I first saw Blazing Saddles when I recorded it off HBO and watched it the next day. It was so funny I started telling my parents about this movie that was so funny called Blazing Saddles. They of course knew about it.
The new 4K UHD captures the epic western that Mel Brooks was satirizing. The Sergio Leone westerns are now on 4K and this compares favorably. The bright blue sky and dusty roads are so clear it feels like you’re there, back in time.
As for 4K’s black levels, the “it’s true” scene plays in pure, deep darkness with only the window lighting it. Brooks probably never imagined this much technological detail for a dick joke. And the campfire scenes also feel like they’re in the middle of nowhere in the deep night. The meta ending on Hollywood Blvd. captures that too in the city.
The music fills all the surround speakers, but you’ll either be happy or disappointed to know that the campfire farts remain front and center.
A new 21 minute appreciation of Brooks includes History of the World Part II writers David Stassen and Ike Barinholtz, and other comedians like Jeff Garlin appreciating Brooks’ humor.
There is another hour of archival extras, Mel Brooks’ commentary (probably from the first DVD release) and 10 minutes of deleted scene. Those include a few more absurdist gags including pretty elaborate setups to cut like an underwater bit and a whole watering hole. But pace is pace, so it’s nice just to see these out of context.