But C. Thomas Howell was a very nice guy and not full of himself in any way. I can't say the same for Ralph M.

Here's a weird question: Any extra Tom Waits in the new scenes? Haven't seen it in years, but I don't remember him doing anything more than answering a door in the original version.

Hmmmm. Not sure but I don't think so. He's still there opening the door but I don't think he's in it any more than that.

I double checked and I'm pretty sure there is NO extra Tom Waits footage.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

All I can say is that the commentary track 3 (with Macchio, Howell, Swayze, Lowe, Dillion, & Lane) is nothing short of awesome. This def a great DVD.....one question for those who own this....all the stars read sections from the book, and on its menu you can select a star to read..how odd Tom Cruise looks like he can be selected..but it fuzzed out...anyone find an easter egg???

Well, just gave it a viddey and must say:

Great extended scenes...but the change in music during some of my fave scenes....and the addition of over amplified and un-needed music in other scenes....spoiled it for me. Sure...I was raised in my late teens on this film and I'm used to the theatrical cut and all...but I walked away let down, and again, mainly for the music, which changed the mood for me in many of the key scenes. I'll keep the extended version of course. But the next time I watch this film...it will be the theatrical cut.

watched the film last night , and watched disc 2's supplements this am. As for the supplements, although not overly long, all the material here was excellent IMO. great insights into how the film came about, and how the casting and eventual shooting process went. Coppola is truly a master @ his craft. As for the film, I thought it indeed ,as advertised, is much more faithful to the book, and I personally found it to be a better film in this presentation.
Great disc!

Every once in a while there's a release that reminds you why DVD's are so cool. This is one of them. The restored footage works so well, it's amazing that Coppolla allowed it to be cut in the first place. It makes this a much, much better film. It's just too bad this wasn't the version that was released 22 years ago.

That said, I do like the original music better. The new tunes just seem gimmicky and distracting. Plus I liked the original credit sequence better. Just seemed more elegant somehow.

Can't wait to get to all the special features!

Man -- I can't wait to get this DVD in my hands! This has been my most anticipated DVD since it was rumored to be released a couple years back and from the sound of it, I won't be disappointed.

I totally agree that the movie is way better now, but the new music in scenes totally ruined it for me. My wife had only seen the movie once and she thought the music totally killed some of the scenes too. It's too bad there wasn't an alternate audio option or something...

Here is a cool review with some screenshots:

http://www.chud.com/dvd/4373

Diane Lane looks so HOT in this film!

all the while i was watching this, i couldn't get over how beautiful the print was. it was so clean (aside from maybe 2 sec. on new footage) and majestic. i mean the feature is better than so so many newer releases that i have seen recently. it truly was like watchig "The Outsiders" for the first time.

i do agree however that some of the new scenes were a little awkward and the whole movie with an Elvis track? the songs were a little much (i guess coppola really digs the king, however, some songs fit, some not at all).

overall, very enjoyable watching experience and i still can't get over how utterly gorgeous the film looks now!

Id have to give a thumbs down on the score change, however, the score was nicely done nonetheless. My problem was the mood. It really changes the mood of the film, and I dont think for the better.

The picture is beautiful though.

Im going to watch the theatrical release now to compare.

Ok, I*ve just watched the rerelease and the original release back to back. Here are my thoughts....

First off, for purist and non purists, I would recommend getting this update release. I also recommend the original. I've never been this conflicted with a DVD release.

The editing, print quality, and aspect ratio, are all far superior in this new release, and for those reasons alone, i'd recommend it. The beginning of the film is much much better, and clearly these scenes must have been cut due to time constraints. Had Outsiders been filmed today, I doubt the first 15 minutes would have ended up on the cutting room floor. Kudos for Coppola and the editing team for bringing these scenes back.

