings you almost wish for a music-only track.

The only special feature is the original trailer which shows how bad the film looked (with a few brief clips of what must be in the Director's Cut). Region coded A. I cannot give this a higher rating as a BD because it had too many technical failings, no special features, and no director's cut.

Some fantasies go too far. Money, sex and power are the things that most corrupt Los Angeles citizens in the modern world and in the classy thriller "Jade", penned by "Basic Instinct" screenwriter Joe Eszterhas and directed by "The Exorcist" director William Friedkin. This is a film I will definitely run out and buy on DVD now that I just got a DVD player. The film, despite many peoples' horrible opinions, is mystery and suspense at its best, delievring powerful dialogue, a chilling and provocative musical score, and unique directing and editing. Not to mention the terrific car chase scene that took the cast and crew three weeks to shoot in the cooperative Chinatown in California. Car chase scenes have become a trifle trite, however it remains tastefully done and riveting in this also riveting film. "Jade" shows that there is a dark side to people of high and low levels of power, and that they will commit heinous and destructive acts to remain in the chair of power, and as clinical psychologist Katrina Gavin (the wonderful and talented Linda Fiorentino) says, "The people who commit these acts are in many ways no different from you and me. But they are no longer able to control their urges. They disassociate themselves from their own actions, often experiencing an hysterical blindness. They are blind to the darkness within themselves."

Having seen this film on video i was really looking forward to seeing it on dvd but i think the video version is a lot better the uncut version is espesially better as it contains more nudidty and the ending is diffrent linda firentino is brilliant and i particually like the bedroom scene when she as a stocking over her head (strange or what) overall the film as many twists and turns and is really enjoyable i would recomend getting it

This was a movie I absolutely loved (though dated) when it originally came out. It had the edge of "Basic Instinct" and of course the hot girl. But this is the second Blu-ray I've bought in two days, where the Blu-ray doesn't contain the director's (extended footage) cut (as in the just released "The Natural") and now this. I do own the unrated VHS version (107 minutes long, and the studio gives us a crappy R-rated version (95 minutes long). This Blu-ray is also going back to the store with the other one. What is the deal! Blu-rays can store more data on them, so again, there is absolutely no reason (in the case where there is both an R-rated version and an Unrated version) that we should not be offered BOTH versions on the one disc. You have the room for it--put them on there studios. A couple more duds like these and I will be through buying Blu-rays. And a heads up for the studios--please don't have the audacity to offer only one of the versions of Last of the Mohicans when it comes out. The extended version has more action, but the original one has the footage with the one song cut out in the extended version. We need both.

Basic Instinct screenwriter Joe Esterhas' wicked knowledge of the trangsgressions of the rich and the powerful are deftly exposed by director William Friedkin and Linda Fiorentino. She is perfectly cast as the psychologist and as the illicit liason Jade. Chazz Palminteri, her husband, and David Caruso, a tad young for the role, makes for an interesting storyline. The graphic sexuality exhibited is for adults only but the movie delivers the seedy underbelly of politics and power and illustrates how a woman scorned can enter into a circle from which she has no escape. Unlike the Last Seduction, Fiorentino is the victim and not the temptress yearning for the love she doesn't have. Unfortunately, her husband isn't it either. With Loreena McKennitt's soulful sounds and Linda's great performance, she eventually gets under your skin as a woman looking for love in all the wrong places. Maybe that was the moral rather than Joe Esterhas's preoccupation with all the women he couldn't have in high school (as one critic wrote). Deftly directed, superbly acted, and well-executed. Jade is worth a watch only because of Linda Fiorentino's emotional resonance and convincing performance. Chazz is as excellent as ever. -Felecia Constance Rowe

It's a nice movie.If you liked BASIC INSTINCTS,BOUND,EYES WIDE SHUT(which are better),you might like this one.I love it!Basically the plot is : there are millionaires taking part in orgies,and having sex like most of us would like to but are afraid of,and there's someone blackmailing them,and a mysterious dishy lady called Jade who is not afraid of exploring sex,who may (not) be involved in the murder/blackmail cases.There's a great car chase-one of the best I have ever seen,and the story is very interesting.But I warn you : If you get easily shocked or offended you will hate it !If you like me,love to watch movies for fun you'll like it a lot.It's still a whole much better than any porn movie that usually bores the heck out of you after 5 minutes.This one will not.And it's not porno !

This film nearly buried the careers of all involved. Nuff said. It is truly terrible, pointless, and I really like Linda Fiorentino, but she couldn't save this stinker. An utter waste. Idiotic. And the car "chase" is a joke.

Not a bad film to pass an evening's time with. A murder mystery with elements of surprise. This film will stretch you neither intellectually nor artistically, but it features some sumptuous interiors and locales (e.g., the real Sheraton Palace Hotel Garden Court done up as a ballroom), and persons familiar with San Francisco will enjoy that and other location shots. Excellent cinematography, interesting music that's not overdone, and so-so acting, but the yarn is at least followable. I've seen a lot worse. Nil extras on the DVD, though, a disappointment.