Dazed and Confused

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.


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: Wait, people actually like this film?
Review: I didn't want to see this film. I had no desire to watch teenage imbeciles in the seventies (like anything has changed). But I had it on a certain channel and I was watching something and then this film came on after it and I tried to turn it but the remote was out of batteries. And I am lazy.

Basically these senior idiots run after little boys and are obsessed with spanking them. Again, people actually like this film?

Rebels of the world unite! Drugs and/or drinking is fun! We promise!

Rating:
Summary: Too focused on the guys
Review: I was attracted to this DVD because of its sparkly psychadelic cover, which shows you should never judge a DVD by its cover, cos this DVD was pointless. It's hardly qualifies for a special edition, as there's barely an extras, and to think there are films out there crying out for a special edition but aren't entertained - Titanic for example. There's lot of alcohol & drug (ab)use in this, although the ill-effects are never really shown. The film is more focused on the guys experiences, rather than the girls, and actresses like Milla Jovovich have virtually no lines to say, and just act stoned all the time.

There's some great actors in this, in the time when some of them were virtual unknowns and the rest were unknowns. These include: Jason London, Adam Goldberg (Eddie from Friends), Matthew McConaughey (really unrecognisable), Marissa Ribisi (Giovanni's twin, who's also in Friends), Joey Lauren Adams, Ben Affleck and Parker Posey. Apparently, Renee Zellweger also appears in this, in a blink-and-you'll-miss-her-role (I blinked), but she's not listed in the cast list.

I wasn't impressed with this movie, just the sparkly cover. Sorry.

(I've also done this review three times, and it's getting shorter & shorter each time, cos I'm having to retype it!)


Rating:
Summary: What happened to Christin Hinojosa???
Review: First off, this is the best teen movie hands down. Awesome movie to get drunk to. The new special edition DVD does kinda suck though. Hopefully Criterion will release their own edition with commentary and some footage from the 10 year anniversary party. I get kinda angry though, each time I watch it because I realize how lame my generation is. -Sigh- Ok, but I digress. What the hell happened to Christin Hinojosa? She just faded away. I thought she was very cute in the movie, and I always wondered how she looked now, and if she was in any other movies. I did some online searches, and the only thing that came up was that she was doing anti-war activism. I guess she gave up acting.

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!!