7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Grant Willard sponsors drivers in a "new" form of race car driving called The Figure Eight. The rise and fall of one such driver is the whole story behind PIT STOP.
Starring: Beverly Washburn, Brian Donlevy, Richard Davalos, Ellen Burstyn, Sid HaigDrama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Sport | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
1969’s “Pit Stop” is, at its core, a racing film. Entering the gladiatorial arena known as Figure-8 racing, writer/director Jack Hill has a specific idea of screen excitement, pulling off an impressive display of the demolition derby-style sport with a limited budget, using large sections of the movie to capture the smashing and crunching of metal, set to a rock and roll tempo.
The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation certainly isn't without flaws, but a few bumpy patches during the viewing experience does little to tarnish an otherwise impressively detailed BD event. Damage spots remain, with vertical scratches, speckling, and harsh reel changes detected (some mild flicker as well). "Pit Stop" looks a little ragged at times with pronounced dips in quality, but these are minor moments. Sharpness is satisfactory, delivering strong textures on close-ups and costuming, while racing sequences retain crowd depth, allowing viewers a few pauseabale moments. Grain is handled with passable care, providing a filmic push. Delineation reaches as far as the period cinematography will go, rarely losing frame information.
The 2.0 DTS-HD sound mix does display some wear and tear, with hiss present throughout the listening experience, along with periodic pops, but there's nothing that distracts. Dialogue exchanges are full and dramatic, managing different acting styles with clarity. Music retains definition, with passable instrumentation and comfortable range. Atmospherics are in position, delivering a rich sense of racing life, while car crashes and roaring engines keep their heavier rumble.
For cheap thrills, "Pit Stop" has its moments, with Figure-8 racing inherently cinematic, giving the effort a boost in oddity and intensity. The rest of the picture settles into a comfortable dramatic rhythm, punctuated with a terrifically cold-blooded conclusion. It's pokey in places, but "Pit Stop" is an exceptional time capsule and moderately engaging feature.
1979
Vinegar Syndrome Archive / Sold Out
1993
Traficantes de pánico
1980
Killers Die Hard
1978
Cycle Vixens
1978
Soul Brother
1974
1986
1989
Karate Killer
1976
1977
1994
Portrait of Violence
1969
Vinegar Syndrome Archive
1985
1972
1979
1991
SOLD OUT / Vinegar Syndrome Archive
1984
1989
Vinegar Syndrome Archive
1996
1976