7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
They call it The Endless Summer, the ultimate surfing adventure, crossing the globe in search of the perfect wave. From the uncharted waters of West Africa, to the shark-filled seas of Australia, to the tropical paradise of Tahiti and beyond, two California surfers, Robert August and Mike Hynson, accomplish in a few months what most people never get to do in a lifetime... they live their dream.
Starring: Michael Hynson, Robert August, Bruce Brown (I), Terence Bullen, Wayne MiyataDocumentary | 100% |
Sport | 33% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy (on disc)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, Bruce Brown's documentary film "The Endless Summer" (1966) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Monterey Video. Unfortunately, there are no supplemental features included on this disc. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Mike and Robert
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Bruce Brown's The Endless Summer arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Monterey Video.
The film looks as I expected -- not overly sharp or well detailed but still pleasing (it was shot with a 16mm camera). Contrast levels are mostly stable. Colors are also stable and natural. Though soft and fuzzy at times the image are free of serious compression artifacts, so the limitations on display are clearly inherited. There are no macroblocking patterns either. A few damage marks still pop up here and there, but overall the film has been cleaned up and stabilized very well. All in all, I feel confident stating that more than likely this Blu-ray release of The Endless Summer will be the film's definitive presentation for years to come. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There are two audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. For the record, Monterey Video have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.
The difference between the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and the English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is fairly small. There are a couple of songs by The Sandals that are slightly better exposed on the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, but not much else. However, this is not to say that there are any serious compromises with the audio. The overwhelming majority of the documentary footage is pretty basic and simply does not benefit too much from the loseless audio. For the record, Bruce Brown's narration is always clear and stable.
Unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this Blu-ray disc.
Bruce Brown's The Endless Summer is a casual, colorful, truly entertaining escapist film. It is also the ultimate surfing film, one that inspired generations of surfers to look for the perfect wave. If you wonder whether it is worth seeing, or owning, your answer is at the top of this page - The Endless Summer was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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