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List Price: $12.98 | | Label: Universal Studios
Salesrank: 7161
Released: November 2, 2004 |
| Our Price: $4.61 |
| Used Price: $1.99 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted) Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
RITES OF PASSAGE LIKE HAZING MARK THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL BEFORE 1976 SUMMER BREAK FOR TEXAS TEENS.
Description of Dazed & Confused (Full Screen Flashback Edition):
You remember high school? Really remember? If you think you do, watch this film: it'll all really come racing back. After changing the world with the generation-defining Slacker, director Richard Linklater turned his free-range vérité sensibility on the 1970s. As before, his all-seeing camera meanders across a landscape studded with goofy pop culture references and poignant glimpses of human nature. Only this time around, he's spreading a thick layer of nostalgia over the lens (and across the soundtrack). It's as if Fast Times at Ridgemont High was directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The story deals with a group of friends on the last day of high school, 1976. Good-natured football star Randall "Pink" Floyd navigates effortlessly between the warring worlds of jocks, stoners, wannabes, and rockers with girlfriend and new-freshman buddy in tow. Surprisingly, it's not a coming-of-age movie, but a film that dares ask the eternal, overwhelming, adolescent question, "What happens next?" It's a little too honest to be a light comedy (representative quote: "If I ever say these were the best years of my life, remind me to kill myself."). But it's also way too much fun (remember souped-up Corvettes and bicentennial madness?) to be just another existential-essay-on-celluloid. --Grant Balfour
Dazed & Confused (Full Screen Flashback Edition) Reviews:
GET DAZED, MAN! 
2009-11-20 - In Quentin Tarantino's (REPRESENT! Oh sorry) list of the 12 best movies ever made, among Taxi Driver (hey, not a bad choice anyway), kung fu movies I've never heard of, Carrie, a blaxploitation film, and a Spaghetti Western, this movie almost seems out of the place on the list. However, when watching it, it's no wonder that Tarantino loves this movie. This is an ultimate pop culture filter, a movie that, from what other people who have lived through the 70's, say it's just like this (can't quite say, anyway). And while, sadly, Robert Plant refused to let any of their songs be in the movie(too bad, because it's sorely missed), it still doesn't detract much from the time warp 70's feel. The greatest asset, I must mention, that is really doesn't feel that dated. Maybe because the 70's warms up to me more than, say, the 80's (no, I don't wish I was in the 70's like some other losers. the 00s isn't bad because every other decades' great movies and music that transcend their time still exist).
Who knew a comedy from 1993, one that grossed less than eight million, would become known as a favorite movie of one of the most influential new directors of the era (not to mention the only Director I am a fan of). While Dazed and Confused is not among the most influential, ground breaking movies ever, it's one of the loosest, most fun movies ever. For a movie that doesn't feature much of a plot, it's a compliment that this movie is so great. And while the sound track, cars, and 70's culture gets much of the rap, nothing quite captures the fun of this movie more than the ageless good times on display here. Even when filtered through the 70's culture.
This is based in High School, but unlike your average lame teen movie, this has real moments, real kids, and absolutely no lame drama of any kind. I'm not quire sure what the exact message of this movie is, but I don't think any other high school movie really tells it like it is, not even Heathers. There's some real teenage stuff going on here, and not just angsty _______ like heavy drama when dealing with girlfriends. Sure, there are hazing scenes, and yes, there are talks about life and other things like that, but that's another reason why this movie is great. Talks about decades, and the greatest quote about High school (as well as College) ever: "If I ever Start referring to these as the best years of my life, remind me to kill myself". And hey, while that's true, you have to love Dawson's reply of getting the most out of High School as well. Yes, this is real stuff that teenagers should think about. Great messages embedded within, and it's stuff that I already knew. it's just great to hear it among this movie.
But it's also a whole lot of fun, which helps it stand out a lot (much how Heathers stand out with it's use of Black humor). Backed by a bunch of ordinary, yet totally memorable cast of characters with a bunch of future stars in the cast (among the funniest are Ben Affleck and Anthony Rapp), it avoids the third person syndrome trap (a syndrome that deals with the question "WHy am I watching fiction instead of living real life?") and features cool cars, sheer fun, drinking, and great dialogue, all the while making one of the coolest movies out of one day, which, as everybody and your mother knows, the last day of school. Watching this movie takes a certain mood, as I probably wouldn't watch this movie everyday. But when the moods hits, nothing is quite as fun and satisfying as reliving the last day of High School with these people. The sound track kicks @$$, and like a Tarantino movie, it gains more meaning when used with the movie (HOLY S***!!!!!), the cars are great, and who doesn't love watching Fred get pissed off or going along for a ride of Baseball mailbox (or whatever it's called)? Really, I can't say enough about this movie.
Oh, and the Flashback edition is lame as hell. That stupid featurette is no Reefer Madness. This version, Dazed & Confused - Criterion Collection, has excellent picture quality, has great special features, and features a great packaging that stores the movie in the packaging it deserves. Sure, it's a bit expensive, and if you find a copy for fourty dollars, please swallow your pride or something and find it cheaper. This kind of money for one movie is bad. Still, I digress.
Richard Linklater is something special, and being part of the VCR generation of film makers like the great one, Smith, and Anderson, safe to say, what a cool batch of directors. I still can't believe the guy who directed this and other free form movies like Slacker and Waking Life (a movie that features Wily Wiggins and some of the coolest use of animation known to man) also directed a hit comedy movie like School of Rock (not like that's a bad thing)! What are you waiting for man? See it with a bud, and get Dazed, man!
A-
All right, all right, all right 
2009-10-15 - what a fantastic movie! i have watched this dvd too many times to count and it never gets old. the setting: summer of 1976. going into their senior year, a group of teens have to deal with all sorts of problems. from football to freshman running for cover to the party at the moon tower. this film is a definate must see!
Great movie 
2009-08-19 - Great movie from the 90's. You don't see stuff like this anymore in the movies with all these antismoking laws. Excellent acting! Good plot.
A Nostalgia Flick for Braws. 
2009-07-19 - After hearing so many good things about this film, I was surprised by how god awful it was. What I find even more surprising is how many people don't mind admitting their favorite movie is about sex crazed high school jocks who ride around town searching for young, adolescent boys so they can give them a good homoerotic spanking. If you spent your high school career as a football star nursing a secret crush on a 13 year old pre-pubescent boy, you'll want to pick up this nostalgic gem immediately. It'll remind you of the good old days.
Prompt Delivery 
2009-07-13 - The delivery was prompt as promised. Cute Movie, reminds me of when I was growing up in the 70's.