About the score: I respect Coppola's reasons for the score change and in fact, support it, however, its my opinion that its just not as good. It doesn't set the mood of the original release, and I think the film suffers for this. The original score sets an appropriate mood for the film. This is not a happy film. The new score, sort of has a Stand by Me feel to it. Outsiders is not however, a coming of age film in the same sense as stand by me.

Aside from prefering the original score... I also prefer the original sound track. In the original, there is so much happening in the sound track that is not strictly music. For instance, the Trains. The Trains signify that something is about to happen, usually something bad. This is completely lost and drowned out in the new sound track. Same can be said for the wind, and crickets, and the other sounds of the night. Compare the sceen when Pony Boy and Johnny are outside Johnny's house. There was no musical inclusion in the theatrical release. The dialog is crisp, you can hear Johnny's parents clearly fighting in the background, and you have a sense of what is driving Johnny's actions. In the rerelease, this is all downplayed by the inclusion of blue moon. Does it work??? maybe. Does it work better?? I don't think it does.

When I watched the original, I got chills from the sound of the wind, and the crickets. I remembered times as a boy when i'd sneak out of hte house at 2am to be under the night sky, or times when I left the house determined to run away,,, until I got a bit too cold.

Included scenes that don't work: Right up until Dally gets killed, I felt that the new edit was flawless. After that.. There are a couple of included scenes at the end of the film, one is completely unncessary, the other, though well acted and beautifully shot, seems out of place. And, with these included scenes, when Pony Boy reads Johnny's message to him and Dally, the shock has worn off and the scene is not as powerful. Thats a shame because this should be a very powerful scene. I cried like Nancy Karigan when I saw that scene as a kid. The original Theatrical release, on the other hand seemed rushed. Somewhere, i'm sure there is an edit that would be just right.


And more on the sound editing. The digital sound track is brilliant, however, certain scenes suffer from overplayed music. If you compare certain scenes with the original, it is clear that the new soundtrack is getting in the way of dialog. Take for instance the scene when Dally robs the conveinience store. Here we can hardly hear the dialog form the store clerk. Same for the conversation when Dally calls Darry to tell him robbed the store. The dialog is clear as day in the theatrical release.

And, worst of all, someone earlier in this thread hoped that the music was not changed when Darry gets shot in the park,,, well, sorry to say it was. And BOY did it not have the same impact. All of the problems with this sound editing come into play here. YOu can't hear the train, you can't hear everyone yelling, or rather you cant hear what they're saying, the music is overbaring, and it doesn't set the appropriate mood.

Anyway, bottom line is, The new release is worthy of purchase, however, it is a shame that the mood and sound track of the film have changed so completely. I really do believe that has Coppola include many of the new tracks, but merged the two tracks in someway to preserve some of the more powerful scenes, the release would have been better. For this reason, purists would be wise to keep their original release.

JIm

Lucky for those at the Tulsa screening. For some reason I thought the new version in stores would come WITH a copy of the novel.

We received a copy of the dvd (2 weeks before it was released) as well as a copy of the novel. Awful nice of Warner Brothers.

Agreed, the music was awful and will probably keep me from watching it much. Granted it looks beautiful and the beginning is far better now, but I just can't take it seriously this way.

Here's hoping the original will get remastered and rereleased someday (but I'm not holding my breath...)

I watched this over the weekend and it was such a joy to finally get to view the cut scenes - and I liked all of them - felt they all served a meaningful purpose to the story and the characters. I wish that Heather Langenkamp's (A Nightmare on Elm Street) had been reinstated though.

I'm not sure why Coppola chose to cut the scene at the church where Ponyboy and Johnny attempt to catch the rabbit with a trap because this scene also shows Johnny dropping a cigarette which ultimately led to the church catching fire.

Lastly...the music. I, for one, did not like the added songs for one reason: it is far less emotional. I'll cite one scene to prove why I feel this way. The scene in the hospital the night of the fire when Ponyboy, SodaPop and Darry hug it out in the hallway...my eyes always used to mist up during that scene, but now with the altered music it wasn't the case.