'Bonnie & Clyde' - High-Def Digest Review

[MNTWISTER]

Watched the movie tonight on blu (Netflix rental). I enjoyed the movie, but it was one of those that is just a one time showing and not a purchase, and to rent again if I care to view it again. Nice quality transfer.

[that1guypictures]

Originally Posted by MNTWISTER

Watched the movie tonight on blu (Netflix rental). I enjoyed the movie, but it was one of those that is just a one time showing and not a purchase, and to rent again if I care to view it again. Nice quality transfer.

How did you get this on Netflix?

Whenever I type it in on Netflix it only shows it as being available on DVD and Instant viewing. No Blu-Ray option.

[Scripture]

Originally Posted by MNTWISTER

Watched the movie tonight on blu (Netflix rental). I enjoyed the movie, but it was one of those that is just a one time showing and not a purchase, and to rent again if I care to view it again. Nice quality transfer.

Yeah, I'd like to know as well. There's no option for this at Netflix on the Blu-ray format. Just curious, like the poster above me.

[bluskiessmingatme]

Warner Bros. has done an excellent job of remastering the video of this 1960s classic. Very clean, very bright, and nice colors. On a high definition video scale of 1 to 5, I would rank this as a 4 because while the print used is incredibly sharp for most of it, there are some scenes that the image is a bit soft. This is understandable, though, because the film was not made on a huge budget, and as mentioned in the documentary, Warren Beatty was going for a non-studio look by utilizing natural light whenever possible.

The audio is in mono due to the original sound elements being no longer available, but the sound is very clear.

The new three-part hour-long documentary on the making of the film is excellent, and features interview with Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman, Michael J. Pollard, and Estelle Parsons, plus various behind-the-scenes personnel, including director Arthur Penn. There are also two rediscovered scenes that had been cut from the film (no audio survives, but there are subtitles) and wardrobe tests for Beatty. It would have been nice f these had all been done in HD, not SD. There is also an interesting History Channel program about the real-life Bonnie and Clyde.

As far as the 34-page book as the Blu-ray’s packaging (the inside cover is plastic holding for the Blu-ray disc), I know that WB will be releasing other books like this for some future releases, but I truly regret to say I was unimpressed by the book. It consisted mostly of photos, ads, and bios. There was very little text about the making of the film, but I guess they knew the documentary would take care of that. Still, overall, I felt the book was very light, content-wise.

I would still rate this as a must-have.

[MNTWISTER]

Originally Posted by Scripture

Yeah, I'd like to know as well. There's no option for this at Netflix on the Blu-ray format. Just curious, like the poster above me.

I am sorry guys, I got it from Blockbuster Online (oops). I rent from both in hopes of getting the new blu-rays faster. Sorry if I got hopes up, I now remember trying Netflix first. I'll be more careful about that or just say I rented it.

[Wayne]

Bonnie and Clyde was not only a great film, but as Peter noticed in his review, a film that set a new standard for the portrayal of sex and violence on the big screen. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, while a classic, would have been so much better done under the limits that existed for B&C. Midnight Cowboy could not have been made without B&C going before it.

This is a brilliantly conceived and directed film with great performances. It deserves every honor it has received, including being included in the AFI 100 list. The PQ is incredible. For a 1960's film, it is almost beyond belief. Asking this film to compare to the transfer of a POTC is unreasonable. Yet, it comes close.

AQ is another matter. It is not great. It is, however, an honest mono track. B&C is similar to fine wine that you can enjoy many times. (I presume you have a very large cellar). Watch it now, watch it ten years from now and then again twenty years from now. You can learn as much about cinema and performances from this film as you can from Citizen Kane or The Godfather.

[djm277]

the making-of doc seems to be in non-anamorphic SD! bizarre, considering it's a newly made feature.

[Cochise]

Originally Posted by Scripture

Yeah, I'd like to know as well. There's no option for this at Netflix on the Blu-ray format. Just curious, like the poster above me.

Really?

I'm happy I left them. I got it on Blu quite easily from BB Online, haven't even had a chance to watch it yet.