Corvette Summer Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Corvette Summer" by Warner Archive Collection showcases a fantastic 1080p transfer that's visually striking, offering a remarkably film-like experience. Treated with a new restoration, the transfer bursts with eye-popping colors and exceptional image detail. The candy-apple red Corvette stands out brilliantly, while the film's primary colors are consistently attractive. The sunny desert landscapes and neon lights of Las Vegas are portrayed with impressive depth. Night sequences tend to have a more grainy, dreamlike quality which aligns with the original source material, adding to the film's nostalgic charm. The careful cleaning of dirt and debris while avoiding excessive noise reduction techniques results in a highly pleasing visual experience. Minor compression artifacts are present but barely noticeable in motion.

Presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, the transfer maintains excellent clarity and detail. The film feels akin to viewing a pristine print in a theater, with a balanced level of complimentary grain adding to its authenticity. The good depth of field enhances spatial relationships between foreground and background, providing cinematic movements free from distortion. Black levels are deep without crushing, adding to the scenes' realism, especially in darker settings where grain is more pronounced. Color reproduction is bold and robust; reds are particularly vibrant, while other 1970s shades like yellows, browns, and oranges are rendered vividly. Skin tones are natural and consistent throughout, capturing facial features clearly from various distances. Overall, "Corvette Summer" offers a commendable video presentation that fans and newcomers alike will appreciate.

The audio presentation of the "Corvette Summer" Blu-ray is delivered through a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix, encapsulating the film's original essence with precision. The split mono format effectively prioritizes dialogue, crucial for a film primarily driven by conversations. Notably, the mixing ensures that each line is clear and crisp, maintaining robust clarity throughout. Craig Safan’s dynamic musical score, including Dusty Springfield's performance of "Give Me the Night", complements the dialogue beautifully, providing a balanced aural experience that resonates well with listeners. The crowd scenes and car chases are rendered with satisfying depth, avoiding a flat or unimpressive feel despite the lack of discrete channel separation.

While the two-channel mono may lack significant low-frequency extension, the mix compensates with its layering and depth, creating an immersive yet respectful audio experience true to the film’s era. For purists, this adherence to the original sound design will be particularly appealing. The subtitles provided are English SDH, although formatted in all caps which might be less favorable for some viewers. Overall, the audio presentation embodies a solid accompaniment to the visual transfer, holding up admirably in delivering Corvette Summer's nostalgic and dialogue-centric appeal.

The extras on the Blu-ray of "Corvette Summer" offer a compelling glimpse into the film’s history and production, showcasing a variety of features that will surely delight fans and film enthusiasts alike. The Theatrical Trailer provides a nostalgic peek with its mix of action, romance, and drama, albeit in a much rougher shape that highlights the superb restoration job achieved by WAC. This trailer alone encapsulates the high-octane spirit of the film and primes viewers for an engaging behind-the-scenes experience. The array of additional materials supports this high standard, providing a robust and well-rounded look at the film’s classic appeal.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: A Fiberglass Romance. Mixes action, romance, drama, and car spoilers; in rough shape but contrasts well with the restoration.

"Corvette Summer" (1978) is a nostalgic, escapist adventure offering viewers a delightful blend of muscle cars, the charm of late-70s Las Vegas, and broad-stroked characters. Starring Mark Hamill, in his second film role post-"Star Wars," the film's release was well-timed to capitalize on his surge in popularity. Hamill plays Kenny Dantley, a high school senior who rebuilds a classic Corvette Stingray for his auto shop project. The car's subsequent theft ignites Kenny's obsessive quest to reclaim it, taking him through a series of misadventures in Las Vegas. Along the way, he forms an intriguing connection with Vanessa, played by Annie Potts, whose liberated and vibrant character adds much to the spontaneous nature of their journey.

The film flourishes mostly through its leads and inherent nostalgic appeal. Hamill and Potts share an undeniable on-screen chemistry that drives the narrative. Their performances, coupled with the era-specific ambiance, significantly uplift the otherwise thinly plotted storyline. The film thrives on its leisurely pace, allowing the setting and interactions to simmer, particularly in the portrayal of Las Vegas at its most vibrant and unfiltered. However, as Kenny's quest intensifies, the plot introduces less convincing twists that somewhat disrupt the carefree atmosphere, a minor blemish on an otherwise smooth ride.

For enthusiasts of road movies and those charmed by the 70s, "Corvette Summer" is a delightful time capsule, despite some fundamental flaws. Its A/V presentation on Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray significantly enriches its nostalgic allure, making it a must-watch for die-hard fans. While it may not resonate equally with all audiences, especially skeptics of pre-digital era storytelling, the youthful tone and historical context make for an engaging experience that leverages its stars' appeal and its period essence effectively.

Matthew Robbins' "Corvette Summer" remains a primarily light-hearted and nostalgic road trip film with intermittent dips into darker elements. The narrative thrives when it remains dynamic, capturing the audience's interest as Mark Hamill's character ventures into new territories. However, the inclusion of certain narrative shifts feels more like obligatory plot points rather than natural progression. Despite these minor hiccups, the film is entertaining and buoyed by strong performances from Hamill and Annie Potts, who manage to break away from their more iconic roles in "Star Wars" and "Ghostbusters," respectively.

The Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray release does not disappoint in its technical delivery. The A/V presentation is superb, ensuring the best visual and auditory experience of "Corvette Summer" to date. Although the set skims on bonus features, providing only a trailer, the overall quality of the film's presentation compensates for this shortfall. For aficionados of the 1970s cinema or Mark Hamill enthusiasts, this release is a definite enhancement over previous versions, offering polished visuals and pristine audio quality.

In conclusion, "Corvette Summer" delivers a fun yet somewhat uneven ride through the '70s nostalgia, underscored by memorable performances from its lead actors. While not a groundbreaking film, it continues to hold a certain charm that may appeal more to established fans than to newcomers. The Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray edition, with its superior A/V quality, makes it an appealing acquisition for collectors and retro film aficionados alike.