Disc Details
Special Features:	78-minute making-of documentary, including screen tests and interviews with Lucas, producer Francis Ford Coppola and the cast and crew Production notes Trailer
Video Format:	Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) [SS-DL]
Languages:	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) English (Mono)
Captions:	English, Spanish.
Casing:	1-Disc Keep Case

The closest thing to my generation's American Graffiti would probably be Richard Linklater's "Dazed and Confused" (1993), and looking back, it's easy to see just how much influence George Lucas' revolutionary film had on it. "Graffiti" is the story of a group of recent high school grads deciding their futures in a coming-of-age comedy set in an innocent California town in the 60s. It was Lucas' recreation of the cruising mindset of his teenage years, and he perfectly utilized his fresh-faced actors to build all the tension, fear and rebelliousness of teen life. The brilliant casting job sports a veritable list of Hollywood stars, all teen unknowns at the time of the film's release: Richard Dreyfuss, Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Suzanne Somers, Cindy Williams, Kathleen Quinlan, just to name a few.

But what makes the film that much more special is the sheer number of innovations George Lucas introduced to the filmmaking world in the 70s, and all on an $850,000 budget (very small even back then). Lucas' idea to use various rock 'n roll songs of the 60s as the film's musical score, setting the tone and mood of every scene in the film, was unheard of back then. It added a unique dimension to the film by subtlety immersing the audience in the world of Southern California back in 1962. Sound designer Walter Murch's use of sound and music montages to represent the natural ambience of the small-town atmosphere of Modesto, as well as his utilization of silence as a suspense-inducer are techniques that, to this day, are still heavily used in films. Cinematographer Haskell Wexler adapted documentary-style techniques and the use of smaller camera equipment to give the crew maximum mobility in capturing the cruising atmosphere, allowing the film a unique, almost first person feel.

The film sits at #73 on the AFI Top 100 for good reason. American Graffiti is a must-see classic that resoundingly stands the test of time.

Picture Quality: 8/10
Universal's 2.35:1 aspect ratio treatment, an exact reproduction of the theatrical aspect ratio, is beautiful. There is some graininess in the transfer, most likely due to the digital transfer of such an aged film shot on a shoestring budget. Still, cinematographer Haskell Wexler's revolutionary documentary-style techniques used in the filming come across accurately in the DVD.

Sound Quality: 8/10
George Lucas and Sound Designer Walter Murch's use of classic rock 'n roll songs as a natural musical score throughout the movie seems pretty standard now, but at the time, the idea was considered, to quote Lucas, "very avant-garde". Murch's sound montages add unique color to the film, and even on the two-channel Dolby Digital soundtrack, the films sounds quite good.

Menu: 8/10
A nice 60s diner motif works very well in this easy to use interface. What would have been even better though, is if Universal used a jukebox-style design, with selected songs from the soundtrack playing in the background. Oh well, maybe we'll see it in the "Ultra Special Edition"...

Extra Features: 7/10
On of the most entertaining aspects of the disc is the fantastic making-of documentary, which includes interviews with nearly the entire cast in the present, director George Lucas, producer Francis Ford Coppolla, and legendary casting director Fred Roos. It's interesting to hear each of them look back at the film, interjecting interesting stories and tidbits about the production, and their contributions to the film. You also get a glimpse at what makes the film so impulsive and real, as the actors discuss Lucas' drive in capturing their most spontaneous reactions, from improved lines to outright mistakes and follies he purposely included in the final print of the film.

The Final Word:
"American Graffiti" is a remarkably revolutionary film that is as meaningful and enjoyable now as it was nearly three decades ago. With a wonderful disc transfer and extremely entertaining making-of documentary, this is truly a must-have for anyone's DVD Library.

Stephen Wong