‘Rockers’ 4K UHD Review (MVD Rewind)
Stars: Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace, Richard ‘Dirty Harry’ Hall, Monica Craig, Marjorie Norman, Jacob Miller, Gregory Isaacs, Winston Rodney, Frank Dowding, Robbie Shakespeare | Written and Directed by Ted Bafaloukos
Before reggae conquered international charts and became a global movement, it was already the lifeblood of Kingston’s streets – blasting from sound systems, drifting through alleyways and fuelling a cultural revolution. In 1978, that energy was captured on film with Rockers, a unique blend of crime drama and laid-back humour featuring real reggae musicians at the heart of its story.
Fast forward to now, and the MVD Rewind Collection continues its impressive run in the physical media space. Recent releases like Tunnel Vision, Terminus and 1982: The Best Geek Year Ever have been genuine highlights. Now they’ve turned their attention to Rockers, delivering the film in a stunning, super-deluxe 4K/Blu-ray edition that feels like a celebration of both the movie and the music culture it represents.
In the heart of Kingston’s music scene, reggae drummer Horsemouth (Leroy Wallace) dreams of making it big by distributing records on his brand-new motorcycle. But when the bike is stolen, Horsemouth rallies a group of legendary musicians to track it down and take on the corrupt elite exploiting their community. Packed with raw energy, unforgettable performances, and a pulsating soundtrack, Rockers is a vibrant, rebellious ride through the streets, sound systems, and soul of 1970s Jamaica.
In all honesty, the story itself is fairly straightforward – solid, but nothing particularly groundbreaking. That said, Rockers isn’t about intricate plotting or big dramatic twists. What makes it work is how authentic it feels. The performances never come across as overly scripted; instead, there’s a natural, lived-in quality to everything. At its core, this is simply the story of a man trying to provide for his family, and that’s something just about everyone can connect with.
The real star of the show, though, is the music. The soundtrack is absolutely stacked with incredible reggae tracks that don’t just accompany the film – they define it. The music pulses through every scene, elevating even the simplest moments. Quite simply, it’s tremendous.
Rockers has been newly restored in 4K from the original 35mm Camera Negative, HDR presentation in 2160p (on 4k) and 1080p (on Blu-ray), and presented in 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio. The audio tracks are English 5.1 Surround and 2.0 Stereo (4K & Blu-ray). Finally, there is the option for English Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
The picture quality on Rockers is genuinely stunning. The colours are rich and vibrant, practically leaping off the screen, while the audio comes through crisp and clean. It’s one of those restorations that immediately makes you sit up and take notice. Quite honestly, it’s hard to imagine the film ever looking better than it does in this 4K presentation. And MVD didn’t stop at the restoration. This release is packed with a host of impressive bonus features that add real value for fans and collectors alike. So let’s dive in and see exactly what’s included in this stacked 4K/Blu-ray set:
Special Features:
- Jah No Dead: The Making of Rockers feature-length documentary about the making of the film, featuring interviews with Eugenie Bafaloukos, Todd Kasow, Kiddus I, Eddie Marritz, and many more! (HD, 1:59:37) (Blu-ray)
- Archival interviews with Writer/Director Ted Bafaloukos and Producer Patrick Hulsey (SD) (Blu-ray)
- Music Videos (SD) (Blu-ray)
- Poster Gallery (Blu-ray)
- Theatrical Trailer (Blu-ray)
- Radio Spots (Blu-ray)
- Collectable “4K LaserVision” Mini-Poster of cover art
- Reversible Cover Art
- Limited Edition “4K LaserVision” Slipcover (First Pressing Only)
The addition of the full-length documentary is such a spectacular bonus feature. But the interviews, music video, and promotional material are totally awesome. And with all MVD Rewind Collection releases, the mini-posters are always so cool. Now, when you look at the packaging, an audio commentary is listed, but it is absent on the disc. But MVD clarified this situation in a press release:
Packaging for Rockers incorrectly lists a full audio commentary with writer/director Ted Bafaloukos. The release includes a short, select-scene commentary, not a full-length track. All other previously available bonus materials are included as intended. Artwork will be corrected on future pressings.
I appreciate MVD putting the absolute best foot forward on these releases and even admitting when things don’t quite go according to plan. This makes me want to support them even more. Plus, Rockers is a wonderful musical time capsule, and this new 4K is the perfect way to experience it.
***** 5/5
You can order a copy of Rockers by heading over to Amazon today.
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It’s hard to believe you watched the same 4K release from MVD that I did. Even though Rockers is one of my all-time favorite films, I was unable to watch more than a few minutes after seeing how badly MVD’s remaster utterly destroyed the film and rendered it unwatchable for me. The extreme oversaturation of the color makes it look like a garish blacklight poster. I’ll take the blu-ray over this incompetent travesty of a “remaster” anyday, and I won’t ever give MVD another penny after what they did to this great film.
Were you paid off by MVD for this review? I’ve never seen such a terrible, incompetent remaster. MVD rendered this classic film unwatchable with their new remaster, and I won’t ever support that sham of a company again.