Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1996 action thriller Eraser gets a sharp 30th anniversary 4K release from Warner Bros., giving fans the film's best presentation yet.
In the late 1980s and well into the 1990s, Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator) was the biggest action hero in major motion pictures. Fresh from his hit film True Lies, he next decided to take on the role of loner U.S. Marshal John Kruger in the 1996 box office hit Eraser. At the peak of his popularity, before becoming Governor of California, he chose a role that continued to highlight his physical abilities while attempting to stretch his acting persona. This year, in honor of its 30th anniversary, Warner Bros. has released Eraser for sale on 4K.
Kruger is a Marshal who hides witnesses in the protection program until they can testify in court and then sets them up with new identities. He has hidden mob guys who are going to testify against Mafia bosses and whistleblowers, hoping to take down large corporations. When Lee Cullen (Vanessa Williams; Ugly Betty) finds some disturbing documents at Cyrez, the government contracting company she works for, she shares what she has found with the FBI. Thinking she can just return to her life after handing over the documents, Cullen suddenly discovers her life is in danger and needs Kruger's protection.
Schwarzenegger does what he is known for doing best in this film, which is portraying the action hero, and Williams is well cast as the tough, female corporate executive who can hold her own in a boardroom. These two are surrounded by a terrific cast who take a mediocre, at best, script and elevate it. Joining them are James Caan (Misery), James Coburn (Affliction), Robert Pastorelli (Dances with Wolves), and James Cromwell (L.A. Confidential), among others.
Warner Bros. has earned a reputation for producing excellent 4K transfers of many of its older films, and Eraser is no exception. Presented in Dolby Vision, this title has never looked so clean. Details are sharp, and colors pop off the screen. Some scenes are still cringeworthy, like the alligator attack at the zoo and the plane sequences but for the most part, this release is a vast improvement. From explosions to futuristic weapons, so much of it looks incredibly realistic.
The Dolby Atmos audio is also a treat making use of the full height of the speakers throughout the movie. Background sound effects are full and robust with layered audio tracks. The dialogue is clear, while Alan Silvestri's (Back to the Future) original score is well orchestrated while unobtrusively lying just below the surface.
The combo pack comes with the 4K disc, which includes 15 minutes of extras, and the digital download. The extras are Reinventing the Modern Action Hero - The Evolution of Arnold and '90s Action Thriller Reimagined. They are basically the same interview with director Chuck Russell (The Mask) and some of the cast members broken into two featurettes, and while they offer some insight into the movie, characters, and the action, they are mostly a love letter to Schwarzenegger. Of the entire package, they are probably the most disappointing.
Eraser did well in theaters and remains another good action film from Schwarzenegger, but critics weren't kind and didn't think the movie brought anything new or different, especially from its leading man. The story is somewhat generic, and the characters aren't memorable, but for fans of the film, this latest home release is a real winner. Sharp technical aspects make this the best presentation of the movie since its original theatrical release.
Perhaps not Schwarzenegger's most well-known movie, it does have a sort of cultish fan following, so Warner Bros. made a smart decision to release an upgraded version for this special anniversary of the movie's original release.
Grade: B-
