Disclaimer:When we first teamed up with Utopia to release RAD on 4K UHD/BD in 2020, we agreed on a strictly limited number of units. When going to replication, we received an overage of 1,000 discs that we could not sell and were never packaged. In our ongoing transition to our new warehouse, we discovered these discs on their original replication spindles and reached out to Utopia to secure a one-off license to package these overproduced discs. This RAD release is the same as we released in 2020, including the Helltrack poster insert. There are no new extras or artwork, and it will only be available in a standard edition, strictly limited to one copy per person.
A pop culture and cult film staple for nearly 35 years, we’re overjoyed to bring Hal Needham’s RAD to 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray for the first time, in a fully loaded and strictly limited edition.
Cru Jones is the fastest and most talented BMX rider in his small logging town. When Duke Best, owner of Mongoose Bicycles, decides to hold a competition at a nearly impossible-to-complete BMX racing course named Hell Track, Cru decides that it's his destiny to compete in the race, which offers a winning cash prize of $100,000. But unknown to Cru, Duke has concocted the race as a publicity stunt to promote his own top rider, Bart Taylor, and begins to do everything in his power to prevent Cru from being able to enter into the competition. To make matters even more complicated, Cru soon learns that the race is scheduled the same day he's supposed to take the SATs and finds himself with a choice between his future in college and a race where all odds are stacked against him...
Among the most beloved films to emerge from the mid 80s BMX bike craze, RAD has developed an ever-growing cult audience, and stars Bill Allen (Born on the 4th of July), Lori Loughlin (TV’s Full House), two time Academy Award nominee Talia Shire (Rocky, The Godfather), Golden Globe nominee Jack Weston (Dirty Dancing), real life Olympic champion Bart Connor and more. Directed by prolific stuntman and filmmaker Hal Needham (Smokey and the Bandit) and featuring stunning photography by Richard Leiterman (Stephen King's It [1990]), this fun, fast paced, and inspiration for many future pro BMX superstars makes its belated Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD debut from Vinegar Syndrome, in a brand new, breathtaking 4K restoration from its original 35mm camera negative.
directed by: Hal Needham starring: Bill Allen, Lori Loughlin, Talia Shire, Jack Weston, Bart Connor 1986 / 91 min / 1.85:1
Additional info:
4k Ultra HD (Region Free) / Blu-ray (Region A) Combo
Newly scanned & restored in 4k from its 35mm original camera negative
Brand new commentary track with lead actor Bill Allen
Brand new commentary track with actress Talia Shire and Robert Schwartzman
Archival commentary track with: Bill Allen, actor Bart Conner, writer Sam Bernard and various BMX stunt riders
“The Stuntman Directs” - an interview with director Hal Needham
“Writing something Rad” - an interview with Sam Bernard
“Rad 25” - footage from the 25th anniversary event
Multiple archival video interviews with cast and crew
“Break the Ice” music video
Original theatrical trailer
Extensive behind-the-scenes stills and promo material
Reversible cover artwork
SDH English subtitles
Overall rating: 4.8311687 / 5 from 154 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
RAD, a beloved 80s BMX film, has been meticulously restored and released in 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. Customers praise the film's quality, restoration, and soundtrack, highlighting its nostalgic value and exceptional presentation.
"This movie is a super fun 80’s film with an awesome soundtrack." — Eric
"The restoration looks phenomenal (one of their First UHDs) and the extras are plentiful and well put together." — Dominik F.
"The transfer is very high quality and the sound is as well." — Nathan W.
Reviews
It's Rad
"Movie: This is a very by-the-numbers underdog story, but it's done in such an earnest way that I didn't mind too much. If you like _rad bicycle action_ there's plenty of it, especially the trick montages during the opening and closing credits. The soundtrack keeps the energy up when it needs to, and the high point of the movie is definitely the bicycle dance wh Extras: Packed with extras, although for the most part the newer stuff is more interesting than the archival stuff. Packaging: Bonus points for reversible cover, and it's really neat to have a map of Hell Track on the back of the poster."
— Gideon M. (4/5)
Rad
"How can you not love rad!? Awesome release! Total classic for its genre"
— joseph c. (5/5)
it’s literally Rad!
"This film is glorious. Everything you want it to be and then even better. Stunning quality of transfer and I couldnt be happier to own it having missed out first time round"
— RICHARD L. (5/5)
Super Rad!
"Rad's a film that's largely about beating the odds of large evil corporations that want to hone in and take the BMX market by force and also by way of fixing the entry requirements for a sporting competition. This flick opens up with the benefits of owning a BMX bike, being able to do sick tricks as well as get your local newspaper delivered on time. Our local hero Cru is fighting to prove their worth to their friends and mom who's super worried that he's not going to get too far with this biking nonsense. But a sick bike dance and some home town-spirit quickly convinces Cru's mom that the boy's alright. While I certainly didn't grow up in this time, I did grow up in the decade adjacent and everything to do with extreme sports was rad, and Rad is no exception. This 4K looks amazing and all I can say is that I'm super happy VS found some copies one year so I can lock this one away in my treasured releases section of my shelf. If you ever find a copy for a decent price, consider it!"
— Andrew G. (5/5)
Send Me An Angel. . . "What I wouldn't do to go Ass Sliding with you right now”
"Absolutely brilliant transfer of an 80's classic. Not available in decent quality for years, the 4k scan is a revelation. The film grain is just perfect, the audio is great and brings the soundtrack alive. The Bike Dance scene has never looked or sounded better (yup, Lori Loughlin sure does look manly in this scene). Plotwise the movie is actually pretty simple but that really doesn't matter. One of the best Vinegar Syndrome releases, highly recommended."
— Jeffrey P. (5/5)
Rad
"This is up there with Cloak and Dagger for those 1980s movies we watched as kids and still hold some fond memories. Really silly stuff, like the romantic dance sequence done on bikes. Really silly movie with an awesome looking restoration."
— Michael P. (3/5)
Radical 80's
"Totally rad BMX movie about Cru Jones, a small-town kid who’s all about winning the insane Helltrack race to score cash, fame, and a sweet Corvette. It’s got classic ‘80s vibes-cheesy villains, epic bike stunts, and a feel-good underdog story that’s like Karate Kid but on two wheels. The action’s fun, the soundtrack slaps, and even though it bombed at the box office, it’s become a cult classic for anyone who loves BMX and vintage cool. If you wanna see some gnarly bike tricks and ‘80s nostalgia"
— Juan V. (5/5)
Fun and campy
"If you like campy teen 80s movies this is pretty much the cream of the crop."
— Ben S. (5/5)
Rad
"Fun movie. Lucky to have snagged this one."
— Samuel L. (4/5)
Radical
"Very fun and entertaining BMX stunt movie"
— Summer M. (5/5)
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