TITANS OF CULT: SPACE JAM [1995 / 2021] [Limited Edition SteelBook] [Blu-ray + 4K Ultra HD] [UK Release] An Ingenious Blend of Live-Action Comedy and Cutting-Edge Animation!
TITANS OF CULT: ‘SPACE JAM’ sees Michael Jordan slams, Bugs Bunny jams and the Looney Tunes stars whoop it up in the rim-rattlin’ round ball romp that’s one of the funniest animation/live-action capers ever made. Jokes fly as the Looney Tunes Squad takes on the Nerdlucks in a hard-court game to decide if the Looney Tunes remain here...or become attractions at a far-off galactic off-ramp called Moron Mountain. The Nerdlucks have a monstrous secret weapon: They’ve stolen the skills of top NBA stars like Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing and have become Monstars. But the Tune Squad’s secret weapon happens to be the finest player in this or any other universe. He is outta this world. So is the fun. Bill Murray also stars in this live action and animated mix.
TITANS OF CULT: Celebrates iconic cinema through unique home video releases, featuring newly-created artwork and paired thoughtfully curated collectables.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1997 Annie Awards: Win: Best Individual Achievement: Technical Achievement for Charles Gammage Animation, Rees/Leiva Productions (animation) and Spaff Animation. Nominated: Annie Awards: Best Animated Feature for Charles Gammage Animation, Courtside Seats Productions, Northern Lights Entertainment, Rees/Leiva Productions (animation), Spaff Animation and Uli Meyer Features (animation). Nominated: Annie Awards: Best Individual Achievement: Directing in a Feature Production for Bruce W. Smith and Tony Cervone. Nominated: Annie Awards: Best Individual Achievement: Producing in a Feature Production for Ron Tippe. 1997 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: Win: Top Box Office Films for James Newton Howard. 1997 MTV Movie + TV Awards: Nominated: MTV Movie Award for Best Movie Song for R. Kelly for the song “I Believe I Can Fly.” 1997 MTV Video Music Awards: Nominated: Best Video from a Film for R. Kelly for R. Kelly for the song “I Believe I Can Fly.” 1997 Satellite Awards: Nominated: Golden Satellite Award for Best Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media for Daniel Goldberg, Joe Medjuck and Ivan Reitman. 1997 Young Artist Awards: Nominated: Best Family Feature Animation or Special Effects. 1998 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: Win: Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures for Diane Warren for the song “For You I Will.” 1998 Grammy Awards: Win: Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television for R. Kelly (songwriter) for the song “I Believe I Can Fly” by the artist R. Kelly. 1998 World Animation Celebration: Win: WAC Winner for Best Use of Animation in a Motion Picture Trailer.
FILM FACT No.2: A sequel, titled ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ and starring LeBron James, has now been releases in 2021. NBA players Danny Ainge, Steve Kerr, Alonzo Mourning, Horace Grant, A.C. Green, Scottie Pippen, Charles Oakley, Luc Longley, Cedric Ceballos, Derek Harper, Vlade Divac, Brian Shaw, Jeff Malone, Bill Wennington, Anthony Miller, and Sharone Wright make cameo appearances in the film, as do coaches Del Harris and Paul Westphal. Broadcasters Ahmad Rashad and Jim Rome also appear while Dan Castellaneta and Patricia Heaton cameo as basketball fans.
