Rating: 
Summary: Dazed and Confused...A Coherent Film!!!
Review: One of the definitive movies depicting the 70's teen culture, DAZED AND CONFUSED works on all levels from the characters, the dress, the hair, the pot smooking, beer drinking, and of course the soundtrack. School has ended, summer vacation is started and all the stoners, geeks, jocks, muscle car racers, and all the other clicks are going to celebrate one way or another. There's the hazing of the future freshman (guys get wacked by paddles, girls go through car washes), the jocks are going to do their best to stay away from booze, pot, and women for the coaches (yeah..right!!), a party at a house is derailed by the parents courtesy of an unsuspecting delivery man, and a future freshman is going to have his first taste of partying with the big boys, staying out all night, and getting the girl of his dreams etc...Look for for future stars Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, and Milla Jovovich in minor roles. Outstanding performances by Jason London as "Pink" and Wiley Wiggins as Mitch. Overall, a film (if you were a teen or young adult in this era) that brings back fond memories and that it wasn't all that bad...and the music is terrific.
Rating: 
Summary: "The 70's...oh my god, they obviously suck!"
Review: That is one of many classic lines from this movie that makes it a classic. However, this movie could have been set in the 70's, 80's, 90's or 2003 and people would have seen themselves or their friends in this outstanding cast of characters. We all lived through high school, and we can all identify with the characters depicted in Dazed and Confused.For example, there's the kid who's 27 and still hanging out with all the high schoolers, still trying to date high school freshmen 13 years his junior (Matthew McConaghey). For some kids, you can tell that high school will be the pinnacle of their sad, pathetic lives, and Ben Affleck plays this character to a tee. There are also the ludicrously bitchy and snobby girls (Parker Posey), the perpetually nice and perky girls (Michelle Burke), and the kid who comes to parties "to drink some beer and kick some ass." (Nicky Katt) This movie is funny because it is so true. High school is pretty much the same regardless of decade or location. You have your jocks and your intellectuals, your snobs and the kids who are nice to everybody. In that way it's like real life, but in real life you're not bound together with 800 other kids you grew up with and who know your entire embarassing life story. This movie depicting only one day in the life of a high school student is hilarious and touching. Though it will make you laugh out loud, it will also bring back memories of feeling inadequate or ugly that were magnified by the clausterphobic setting of high school. This movie features some stellar performances by actors who went on to become very famous. Though the characters in this movie could have gone to school at any time period in the 20th century, the 70's setting adds to the hilarity. Dive into this world of bell bottoms, bongs and Black Sabbath and try not to cringe when you recognize yourself or your friends in the wonderful cast of characters.
Rating: 
Summary: Deserves Better
Review: The 3-star review above reflects my disappointment in this DVD which I haven't bought & have no intentions to. The film, otherwise, is a 4-star pic, for sure.
There's so much I like about this unaffected film, but very little that hasn't been stated already. Although the "party" aspect of this picture is part of its charm, to be sure, what I most appreciate about it is the true character of teen life & 70s period flavor, captured with the help of the most appealing, magical cast this side of American Graffiti, to which this film owes a great deal. Something familiar & real comes through in the backwoods parties, initiation rituals and lost glories that many of us may look back upon with bittersweet remembrance, while other unforutnates - as we see through some characters - never move on, remaining stuck in a perpetual high school fog. But what about those who still have time? For most young people, these are the times that set the template for the future course in life. Will it be one of conformity? Will it be one of lucidity? Will Slater be another Wooderson? For now, the road leads to an Aerosmith concert. Great, but then what?
Not to blow my own horn, but these messages are often overlooked by audience members taken by the spectacle of "good times" on the face of the story. But while these are important themes, Dazed & Confused is certainly a very fun, humorous, special movie that should be enjoyed on all these levels (although I would argue that its purpose is not to condone most of the behavior portrayed within). Considering the fanbase its built, this so-called "special edition" is an incredible cheat, if not insultingly thin. As it's been mentioned in other reviews, Linklater did in fact plan on doing a commentary. Here's some info from the Nov. 5th edition of Entertainment Weekly:
"Dazed fans will be confused about what happened to a promised commentary by director Richard Linklater; paltry extras don't extend much beyond 14 minutes of deleted scenes (with more of Ben Affleck and Parker Posey as senior sadists), a witless new faux anti-pot short put together by the disc's producers, and a Vans ad. In a personal note spread across the Internet since appearing on a blog by actor Wiley Wiggins - who calls this the 'Ultimate Insult Edition' - Linklater laments the studio's 'continuing lameness toward this title...I feel like I'm in an 11-year echo chamber with these idiots.' He tells Wiggins he turned down Universal's commentary request after it spurned his attempts at including a behind-the-scenes doc and 10-year-reunion footage, 'because, after all these years, they're rushing the title out to make some sort of deadline."
