View Full Version : New Fast Times at Ridgemont High DVD
Anyone pick this new "Special Edition" up? Is there any reason to replace theWidescreen "Collector's Edition" I already own?
Doug Sclar
11-13-2004, 11:54 AM
Anyone pick this new "Special Edition" up? Is there any reason to replace theWidescreen "Collector's Edition" I already own?
Yes, I got it the other day, but unfortunately it's in a big pile of discs waiting to be watched. Right next to my pile of CD's waiting to be listened to. :D
sporkadelic
11-13-2004, 01:26 PM
Here's a review:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=13043
A proper DVD of this movie would have the alternate scenes from the edited-for-TV version as a bonus. I hope all the original music is there too; that shot that used "American Girl" was spoiled when they substituted some generic music for the VHS edition.
John Carsell
11-13-2004, 04:47 PM
A proper DVD of this movie would have the alternate scenes from the edited-for-TV version as a bonus. I hope all the original music is there too; that shot that used "American Girl" was spoiled when they substituted some generic music for the VHS edition.
Why oh why do they hold out on us time after time by refusing to give us what we want?
The alternate scenes are a no-brainer IMO. Just glad I taped it off of TV as well.
Sounds like there is no reason for me to get the new one (I am set up for stereo only currently)....
Michael
11-13-2004, 06:03 PM
Why oh why do they hold out on us time after time by refusing to give us what we want?
The alternate scenes are a no-brainer IMO. Just glad I taped it off of TV as well.
...it's called business...someday we'll get the extra special edition with th lost TV footage...I say GIVE ME A BREAK! I'm sick of it too! How many times did they re-release T2...at least 3!!! :realmad:
ksmitty
11-13-2004, 06:22 PM
I bought this at Walmart earlier in the week. The 5.1 sounds pretty decent on this. I didn't watch the whole flick yet but I like what I have seen thus far. I never did buy the first release so can't compare it. The surround is used pretty well and does not over utilize the rear channels like some older films seem to do when they are re-released in DD. Picture quality is sharp as well. Most places have it on sale for around 14 to 16 bucks still .
Here's a review:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=13043
A proper DVD of this movie would have the alternate scenes from the edited-for-TV version as a bonus. I hope all the original music is there too; that shot that used "American Girl" was spoiled when they substituted some generic music for the VHS edition.
BIG stupid question: Being quite the fan of this movie (after all, they did use a Poco song....) I have to admit that I've never heard about any alternate scenes. Does that mean the TV version that I taped several years ago has those scenes in it, or is this something more recent? Thanks.
Michael
11-13-2004, 06:54 PM
BIG stupid question: Being quite the fan of this movie (after all, they did use a Poco song....) I have to admit that I've never heard about any alternate scenes. Does that mean the TV version that I taped several years ago has those scenes in it, or is this something more recent? Thanks.
Yes, if you taped it off broadcast commercial Television...they replaced all the fun sexual scenes for television veiwing.
daveman
11-13-2004, 07:34 PM
Yes, if you taped it off broadcast commercial Television...they replaced all the fun sexual scenes for television veiwing.
Including the oh-so-famous "Moving In Stereo" scene :agree: :goodie:
Oatsdad
11-13-2004, 08:33 PM
Why oh why do they hold out on us time after time by refusing to give us what we want?
I think the director's the issue - she seems to HATE the extra scenes...
sporkadelic
11-13-2004, 08:42 PM
BIG stupid question: Being quite the fan of this movie (after all, they did use a Poco song....) I have to admit that I've never heard about any alternate scenes. Does that mean the TV version that I taped several years ago has those scenes in it, or is this something more recent? Thanks.
The version you taped off TV will have stuff in it that's not on the DVD, *and* vice versa.
Yes, if you taped it off broadcast commercial Television...they replaced all the fun sexual scenes for television veiwing.
Why doesn't that surprise me? thanks.
