7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.4 |
Best friends Anthony, Dignan, and Bob stage a wildly complex, mildly successful robbery of a small bookstore, then go "on the lam". During their adventures, Anthony falls in love with a South American housekeeper, Inez, and they befriend local thief extraordinaire Mr. Henry.
Starring: Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Robert Musgrave, Andrew Wilson, Lumi CavazosDrama | 100% |
Crime | 17% |
Heist | 6% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
As one of the most unique and gifted directors currently working, Wes Anderson has carved out a very special artistic niche for his quirky and often strangely emotional films. Mr. Anderson has developed an exceedingly artistic visual style that pays homage to Stanley Kubrick, Jean Renoir, François Truffaut as well as French still photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue, while still maintaining a unique edge and personality all to its own. It may come as a surprise to some readers that Mr. Anderson is not the product of Hollywood royalty, rather, he’s a self taught film aficionado from the suburbs of Houston. Mr. Anderson’s films have all met with a large amount of critical praise and he is one of the few genuine auteurs working today. A Wes Anderson film can always be counted on to be visually beautiful, impeccably written, perfectly scored and filled to the brim with outstanding performances. His first film, Bottle Rocket, is no exception. Born from his collaboration with fellow University of Texas student, Owen Wilson, the duo wrote and produced a short film version of their idea and successfully pitched the film to Columbia pictures. The rest, as they say, is history. Thanks to the Criterion Collection, the film is now available on Blu-ray in a spectacular high definition package that, for the first time, allows viewers an early glimpse at movie-making genius.
Dignan aids Anthony's "escape" from the mental institution
As one would expect from the folks at Criterion, Bottle Rocket arrives on Blu-ray
looking better than ever. Framed precisely in the film's original theatrical aspect ratio of
1.85:1 and encoded with AVC Mpeg-4, Bottle Rocket exhibits all the qualities of
projected film. Grain is present and delivered in levels appropriate for a twelve year old
low-budget film. It's never distracting and adds to the movie's remarkable cinematography
from Robert Yeoman. The film also displays rich, vibrant colors and many instances of stark
primary hues used to highlight the moods of the characters. It's a stunning presentation
that could only be possible with Blu-ray's exceptional visual fidelity.
Distracting artifacts are also never an issue with Bottle Rocket. I didn't detect a hint
of edge enhancement, haloes, ringing or any of the normal culprits that detract from the
viewing experience. Black levels are robust and the film displays an exceptional level of
contrast throughout. Image detail is also outstanding with well-defined skin and fabric
elements. The image also displays a great sense of dimensionality and depth of focus. It's
worth noting, that as with every Criterion Collection release, the film's creators were
involved in the transfer process. Both Cinematographer Robert Yeoman and Director Wes
Anderson supervised the newly minted Blu-ray transfer. Therefore, it's doubtful that
Bottle Rocket will ever look better.
Bottle Rocket also benefits on Blu-ray from the inclusion of a fantastic 5.1 DTS HD- Master Audio soundtrack. Criterion has clearly demonstrated their renowned commitment to quality by utilizing the best of the best technologies in their initial Blu-ray releases. Hopefully film fans will rejoice at these technologies being used on lower budget films that have never had such careful white glove treatment on home video before. As such, Bottle Rocket is primarily dialogue driven with a nice surround mix of Mark Mothersbaugh's eclectic score and Mr. Anderson's favorite British Invasion tracks. There's not a whole lot of surround activity to speak of, but the aforementioned dialogue and music is presented in a flawless manner. I've stressed on many occasions the importance of utilizing lossless audio on every release, regardless of action scenes. Bottle Rocket once again proves this to be true with crisp dialogue and rich, enveloping music. Bottle Rocket sounds fantastic.
Here's what's included:
· Commentary by director/co-writer Anderson and co-writer/actor Owen Wilson
· The Making of "Bottle Rocket": an original documentary by filmmaker Barry Braverman
featuring Anderson, James L. Brooks, James Caan, Temple Nash Jr., Kumar Pallana, Polly
Platt, Mark Mothersbaugh, Robert Musgrave, Richard Sakai, David and Sandy Wasco,
Andrew and Luke and Owen Wilson, and Robert Yeoman
· The original thirteen-minute black-and-white Bottle Rocket short film from 1992
· Eleven deleted scenes
· Anamorphic screen test, storyboards, location photos, and behind-the-scenes
photographs by Laura Wilson
· Murita Cycles, a 1978 short film by Braverman
· The Shafrazi Lectures, no. 1: Bottle Rocket
· Booklet featuring an essay by executive producer James L. Brooks, an appreciation by
Martin Scorsese, and original artwork by Ian Dingman
Wow. Criterion has really done a fantastic job with the supplements selected for Bottle
Rocket. Just about every aspect of the film's production is well covered in the set and
the inclusion of the "Making Of" featurette adds a tremendous amount of background to the
film's development. The Wes Anderson / Owen Wilson commentary is informative, funny and
entirely entertaining. It's a definite must for fans of the film. The real prize in this set is the
original black and white Bottle Rocket short film from 1992. It's intriguing to see the
story's transition from idea to the big screen. Wes Anderson's unique visual style is evident
even in this early film, proving his expertise is more than accidental. The remaining features
veer into the area of written critical acclaim with prominent filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese
praising the film and an odd "Shafrazi Lecture" delivered on the film's themes. There are
also a number of interesting deleted scenes included which offer a glimpse at the editing
process and story development for the film. Bottle Rocket fans are bound to be
thrilled with this exemplary set of additional features. Criterion continues to impress!
Bottle Rocket is an exceptional debut film from a startling talent. Wes Anderson has become one of the most acclaimed directors of his generation and it is a thrill to experience his debut film with the quality and attention to detail that Blu-ray and Criterion provide. The film looks marvelous and film-like on Blu-ray with rich colors that showcase the film's outstanding cinematography from Robert Yeoman. Audio is also well presented in a fantastic DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 mix that delivers crystal clear dialogue and robust musical cues. Supplements are also well thought out with the original 1992 black and white version of Bottle Rocket as a definitive highlight. I hope that this Criterion release is the motivation for many people to experience Bottle Rocket for the first time. It's a remarkable and rewarding film that is sure to become a classic. This Wes Anderson fan is thrilled to finally see a Wes Anderson film in glorious Blu-ray high definition. Highly Recommended!
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