7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.3 |
After scoring cocaine in Mexico, then re-selling it in California, two bikers set off on a cross-country trek to New Orleans.
Starring: Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Luana Anders, Luke Askew, Toni BasilDrama | 100% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (192 kbps)
French: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Portuguese: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
movieIQ
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
I never wanted to be anybody else.
No film says "the 1960s" quite like Easy Rider, the quintessential counterculture tale of two
motorcyclists on a cross-country trip of discovery across America not of sites and sounds but of the
mind, influenced, of course, by the influx of sex, drugs, and rock and roll along the way. Few
movies are so ingrained into film culture and, by extension, American Culture, quite like this one.
The mere image of the red, white and blue strewn across a motorcycle; Steppenwolf's "Born to Be
Wild;" or Jack Nicholson's first breakthrough performance; all define not only a film but an era, a
way of life, and a slice of Americana long gone to history but still alive and kicking with every
screening of Actor/Director Dennis Hopper's film that's finely-tuned to be out of tune, the film
lacking much in the way of basic structure, character development, or a clearly-identifiable purpose,
except, of course, as something of a look at life in a time of upheaval, of uncertainty, of freedom, of
persecution, as witnessed by two generational byproducts just looking for a little cash and plenty of
open road.
Born to be easy ridin' on the highway.
Easy Rider pulls onto Blu-ray with a spectacular 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer. In true Sony fashion, this disc retains its natural grain structure -- which does appear rather heavily throughout -- that allows the film to retain an accurate and pleasing cinematic quality. Detail is generally exceptional throughout; whether the scuffs on Wyatt's red, white, and blue helmet or the textures seen on the desert rocks at the Hippie commune, the transfer showcases a solid, clear, sharp, and natural film-like image. There's also a good sense of depth; backgrounds are generally sharp and nicely rendered without much loss in detail. Colors, too, are beautifully reproduced. From the many earth tones seen in the film to the bolder and brighter hues seen on Wyatt's motorcycle, this Blu-ray never falters in translating the color palette to wonderful effect. Also featuring strong black levels and natural flesh tones, Easy Rider represents one of the finest catalogue transfers yet seen on Blu-ray. It's a pleasure to behold.
Easy Rider revs up on Blu-ray with a quality Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track enjoys but several moments of amped-up special effects. A few planes scream from front to back during a drug deal early in the film; the effect is accompanied by a fair level of bass, plenty of volume, and seamless flow from front to back. Though it's not the most lifelike or clear effect, it's nicely reproduced here and works to wonderful effect with the accompanying scene. Dialogue is generally reproduced without a hitch, though there are a few instances where it sounds unnaturally inserted into the film and is forced to compete with several background atmospherics, making for something of an unnatural sonic moment. Still, Easy Rider's soundtrack is all about the music, and its delivery here is exceptional. "Born to be Wild" features superb clarity through the entire range, including a solid low end. It sounds so good it's almost worth watching the opening title sequence twice just to revel in the exceptional delivery afforded by this Blu-ray disc. The other tracks -- "The Weight" and "I Wasn't Born to Follow," for instance -- are, likewise, wonderfully presented. All in all, Easy Rider sounds fantastic where it counts, and fans of both the film and its soundtrack should find this lossless offering reason enough to purchase the disc.
Easy Rider heads out onto Bu-ray with a few on-disc extras. First is a commentary track with Actor/Writer/Director Dennis Hopper. Hopper discusses the film's roots, writing the script with Peter Fonda, shooting locations, the film's budget, the film's Western undertones, the soundtrack serving as part of the narrative of the story, and much more. Despite some stretches of silence in the comments, fans will enjoy this track a great deal. Next is Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage (480p, 1:04:51), an in-depth documentary that recounts the history of the production from beginning to end. The cast and crew discuss writing the film, the difficulty of the shoot, the role of drugs in culture and in the film, shooting on a tight budget, casting the secondary parts and the authenticity of several of the actors, editing the film, adding the soundtrack, the film's reception and legacy, and more. Also included is standard BD-Live functionality; Sony's "MovieIQ" that offers live, up-to-date details about every scene, including cast and crew filmographies and biographies, soundtrack listings, and more; and 1080p previews for The Da Vinci Code, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Ghostbusters, A River Runs Through It, Damages: Season One, Blood: The Last Vampire, Moon, and Tyson. This package also houses a 35-page full-color booklet which contains the following: "Head Out on the Highway: The Songs of Easy Rider;" bios of stars Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson; a bio of Co-Writer Terry Southern; and the essay "Born to Be Wild: Freedom and Captivity in Hollywood Post-Easy Rider" by Travis Baker.
One of the true classics of American cinema, Easy Rider encapsulates a genre, a decade, and a way of life. Influential then and remembered as a brilliant slice of cinema now, Easy Rider defined a generation and remains a time capsule to a long-lost era of upheaval. Also solidifying Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda, and Dennis Hopper as stars to be reckoned with for decades to come, Easy Rider represents a true milestone in motion picture history. Sony's DigiBook Blu-ray release of this classic should immediately find a spot in every serious Blu-ray collection. Boasting a top-notch visual presentation, a solid lossless soundtrack, a supplemental package headlined by a fine documentary, and a handsome hardbound case, Easy Rider comes highly recommended.
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The North
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