HD DVD Review: Bullitt - Page 2

Bullitt is a mixed affair on HD DVD, but definitely looks its age. The heavy grain which covers the print is expected. The overly soft presentation barely makes this transfer rise above a standard DVD. Colors are strong and the black levels are deep, but edge enhancement rears its ugly head from time to time. The main car chase sequence looks great however, and is the one minor highlight of this murky transfer.

Sound comes through as a basic stereo presentation, and is flatter than the video. The only time you’ll even notice any positional effects is the opening credit sequence. The track sounds muffled and scratchy. It’s mixed low, making some dialogue difficult to make out.

Extras here are not necessarily focused on Bullitt, but more wide ranging topics. Director Peter Yates gives fans a commentary, though he is often mute. A brief 10 minute promotional feature is an archived piece from 1968, briefly discussing the making of the film, though it mostly pushing the fact that Steve McQueen is in the movie.

Steve McQueen: Essence of Cool is a 90 minute documentary on Bullitt’s star. This is filled with interviews and footage that will instantly appeal to any fan of the instantly recognizable star. Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing is presented in gorgeous HD, and lasts for an hour and forty minutes. Obviously, editing was critical to Bullitt, though this goes deep into the process and its effect on film.

Rated PG (long before PG-13 was added to the MPAA roster), Bullitt features some rather grisly gore for the era. However, it’s more notable for its use of the word “bullshit,” one of the first times the word would be used in a Hollywood feature.

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Article Author: Matt Paprocki

Matt Paprocki is a 12-year movie and game critic. He currently freelances for Blu-ray review site DoBlu.com and video game site MultiPlayerGames.com.

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