Watching the Blu-ray today one will also be incredibly impressed that the film was initially released in 1964. While grainy due to the film stock used, the print is perfectly clean and looks far better than any 45 year-old film has a right to look. The brightness of certain shots does appear to waiver, and some definition is lost in the darkness of the War Room, but for an older film it is a very good release. The sound has been redone in a 5.1 channel TrueHD mix, but the original English mono track is still available. While the 5.1 channel sound does add a little to some of the battle scenes, it doesn't represent a huge leap forward for the film.
A number of featurettes are included on the disc, including an interview with Robert McNamara and docs on the film's relation to world events at the time, Sellers, and Kubrick. Also included are split-screen interviews with Scott and Sellers which were initially intended for use in local markets. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a picture-in-picture/pop-up trivia track which provides viewers with additional Cold War info. The Blu-ray release also contains (built-into the packaging) a booklet on the film and some of the actors involved.
Full of great performances (including all three of Sellers'), an almost-true-to-life story, and more than one laugh-out-loud moment, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb represents a masterwork by a master in filmmaking. It is a darkly satirical look at not just a single moment in time, but at an entire line of thinking that may still be all too prevalent in the world.
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