Linklater and Wiggins, hoping for an eventual Criterion edition, decline to comment further. Universal insists 'we have received positive response' to the DVD's 'substantial bonus features.' Despondend Daze-ees may have a different message for whomever planned this 'Party': Lay off the bong!"
Kind of surprising treatment after the highly-successful "School of Rock." Let's keep our fingers crossed that Criterion will pull through!!
Rating:
Summary: Flashcrap Edition
Review: The 4 stars are for the movie. While this DVD is terrible in terms of extras I must confess I did buy it because it was cheap, has a great glittery cover, is anamorphic (the last one wasn't) and has a Dolby/DTS 5.1 soundtrack instead of the cruddy 2.0 sound on the last one.
The movie is great but the DVD ain't up to scratch. Linklater has said he is working on HIS OWN special edition with Criterion, which will include loads of cool stuff (much like Criterion have recently done with Linklater's Slacker). Universal denied Linklater this right with their 'Flashback' release so sit tight and wait for the definitive version.
If available cheap I am allowing you to buy to tide you over. Any REAL fan of the film wouldn't buy this version for an everlasting keep.
Rating:
Summary: Now with 5.1 sound, but nothing more to get excited about
Review: This is easily a cult classic! It is my favorite party movie.
The extras thrown in (a few deleted scenes) is nothing really necessary, in fact, I'm glad that they were removed. They showed some of the characters in a darker persona that would hurt how I would like the character overall. And, for this new remastered release, I don't much care for the picture on the cover. It looks really cheap. The psychedelic cover of the first release looks much cooler and puts more emphasis on the seventies charm.
Now let me explain the film:
This is one of those movies that don't really have a plot or a goal (such as our teen-age lives in the 70's). It's just about 10 or so little semi-stories involving about 24 different actors and actresses. All these characters share a common goal: "What do you want to do?" Nobody seems to think they're going anywhere, so just getting together with their fellow classmates after the last day of school for a beer bash at someone's house is very likely the only thing that matters right now. Everyone sort of questions their existence, they think their life is a bore. We may have thought this then, but we sure do miss those empty, easy-going days now.
Many agree that this is just another "American Graffiti" but set in 1976, which is the year I was a high school freshman. I guess the movie "American Pie" is for today's high school teen. Thank God, "Dazed and Confused" is not nearly as tasteless.
"Dazed and Confused" came out about 1993. What makes this film work so well is that the 24 main characters are all unknown actors (at the time). Just like "American Graffiti", many nobody's became big stars afterwards. In 1993, we really didn't know Matthew McConnahey, Ben Affleck, and maybe about 3 others who have gone on to do other movies. The other stars in this film will always be remembered only as the teen they portrayed in this film...which makes this film, all the more, precious and a gem to get lost in. However, I know this film has to have a cult following. Wouldn't it be great if it were possible to get these 24 actors and actresses together again for a sequel?
This movie touches on the many nuances of personalities that I'm sure everyone knew somebody "just like somebody here". But, there is one really "dumb" line used in this film. It still irks me when I hear Mike (Adam Goldberg) say "I wanna dance!" It's really out of text when he describes how he doesn't like his decision for wanting to "Help needy people" after college. But, other cliches' are priceless. I love McConnahey's approach when he says "All right! All Right! All Riiight! I've adopted it myself. Oh, and that classic line "Are you cool, Man?"
This is truly a fun party movie to have on with friends over (you know, the 30+ crowd). Linklater really captured the essence of the moment.
"Dazed and Confused" captures mid seventies culture, all the cliches', nuances, and teenage confusion that we all shared together, back then. Rent it first, either you'll relate to it whole-heartedly, or it just wasn't your era at all. This film might just serve to please a small specific age group, just like "American Graffiti", and "The Big Chill". Either you were there, or you weren't. We understand.
Buy this film in the twin pack that comes with "Fast Times at Ridgemont High". This film also comes in the new 5.1 stereo sound. These are two excellent films to have together.
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