Gone in 60 Seconds

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Summary: WOW, WOW I've watch the Original Gone in 60 Secs 8 times now
Review: Anyone who is a car buff or who was around in the 60's and 70's has got to love this film. I've watched and watched it. I've made notes of all the locations so I can visit when I go out to Calif next year. I see the muscle cars and the good looking 70's babes. This film can be watched over and over and each time you catch something new--a line, a certain nuance, the names of the stores, what everyone is wearing, etc. And, you wonder where are they all now. You don't see current films that have been filmed on location with actual people and on actual streets like this film. It is great. [e-mail]

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Summary: borring
Review: I had seen the new Gone in 60 Seconds and wanted to see the old one. After seeing it I was greatly disappointed. The plot was boring and especially the 40 minute car case. The guy just drives arround wrecking cars and you wonder when its going to end. But this is my opinion and you might like it I don't know so rent it and watch for yourself before you buy it.

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Summary: what happened to the music
Review: The music score was my only disapointment, I was really looking forward to hearing some of those corney old 70's songs. I hated the elivator type background music, that replaced those old songs and background sounds. The picture quality has been greatly improved. the film just doesn't have the feal of the original. But it is still good, I am just hard to please.

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Summary: Ain't like the old one but still good!
Review: I've been a big fan of this movie since it came out. In High School we thought it was "the" greatest car chase flick. Again, like the rest of you, I got older and started remembering things that I didn't want to forget and being able now to buy almost whatever I want, Amazon has brought a bunch of great memories to my house that I can share with my son. (He thinks I'm the bomb) This version is the same one you are expecting and I'm happy with it. The soundtrack has changed a little and the movie seems to be just a bit off. I can't figure it out. Don't get me wrong, I love the movie and can't wait to show my brother(s) when they get in town. It just seems "different". Oh course, Billy and the Cadillac are in this..."Catch you later Billy!"

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Summary: Looks Great, Sounds Awful
Review: Like the early CD releases of classic albums, sometimes technology gets a little overzealous and tries to re-invent something that doesn't need re-inventing. Unfortunately the DVD release of Gone In Sixty Seconds is about the worst example I've seen yet of the phenomenon, taking the bottom spot away from the botched remixes of all the old ZZTop albums of the 70's. This is a five star film for me, one of the ten greatest films of the seventies. A DVD edition should be a boon to all fans of the film, and while it does provide some insights with the director's commentary and the additional features, for some reason the "restorers" seemed to be trying to compete with the new (and extremely mediocre) Nicholas Cage version of the film. The totally redone musical sound track is utterly awful. It doesn't fit anything in the film at all, doesn't befit a film of the 1970's, and stomps all over some wonderfully scored moments in the original. Even the title theme song has vanished, replaced by an electronic mumbo-jumbo that sounds as if it was lifted from a bargain porno film. The plusses are that the movie can be seen for the first time in letterbox format, the visual looks fabulous, and the commentary and extras are interesting, but I was so disgusted with the opening scene I immediately jumped ahead to discover that the entire sound track had been doctored. This is not a restoration, it's just a mess. I am still hoping for, and waiting for, a true DVD restoration of the film. I doubt if we'll see a Dolby surround-sound version of "Citizen Kane" any time soon... heck even my kids know that high-tech sound wasn't around back then and certainly not on Halicki's budget. Some films, horrific as it may sound, were actually recorded in monophonic! This DVD release is as much of an insult to the original as if Hank Williams Jr, Garth Brooks, and Barbara Mandrell re-did all of the songs in Robert Altman's Nashville. It is an insult to the fans of this film who have kept it alive all these years. My pan n' scan VHS copy is in a safe place for now, just in case I want to see the real thing.

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Summary: For true fans of the original classic: here's the lowdown
Review: First of all, I've loved this movie since I was 6 years old. My mom and dad saw it in the cinema -- more than once -- while they were dating in 1974. To say the least, this title holds special significance in my whole family. Which is why it's great to see it re-released on both VHS and DVD for all to enjoy.

For those of you who, like me, have every scene, every line, every sound effect of the original movie committed to memory, you will be shocked when you play the "remastered" version. For one thing, the picture is beautiful. It's never looked so good. And the soundtrack has never sounded so good, either -- because it's been completely redone from scratch. That's the other thing. The sound effects are all new. Gone are the authentic, live-recorded engine sounds, tire screeches, and other hard effects. Gone also is the original music, including my favorite tune, "I Do Hope The Man Doesn't Catch Me", and the title song, "Gone In Sixty Seconds". For someone looking for a true re-release of the authentic, original film, this is disappointing. But for me, someone who already owns an original copy of the old MEDIA videotape release of the film, I see this remastered version just as a fun modernization of one of my favorite flicks.

