The Outsiders: The Complete Novel

There are a few books that I’ve read that I can honestly say have changed my life: Fight Club, American Psycho, Tom Sawyer, and a little novel called The Outsiders. Written by S.E. Hinton in 1967 when she was only 16 years old, it has since become a staple in Middle/Junior High School curriculum and is honored by teenagers around the country and porobally the world. And in 1983 The Director of The Godfather took the helm of the movie adaptation of this beloved novel. 22 years later we finally get a worth while dvd edition of this timeless classic movie.

Movie
In 1983, Francis Ford Coppola’s film of S.E. Hinton’s novel struck a powerful chord with audiences centering on two rival gangs in the early 1960s Midwest, and the violent turf wars that escalate and tragically claim young lives. C. Thomas Howell plays the central character who yearns to prove himself and be accepted by his older brothers’ gang, while at the same time finding his first love and dreaming of a life beyond his dead end existence., capturing the intense feelings of being caught between childhood and adulthood, and not belonging anywhere. Decades later, Coppola has revisited the film and reintegrated 22 minutes of character-enriching footage, including a new beginnning and ending more true to the book. A rousing new rock-n-roll soundtrack featuring six songs from Elvis Presley and other music greats make this new version of The Outsiders one of movie history’s great rediscoveries.

Theres not much else you can say about The Outsiders its a classic, filled with performances with some of The biggest Stars of the later 80’s, 90’s, and some are still going today, there are alot of familiar faces in this movie: Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Ralph “The Karate Kid” Macchio, Emilio Estevez, and Matt Dillon among others, but future big stars isnt the only thing this film has going for it, theres also great direction from one of the greatest directors of last the century.
Rating: 9 out of 10

Transfer
Only one word describes the transfer on this new dvd for The Outsiders and that is INCREDIBLE, the previous dvd was a non anamorphic, grainy, sad excuse of a digital video transfer, but this new 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer is totally different, Coppola went in an completely restored the original film as well as the new footage inserted, and while some grain is apparent in the new footage for the most part the color is wide open and vivrant!
Rating: 9 out of 10

Audio
Another major step up from the original dvd would be the audio this new Dolby 5.1 soundtrack as also been remastered with new music added in where there wasnt any previously, for the most part the movies fairly front loaded with subtle surround effects here and there but I’ve heard better.
Rating: 8 out of 10

Extras
Where to start, well I guess the first disc would be the best place to start. There is an intro and commentary with Director Francis Ford Coppola, as well as an intro with stars Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Diane Lane, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, and Patrick Swayze, the stars commentary being my favorite of the two cause they all sit down and enjoy the film together, it wasnt recorded from different recording sessions, its all 6 actors in a room watching a movie that launched many of their careers, they joke around, gawk about how young they look (with the exception of Patrick Swayze who oddly still looks the same). From there we move on to disc 2 where were given 10 minutes of additional deleted scenes that were not inserted into the new cut of the movie, a 26 minute long making of documentary entitled “Staying Gold: A Look Back at the Outsiders”, screen test from the cast members, Readings: in which members of the cast read selections from the book, a vintage NBC news piece about how school children petitoned Coppola to make the movie. A tour of Tulsa given by author S.E. Hinton and the films original trailer. All around everything any fan of The Outsiders could possibly want and more!
Rating: 10 out of 10

Overall
One of my favorite movies growing up finally gets the treatment it deserves, my only gripe would be the fact that the original cut of the movie isnt included, but I pretty much knew it wasnt gunna happen, this is how Coppola envisioned the movie when he was making it and like his good buddy George Lucas once he changes one of his movies thats how their suposed to be until he decides to change it again, lets just hope this is the only time he changes The Outsiders!
Rating: 9 out of 10

LETS DO IT FOR JOHNNY!!!!!!

The Outsiders: The Complete Novel
Movie: 9
Transfer: 9
Audio: 8
Extras: 10
Overall: 9
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Format: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Sound: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Drama/Coming of Age
Studio: Warner Bros.
Stay Golden Like Ponyboy

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