Posted on: October 24, 2008 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

The Rockin’ Rydell edition of Grease is not merely a re-covering of the original film in a cute little cover, but has a number of changes that will ensure that anyone familiar with the film will be pleasantly surprised. Despite the fact that the film is thirty years old, the picture is at the clearest level that it has ever been, showing a crispness that far outstrips any other film from this period. While it will only be an issue for videophiles and individuals that really (really) have to get their experience true to the original format, Paramount has brought back the original aspect ratio (2:35 to 1) rather than conforming to current aspect ratios.

For those individuals that may not care exactly whether the audio is 5.1 or 2.0 or anything (it is a cleared up version of the 1998 re-release), there are more substantive changes and additions to the movie’s packaging. For example, the presence of a party concert in which original tracks from the film are done up in live format by the stars is something truly to behold. However, this is made up for with the inclusion of sing-along tracks, ensuring that viewers can get together and belt out the hits that have been on their mind since Grease came out all those years ago, either in the context of the film or taken separate from the action in the movie.

The one question I have is why exactly the added and deleted scenes are in black and white: the ten minutes of these outtakes seem to be from a different film, rather than meshing well with the action that takes places in the version of Grease familiar to movie viewers. So, make it a point to pick up the Rockin’ Rydell edition of Grease, no matter whether you already have a copy of the film on DVD. It will provide the perfect Christmas gift for anyone that considers themselves a fan of the original film, and represents what Paramount (or the company that owns the rights to Grease 2) should strive for when it comes to a re-release of the film.

Rating: 8.2/10

Grease (Rockin’ Rydell Edition) / 2008 Paramount / 100 Minutes / http://www.paramount.com /

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