Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) [ML102232]Format: Laserdisc (letterbox 2.35)
Audio: Digital mono (DPLIIx + MV + THX on AVR)
Viewed/transferred this last night. Opted for the Laserdisc, the region 1 DVD is overpriced/out of print, I was going to get the region 2 DVD and rip it for Plex but found this nice clean LD for 13.00. There was minor artifacting but no laser rot. Switched to my LD user setting on LG gives a cinema feel to it.
I haven't seen this since I was a kid watching on TV obviously with a lot of editing. I remember the ending with the school house and blackboard. Also the end scene in the car. Sad ending. That's all I remember of this movie. I didn't know/remember that was Jeff Bridges! Forgot all about this movie. Not a bad flick, would like to see a Blu ray release of this.
This is how you shoot rabbits:
Screenshot of some artifacting/burning?:
20mm cannon vault breaker:
Final Thoughts: An underrated film. The only time you'll see Bridges and Eastwood in the same movie. It was good to see it again, last viewing was easily 20 years ago. Eastwood was unhappy with United Artists with handling the film's promotion and vowed to never work with them again. Notable movie for an Oscar nomination for Bridges, Best Supporting Actor. The DVD is out of print so priced high on Region 1. The R2 is much cheaper or go with the LD. Note: there's also a young Gary Busey in a small part.
Picture: 7.0 Some noticeable artifacts, film damage. A newer Blu ray transfer would be nice but it's not a movie I'd watch frequently so this LD I'd label as good enough or average.
Audio: 6.5 Biggest knockoff for mono mix. Only a 4 million budget, but come on, how much more would Stereo be? A lot of dialog sounds recorded in studio and not on location. Maybe typical for time/budget. As is, sound is a little flat and omni directional, but DPLIIx + MV + THX on AVR split the sound up decently between the speakers.
Plot/Story: 7.0 Certainly not Eastwood's best film but it is a good early film for Bridges. Entertains like Every Which Way But Loose but more serious, maybe closer to Pink Cadillac.
Cover/WOW Factor 7.5 The muddy brown cover has that 70's rustic feel, the inside sleeve is MGM and a yellow label on disc which I think always look nice. Back cover has sufficient detail for collectors.
Overall: 7.0 A better sound mix, better transfer for the LD, a more light-hearted approach throughout the movie would have been better, comedy drops off towards the 3/4 mark and a little too-depressing ending, however it was good to see this movie again and to see a young Bridges and Eastwood working together.
Thanks list