Cast: Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight, Theresa Randle, Manner “Mooky” Washington, Eric Gordon, Penny Bae Bridges, Brandon Hammond (10 Years Old Michael Jordan), Larry Bird, Bill Murray, Thom Barry, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Tyrone Bogues, Larry Johnson, Shawn Bradley, Ahmad Rashad, Del Harris, Vlade Divac, Cedric Ceballos, Jim Rome, Paul Westphal, Danny Ainge, Bebe Drake, Patricia Heaton, Dan Castellaneta, Linda Lutz, Nicky McCrimmon, Kelly Vint Castro, William G. Schilling, Albert Hague, Michael Alaimo, James O'Donnell, David Ursin, Douglas Robert Jackson, Alonzo Mourning, A.C. Green, Charles Oakley, Derek Harper, Jeff Malone, Anthony Miller, Sharone Wright, Andre Rosey Brown, Brad William Henke, Connie Ray, John Roselius, Joe Bays, Charles Hoyes, Luke Torres, Steven Shenbaum, Bean Miller, Greg Bronson (uncredited), Amy Chance (uncredited), Michael Ray Clark (uncredited), Horace Grant (uncredited), Charles Hallahan (uncredited), Kent Kasper (uncredited), Steve Kerr (uncredited), Barbara Anne Klein (uncredited), Luc Longley (uncredited), Scottie Pippen (uncredited), Michael Rothhaar (uncredited), Brian Shaw (uncredited), Dylan Tucker (uncredited), Bill Wennington (uncredited) and Jim Wise (uncredited)
Voice Cast: Billy West (Bugs Bunny / Elmer Fudd), Dee Bradley Baker (Daffy Duck / Tazmanian Devil / Bull), Danny DeVito (Swackhammer), Bob Bergen (Bertie / Hubie / Marvin the Martian / Porky Pig / Tweety Pie), Bill Farmer (Sylvester / Yosemite Sam / Foghorn Leghorn), June Foray (Granny), Maurice LaMarche (Pepe Le Pew), Kath Soucie (Lola Bunny), Jocelyn Blue (Nerdluck Pound), Charity James (Nerdluck Blanko), June Melby (Nerdluck Bang), Catherine Reitman (Nerdluck Bupkus), Colleen Wainwright (Nerdluck Nawt / Sniffles), Dorian Harewood (Monstar Bupkus), Joey Camen (Monstar Bang), T.K. Carter (Monstar Nawt), M. Darnell Suttles (Monstar Pound), Steve Kehela (Monstar Blanko / Announcer), Frank W. Welker (Charles the Dog) and Mel Blanc (Daffy Duck on TV archive sound) (uncredited)
Director: Joe Pykta
Producers: Allison Abbate, Curtis Polk, Daniel Goldberg, David Falk, Dennis Edwards, Dino Athanassiou, Gordon A. Webb, Ivan Reitman, Jerry Rees, Joe Medjuck, Ken Ross, Michael Lander, R. Don Smith, Richard Sullivan, Ron Tippe, Sheldon Kahn and Steven Paul Leiva
Screenplay: Herschel Weingrod, Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick and Timothy Harris
Composer: James Newton Howard
Costume Designer: Marlene Stewart
Live Action/Animation Visual Effects: Ed Jones
Cinematography: Michael Chapman, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
French: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
German: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Italian: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Spanish [Castilian]: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Português: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Danish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Finnish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Norwegian: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Swedish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, French, German SDH, Italian SDH, Spanish [Castilian], Spanish, Português, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish
Running Time: 87 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Warner Bros. / Warner Home Video
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: Unbelievably, ‘SPACE JAM’ [1995] is celebrating its 25th Anniversary, and to celebrate this milestone for the classic animation-live action film, Warner Home Video has released this 2021 upgraded Limited Edition SteelBook Blu-ray release. Here we have a blend of Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon adventure and the famous NBA professional basketball player Michael Jordan that was definitely made for a box office success that was admired by few and battered by others. If your thoughts on ‘SPACE JAM’ is about the very negative reviews from the critics or you was not very favourable towards the film way back in 1995, you likely will not find yourself suddenly coming around to purchasing this Blu-ray disc. For those who do have some nostalgic joy or genuinely find amusement for this type of film with combination of Warner Bros. cartoon animation with live action and especially the admiration for the technological know-how achievement that they had at their disposal in 1996, then this Blu-ray disc is definitely for you.
‘SPACE JAM’ stars six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan and Warner Bros. classic Looney Tunes gang in a dimension-bending sports showdown. The plot is pretty straightforward. The basic story follows an alternate timeline, and in the film Michael Jordan has recently retired from basketball and is trying to make a career in baseball, but especially with his retirement was spent training with the “Tune Squad” basketball team in an effort to defeat the evil alien “Monstars” in a game of hoops. Meanwhile, the Looney Tunes have been invaded by aliens and end up recruiting Michael Jordan to help them defeat the aliens in a basketball match that will determine whether or not the Looney Tunes are taken to another planet to perform as slaves. That makes it sound darker than it is when this is actually a pretty fast-paced sports comedy featuring some cartoon favourites and Michael Jordan doing just enough to show off his affable personality.
SPACE JAM’ is one of my favourite films of 1995. Sure, it’s not a perfect film of this type of genre, and maybe the script could have been better put together and Michael Jordan could be less of a stiff in front of a green screen as well as the other basketball players, but despite this it is just so much fun. The Looney Tunes characters are at their best and top of their game, and for fans of NBA Basketball, there are constant cameos. The early scenes featuring the NBA stars on after they lose their talents are some of the funniest moments in the film. The soundtrack is an essential part of the 1990’s, with so many major hits that you could play them all day long. As long as I live, I will remember the lyrics: “Everybody get up it’s time to slam now.” “We got a real jam goin’ down.” “Welcome to the Space Jam.” “Here’s your chance, do your dance at the Space Jam.”
