The World's Fastest Indian
May 2007 Reviewed by: Doug Blackburn Format: Blu-ray	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

Burt Munro was an original, a speed-obsessed curmudgeon with almost no money. He purchased a new 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle and spent much of his life making it go increasingly faster, using only his meager financial resources and his own unlimited knack for doing complex things simply and inexpensively. In 1967, he rode his 47-year-old motorcycle to a world land speed record of 183.58 mph for engines smaller than 1000cc, and that record still stands 40 years later. He also realized his dream to drive his Indian faster than 200mph, though that run didn’t qualify as a land speed record. To put this accomplishment in perspective, a stock 1920 Indian Chief would be lucky to make it to 45mph with a tail wind!

Burt might sound like the prototypical southern California hot rodder, but he lived in a small town on the southern shore of New Zealand’s southern island. His lack of money was so acute that he had to do everything by wits alone, including traveling to the Bonneville Salt Flats. I watched this movie with a grin on my face for the entire 127 minutes. This is the fantastic story of a most unique old man and how he made his dream happen. Anthony Hopkins and the entire supporting cast are all 100% perfect in their roles. This is, without question, a must-see movie.

This "small" movie can’t match big-budget movies for video and sound quality, but there is an obvious perfection of sorts in the images and sound. I usually don’t like the graininess of movies shot on Super35, but here, the grain is not obtrusive. Obsessed movie fans might notice that the theatrical release was in 2.35:1 format while the home video releases are 1.78:1. Not to worry, the change was made by opening the aperture and showing more at the top and bottom of the frame. Little or nothing is lost on the sides. The images seem to capture the 1960s era with just a pinch of nostalgia. Soft lighting makes shadows soft, and color is a little de-saturated or maybe a little pastel-y at times. It’s an interesting artistic choice that does heighten the sense of being back in the 1960s. I liked it a lot. The sound quality is head and shoulders above most modest-budget movies, but this is no sonic blockbuster. Sounds are clear and Burt’s motorcycle even sounds like a hot-rodded 1920 Indian rather than a two-stroke dirt bike or modern chopper. Dialogue in the center channel is clean and clear, but you need to pay close attention to pick up all the New Zealand-accented dialogue. The surround channels are not exercised much, and the LFE channel has little activity. But this isn’t the sort of movie that needs those things. In fact, they probably would have been a distraction.

The collection of extras complements the movie exceptionally well. You get these: an excellent 1971 documentary, Offerings to the Gods of Speed, featuring the real Burt Munro, directed by Roger Donaldson (4:3, 480i); a promotional/travel video for Burt's home town, Invercargill, New Zealand (16:9, 480i); one of the better "Making of" features I've ever seen (letterbox 4:3, 480i, 45 min.); four deleted scenes (letterbox 4:3, 480i); director's commentary, loaded with all sorts of interesting detail, showing that this director clearly loves this movie and everything that went into making it.

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