STUDIO: Warner Brothers
RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2008
STARRING: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Estelle Parsons, Gene Hackman, and Michael J. Pollard
WRITTEN BY: Robert Benton and David Newman
DIRECTED BY: Arthur Penn
FEATURES: Digitally Remastered from Restored Picture and Audio Elements
Revolution! The Making of Bonnie and Clyde
The History Channel Profile of the Real Barrow Gang, Love and Death: The Story of Bonnie and Clyde
Newly Discovered Warren Beatty Wardrobe Tests
Additional Scenes

Movies simply don't get much better than Bonnie and Clyde. The film is often referenced as a landmark turning point in the evolution of the anti-hero and the use of violence in movies, but the reverence for Bonnie and Clyde often overlooks one important fact - it's still (and always will be) a damn good time. It's one of the fastest and most enjoyable two hours that you can spend with a DVD. There are dozens of "influential" movies that, honestly, aren't that fun to watch outside of recognizing their place in movie history. You won't find many frat boys watching Battleship Potemkin or Birth of a Nation, regardless of their influence. But you will catch them watching The Godfather and 2001 and, with this glorious 2-disc special edition, a few more will probably pop in Bonnie and Clyde on a Saturday night. Bonnie and Clyde ushered in a new era of film, when sexuality, violence, and other adult themes could move from the French New Wave to American shores. It started what is often referred to as the best era in movie history and is a must-see for everybody from hardcore film students to casual movie goers.

From the very beginning, Bonnie and Clyde is a blast, featuring career-best work from Faye Dunaway and great performances from icons like Warren Beatty and Gene Hackman. The opening scene really says it all, as a naked Bonnie Parker (Dunaway) looks at herself in the mirror, the boredom evident on her face, and happens to go to the window to see Clyde Barrow (Beatty) about to steal her family's car. Their eyes meet and both see everything in that first exchange - lust, interest, and a mutual need for something more. The scenes that follow - their "courtship" are some of the best in movie history. Clyde plays off Bonnie's desire to move beyond her picket fences and Bonnie practically melts when she sees Clyde's gun. From there, Bonnie and Clyde is a brilliant mix of styles influenced by everything from the Keystone Kops to Francois Truffaut. The late '60s and '70s were about a group of movie mavericks taking the history of their medium and updating it for a new generation in masterpieces like Chinatown, The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, The Wild Bunch, and 2001. Bonnie and Clyde led the way for all of them and continues to influence movies to this day. Ranked as the 27th-best film ever made by the American Film Institute, Bonnie and Clyde has already been preserved in the United States Film Registry. Shouldn't you do the same on DVD?

The real draw of the new edition of Bonnie and Clyde is the glorious new video transfer that has been digitally remastered for high-impact home viewing brilliance from restored original film and audio elements. The anamorphic widescreen picture is simply gorgeous without a single noticeable flaw. The audio is only available in mono, which is slightly disappointing, but it's a minor complaint when the video is this damn impressive. After the movie itself, Bonnie and Clyde fans will be impressed with a collection of new special features, including a great documentary, "Revolution! The Making of Bonnie and Clyde," which features interviews with most of the cast and crew, including Beatty and director Arthur Penn. There's a History Channel show that examines the real Barrow gang that's interesting mostly in light of the differences between reality and the film. Fans will also find new Beatty wardrobe tests and some additional scenes that total about five minutes. The special features aren't overwhelming on Bonnie and Clyde but the movie still is and will be for generations to come.