Director Joe Pytka deserves credit for doing all he can to make Michael Jordan interactions in this animated environment look great for the time. The film is no ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’ as far as just how solid the screenplay and merging of filmmaking ideas can be in a time where computer generated CGI was less of a thing in 1995. Still, there are some really good laughs, especially with the Warner Bros. Looney Tune cartoon characters, in addition to noting what kind of effort went into making a convincing basketball game that involves Michael Jordan and the Warner Bros. Looney Tune animated characters. Whether or not you laugh at all of this is another story.
There are some pop culture references here and there, plus there is a reference to the film ‘Pulp Fiction’ that seems to have come out of left field from nowhere and the general zaniness of the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes is completely present. Some of it works well enough, even if some of the mischief is toned down a bit. As for the actor Bill Murray being in the film, what the hell was the point of including him, as he was absolutely totally atrocious and was a complete pointless exercise why he was ask to be in the film, as he was to my mind the least funniest character in the film and really annoyed me. But what was also totally and equally embarrassing were the most obnoxious child actors I have ever witnessed, as they were totally ghastly and could not act in any professional capacity and should have been left on the cutting room floor.
‘SPACE JAM’ has not in my opinion really aged that much, because nothing about it has really changed, because it is the same as it ever was which means you can laugh out loud without feeling embarrassed and you will really enjoy the brilliant animation efforts that went into making the film. It is a sort of vanity project, especially to highlight the Warner Bros. Looney Tune characters, had invested enough money and ideas to do what they could to make it worth their while. So all in all, this film is a totally madcap Looney Tune fun festival, especially seeing all your Warner Bros. cartoon characters in one film and I thought the brilliant effects of the actors performing with the Looney Tune characters was totally brilliant and amazed how the director Joe Pykta pulled it all together and also great praise should go to all the technical people behind the scene who managed to get everything to come together so smoothly, and to me personally it was all done in a very professional way, to make the film a very fun filled enjoyable experience. By the way, please watch right to the very end of the credits, as you will get a really nice surprise and a good ending to this fun filled rip roaring rollercoaster film. So chill out and enjoy yourself, as you are in for brilliant and clever film, with a great deal of laughter thrown in for good measure!
SPACE JAM MUSIC TRACK LIST
FLY LIKE AN EAGLE (Written by Steve Miller) [Performed by Seal]
THAT’S THE WAY (I Like It) (Written by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch) [Performed by Spin Doctors and featuring Biz Markie]
I BELIEVE I CAN FLY (Written by R. Kelly) [Performed by R. Kelly]
FOR YOU I WILL (Written by Diane Warren) [Performed by Monica]
HIT ‘EM HIGH (The Monstars' Anthem) (Written by B-Real, Busta Rhymes, Coolio, LL Cool J, Method Man, Jean Claude Olivier and Samuel Barnes) [Performed by B-Real, Busta Rhymes, Coolio, LL Cool J and Method Man]
UPSIDE DOWN (Round-N-Round) (Written by Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers, Cheryl 'Salt' James and Sandra "Pepa" Denton) [Performed by Salt-N-Pepa]
GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT (Everybody Dance Now) (Written by Robert Clivillés and Freedom Williams) [Performed by C+C Music Factory]
I TURN TO YOU (Written by Diane Warren) [Performed by All-4-One]
PUMP UP THE JAM (Written by Manuela Kamosi and Thomas De Quincey) [Performed by Technotronic]
SPACE JAM (Written by Jay Ski McGowan, Nathaniel Orange and V. Bryant) [Performed by Quad City DJ's]
BASKETBALL JONES (Written by Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong) [Performed by Barry White and Chris Rock]
WILD (Written by Iva Davies and Bob Kretschmer) [Performed by Icehouse]
MISIRLOU (Written by Fred Wise, Milton Leeds, Bob Russell and Nicholas Roubanis) [Performed by Dick Dale and His Del-Tones]
I FOUND MY SMILE AGAIN (Written by D'Angelo) [Performed by D'Angelo]
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME (Written by Jack Norworth and Albert von Tilzer)
GIVIN’ U ALL THAT I’VE GOT (Written by Robin S. and Todd Terry) [Performed by Robin S.]
