American Graffiti [Blu-ray]

 

 

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There are several overlaying plans and plots with many independent scenes from the era (1962). Is it wiser to go off to school or stay local? What are the consequences of your intent and then final action on friends and loved ones.

Yep everyone sees themselves in this movie. I have to admit I do also. That is see all the others as of courses I am above that sort of thing. This is one of the closest depictions of life with out me having to pull out the 8mm and filming. I spent some time in L.A. around the era and moved to Texas to find that distance changes something's but not that way of life. While in Vietnam I was even able to exchange the same urban legends with people from different part of the US.

I am more surprised that George Locus could capture this so well. I am also amazed at the crew they were able to assemble for this film. Most of them went off to do bigger and better parts and it is fun to watch this film in hind sight. Everyone look so young. I really never noticed Harrison Ford until Star Wars.

Getting away from memory lane, the film is so smooth that you forgot that you are watching a movie and the actors do not overwhelm the characters that they play.

Starting out you notice a song or two and think where was I. Then a few more songs and you soon are more rapped up in the music than the story. Having Wolfman Jack there added a touch of reality. I can not put my finger on it but there was something more than formula in this particular movie.

I am not that sensitive but the ending hits you hard as you realize it will never be the same. This is true of any group in any era. I can almost forget that.

By the way the original T-bird styling is back. All in all this is one film that will not collect dust.

I saw this film and Diner (1982) when each was first released and have since followed with interest the subsequent careers of their youthful lead actors, notably Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Charles Martin Smith and Cindy Williams in American Graffiti and Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Ellen Barkin, and Paul Reiser in Diner. Separated by nine years, the two films offer informative as well as entertaining perspectives on their respective youth cultures. George Lucas directed this film which focuses on Modesto (California) during the late-summer of 1962. The screenplay and cinematography are seamlessly integrated with 4l popular tunes which comprise the soundtrack. Most of the central characters can be viewed as "tweeners," in awkward transition from one phase of life to another. For example, Curt Henderson (Dreyfuss) will soon depart for college but seems ambivalent about that. The others' plans are even less certain. Meanwhile, together or separately, they spend their evenings cruising around town. (All of the scenes are at night.) I enjoyed the humor, some of it poignant, and could identify with many of the situations which closely resemble those of my own teenage years in Chicago. Keep an eye open for Harrison Ford in a brief appearance as Bob Falfa. Who knew then what awaited him next: a minor part in The Conversations (1974) and then starring roles in Lucas' Star Wars (1977) and Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Of course, I have no idea how appealing American Graffiti will be to those born since (let's say) 1985 but it is still great fun for many of us born before then and will perhaps be of greatest interest to cultural anthropologists who study the teenage culture in the U.S. in the 1960s. For me a sobering thought with which I conclude this brief commentary: if Curt (Dreyfuss), Steve (Ron Howard), Terry (Smith), and Laurie (Cindy Williams) were real people and alive today, they would be about 59 years old. Hmmmmmmm....

If you purchase the DVD version (which I strongly recommend), be sure to check out the documentary "The Making of American Graffiti" which features interviews with director George Lucas, executive producer Francis Coppola, and other cast and crew members as well as never-before-seen screen tests. Excellent stuff.

-> BLU-RAY review

Film: 8/10
Picture quality: 8/10
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (orig.)
Run time 24fps: 1 52'29"
Audio: GB (dts HD MA);J;F;D;I;E;POR;
ST: GB;J;F;D;I;NL;DK;N;S;FIN;ISL
Chpt.: 50
Extras:
- Making of, 78' (in SD, same as on DVD)
- Screen tests, 23' HD (16mm, 1972, DP Haskell Wexler)
- "U control":
-PIP video commentaries by George Lucas
-"The music of A.G." titles/performers-info on playing music
- Trailer
Studio: Universal

Despite some discouraging reviews here, I must say this BD is worth the upgrade from DVD! Image may not be perfect but it is fairly good. I have checked the BD against the DVD and it really is a BIG step up picturewise!
This BD release shouldn't be blamed for the very few limitations that the source material had. It's interesting to hear what George Lucas had to say in his video commentaries (= GLvc) on this.
I'm sure American Graffiti has never looked better in home theatres. Enjoy!

