Of all of John Hughes' movies, Sixteen Candles, is one of the films that is still entertaining. Hughes had this ability to create films as if teenagers were the ones who actually wrote the script. The only movie in his repertoire that I feel is still relatable is The Breakfast Club. However, this film, Sixteen Candles, did not age well, but it is meant to be a fun watch, but you need to at least know some of the '80s humor and slang to understand the film's references. I get it because I am the '80s to '90s child and some of the words, phrases, and a few of the more ethnically insensitive depictions were funny then, but they're certainly not now. Sixteen Candles is one of those 1980s films that is a gem and one where you can watch it for just pure entertainment and laugh at the ridiculous humor from back in the day!
This film has been upgraded to blu-ray with a terrific, solid transfer from a 4K scan of the original negative. The audio is solid, and this release is packed with some great bonus features that Arrow has included that is not included in the standard blu-ray release thanks to Arrow Films. Not all of the bonus features are on the disc and this release comes with reversible artwork in a clear case and a cardboard slipcover/sleeve, an illustrated collectors booklet featuring new writing on the film by Nikki Baughan and Bryan Reesman, images, and restoration information.
Special Features:
- New restoration of a 4K scan of the original negative
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of the Theatrical Version of the film (92 mins), plus Blu-ray premiere Extended Version (94 mins), featuring the additional cafeteria scene newly remastered in high definition
- Alternate home video soundtrack prepared for VHS and laserdisc releases
- Option to watch an additional scene from the Extended Version separately
- Casting Sixteen Candles, an all-new audio interview with casting director Jackie Burch
- When Gedde Met Deborah, a newly filmed conversation between actors Gedde Watanabe and Deborah Pollack
- Rudy the Bohunk, a newly filmed interview with supporting actor John Kapelos
- The In-Between, a newly filmed interview with camera operator Gary Kibbe
- The New Wave Nerd, a newly filmed interview with filmmaker Adam Rifkin, who shadowed John Hughes while working as an extra on the set
- Music for Geeks, a newly filmed interview with composer Ira Newborn
- A Very Eighties Fairytale, an all-new video essay written and narrated by writer Soraya Roberts, looking at the film from a contemporary feminist perspective
- Celebrating Sixteen Candles, an archive documentary featuring interviews with cast, crew, and admirers, including stars Anthony Michael Hall, Paul Dooley, Justin Henry, Haviland Morris, and Gedde Watanabe
- Theatrical trailers, TV spots, and radio spots
- Image galleries
- BD-ROM: PDF of the original shooting script
- First pressing only: Illustrated collectors booklet featuring new writing on the film by Nikki Baughan and Bryan Reesman