The Right Stuff [Blu-ray] [1983] [Region Free]

I really liked the blu-ray transfer of this classic epic. The movie itself is a multi Oscar winning tour de force, detailing the birth of the American space program, following Chuck Yeager's breaking of the sound barrier. It takes a few artistic liberties with the history, for the sake of drama, but not so much as to be unforgivable, especially if you know the history a way.I won't review the plot as that's been done many times. I love this film, personally. I was brought up with it, so to speak, my Dad being an aeronautical enthusiast. Odds are of you're buying this then you either know the story of America's space race with Russia, or you want to know.The picture quality is good overall, considering the age of the title. The rousing score by Bill Conti is best enjoyed on a surround system. Overall the blu-ray is great value for money.

I saw The Right Stuff when it was showed on British TV in parts. I loved the Dennis Quaid parts in which he plays the cocky Gordo Cooper, and he really does not disappoint. In fact many to the actors were clearly chosen because of their similarity to the actual astronauts and Ed Harris is stunningly like a young John Glenn. But unlike many films that have followed that, here they hit gold with excellent actors like Fred Ward, Harris, Quaid etc. The other big benefits is a terrific 'wife' cast - Angela Cartwright turns in another excellent performance and you'll see Zooey Deschanel's mum as John Glenn's wife.The soundtrack is a treat, but it failed slightly by at times doing that typical 80's thing of using some electronic instruments rather than a proper orchestra at times. It just sounds dated.Nice and clear on Blu Ray, but don't expect pinpoint clarity, and good sound too.I think it ran for a good three hours so make you get the snacks in!

The Right Stuff is a 1983 American drama film that was adapted from Tom Wolfe's best-selling 1979 book of the same name about the Navy, Marine and Air Force test pilots who were involved in aeronautical research at Edwards Air Force Base, California, as well as the seven military pilots who were selected to be the astronauts for Project Mercury, the first attempt at manned spaceflight by the United States. The Right Stuff stars Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Sam Shepard, Fred Ward, Dennis Quaid and Barbara Hershey. Levon Helm is the narrator in the introduction and elsewhere in the film, as well as having a co-starring role as Air Force test pilot Jack Ridley. In 2013 the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant

The story is both true and enthralling. It mixes the way astronaughts were identified and recruited in parallel with the work of test pilot Chuck Yeager who (without a college degree I believe) was not part of the Mercury Programme.

One of my all-time favourite films, and the DVD release was one of the first ten discs I bought in the format. The cast are all at the top of their game, but Sam Shepard's performance as Chuck Yeager was - is - mesmerising.But...I was disappointed when I bought the DVD to discover that the film had been cropped from its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 down to the widescreen format of 1.77:1 (16:9). Director Philip Kaufman had a fine eye for framing and the locations, particularly the landscape of the Mojave Desert around Edwards Air Force Base in California, cry out for a proper widescreen presentation. I was really hoping that the Blu-Ray release would do the film justice and show it in its original format, but this is not the case. Like the DVD, it's still presented in 1.77:1. In fact, watching the Blu-Ray there's scant improvement over the DVD, but given that the film was shot on 35mm, that's probably down to the source negative itself.There is a transfer out there that shows the film in its original widescreen aspect ratio, as it pops up from time to time on television. It's a pity Warners went with this inferior print for the commercial HD release, because the film really should have got the five-star treatment it deserves.

While Apollo 13 and First Man are both great movies about space exploration, The Right Stuff is still the best. Great performances across the board, especially Sam Shepard as Chuck Yeager and Ed Harris as John Glenn. The script is fantastic with lots of quotable lines. Top it off with Bill Conti's astonishing Oscar winning score and you have a great movie experience, whether you are interested in the space race or not. Most highly recommended.

Love this film, especially as it predates CGI effects, my daughter's recently watched it and were very impressed too. Early performances from now well known actors all providing first rate portrayals. Watch out for a cameo by Chuck Yeager as a barman. I read Yeager's autobiography and that of Eric Brown, the two greatest test pilots ever, this film shows just a tiny amount of what they and their colleagues went through.

Yes it’s nicer to look at on blu ray, but I had some sound drop outs. Still one of my favourite astronaut movies though.