A few words about...™ Bonnie and Clyde -- in Blu-Ray

Robert Harris · 03-16-2008, 08:18 AM

An absolutely gorgeous job of scanning and image manipulation down to HD quality, Warner's new Blu-Ray of Bonnie and Clyde is much like viewing a dye transfer print of the film, but with a bit less overall saturation and a higher apparent resolution.

There is something special about screening a new film with neither reviews nor comments from any source. This precisely how I saw the film for the first time in 1967 -- at an employee screening in NY, with no idea what was going to be on screen. It was one of those situations in which the power of a film done well comes through and stays with you.

Four decades later, the film holds up magnificently, with all of the visceral impact still in place.

Bonnie and Clyde is not only one of the great films of the '60s, but should retain a special place in many people's list of the top 100 films from any decade.

This is a meticulously produced BD disc of the highest quality, that comes Extremely Highly Recommended, and should be a part of any serious collection of cinema on home video.

RAH

**HTF Ads**

David Wilkins · 03-16-2008, 11:30 AM

Great as always to hear your impressions, RAH.

Can't wait for the pre-order to land in my mailbox.

Peter Neski · 03-16-2008, 02:23 PM

great to hear,I wan't crazy about the HD Net version,hope this is better

MatthewA · 03-16-2008, 06:06 PM

I wonder if HDNet Movies gets pre-existing 1080i masters.

Either way this'll be on the MatthewA Birthday Wish List.

Keith Paynter · 03-17-2008, 11:02 AM

Thank you, Mr. Harris, for convincing me to finally add this film to my permanent collection. There's something amazing about this film because it has the ability to be both brutal and charming at the same time. It would never occupy any of my shelf space though, until in a worthy package of bonus materials and image quality. This is it.

Ronald Epstein · 03-17-2008, 11:20 AM

Mr. Harris,

You are preaching to the choir here in regards to hailing
Bonnie and Clyde as one of the best films ever made.
It's a film that I also saw at a young age and instantly fell in
love with --- particularly the performance by Estelle Parsons.

I am waiting anxiously for this Blu-ray release and am very
grateful to you for giving us an early taste of what we should
expect.

Robert Harris · 03-17-2008, 11:57 AM

Ron,

You were allowed into the theater in 1967?

RAH

Keith Paynter · 03-17-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

Ron,

You were allowed into the theater in 1967?

RAH

I'm sure he meant on home video, but in that case, how did his parents let him watch it - I mean, who's supervising these whippersnappers anyway!??!

(Actually, in a related incident, I did see M*A*S*H as a precocious six-year-old, when my parents saw it at the drive-in, and the three of us (my brother, sister and I) were piled in the back seat of our car and put to "bed". Saves on the cost of a babysitter, eh?

Josh Dial · 03-17-2008, 06:41 PM

I will be buying this BD release, partly because of the film, partly because of the endorsement by RAH.

Ronald Epstein · 03-18-2008, 04:35 AM

Quote:

You were allowed into the theater in 1967?

No, silly!

I first saw this film at Summer camp in the early '70s.

I had to be, at best, 10 years old. It was shown from one
of those 16mm projectors on a bedsheet. It was just awesome!
In hindsight, I am surprised such a violent film was shown to us,
but things were a lot different back then. In my high school film
class we were watching R-rated fare. Can't get away with that kind
of stuff anymore in today's society.

Cees Alons · 03-18-2008, 05:08 AM

Quote:

You were allowed into the theater in 1967?

I'm sure he wasn't, but I was. I'd just left the army (drafted) and it was a revelation.

The song was on the radio for months.

I own both SD DVD versions (1997, 1999, the first one was P&S

).

Not trying to thread-crap here, but I'm getting the HD version as well: just the other, uhm, colour.

Can't wait!

Cees