6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
When the police pick up Gator McKlusky for running moonshine, they agree to let him out of jail if he will help them capture the key figures in his moonshine operation. Since the suspected ring leader is the man who killed Gator's little brother, he agrees to help out the cops to get himself out of prison and get his revenge.
Starring: Burt Reynolds, Jennifer Billingsley, Ned Beatty, Bo Hopkins, Matt ClarkCrime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | 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 2.0
English SDH
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Perfecting his good ol’ boy screen persona, Burt Reynolds makes a mighty fine southern hero in 1973’s “White Lightning,” a roughhouse revenge picture that makes the most out of its star’s mischievous charms and Arkansas locations. Directed by Joseph Sargent and scripted by William Norton, “White Lightning” doesn’t sustain its excitability, but the first hour packs quite a punch, setting up a suitably enraged story that gives Reynolds plenty to work with as the movie unleashes all sorts of car chases and collisions of masculinity.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation carries "White Lightning" to BD with a good amount of fine detail, working through erratic cinematography to isolate sweaty faces and decrepit farms. Texture is also good with skin particulars, which retain their natural pinkness. Colors are satisfactory, bringing out county greenery and costuming. Contrast is challenged during low-lit scenes, but blacks remain accessible. Grain is comfortable and filmic. Print shows some speckling and debris, but no overt damage.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers the basics for the "White Lightning" listening experience, with emphasis on dialogue exchanges, which sound crisp and clean, only hampered by the minor presence of hiss. Scoring is pronounced and supportive, carrying the southern feel of the picture with confidence, nicely balanced with the performances. Outdoor atmospherics add to the mix, while action brings some depth, contributing a range of squealing tires and revving engines.
Carrying on for too long (halfheartedly exploring counterculture in small town U.S.A.) , "White Lightning" eventually runs out of gas, working to manage a storyline that doesn't always emphasize the charged emotions that highlight the opening of the picture. Still, "White Lightning" manages to climax with a kick, quickly reminding viewers of its capacity to tear up nature and smash cars. Who needs a plot about moonshine distribution and tax evasion when there's Burt Reynolds squealing around in a speeding car, making sure Ned Beatty pays for his crimes.
2010
Reissue
2010-2015
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1965
2016
1985
1958
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1974
2022
1981
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1976
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