The Saint (1997) (UHD Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Rating: PG-13
Film: 3/5
 
Plot
Based on the popular spy series, this film follows suave international thief Simon Templar (Val Kilmer), who is contracted by Russian oil magnate Ivan Tretiak (Rade Serbedzija) to steal a formula for cold fusion. So Templar, nicknamed "The Saint" because of his use of Roman Catholic saints as aliases, finds scientist Dr. Emma Russell (Elisabeth Shue), seduces her and steals the information. However, because the formula was incomplete, Tretiak now wants to kill Templar and kidnap Russell.

My Thoughts
The character Simon Templar, was created by author Leslie Charteris in 1926 for a series of novels and short stories that continued on for decades. The character has also appeared in multiple films, a radio series starring Vincent Price, and most famously the 1960s British TV series starring Roger Moore. Somewhat surprisingly, this is the first time I’ve sat down to watch the 1997 film nor did I know anything about the character’s history until sitting down to write this review.

As a film, The Saint is a fun ride, but it definitely stretches the imagination. The story is serviceable, occasionally silly, and very much a product of the film era in which it was made. Kilmer won a Razzie for his performance, but honestly, I think that’s unfair. Both my wife and I thought he did a great job of juggling the various accents and personas required for Templar, and his chemistry with Shue is very convincing and gives the film some emotional heft. Shue looks amazing in her thirties and her scenes with Kilmer are the best parts of the movie.

The plot is over-the-top, the disguises are done well, but there’s no physical way for Templar to change between characters so quickly. Despite this distraction, we enjoyed the story for what it is—lightweight entertainment.

The 4K presentation is a clean, film-like look with excellent detail and a satisfying color palette. Facial textures, clothing, and environmental detail all look sharp. The Moscow sequences benefit from the deeper blacks and improved shadow detail from the HDR grading, while the warmer Oxford scenes are a bit richer by comparison.

Sadly, the audio track is ported over from the Blu-ray and brings nothing new to the table. Overall, it’s a low-energy front-loaded mix that gets the job done but rarely impresses. Dialog is intelligible and clear, but the surround channels aren’t particularly active, even during the action sequences. It’s serviceable, but doesn’t move much beyond that.

Video 9/10
Audio 6.5/10 (Dolby TrueHD 5.1)
 
Special Features:

• Steelbook packaging
• Digital Copy
• Audio commentary by Director Phillip Noyce
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Conclusion
While this mostly is a forgettable film, we did enjoy the interaction between Kilmer and Shue and postulated after the film that they may have had an offscreen romance going at the time. Let’s just say that their love scenes are a bit too believable. Regardless, the Steelbook packing looks great and we’ll keep it in our collection. Recommended for fans and collectors.   



Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(I utilized Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Zidoo UHD8000 Media Player
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
Dual Rythmik FV15HP2
Mini DSP HD
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner

[Barry]

Thanks again, David,,

as I recall, Roger Moore has a bit of a cameo at the end of the movie. Here is the voice coming over the car radio at the very end.