The Film
Bruce Brown is not a household name -- unless you have a house with surfers in it. Back in 1966, the filmmaker shed light on this little known sport, via a little movie called The Endless Summer, now available on Blu-ray.
Armed with a 16mm camera and a $50,000 budget, Brown took off on a cross-continental adventure with surfers Robert August and Mike Hynson. With The Sandals's campy soundtrack and Brown's stoner narration, the two surfers traveled (in suits!) to exotic locales, including Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Hawaii. It was during this adventure that the trio captured some tasty waves, as well as an interesting look at foreign lands and an even more foreign surf culture.
It may appear dated in both content and the actual print. However, even after 45 years and one sequel, The Endless Summer is the quintessential surfing flick, and a ton of fun as well.
The Endless Summer was remastered for last's year's 2-disc "Director's Special Edition" DVD. I haven't had the chance to view that set, but this Blu-ray is definitely a slight step up from my old standard-def DVD -- with a heavy emphasis on the word slight.
The original material probably doesn't leave a lot of room for sprucing up. When the film was released in 1966, it was already technologically behind. Of course, that's also part of the film's charm. It's hard to imagine that Monterey could do much with the original source. That said, some of the colors seem a twinge brighter and the facial close-ups are improved, offering up a little more detail. That surfer scruff, the sunkissed skin and hair, and freckles stand out. Overall though, The Endless Summer still looks like someone's home videos, just as it was intended.
The Sound
This Blu-ray release adds in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio, with a stereo track also available. Sadly, the improved audio doesn't really add much to the movie. The film is mostly soundtrack and narration, which both stick close to the front speakers. The waves are there, but don't offer a lot of woosh throughout the surrounds; it isn't much of an immersive experience.
The Extras
The lone extra on this Blu-ray release is a digital copy of the movie. It's disappointing that Monterey didn't at least pick up the featurettes from last year's "Director's Special Edition" DVD, most notably "A Look Back at The Endless Summer."
Final Thoughts
Despite its age, The Endless Summer never seems to disappoint. Surfers and landlubbers alike will enjoy this whimsical, gorgeous trip through areas that most of us only daydream about. That said, this Blu-ray version is more of a "hang five," with only a slight step up from the DVD and a complete lack of extras. If you bought last year's 2-disc remastered Director's Special Edition on DVD, there's probably little reason to upgrade.
Product Details
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