The new sound effects are beautiful. I am a sound designer among other things, and some of the new crashes and guttural V8 engine sounds made me drool. They may not be true-to-life anymore, but they are great in their own right. It's almost surreal, seeing all these old muscle cars, but hearing crystal-clear digital stereo effects. By contrast, the disturbingly mono original dialogue track underlaid beneath them sounds almost ridiculous! Fortunately, there is no need for much talking during the 40-minute chase, easily the highlight of the film.

In short, to really enjoy the remastered version of Gone In 60 Seconds, you've got to take it for what it is -- a modern "refreshment" of the original film. It's been remixed to appeal more to the same young crowd who enjoyed the 2000 remake with Nicholas Cage. If you are a true Gone In 60 Seconds fan, however, don't stop here. Go in search of the original 1974 film in all its glory, on its original video cassette. A true fan must indeed have both, for the audio differences between the two versions are so distinct, you could almost consider them two separate films.

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Summary: I FINALY FOUND YOU AFTER 26 YEARS..........
Review: I saw this movie at the age of 8 years old, in french. I was mezmorised and searched for anyone who remembered this movie or had any information about this movie for the last 26 years to no avail. I became an avid car chase scenes lover after that fatefull day in 1974. I can always remember the fainting old lady that got her car out of the car wash, all banged up...........

My treck has finaly ended; I'm ordering "La Grande Casse" and fulfilling a dream left from childhood.

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Summary: WARNING TO ALL FANS OF THE ORIGINAL FILM...
Review: First of all, I love this movie. I was quite surprised to discover it's release on DVD, and needless to say, I grabbed it. There is no doubt that this disc is loaded with extras, but sadly, the claim that the film has been "fully restored" is extremely misleading. The advantage of these review forums, is to provide insight, from someone who has already bought the product, to those interested. And, that's what I'm here to do.

Here are the DVD's special features, as listed: LETTERBOXED PRESENTATION (1.85:1), REMASTERED SOUNDTRACK (in Dolby 5.1 and DTS), NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FOOTAGE, AUDIO COMMENTARY: Jack Vacek (Cinematographer) and Warner Leighton (Editor), 3 TRAILERS (The original theatrical trailers for "GONE IN 60 SECONDS" and "THE JUNKMAN", and another for the remastered version of "GONE IN 60 SECONDS"), EXTENSIVE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PHOTO GALLERY, DVD-ROM CAPABILITIES, INTRODUCTION with Denice Halicki (H.B. Halicki's widow) and "Eleanor".

Sounds very enticing, right? That's what I thought. Hell, to be honest, I really didn't care about the extras, as long as I could get H.B. Halicki's original classic on DVD! Naturally, I immediately put the DVD in. Then, my dissapointment began.

Now, what the packaging WON'T tell you, and what I'm about to, is that this isn't, in fact, a "fully restored" version of the film, but rather, one that has been doctored. Unfortunately, the entire film has been RE-SCORED with crappy music, supposedly aimed at "updating" this classic film, thereby dumping ALL the music from the original cut. Yep, the catchy opening title "GONE IN 60 SECONDS" tune is gone, along with the "SUPERMAN" tune, and everything else, as well. Needless, to say, I am very disappointed. Why do people feel the need to mess with movies, like they do? I don't think H.B. Halicki would have been proud with what his widow has done with the rights to the film, so far.

I probably wouldn't have minded this DVD release, if it had offered the original mono soundtrack on a separate audio channel, like most other remastered DVD's offer. Then, I would have been fine with it, as long as I could have the version I wanted to see. Instead, anyone with hopes to get a brand new copy on either DVD or video of this classic car theft film, in it's original format, are pretty much screwed. And, that's too bad. So, my advice is to stick with the original out-of-print MEDIA Home Entertainment release. Believe me, that tape will still be in great demand for years to come.

One more thing, there is a website: www.gonein60seconds.com. Perhaps, this would be a great place for true fans of the film to file their complaints. And, who knows, maybe someday we will see the original version released in a respective manner on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Gone in 60 seconds
Review: If your into cars, adventure and suspence this is a great movie. I see this movie in 20 years being compared to 2 lane black top and many other cult classics. See for your self you will not be disappointed.

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Summary: Awesome drive-in classic
Review: This is the original classic drive in movie. Starring Toby halicki, produced by Toby Halicki and directed by Toby Halicki! This guy takes you step by step on how to steal cars! He rips off limo's, Pantera's, Parnelli Jones' big ole Bronco too. The chase scene is by far the best in any movie ever. Over 90 cars get smashed. The 2000 version of this movie is pale in comparison to the classic 1974 version!