When it comes to picture quality one has to keep in mind that
- the film was shot in "Techniscope" (i.e. 2 perforation holes instead of 4, as in "Cinemascope" ) hence cutting stock costs in half - unfortunately same goes for picture resolution. Therefore a slightly lesser picture quality than in usual Cinemascope Blu-ray transfers is the result. (GLvc TC 00:14:40)
- shot mostly with 'available light' camera operators had difficulties to stay in focus (-> 'depth of field') e.g. TC 00:02:05; 00:03:24-31; 00:12:15 (GLvc 00:11:28, 00:39:48)
- fortunately they kept the DNR mallet in the box and the transfer shows some decent healthy grain in very good images e.g. 00:10:52; 00:12:33; 00:14:47.
- unfortunately some edge enhancement is visible here and there (e.g. light reflections on chrome parts of vintage cars 00:38:14)

I always loved this movie and admired G. Lucas' tenacity to pull this off against all odds! Every effort had been put into production design ("embossed" vs. "painted Coke bottles" GLvc TC 01:01:54) to re-create this marvelous '62 time bubble - but they got (at least) one tiny detail wrong: The high school band's guitarist plays a blonde(?) Stratocaster with enlarged headstock. This wasn't introduced on Strats until mid/late '65 after Leo Fender had sold his company to CBS.

PS: If you're still not happy with your home theater's performance there might be another reason for this: Unfortunately many manufacturers' tv-presets are faulty ("...what a waste of machinery!"). To optimize your Full HD monitor, no easy task with today's complex high tech flat tvs (-> color gamut, gamma, white balance etc), you might like to check out this UK website:
"hdtvtest.co.uk"
It will provide you with expert tests+reviews and settings that can make the best of your tv set and help reduce energy consumption too!
- Simply go to: "all reviews",
- select your tv (knock off last characters/digits on model no. -> UK plugs),
- go to "settings"
- adjust your flat tv - done!

...surely helped me with my 46" Full HD Samsung, and "I'm not feeding a line here Debbie!"

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5.0 out of 5 stars A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
It has been decades since I last viewed the movie titled "American Graffiti." During our Friday evening movie night at home, my children enjoyed the movie as much as I did years... Read more

Published 11 months ago by Michael P. Maciuk

5.0 out of 5 stars The 'forties were even better, except '41-'45

Director: George Lucas
Format: Color
Studio: Universal Studios
Video Release Date: December 26, 2001

Cast:

Richard Dreyfuss ... Read more

Published on July 12 2004 by Joseph H Pierre

5.0 out of 5 stars Alive and Well At the Dawn of Rock
Its all about the music. Nearly every song in American Graffiti has stood the test of time and established itself as classic rock. Read more

Published on Jun 28 2004 by J

5.0 out of 5 stars Nostalgia and Fun
This piece of nostalgia is both entertaining and sentimental. Humor and emotion play an equal roll in this movie, making it heart touching to all audiences. Read more

Published on Jun 25 2004 by Liz

5.0 out of 5 stars An American Classic
This movie is way before my time, but i still can't help but love it. I live in the small town that this film was made in, Modesto California, and was reminded about the film by... Read more

Published on Jun 14 2004 by cheddarbob

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice but overpriced
I paid $25.48 for this DVD and that was pretty high. Can anyone explain why some DVD's are SO expensive? I've seen this movie a zillion times & never tire of it. Read more

Published on April 7 2004 by CPUsports

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet trip back in time
I revisted this movie for the first time since the theatrical debut (in 1973) just a few nights ago on DVD. Read more

Published on Mar 2 2004 by J. M Quiggins

5.0 out of 5 stars Yea! 1962 comes alive for all posterity
How many times have you seen this movie? It just never gets tired, and the older I get, the more fun it is to watch it and realize how very many of the young then-unknowns have... Read more

Published on Jan 9 2004 by Peggy Vincent

4.0 out of 5 stars All about the cars!
Just saw this last night on AMC and took special note of the cars featured since they are a HUGE part of the plot, as each person's car defines their character:

1958 Chevrolet... Read more

Published on Dec 18 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars Signs of the Times
American Graffiti tracks the lives of several kids in a small California town on a late-summer night in 1962, accompanied by a pre-Beatles soundtrack and the famous, stylized DJ... Read more

Published on Dec 11 2003 by Robert Slocum

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