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Summary: Special DVD Edition Is Special!
Review: The Feb. 1, 2005 2-disc Special Edition release of "CHARIOTS OF FIRE" is very special! First of all, on disc 1, we get a very nice wide-screen (1.85:1 ratio)version of the feature and the option of a very interesting commentary track by director Hugh Hudson.
Disc 2 offers two new documentaries that are way above average. "Wings on Their Heels: The Making of Chariots of Fire" has interviews with almost all of the surviving artists who appear in or worked on the film. We get a great understanding of just how difficult it was to get the film made at all. The excitement of Oscar night, when the film unexpectedly took the "Best Picture" honor, is captured with clips from the show and new information from the producer, director and actor Ben Cross. A very informative job has been done in helping us to understand how this "cinderella" film made it from original screenplay to one of the finest films of the 1980s. The "thrill" and the "pride" that the cast and creators had in making the film is strongly felt.
The second documentary, "Chariots of Fire: A Reunion", was filmed in England and reunites together in one room, three of the actors along with the producer, director and cinematographer. They converse back and forth, sharing many special experiences that they had with the film. I found this to be fascinating.
The third "Extra" in the inclusion of 16 minuntes of very interesting scenes that were not used in the final film, including a scene that appears in the British version of the film that was removed for its American prints. Also there are two screens tests, one each for Ben Cross and Ian Charelson that are fun to see -- and the U.S. theatrical trailer.
I am pleased with this DVD and highly recommend it -- "CHARIOTS OF FIRE" now has the quality release that it deserves!
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Summary: The Brilliant Resurgence Of The British Movie Industry
Review: The time is 1924. The finest athletes of England have begun their quest for glory in the Olympic Games. Their success will win honor for their nation - but for two champion runners, the honor at stake is a personal one...and their challenge one from within.Chariots Of fire tells the exciting, inspiring true story of Harold Abrahams, Eric Liddell, and the dedicated team of competitors who brought Great Britain one of her most legendary victories in international sports. It is also the film that marked the brilliant resurgence of the British movie industry - and won four 1981 Academy Awards - including Best Picture. Virtually a succession of smashing debuts, which it proved to be for Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers, Nicholas Farrell, Alice Krige, Jeremy Sinden, and Daniel Gerroll in their first major film roles, and Hugh Hudson (a veteran of British Television)directing his first theatrical feature. With such other wonderful talents by veteran actors Sir Ian Holm, Sir John Gielgud, Lindsay Anderson, and Nigel Davenport, the collective people together shaped a film whose impact is still lasting and unique. From its bracing footage of competition and pagentry, to the haunting image of the English runners on the beach, to the extraordinary music score by Vangelis, Chariots Of Fire has left its mark on film fans everywhere. It also has proven that British filmmakers and film crews are the best, and only the best, in the world. If you are looking for the finest in entertainment, art films, or otherwise, you need not look any furthur than Chariots Of Fire. The finest of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
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Summary: FINALLY, a DVD worthy of this great movie
Review: This is one of the greatest films of all time, but I am not here to write about the film's artistic merits. The previous DVD edition (snap case, pan & scan, 2.0 sound) was just obscenely bad, such that I offered the following review:
The greatest movie of all time is betrayed by the worst DVD product of all time. This beautiful film is obscured by both the miserably grainy picture and the sorry full-screen format. You can't even read the end titles. Vangelis's awesome score is muted by a constant hiss. Warner Home Video should be ashamed. This film, and film lovers, deserve much better.
At long last, this great film gets its due in a widescreen remastering. The Disc 2 stuff is OK; the "making of" documentary is interesting, the "reunion" is not, and there are a few deleted scenes, including one very good one that was unfortunately edited out of the US release because it involved cricket. All that notwithstanding, it's the feature disc that is now able to shine in its remastered widescreen glory, and which is alone worth twice the price. It's about time.
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Summary: Competition and Character
Review: This was one of the outstanding movies of the 80s. This movie intrigued a number of people when it won a lot of oscars. Eric Liddel and Harold Abrahams are driven to win by totally different reasons. Harold Abrahams, a Jew wishes to win as a testament to his being deprived due to his Judaism. When he loses a race, his interaction with his girl friend, Sybil, is special. She says, "You were wonderful, he was better that is all. He won fair and square." He replies, "I do not run to compete, I run to win. If I cannot win, I should not run. " She replies, "If you cannot run, You cannot win." He says, "I do not know what to do." She then adds, "Try growing up." The sheer intensity of the person is overwhelming. As great as the races are, it is the interaction between the two people and their ways to come to the top that is special. Eric Liddel, the Scot refuses to run on Sunday and it is thanks to Lindsay that he gets to run on the 400m. Though there are some historical inaccuracies, this movie is beautifully put together. It shows the seclusion of the Cambridge dons portrayed by John Gielgud who do not approve of Harold being trained by a professional, as the institution prides in the amateur spirit and esprit de corps. The music composed for this movie is one of the outstanding pieces and will forever be remembered. Right from the beginning when one sees them running in the beach, the music adds a haunting touch to the scene.
Finally a widescreen 2 disc version of this movie is being released in Feb 2005. This will remove a lot of the problems plaguing the earlier version, audio and video, Wait for this version and you will hopefully get the best version of this outstanding movie. This includes deleted footage, trailer, making of, production notes and other goodies that might help a lot of people.
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