Chicago 20th Anniversary Blu-ray SteelBook Review
Chicago is a movie musical based on the stage musical of the same name and earned six Academy Awards in 2003 including Best Picture. It features a star-studded cast like Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Richard Gere. This year, Paramount Pictures has released Chicago 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-ray SteelBook, and it features the same content found in the 2014 Blu-ray release. However, if you’re a fan of the movie or musicals and never had the chance to get the Blu-ray, the SteelBook is absolutely a must-have with the film’s dazzling performances from the cast, energetic dance numbers, and memorable songs.
The film was a standout back when it was released in 2002 in theaters, and director Rob Marshall has wonderfully blended two different visual settings into one. On the one hand, we have Zellweger as Roxie Hart longing for the spotlight, and we see her version of events on the main stage. On the other hand, it’s juxtaposed with what’s really happening around her as she gets sent to prison for murder. Catherine Zeta-Jones is truly a standout, and the rest of the cast brings out the gleaming world of Chicago.
As for the picture quality on this Blu-ray, there is noticeable film grain throughout, and the film having lots of darker scenes doesn’t help. However, when there is color, it’s vibrant. It’s still a solid transfer, but it’s not something you want to demo with your friends and family. The audio features English 7.1 Dolby TrueHD, and it really immerses you in the music, whether you’re listening to “All That Jazz” or “Cell Block Tango.”
The bonus features include commentary and behind-the-scenes content like featurettes, deleted scenes, etc. Musical fans are treated with extended cuts of the performances that dive deeper through on-set rehearsal footage and interviews. It’s presented in a low-quality presentation, but it’s a nice edit that gives each song its moment to shine. There’s the Chicago In The Spotlight: A Retrospective With Cast And Crew featurette, which goes into detail on the filmmaking from adapting the musical to casting to shooting on the set.
In summary, the Chicago 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-ray SteelBook is a true gem that belongs in any musical lover’s collection. The sound quality is top-notch, the bonus features are plentiful, and the movie itself is an absolute classic. However, if you already have the previous Blu-ray releases, this won’t offer that much of an incentive to double dip.
