Why So Blu?

The Saint (4K UHD Blu-ray Steelbook Review)

Remember the late 90s? It was a wild time for action movies. In 1997, The Saint hit the big screen. It was directed by Phillip Noyce. You probably know his work. He famously directed those incredible Harrison Ford Jack Ryan movies for Paramount. The Saint had a big budget and big stars. But did it live up to the hype? Revisiting this film almost thirty years later is quite a trip. If I am being completely honest, I was never a huge fan of this movie. I always thought it was fairly average. Now, I see it a little differently. It offers a really fun escape back into the classic spy genre. It is not a masterpiece, but it sure is a blast from the past.

Film ★★★☆☆

The Good, The Bad, and The Disguises

Let us be real for a second. This movie is fairly average in a lot of ways. Sadly, it kind of wastes the massive talent of its two leads. Val Kilmer plays the master thief Simon Templar. Elisabeth Shue plays the brilliant scientist Dr. Emma Russell. Both actors are amazing, but the script does not give them enough to do. Kilmer spends most of the movie hiding behind wild accents and goofy disguises. Sometimes, the costumes feel a little too silly for a serious thriller. Still, you can tell Kilmer is having fun. Shue does her best, but her character is mostly just there to drive the plot forward. They both deserved a stronger script.

Echoes of Mission: Impossible

If you watch this movie today, you will notice something very interesting. It feels incredibly close to Brian De Palma’s Mission: Impossible. That iconic spy movie came out just one year earlier in 1996. Both movies feature rogue agents, European locations, and lots of high-tech gadgets. Both films also share a very similar cinematic style. They both lean heavy on espionage, shadows, and cool technology. If you enjoy the vibe of the first Mission: Impossible, you will probably find a lot to like here. It scratches that exact same itch.

Behind the Scenes: Cool Trivia

Did you know this movie almost looked very different? Here is some cool trivia about the film to think about:

• Val Kilmer actually pushed for even more disguises in the movie. However, Paramount Pictures wanted to hold back. They specifically wanted to save the heavy disguise angle for their Mission: Impossible franchise!
• The movie originally had a much darker ending. In the original version of the film, Dr. Russell actually collapses and dies in Simon’s arms. The final act was supposed to be a revenge mission where Simon goes after the villains in Moscow.
• Listen closely to the radio announcer at the end of the film. That voice belongs to Sir Roger Moore. He famously played Simon Templar in The Saint television series back in the 1960s!

Video ★★★★☆

NOTE: Stills are provided for promotional use only and are not from the 4K UHD Blu-ray.

• Encoding: HEVC / H.265
• Resolution: 4K (2160p)
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
• Region: Region Free
• HDR: Dolby Vision
• Layers: BD-66

Clarity and Detail: This new 4K transfer is a marked improvement over the previous Blu-ray release. Detail and sharpness get a noticeable boost across the board. Fine textures on clothing, facial features, and the intricate details of Simon Templar’s disguises all look crisper and far more defined than ever before.

Depth: The enhanced resolution adds impressive visual depth to the presentation. Foreground elements pop against backgrounds, giving shots a genuine cinematic dimension whether you are looking at tight close-ups or wide shots of Moscow.

Black Levels: At times, the image can lean slightly dark, especially during nighttime sequences. However, if you watch the movie with the curtains drawn to control ambient light, you will see that dark-scene detail remains intact with zero crush.

Color: Colors are nicely balanced and feel rich throughout, benefiting from the Dolby Vision grading. The film’s moody lighting choices—from chilly Russian blues to warm interior tones—stand out without feeling oversaturated.

Flesh Tones: Flesh tones look clean, natural, and true to life. Skin textures are nicely resolved, showing off fine detail without looking artificially smoothed or processed.

Noise and Artifacts: Film grain is nicely reserved, retaining an organic, cinematic feel without becoming noisy or distracting. The transfer is clean and free of harsh digital artifacts.

Audio ★★★★☆

 

Audio Format(s): English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, English Descriptive Audio

Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish

Dynamics: Nothing here is going to blow you away dynamically. The sound definitely reflects the early days of 5.1 surround sound mixes. It gets the job done and fits the movie, but it never pushes your home theater system to its absolute limits.

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension: The bass response is probably the absolute highlight of this mix! However, the subwoofer action is heavily reserved for moments when the on-screen action spikes. When things finally explode or crash, it delivers a really satisfying punch.

Surround Sound Presentation: On my system, this lossless track fashioned itself as a fairly standard surround presentation. The rear channels are mostly dedicated to the musical score and some light ambient noises. There is nothing super engaging or immersive going on back there, but it fills the room adequately enough for a 90s thriller.

Dialogue: There are a few moments where the overall track struggles to present itself with the extra clarity it really needs. Fortunately, this never becomes an issue with the actors. The dialogue is always perfectly prioritized, front-and-center, and very easy to hear.

Extras ☆☆☆☆☆

The only extra included in this edition is the Steelbook packaging.

Summary ★★★ 1/2

So, where does The Saint stand today? It is definitely a good movie. I just do not think it is a great one. It has flaws, and it certainly does not use its lead actors to their full potential. But if you want a breezy, fun escape into espionage, it works. It is a solid popcorn flick that delivers nostalgia and charm. Grab some snacks, turn off your brain, and enjoy the ride.

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