Fearless (1993)

I have a widescreen LD why not on dvd?

This is a great film, I have watched this many times and it always benefits from repeated viewings.I consider 'Fearless' along with 'The big Lebowski' and the underated 'Thunderbolt and lightfoot' to be Jeff Bridges finest achievements on film.
After reading some of the reviewer's comments as to weather or not this dvd is in it's correct theatre ratio let me assure you it is not.I have an old Laser disc of this film which still plays perfectly and it states on the back sleeve it is in it's correct 1:85.1 Theatre ratio.I have compared this to the Region 1 dvd and it is certainly missing information on both sides of the screen.Unfortunetly for now the only official W/S release is the old ntsc LD, fingers crossed for a future W/S dvd release with some much deserved extras...... August 10, 2008

Deeply emotional movie...

Jeff Bridges plays the role of a man who travels and lives to tell how his plane... crashed. During the ordeal, Max Klein helps many, assisting a child traveling alone to face the inevitable.

Jeff Bridges plays the role with great conviction, as the man who loses the fear of death and therefore, is able to help others during the minutes prior to the crash, and then, during the aftermath of guilt, fear, and emotional trauma. The plot is of a subject that is rather complex and we see the impact it has on his relationship with his wife, Laura, played by Isabella Rossellini, who tries to understand what is happening to her husband, to their marriage, and to the relationship with their son, and sees how the changes in her husband are about to bring it all to an end.

The depth of the subjects dealt with in this movie will leave you drained, but you will find yourselves thinking and pondering on subjects that we all experience, on the dormant fear of travel, and the meaning of life. We were deeply touched by this film. Highly recommend watching it.


July 30, 2008

Better DVD on the way??

As is true for many of the people who wrote here, for me, seeing FEARLESS in its original, very short-term theatrical release was literally a stunning experience. It is one of those films that one finishes watching, and then walks back out into the sunlight (or the night) almost completely unaware of their surroundings, as you carry the world of the film with you for a long time, and then slowly re-enter your own life. For me, it was a life-changing experience, and ever since it was first released, it's been on my top 10 list permanently.

Regarding the DVD, here's the best info I have: I went to a lecture about a year ago (approximately?) by the film's cinematographer Alan Daviau. He showed his own personal print of the film, which SHINED -- and was projected in 1.85. When questioned by me and others about the pathetic dvd available, he told us he was in the next couple of weeks, going to supervise a new transfer, and that a new DVD would be released soon that would do the film justice. Well, we're still waiting -- but for those of you who, like me, are literally offended by the quality (wrong aspect ratio, bad transfer, bad sound) of the existing DVD -- hopefully, there's hope! Keep watching the skies . . . June 25, 2008

Widescreen Dilemma

This is a magnificent movie, and it deserves to be seen exactly as it was shown in theaters. Does this disc fit the bill? Yes and no.

Movies that are shot in anamorphic widescreen, usually with a screen ratio greater than 1.85:1 (or approximately 16:9, like a widesceen television), are cropped at the sides, or "panned and scanned" to fit a conventional 4:3 television screen. Most movies (but not all) shown at 1.85:1, such as "Fearless" was in its initial distribution, are not shot "wide." They are shot at a standard, 4:3 TV ratio and matted (the top and bottom are cropped) for a 1.85:1 wide screen. Now make no mistake--such films are designed for widescreen, and composed and lit for how they will appear in a matted format. However, in a video release like "Fearless," you are actually seeing more of the image than was seen in the theater. If you don't believe me, do a comparison of other titles available both "wide" and panned-and-scanned, and you'll see what I mean. [A good example is "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," or the recent re-issue of "The Bridges of Madison County."]

I suppose one could simply watch this disc on a widescreen television and zoom in the picture until it fills the frame, which would approximate the theatrical experience, but the picture would lack the high resolution clarity of a widesreen (16:9) release. This is one of the best and most underrated films of the 1990s, and it deserves to be reissued the way it was designed and intended to be seen. May 30, 2008

An underappreciated masterpiece

Peter Weir has made some great films, as has Jeff Bridges. But I think this is the finest work for both. Weir should've won a Best Director Oscar for the plane crash scene alone. Bridges pulls off a character that you can't help rooting for, no matter how much he wants to push us away. Outstanding acting all-around, even in small parts by Tom Hulce, John Turtorro and Benicio Del Toro, as well as Isabella Rosellini as Bridge's wife who's on the outside looking in. But it's Bridges and Rosie Perez who pull off one of the most complex, fascinating relationships you'll ever see. Anger, jealousy, unconscionable guilt, self-pity and finally an awakening. Not to be missed. As for the DVD, it is begging for an updated version (as someone else wrote on here, Criterion) with commentary and behind-the-scenes footage, especially of the haunting plance crash scene. Brilliant. October 8, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...