Thelma and Louise [DVD] [1991]

This film is absolutely brilliant! If nothing else it is worth watching just for the amazing landscapes and invigorating scenes on an original American Road trip, although I can guarantee there is more to it than that.

What really makes this film is not only it's exciting plot and chase, but the way in which it has an acute combination of every aspect you need to make a film truly brilliant: The two main characters are delightful-it really is rare to relate to characters the way in which I did to Thelma and Louise, the issues dealt with are controversial, evocative and very involving, it's exciting, it's beautiful and it's devastatingly funny. It would be an insult to dismiss this as a "chick-flick" it has a very deep meaning and a rare brilliance that could not possibly keep it confined to this tacky categorisation. It is widely accessible and I'm confident both sexes would get a lot out of it. However, I must admit, girls, you will love it!

This is a film about independence, power and life, and ultimately about friendship.

It comes highly recommended-don't miss it!

Thelma (Geena Davis) is naive and beautiful, trapped in her role as housewife to puerile, selfish Daryl. Louise (Susan Sarandon) is tough, a world-weary waitress. Thelma and Louise decide to take a short vacation together and, as events unfold, the girls lose any shreds of innocence they had previously and realise that they can never go home again. This is a tale of empowerment and liberation, while it is also tragic.

There is a feminist slant to the film; most of the men (including a gorgeous young Brad Pitt) are negative, emotionally and morally weak characters. The two main character's development is fascinating; Thelma loses her naivety and Louise learns to accept help. Thelma and Louise, despite their increasingly bad behaviour, remain strong, good characters, elicitng support and affection from the audience.

The film's ending is legendary. It immortalises these two characters and their plight, it is incredibly tragic and after watching this film for the first time, I cried for a good half an hour afterwards because it was just so sad. Yet there is also something positive and life-affirming in the women's retention of their freedom and cementing of their friendship.

Thelma and Louise is now a cult film. The acting is honest and impressive. The landscape is beautiful and the music enhances the film's atmosphere. The Oscar winning screenplay is incredible, and Ridley Scott's direction complements it perfectly. The DVD extras include audio commentaries by the director, writer and stars; the alternate endings provide a different perspective of the famous climax. There are a wealth of extras on this DVD, but they are by no means the selling point of the movie: it stands alone as a cult classic; "provocative, poignant and a triumph of moviemaking" could not be more true!

Enough has been said about this movie over the years so I will not bang on about the plot , this is about the new Blu-ray transfer as people will ask "is it worth the upgrade..?"
Well , in was roundabout way yes..The Hi def transfer has a crisp quality and does bring out detail that many earlier incarnations on video and DVD didn't pick up so well. If anybody had the 1990's letterbox video that was 1st released those might recall a fuzziness about Louise's car when it leaves her home to pick up Thelma , but the brilliant detail in many of the car interior scenes are far superior to anything ever seen until now. The problem with this version is the colour as Ridley Scott paints with light never for-seeing "Hi Def" when this was being shot over 20 years before. With that in mind it meant he could use poetic licence with framing and adjusting hues when filming the wonderful Arizonian landscape and the rich blue sky's..its a shame because much of the vibrancy has been lost and the use of tinted filters to give "effect" or "atmosphere" are clearly visible on many of the wide shots. But that's not to say that it makes the film look poor or up to much to enjoy..its the best version there will probably be and if you have a good Blu-ray player like mine that is able to play in Hi-Def "and" at 24 FPS (frames per second) , the motion is superb with the smoothest of non picture grain or nasty "duel-layering" totally removed from what most have seen until now. Skin tones are clear , the tiny blood speckles can clearly be seen on Louise's face when she is in the bathroom waiting for Thelma , and though the scenes in "Monument Vally" look cold and muted in the early morning light , the final Grand Canyon shots look stunning and every dust cloud has every detail and swirl.
The soundtrack has the original DTS master , nothing fantastic but good enough and Hans Zimmer's score blends and sits very well with the surround content that will fill your room with the atmosphere you got at the cinema.
The extras are the same as the 1st DVD release , enough to fill your cowboy boots with , the 2 commentary's are still there although this is not one of Ridley's best as anyone might well know know , he has a habit of saying he will tell you about something when it comes up later , and by the time it does he is already talking about something else and you never get to find out the great *reveal*..
A good buy but don't be to expectant of a perfect transfer until a new print and remaster are done in the decades ahead..
Until then , this will be just fine...Thelma & Louise , rest in peace..