WHAT’S UP DOC (Written by Carl W. Stalling)
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (Written by Eddie Cantor, Murray Mencher and Charles Tobias)
GET READY FOR THIS (Written by Carl W. Stalling) [Performed by 2 Unlimited]
THE MERRY-GO-ROUND BROKE DOWN (Written by Dave Franklin and Cliff Friend)
Barber of Seville Overture (uncredited) (Written by Gioachino Rossini)
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Blu-ray Image Quality – Warner Bros. and Warner Home Video presents you this Blu-ray disc release in an awesome 1080p image and an equally impressive 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The clarity detail for the film ‘SPACE JAM’ looks absolutely amazing for a 1995 film release, and now with this 2021 amazing upgrade, and it looks absolutely fantastic and it is a wonderful viewing experience that benefits from some brilliant sharp details at play thanks to the Blu-ray disc upgrade. The cinematic image presentation of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other Warner Bros. Looney Tune characters means you are getting a much greater depth of field and with the blending of Michael Jordan with animation characters, you actually do get a sense of really impressive dimensionality imagery. The black levels are really good and strong. As to the colour reproduction, you get to view some brilliant vibrant colours that seem to pop out of the screen, which is great for a film that features lots of colourful Warner Bros. Looney Tunes characters. Also the flesh tones you see, especially with a close up of Michael Jordan facial textures and also the live-action sequences standout really well. As to any colour noise and artefacts effects, especially for a film that was released in 1995, has been vastly improved with this amazing 2021 Blu-ray upgrade release. So well done Warner Bros. and Warner Home Video, who deservedly get a five star rating from me.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Warner Bros. and Warner Home Video brings you a great 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience, and the films soundtrack does plenty to provide the preferred audio enjoyment for a film featuring the brilliant Warner Bros. Looney Tunes characters and basketball noises it manages to work quite well here. Thanks to some choice soundtrack selections and the basketball action that goes down very well and all the speakers gets to shine a good number of times. The balance is well-handled here. All the wacky voices are heard on the centre speaker, in addition to getting some good reaction at times with all of your other speakers. As to the dialogue reproduction, everyone, human, animated, or otherwise, is heard with great clarity. So once again, very well done Warner Bros. and Warner Home Video in giving us an amazing audio experience and again deserves a five star rating from me.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Daffy and Director Joe Pytka: Here first up is an introduction by Bugs Bunny [Billy West] to introduce this audio commentary, and informs us that Joe Pytka will be sticking his head in for a word or two. Next we hear Bugs Bunny introduce the voice actor Billy West; also next up to be introduced is the voice actor Dee Bradley Baker. But at the point director Joe Pytka walks in the room again and basically informs us he only did part of the film that included the live action scenes and especially with Michael Jordan acting his socks off. There is a lot of talk about how everyone had to act in front of a green screen, especially when they are talking to the Looney Tune cartoon characters. When Michael Jordon does the press conference and informs everyone that he is retiring and taking up baseball, well Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck snigger profusely at the announcement, in basically thinking it is a joke. Both Billy West and Dee Bradley Baker reflect when they went to the premiere of the film ‘SPACE JAM’ at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and were bowled over by the brilliant colours of the animated parts of the film. Joe Pytka walks back into the room and mentions that this film would not of come about if the film ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ had not come out, and praises its ground-breaking concept of combining live actors with the cartoon characters. They talk about the actor Wayne Knight when he first appears in the film arriving with Michael Jordan outside his house in the beat up old car and when the film had finished Wayne Knight had lost a lot of weight. Joe Pytka comes back into the room again and praises Michael Jordan for his contribution towards the film, despite not being a properly trained actor. Joe Pytka also gives great praise to the composer James Newton Howard for composing the music to match the Warner Bros. old style music like the used in the original cartoons. We also get a lot of technical information on how they combined the cartoons with the actors and praise the people behind-the-scene who did all the computer generated images, and also the Looney Tune cartoons look fresh and new in style. As the credits roll up the screen, Billy West and Dee Bradley Baker say it was a great honour to be involved with the film and was hoping that ‘SPACE JAM 2’ would happen in the near future. They also praise everyone else who put a lot of very hard work towards the making of the film and how it looks. Then Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck come in again with their praise towards the film and also all the little people that were also involved with the making of the film, which Daffy Duck feels is very important. Then once again the director Joe Pytka comes back into the room to thank everyone involved with the film and that he was very proud to of been involved in the making of the film. So please give this audio commentary a listen, as I think you will enjoy it very much and gives great detail about the film and the process of how they went about combining live action with the Looney Tune cartoon characters.
