World's Fastest Indian, The (HD DVD)
APPROX. 127 MINS. - PROD. YEAR: 2005 - MPA RATING: PG-13
" It's hard not to like Hopkins' Burt Munro, which means it's hard not to like The World's Fastest Indian.
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Still, Burt persists despite a heart problem that never really seems to pose all that big a threat. His obstacles are more like minor speed bumps that he has to endure to make it to his destination. Burt manages to find a great amount of help along the way. He meets a host of characters that include a sweet and caring transvestite, who helps Burt clear his bike through customs; a car salesman, who recruits Burt to help fix some cars in exchange for the use of his mechanic shop; and the assorted group of speed week enthusiasts who grow to rally behind Burt and his big dreams of setting the land speed record.
From the onset it seems that the odds are stacked against him. He has little money for his trip to the U.S. but finds help from the people he befriends along his journey. Burt is relentlessly charismatic in his own quirky sort of way. He makes people smile with a few words and wins them over in no time. The film works in much the same fashion; while Burt is likable when you first meet him, he's downright loveable when the time comes for the credits to roll. To say the least, he's a delightfully infectious character.
There is a scene near the beginning of the third act when some of the speed week personnel ask Burt to check in for registration. He wanders over to the registration booth and speaks with the officials only to learn that he can't register because registration closed a few months prior. How was Burt to know all the way down in Kiwi land? Munro's reaction--his uncertainty, love of racing, passion and dedication--come through in spades and is a testament to Hopkins' genius as an actor. He manages to make Burt's trials and tribulations ours as well. We feel for Burt and cheer for him, root for him when things get a little tough, and then we finally come to realize that there's a little bit of Burt in all of us, and that's why, ultimately, we love him so much.
"The World's Fastest Indian" is one little gem of a picture. It offers up a fair amount of enjoyment, all made possible by a superb performance by Anthony Hopkins. While the film might be somewhat trite in how it's presented, this is more than made up for by the sheer force of charm brought on by Hopkins acting and Donaldson's sure-handed direction. The story is uplifting, inspirational, and filled with the same lively energy that makes Burt the kind of person we all hope to be.
Video:
Magnolia Home Entertainment present the film in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, which displays all of the best characteristics of good HD-DVD video. The opening shots, filmed outdoors, are the only ones that have more than a bit of grain in them; otherwise, the screen is free of any noise or impediments. Close-ups look extremely well detailed, and colors are generally natural except in some facial tones early on that look too deeply saturated. I admit, I've been watching so many movies in HD lately that I'm beginning to take them for granted. It's only when I watch standard-definition discs or, shudder, regular SD cable broadcasts, that I come back to Earth. This one looks pretty good to me.
Audio:
The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound does up the audio proud. It is very clean, very well spread out across the front channels, and very dynamic. There is not a lot of rear-channel activity, but what we do hear adds a realistic touch of ambient information in the surrounds. There is a good dynamic impact present, too, that helps enormously in the racing scenes. Bass is not particularly deep, but it is taut, which makes up for a lot. For those listeners unable to access the Dolby TrueHD track, the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 also sounds good, if not displaying quite the breadth or depth of field that the TrueHD does.
Extras:
The HD-DVD carries over the extras from the standard-definition DVD. The three main items are, first, a bonus film, the twenty-seven-minute documentary "Offerings to the God of Speed," made by writer/director Donaldson in 1971 and featuring historical footage of the real Burt Munro. Next is a forty-five-minute, behind-the-scenes affair, "The Making of The World's Fastest Indian," with comments from most of the major cast members. And the third item is an above-average audio commentary by Donaldson, who seems on this track as dedicated to telling Burt Munro's story as he comes across in making his film.
Things conclude with four deleted scenes, totaling about four minutes; a three-minute promotional film, "Southland: Burt's Hometown of Invercargill"; twenty-four scene selections; a theatrical trailer; English as the only spoken language; and French subtitles, with English captions for the hearing impaired. As this is an HD-DVD, the disc also includes menus that the viewer can make fade in and out as the movie is playing; previews for several upcoming Magnolia Home Entertainment HD-DVD releases; and an Elite Red HD case.
Parting Thoughts:
It's hard not to like Hopkins' Burt Munro, which means it's hard not to like "The World's Fastest Indian." It is, however, a movie I confess did not interest me when it appeared in theaters, and it wasn't until Magnolia Pictures sent me a "For Your Consideration" screener that the Wife-O-Meter and I somewhat reluctantly watched it. We were both hooked. The film draws you in with its gentle humor and tenacious good will. Indeed, the film became such a favorite of my wife that when Magnolia made it available on standard-definition DVD, she bought a copy for every member of her family. And she's got a big family.
As always, the HD-DVD enhances what is already a good movie, the disc's improved video and audio making not only Burt's story more enjoyable but making the whole movie-watching experience more pleasurable.
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