Rushmore (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

The Movie: Easily Wes Anderson's best movie, this is Wes Anderson "for the rest of us." It is nowhere near as arch or twee as his later movies. It still has his quirky style and music usage, but the characters are actually relatable and the plot is relatively straightforward. It has a number of noteworthy performances, especially the central three, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray and Olivia Willliams. I've seen it a good ten times in the last 13 years, and it is a rewarding view each time. The Blu-Ray: This is an EXTREMELY impressive transfer. Criterion did a fresh 2k scan under the supervision of director Wes Anderson, along with a thorough clean-up of dirt and print damage. Detail is superb both in close-ups and wide-angled shots. Facial detail is outstanding, among the best on the format. So is cloth texture - some of the tweedy and hounds-tooth jackets are amazing. Colors are lush and vibrant but free of any bleeding or over-saturation. Black levels are stout and never waver, but still retain perfect detail near black. Grain is stable, light, and omnipresent. There is no edge enhancement, noise reduction, or anything untoward or artificial. This looks as much like the film as a Blu-Ray can, and I say this having seen it three times in the theater. I did some comparisons between the Criterion DVD and the Blu-Ray, and the difference is literally like having Lasik surgery or something - practically every shot is crystal clear, and is competitive with the best high definition video out there today. This is not one of those discs where you won't be able to tell the difference between BD and DVD. It is an absolute slam dunk upgrade. Better still, all of the comprehensive extras and commentary are carried over from the previous disc. So sell it, use it as a coaster, target practice, whatever. There is no need to hang onto it. It has been totally and utterly destroyed in quality by the new Blu-Ray.

Rushmore has now become one of my top five movies of all time. Funny, clever and sentimental, Max Fisher's story takes you back to your own struggles growing up, and finding and eventually, embracing one's own identity. Tough to watch Max's heart break after his first real love (aside from his mother) returns unrequited, but I enjoyed watching the character take his rejections in stride and allowed it to mold his inner character in a positive way. Rushmore is a sophisticated comedy, but easily accessible to the masses. A great movie for fathers and sons to view together as well. I should add that I can see teenage boys especially relate to the classmate banter in the movie (as well as the borderline ubiquitous references to "hand jobs", sigh. Cringe-worthy as a parent, but funny as hell when you can set that aside while understanding that teenage boys really do talk to each other in this way). This is by far, one of the funniest movies I've seen, and very much worthy of being part of one's permanent collection. Show it whenever there's a group gathering, or cheer yourself up when you're having a bad day. :) Highly recommended! Many happy (funny) returns!

I wish there were more movies like this one. It's totally off-the-wall, but has intelligence and a warm heart. At first, I wasn't sure if this movie was going to be my cup of tea: The kid and his friends just reek of weirdness. But, I was hopelessly drawn to them in minutes, and interested in what they were going to do or say. Bill Murray excels in this movie. Forget "Lost in Translation", THIS film contains his best work. He truly shows an emotional scale that ranges from A to Z. The supporting oddball characters are mercilessly intriguing. Just when you think they're coming out of left field (or from another planet), they show their humanity. End result: you end up liking them...a lot. The music is right on target, especially Cat Stevens. The instrumental portions are appropriately playful and memorable. I loved this movie. It's a masterpiece. The packaging is superb, and the DVD contains enough bonus material to make this one fine purchase. Yep, it costs a lot, but the old adage is true: You get what you pay for.

The film that established Wes Anderson as a major American independent filmmaking voice, after his very promising debut with 'Bottle Rocket'. Quite simply one of the most original films about adolescence ever made. An unlikely love triangle between a unique oddly brilliant 'cool geek' teenager, his teacher and a local business tycoon that's simultaneously funny, absurd and heartbreaking. Jason Schwartzman is great, and Bill Murray may do his best work ever - side-splittingly funny, but with a damaged, sad, sometimes dangerous edge just under the surface. As in all of Anderson's films, terrific use of songs as score, wonderfully inventive transitions and visual framing. And a lot of fun. The Criterion version has notably better picture quality, and some terrific extras (the regular release is pretty bare bones). It's more expensive, but worth it for a film you're likely to return to repeatedly.

Happy with purchase

Rushmore is one of my all time favorites. I'm fine with it not being for everyone, but the humor, the style, the characters, I love everything about it. I've quoted it probably weekly ever since I first saw it. Sadly, for a good 8 years, I've had to put up with the Touchstone DVD of this movie. The Touchstone DVD is, frankly, one of the worst transfers you'll ever see. It's non-anamorphic, every shot is really pixelated, and the colors are dull and drab. Just terrible. Fortunately, Criterion has given us this bluray which is a revelation. Watching this on bluray was like watching the movie for the first time. Vibrant colors, very fine film grain, the true aspect ratio the film was originally shot in, etc. The bluray transfer is gorgeous. I've never seen the Criterion DVD transfer which I'm sure is loads better than the Touchstone DVD, but I doubt it's this good. This is the only way to watch Rushmore. Unless if it ever goes back into theaters, which isn't likely. Can't wait to have a similar experience with The Royal Tenenbaums!

Enjoyed the film and knew I would as I had already watched on The Criterion Channel. As for Amazon packaging the disc (along with another title in the order) came for first time in a sturdy cardboard box; hope this will become the norm.

The first time I watched this movie, on New Year's eve 1999-2000, I was flabbergasted. I didn't understand it and I'd even go so far as to say I didn't like it. But, for some reason, like all Wes Anderson movies, the second time I watched it I enjoyed it and I enjoyed it more and more every time I went back to the well. Today this is one of my favorite movies. Wistful, sad, imaginative, it depicts an unusual friendship between a precociously advanced teenager and a terribly childish adult. I understand that Wes Anderson's style turns some people off, but if you can get into it, I think this is his best work, after he learned how to make a movie, but before he became too full of himself.