Cheap Dazed & Confused - Criterion Collection (DVD) (Richard Linklater) Price

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Customer Reviews of Dazed & Confused - Criterion Collection

"You just gotta keep on livin', man. L-I-V-I-N."
Fans of this movie have had to suffer two bare bones editions before finally being richly rewarded with this new special edition from the fine folks at the Criterion Collection. <
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>The first disc features an audio commentary by writer/director Richard Linklater who is clearly still bitter about how the studio screwed him over and mentions it frequently. He talks at length about which parts of the film are autobiographical in his usual, easygoing, genial way, delivering yet another top notch track filled with great anecdotes, smart observations and cautionary tales about the dangers of working with a Hollywood studio. <
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>Also included are 17 deleted scenes, including footage of Pink and his friends stealing the statues that we see later on in the film painted as the band members from Kiss. <
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>There is also a theatrical trailer. <
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>The second disc kicks off with an impressive, 50 minute retrospective documentary entitled "Making Dazed" that combines behind-the-scenes footage from 1992 with the ten-year cast and crew reunion with more recent interviews as well. This is a fascinating look at the challenges that Linklater faced on his first studio movie. <
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>"Auditions" features footage of 12 cast members reading for the film. It is pretty easy to see why they were cast as they slip into character quite naturally - especially someone like Rory Cochrane who eerily becomes Slater or Nicky Katt who effortlessly embodies his redneck bully. <
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>"Beer Bust at the Moon Tower" features cast members being interviewed in character during the first week of rehearsal in an effort to get them familiar with their roles. Also included are cast interviews that look like they were done early on in production or during filming. Highlights include an amusing and candid clip of Wiggins and Christine Harnos before their kissing scene in the movie. There is also quite a bit of behind-the-scenes footage that was seen only briefly in "Making Dazed." <
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>Finally, there is an impressive 72-page booklet with essays and interviews. And to top it all off a fold out movie poster is included as well.

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Criterion Release? I'm Dazed and Confused....
This is a good film; that point doesn't need to be elaborated beyond my rating. <
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>However, I have a problem with Criterion releasing this. I know they have allegiances with certain directors, Richard Linklater being one of them, but I just don't feel that this film belongs in the Criterion canon. For me it just doesn't sit in their mission statement: "...important classic and contemporary films." Slacker was important in developing Linklater's career, but this was just another stepping stone. I don't know the current situation with ownership rights, but why did they choose this over Waking Life or Before Sunrise/Sunset? <
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>It reminds me of how there are not one but TWO Michael Bay films in the Criterion Collection, The Rock and Armageddon. I don't like Michael Bay, but I recognise his importance in the film world. However, surely one of those films is enough. <
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>Of course, subjectivity reigns, and there will be a veritable mass of people that disagree with me. Each to their own.

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I'm not buying it again
I bought it twice already. That's enough. <
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>Just sayin'.