Special Feature: Seal “Fly Like An Eagle” Music Video [1995] [480i] [1.37:1] [4:14] British artist Seal covered "Fly Like an Eagle" for the 1996 ‘SPACE JAM’ film soundtrack, even sampling Steve Miller's original “Space Intro” parts in the song's chorus. We also get lots of very nice clips from the ‘SPACE JAM’ film. This song version peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number two on the Canadian RPM 100 Chart. The single was his first top ten since 1995 for the song “Kiss from a Rose.” According to Seal, the executive producer of the ‘SPACE JAM’ soundtrack, Dominique Trenier, asked him to record it. D'Angelo, who was managed by Dominique Trenier, played keyboards on the song. Seal has said that Steve Miller approved of this cover version and at one point called and stating, “thanking me and saying that was the best cover of the song that he had heard.”
Special Feature: Monstars' Anthem “Hit ‘Em High” Music Video [1995] [480i] [1.37:1] [4:17] This music video by The Monstars' Anthem group is a hip hop song performed by B-Real, Busta Rhymes, Coolio, LL Cool J, and Method Man from the ‘SPACE JAM’ film soundtrack. The video, was directed by Hype Williams, and is in black-and-white and features scenes from the ‘SPACE JAM’ film, mostly featuring the Monstars’ rap singers. The rappers wore the Monstars' jerseys from the film while rapping on the basketball court. You get to see more clips from the ‘SPACE JAM’ film, which to me was the best part out of this music video, as I hate and detest rapper groups like this, as I feel they are typical sexist misogynous dinosaurs of the worst kind, who just sing total crap words you can hardly understand and was a complete waste of time and should have been left on the floor of the cutting room editing facility.
Special Feature: Jammin’ With Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan [1995] [480i] [1.37:1] [22:32] This is basically a typical promotional video for the film ‘SPACE JAM’ and is narrated by Gregg Berger and reckons it is well over 60 years we have been waiting for this film and especially seeing all the Looney Tune cartoon characters combined with the actors. Here we also get an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the feature film ‘SPACE JAM’ that shows us how they blended the live action and animation together and of course starring Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny. We get an all too brief interviews, bit despite this, it was a very welcome to hear all their comments. A welcome inclusion is the old black-and-white film of the actual Termite Terrace home where the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes animation characters were first produced. We also get to see the directors larking about and a spot with Mel Blanc. The narrator of the piece is essentially a cheerleader for the film and its stars, and we also get to view some clips of old classic Bugs Bunny cartoons that are the most entertaining part of the whole video presentation and they include BABY BUGGY BUNNY; BEDEVILLED RABBIT; WHAT’S UP DOC; HARE – UM SCARE – UM; THE WILD HARE; YOU OUGHT BE IN PICTURES; THE GREY HOUNDED HARE and DUCK! RABBIT, DUCK! We also take a look at some of the computer animation and special effects techniques, including Michael Jordan playing basketball with green-suited players on a green screen stage, with glimpses of production art, but this really screams for some more in-depth follow-up. At least the cramped full screen shots from the film shown here make a good argument for watching the film in widescreen. Contributors include: Ivan Reitman [Producer], Michael Jordan [Basketball Player], Danny DeVito [Actor], Chuck Jones [Cartoonist], Ron Tippe [Animation Producer], Ed Jones [CEO of Cinesite], Wayne Knight [Actor], Joe Pytka [Director] and James Newton Howard [Composer].
Theatrical Trailer [1995] [1080i] [1.78:1] [1:15] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘SPACE JAM.’
BONUS: Collectable SteelBook Case with new artwork design.
PLUS: Exclusive ‘SPACE JAM’ Unique Enamel Pin and Vinyl Stickers.
Finally, if you are a massive fan of Michael Jordan and the hilarious Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon characters, or just want to see how the legendary cartoon characters performed back in their day, well lace up your sneakers and hit the court for this amazing 25th Anniversary Blu-ray disc experience of the film ‘SPACE JAM.’ If you especially young children, then ‘SPACE JAM’ is the perfect family film and definitely for all ages. On top of all that, if you yearn for that nostalgic feeling for the clothes, music, NBA players, Bill Murray; then ‘SPACE JAM’ has it all and much more. It may not have been to some people one of the best films, but it is without a doubt one of the most fantastic goofy zany fun film that can be enjoyed by all, that you will have never seen here or on any outer space planet in the universe. If you haven’t seen it in a while, pop it in, sit back, and relax and you won’t be disappointed at all and especially seeing all of the famous and favourite Warner Bros. Looney Tune cartoon characters you so enjoy seeing. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