Felix Martinez
11-14-2004, 05:08 PM
I quickly checked out the 5.1 remix and most of it appeared to be repurposed mono with the exception of the "Moving In Stereo" bit. This scene seemed to use a bonafide stereo version of the song steered pretty effectively to fill the 5.1 space. Just a quick $.02.
Sounds like there is no reason for me to get the new one (I am set up for stereo only currently)....
Anyone disagree with this assessment?
bare trees
11-15-2004, 07:21 PM
What's the story behind American Girl being cut from the VHS? Has it been restored on the DVD?
sporkadelic
11-15-2004, 07:57 PM
What's the story behind American Girl being cut from the VHS? Has it been restored on the DVD?
I don't know about the DVD, but there were music licensing issues with the VHS. There were other songs replaced, I think, but it was the Petty tune that burned me the most; what a letdown.
So, does anyone know if the first or the current DVD has all the original music???
Oatsdad
12-05-2004, 05:18 PM
So, does anyone know if the first or the current DVD has all the original music???
Pretty sure it does. Pretty BOTH of them do, that is - I don't think any changes occurred between the 1999 and 2004 DVDs...
Gardo
12-07-2004, 05:02 AM
The original music soundtrack was restored for the last VHS edition and for the first DVD edition. I've got the new 5.1 remix but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. The packaging indicates that the sound remix is the only difference. The original music is crucial to the film, especially the "American Girl" welcome-to-high-school sequence.
I had the chance to interview Amy Heckerling for about an hour back in 1991. I was doing a research paper on the deleted scenes that were added for the TV version, and only Heckerling had the answers to the questions I was asking. I was amazed she took my out-of-the-blue call, and even more amazed that she was willing to talk to me for so long. She was very forthcoming--actually, a delight to talk to in every way.
She told me she removed the scenes for a couple of reasons. Some of them were melodramatic and, in her opinion, not acted as well as they needed to be. The scenes between Stacy and Linda regarding her pregnancy fell into this category. Other scenes, such as the very stark and effective abortion sequence, she cut because she felt the movie's tone just couldn't recover from them. She was fascinated by pacing and tone--two things she does very well in her best movies, IMO--and although she was gracious about my praise of the deleted abortion scene, she insisted that it just didn't belong in the movie.
She also talked a good bit about the music. She had to fight to get the Go-Go's in the opening credit sequence. At the time, they were considered too punk and radical, and the powers that be wanted more Joe Walsh and so forth. Heckerling wanted more Oingo Boingo (she's good friends with Danny Elfman).
The other big controversy centered on her plans to include full male nudity in the film. I didn't ask her about this since there was a good deal of press coverage at the time. She had been told she'd get an X if she showed frontal male nudity. The MPAA said the penis was "an aggressive organ." She and Jennifer Jason Leigh went public with their protests, but in the end she was contractually bound to deliver an "R" film, so that was that. If you look carefully at the wall of the changing room during the Damone-and-Stacy sequence, though, you'll see something on the wall that I like to call "Heckerling's revenge" when I teach this film in my intro class.
The TV version is really quite interesting as a study in bowdlerization. Lots of stuff is taken out, and the dubbing is hilarous at times--Mr. Hand becomes a "fuzzy nerd" instead of a f****** d***. Oddly, however, some interesting stuff is put back in, like the abortion scene, and another scene in which Linda gives specific contraceptive advice to a young girl in the mall.
On balance, though, I have to respect Heckerling's decision to keep the deleted scenes out of the video releases. It's her movie, and it's a great movie IMO, and the extra scenes are there on TV if you need to chase them down.
Wow, thanks for the in-depth Heckerling view Gardo. :thumbsup:
51nocaster
12-07-2004, 01:34 PM
I don't frequent this section that often, but what a nice surprise to find Gardo's comments. Thanks for the insight into a great movie.
JorgeGvb
12-07-2004, 01:57 PM
Very interesting stuff Gardo. Thanks for sharing! :righton:
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