American Graffiti Drive-In Double Feature (DVD, 2004, 2-Disc Set)

The 2 movies that make up the "American Graffiti" series of films are a wonderful representation of fine filmmaking from a brilliant story-telling point-of-view. The first film, the original "American Graffiti", was first issued back in 1973. At the time of the film's inital release to movie theaters, no other film of any kind was dwelling into the subject matter of nostalgia quite so outstanding. Writer and director George Lucas recalled his early years as a young man growing up in Modesto, California, by creating a cinematic frame-work featuring likable and memorable characters, an awesome soundtrack of classic early rock and roll songs from the 50s and 60s, and having all of the action take place in just one night. The lives of these people are varied from different backgrounds. The main story centers around the group's final night together before they have to disband because of one of them going away to college back East. One of the film's strong elements concerns that of cars, as can be seen in the cruising and drag-racing sequences. 6 years later, the sequel, "More American Graffiti" was released. The stories all take place on New Year's Eve between the years of 1964 to 1967. Many of the characters from the first film are shown this time around, with each of them in varied settings such as Haight-Ashbury, the Vietnam war, the campus peace movement and the start of women's liberation. The film's soundtrack features many songs that were reflective of the time period in which this film takes place. With stars like Ron Howard, Cindy Williams, Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, Candy Clark, Paul LeMat and Charles Martin Smith, this double feature is a fine look at a by-gone era.

Both AG, and its sequel More AG, are the best relaxing movies !
AG is the smoothest of all the youth-cult movies with all the right mix of pleasant-ideal times; LeMatt as Milner is classic, Clark and CMSmith are a comedy, and idealistic, Howard and Williams are the mild-fueding couple for balance of life's harsher-realities, and foregiveness.
More AG opening scenes of helicopters skimming over some backwater to effect as a Vietnam scene is comforting reminder of that terrible war, which is grim as later scenes show the pain of a wounded soldier thrown on a medevac-helo.
The drag-racing scenes are obviously super-super, with the drama of Milner's car being rushed to the start-line by the crew.
A realistic touch of how war-protesters could be hassled is also a treat for folks of that activity as Ron Howard rescues his fueding wife from the school hide-away from police. Close enough to 60s era-protests are of interest.
We do not want the memory of Milner being whacked by a drunk-driver, so the film protects that sensitivity...prefer if it was not part of the script at-all.
CMSmith and Hopkins are good in their disinterest in the War efforts.
The Franchise edition had both on same-disc, on opposite sides. Both had sharp images when played on blu-ray player. However, my AG stopped in 5 minutes.A flaw in the dvd.

If you like classic cars, then you'll love American Graffiti. Full of humor, with an all star cast from back in the day.
The second film More American Graffiti does lack the pizazz of the first, but you'll watch it to the end just to see how everyone's life turned out.

This is a classic movie that everybody should see at least once. It has a great soundtrack and and is one of the original "high school movies" set to great music. It also features many future stars of hollywood.

I love cars and the first time I seen American Graffiti I was in love with the movie. I had no idea there was a part 2 to the movie. It was great! It went more in depth about the lives of the characters instead of focusing on just the cars. I would highly reccomend this sequel to this great film to any Graffiti fan!