Blu-ray Review: Woodstock Director’s Cut
By Cyril Pearl -- Video Business, 6/8/2009
WARNER
Street: June 9
Prebook: now
> Richly produced Blu-ray of the classic concert film.
In its Blu-ray Disc presentation, the video and audio quality of Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music Director’s Cut can’t really be compared to that of contemporary productions or even Hollywood films from the same era. Filmed in 1969 with a dozen state-of-the-art 16mm cameras and blown up to 70mm for its original theatrical run, Woodstock’s grainy appearance, frequent scratches and out-of-focus moments are a genuine part of the appeal. All those markings are still here, albeit served up with a bit more sheen and a richer spectrum of colors. The same can be said for the sound, which was taken from the film’s original eight-track audio elements. The audio is far clearer than it has ever been, particularly the non-musical sounds of the festival’s 500,000 attendees and the thunderous rain storm, but it doesn’t sound like the finely separated mixes that you hear in recent concert releases—nor is it supposed to. The newly produced supplemental package is led by 18 bonus performances, many of which have never been seen before in their entirety, including The Grateful Dead’s extended “Turn On Your Love Light,” Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Born on a Bayou” and “I’ve Put a Spell on You” and Santana’s “Evil Ways.” The 77-minute featurette From Festival to Feature explores aspects of the film and its production and includes interviews with director Michael Wadleigh, festival producer Michael Lang, on-site engineer Eddie Kramer, a bunch of performers and a host of others, including a young editor named Martin Scorsese.
Shelf Talk: The granddaddy of rock concert films, Woodstock’s Blu-ray release launches a summer celebrating the 40th anniversary of the festival. Warner’s big launch party last week in New York City kicked it off, and lots of DVDs, Blu-rays, books, TV documentaries and concerts will follow over the next few months. Peace.
Music documentary, color, R (language, nudity, drug use), 224 min., BD $69.99, reviewed on a Samsung LN-T7081 LCD 70-inch HDTV with LED backlight and HDMI connection
Extras: featurettes, 18 bonus performances, customized playlist function, BD Live
Director: Michael Wadleigh
First Run: W, Feb. 2009, $31.8 mil.
