{"id":25949,"date":"2021-05-07T15:25:39","date_gmt":"2021-05-07T22:25:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/?p=25949"},"modified":"2021-05-07T15:25:39","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T22:25:39","slug":"fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-the-criterion-collection-blu-ray-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/2021\/05\/fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-the-criterion-collection-blu-ray-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Fast Times at Ridgemont High: The Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Fast Times at Ridgemont High<\/em><\/strong> comes to Blu-ray for a second time, now getting the Criterion Collection treatment with an upgrade video transfer and a new interview feature; between the two worth the price, along with a really funny movie.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fast Times at Ridgemont High
\n<\/span>\u2014 The Criterion Collection \u2014<\/span>
\n(1982)
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Genre(s): <\/strong>Comedy<\/span>
\nThe Criterion Collection| R \u2013 90 min. \u2013 $39.95 | May 11, 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

Date Published:<\/strong> 05\/07\/2021 | Author:<\/strong> The Movieman<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
MOVIE INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Director: <\/strong>Amy Heckerling
\nWriter(s): <\/strong>Cameron Crowe (book) (screenplay)
\nCast: <\/strong>Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Robert Romanus, Brian Backer, Phoebe Cates, Ray Walston, Forest Whitaker<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DISC INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Features: <\/strong>Commentary, Featurettes, Interviews, TV Version
\nSlip Cover: <\/strong>No
\nDigital Copy: <\/strong>No
\nFormats Included: <\/strong>Blu-ray
\nNumber of Discs: <\/strong>1<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio: <\/strong>English (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
\nVideo: <\/strong>1080p\/Widescreen 1.85
\nSubtitles: <\/strong>English SDH
\nDisc Size: <\/strong>49.74 GB
\nTotal Bitrate: <\/strong>38.82 Mbps
\nCodecs: <\/strong>MPEG-4 AVC
\nRegion(s): <\/strong>A<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Criterion Collection provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
\nThe opinions I share are my own.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

THE MOVIE \u2014 4\u00bc\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Plot Synopsis: <\/strong>Stacy Hamilton (JENNIFER JASON LEIGH) is a pretty, but inexperienced, teen interested in dating. Given advice by her uninhibited friend, Linda Barrett (PHOEBE CATES), Stacy gets trapped in a love triangle with nice guy Mark Ratner (BRIAN BACKER) and his more assured buddy Mike Damone (ROBERT ROMANUS). Meanwhile, Stacy’s classmate Jeff Spicoli (SEAN PENN), who lives for surfing and being stoned, faces off against Mr. Hand (RAY WALSTON), a strict teacher who has no time for the slacker’s antics. In addition, Stacy\u2019s brother, Brad (JUDGE REINHOLD), navigates his final year of high school and long-term relationship with his girlfriend.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Quick Hit Review: Fast Times at Ridgemont High<\/em><\/strong> is a movie I\u2019ve seen a few times over the years and though never thought was fantastic, nor could hold a candle to other 1980s classics like The Breakfast Club<\/em> or Ferris Bueller\u2019s Day Off<\/em>, still was a solid debut for Cameron Crowe with sharp dialogue and distinct characters. This is not also to mention a noteworthy cast, several of whom would go on to have a nice career, most notably Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Forest Whitaker, plus Eric Stoltz and Nicolas Cage (credited as Nicolas Coppola) in bit parts.<\/p>\n

The film saw the debut of director Amy Heckerling who would go on to helm another cult classic comedy, Clueless<\/em> in 1995, and also directed National Lampoon\u2019s European Vacation<\/em> (I personally liked it, but considered the worst of the original Vacation<\/em> films), Look Who\u2019s Talking<\/em> and its sequel Look Who\u2019s Talking Too<\/em> plus an assortment of other non-noteworthy entries. In any case, Heckerling, with Crowe, captured the life of teens of the 1980s and although my personal experiences of high school in the 1990s didn\u2019t come close, my love of malls really triggered my nostalgia and thus enhanced my enjoyment of Fast Times<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

SPECIAL FEATURES \u2013 4\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

This release comes with an HD keep case and inside is a nice booklet<\/strong> with a new introduction by Cameron Crowe and an essay by Dana Stevens. Missing on this from the 2004 Blu-ray is the trailer and the U-Control function.<\/p>\n

Audio Commentary<\/u><\/strong> \u2014 Director Amy Heckerling and Writer Cameron Crowe, recorded in 1999.<\/p>\n

Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High<\/em> (39:16)<\/u><\/strong> \u2014 1999 documentary that features interviews with Heckerling, Crowe, Producer Art Linson, Casting Director Don Phillips and Actors Brian Backer, Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Robert Romanus, Eric Stoltz, Scott Thomson and Ray Walston.<\/p>\n

The TV Version (1:35:07)<\/u><\/strong> is the 95-minute version that was edited and dubbed for television broadcast in the 1980s and includes deleted and alternate scenes. Personally I wish these scenes would be available separately.<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n