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Summary: The Finest Sports Car DVD Now Available
Review: Having competed at an amateur level in various classes of road racing in North America in the 80's, I can testify this is the real deal. I felt the driver's pain as they competed through the rainy night.Whoever was reponsible for the film to DVD conversion created a masterpiece. I don't know how they derived the DD 5.1 (reg trademark) (perhaps they set up mic trees and re-recorded from the original theater suround sound?)
Video bit-rates are super high so all the racing action scenes are super clear and brilliant. All and all a technical masterpiece. A really nice gift for your high-end home theater system. NOTE: This review applies to the 2003 DVD release. The earlier VHS release was dissappointing to me.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply the best
Review: I saw this film when it was televised in the UK last year, and I definitely recommend this film to any auto racing fans. Steve McQueen stuns us once again with an absolutely stunning and realistic performance in this gritty racing drama. The action is brilliant, the storyline is believeable, and the ending sequence is masterful! Well done!
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Summary: Living tension
Review: For anyone who went to the Sarthe circuit for the Le Mans 24 hour in the 1970s this is the film that captures it all, far better than any home video ever could. The cars are the stars, the PA system with its irregular English update provides the commentary, and the drivers are the hired bit players. Anyone who bags this film does not understand the tension and drama of most dangerous motor race in the world, and shouldn't be reviewing the film. Most dangerous motor race in the world? Nudging 400 kph at night in a rainstorm is dangerous! The dialogue is sparse, and so it should be: the racing engine whose deep bellow rises to a crescendo, the tortured tyres that screech at every misguided change in direction and the chilling sound of shattering fibreglass, perspex and composite alloys tell the viewer what is really happening. How real is this film? The camera car, which is seen in at least one scene entering the pit straight, came ninth outright. One of the drivers lost his leg during a practice shunt that is caught on film. There are fudges in the filming; note when MacQueen destoys his car the back wheels are still spinning long after the Porsche has bounced off a few armco fences. The accelerator was wedged open to prolong the crash. Steve MacQueen's legacy to the motor racing enthusiast is one of the purest films made.
Rating: 
Summary: Le Mans
Review: Very weak plot (none), fantastic car film work. Grand Prix with James Garner is a better film
Rating:
Summary: A Brave New Film
Review: If you want a movie, this will disappoint. If you want a racing documentary, this will disappoint. But...if you will open your eyes and take a few deep breaths, you'll see something crossing reality and fiction with unusual success. I read that the studio suits wanted McQueen to flesh out the relationship angle more, kind of like that racing soap opera, Grand Prix of a few years earlier. Good for McQueen because he created a classic with his stubborn purity for the sport. Its good because its real--as real as a movie can get. At some point into the film's first viewing there's a little voice going, "what the heck is this?" The answer might be its a docufictionary or a fictiomentary. There's sort of a story, but its mostly about the racing. The people are just these fleshy things that drive the cars really fast. McQueen has two great moments-both while he's sitting around. The first one is waiting for the race to begin, and boy, do you get the feeling of butterflies in the stomach watching him wait. The second is when he's been pulled out of the race and then is called to go back in. You realize that he's like a dead body returning to the land of the living. Driving the car is life to him: full-bodied, technicolor life. Nothing else really matters. I remember hearing about Steve McQueen racing at LeMans about the time this film was made and how he was driving his Porsche with a broken foot. Unfortunately,if this movie were remade today, it would be spoiled with cg animation and other special effects (and curse his soul, Marky Mark!) The wrecks and spills are real, not Hollywood enhanced. So thanks, Steve, you really did something remarkable here.
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Summary: One of the best car racing movies around
Review: Only buy this if you are after real car racing action with an actor that could really drive the wheels off a car. Superb!
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Summary: Minimal story, maximum racing
Review: I had never seen this movie before renting the DVD a few weeks ago. I just bought my own copy. This is a great car movie. Parts of this movie have a documentary feel to them, giving a bigger picture of what was going on all around the Le Mans course during the race. It's nice to see racing that actually has some class and the drivers turn both directions. The story is there, but kept secondary to the main point of showing the racing, seems to me. Fine with me. If I wanted to see romance, I wouldn't be watching a movie called 'Le Mans' with Steve McQueen mugging on the cover. I do agree that it would be better to have some special features on the DVD. This movie made me want to read & learn more about the Le Mans races and the wonderful cars like the Porsche 917. It also made me want to connect my DVD player to a better sound system.
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Summary: Finally on DVD
Review: Le Mans on DVD with Surround Sound is a true gift to all motor racing enthusiasts. This film features some of the most beautiful sights and sounds of a classic era in Sports Racing History. The DVD version is a keeper, a must-have for those who who love Vintage Racing Cars.
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Summary: IT'S FINALLY ON DVD!
Review: I have reviewed this movie here already so I'll talk only about the DVD. First, the video transfer is gorgeous! Even though this movie is more than 30 years old, the colors are spectacular. Either the DVD was made from a fresh print, or there was something done to the enhance the colors, but either way the film looks FABULOUS. It actually looks better than many contemporary movies released on DVD. Second, don't be misled by other reviews of this DVD--the soundtrack is not Dolby Surround (which is two channels of audio enhanced to three) but full Dolby Digital 5.1. My only gripe here is that there is too much use of the center speaker. This is only a small gripe, however. If you have a 5.1 sound system, this movie sounds great CRANKED up. The music is fresh and clear, and the roaring of that Porsche flat 12 gave me goose pimples. As my other review mentioned, I saw this movie 7 times in the theater as a teenager, and I have watched it countless times on VHS tape since that was finally released. I was surprised to find that watching it in widescreen (and it is quite wide) on a 53" 16x9 television is a whole new experience. The sensation of speed is much greater, and the beauty of the cinematography really stands out. Many of the shots are just plain ruined on the tape version. It really is a different experience on DVD. Finally, there are no extras whatsoever on this DVD, and that is a shame because there are several outstanding documentaries on Steve McQueen and on the filming of "Le Mans." If you love this movie, you'll consider owning the DVD version a must.
Rating:
Summary: The Le Mans DVD arrived today 02 May 2003
Review: Yes, it is true- The Le Mans DVD arrived today (02May03) and is in my player now. It looks and sounds fabulous. If you have been waiting as long as I have, for the DVD, get it now! The classic racing film just got better.
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