NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (April 2021): Criterion have transferred Amy Heckerling's Fast Times at Ridgemont High to Blu-ray. It is described as a "New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by director Amy Heckerling". Okay, so there are issues. The Universal was in the inferior VC-1 encode - I thought it looked okay back when we reviewed it almost 10 years ago. Under more scrutiny it is glossy and can look brittle (minor digitization), but I thought that suited the film. The Criterion is notably cropped beside the original Blu-ray - the right (information is there on the included TV version - see below) and bottom edges especially but also less so on the top and left. I have no explanation for this. There is a big shift in colors too, cooler flesh tones (Jeff Spicoli has lost his surfer tan!) but reds (school jacket, Forest Whitaker's  track suit, fast-food uniforms etc.) gain boldness and look 'red' as opposed to more orange-y. It has a heaviness. We have seen this film-like softness' before in 4K-restored images via 1080P. This is another feature I can't explain - I am only the messenger - you can see via the matched screen captures. Essentially, by comparison, the image is cropped, deeper colors, but heavier with less perceived depth and no gloss.

Criterion on this transfer: 'Thank you for your concern regarding our recent release of FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH. There's no error.

We set up the framing using a SMPTE framing chart for 35mm and 1.85 (attached). While it appeared that the older transfer was zoomed out slightly less, our version is 100% accurate to the chart.

Furthermore, director Amy Heckerling had not been involved in any aspect of the older transfer but did approve this framing, color, and all other elements of the Criterion release.

Overall, the difference is minor and the range of any discrepancies is similar to what you might see in a theater screening." (Thanks Alex for sending to us.)

NOTE: We have added 39 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original English language. There aren't an abundance of aggressive separations - maybe during the football game - and while there is no credited score we get a wide sampling of the early 80's pop, and other, the music by Ravyns, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, The Go-Go's, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Billy Squier, The Cars, Sammy Hagar, Led Zeppelin, Donna Summer. It all sounds quite buoyant in the lossless - more technically robust than the Universal. Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' / 'B' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray includes the commentary track, recorded in 1999 - that is also on the Universal BD and previous digital editions, featuring director Amy Heckerling and screenwriter Cameron Crowe. It covers quite a lot of data and how seriously the project was taken despite the perceived minimalization regarding the teen-comedy genre. Criterion also include the 1999, 40-minute documentary "Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High" featuring director Amy Heckerling, screenwriter Cameron Crowe, producer Art Linson, casting director Don Phillips, and actors Brian Backer, Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Robert Romanus, Eric Stoltz, Scott Thomson, and Ray Walston. This was also on the 2011 Universal Blu-ray. Many (including a buddy of mine) will appreciate the ninety-five-minute version of Fast Times at Ridgemont High that was edited and dubbed for television broadcast in the 1980s. It includes some alternate footage not in the theatrical version. It is about 10 Gig in size but is in 1080P (no subtitles) and is in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio with lesser quality than the theatrical cut. There is a 3/4 hour audio discussion from 1982 with Heckerling at the American Film Institute and a new 35-minute video conversation with Heckerling and Crowe, moderated by filmmaker Olivia Wilde. This is also quite interesting to reflect back on the film, it's impact and memories of the production. There are liner notes with an essay by film critic Dana Stevens and, for the Blu-ray edition, a new introduction by Crowe.

Amy Heckerling's Fast Times at Ridgemont High has really embedded itself into our culture gaining a strong niche following with the young Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, nubile Phoebe Cates, the memorable dialogue between Spicoli and Mr. Hand (Ray Walston); "You Dick!", while also speaking to real teen and maturity issues in a seriously addressed and authentic expression. It's a very well-made film despite the negative slant on the, generalized, teen-comedy genre. The Criterion Blu-ray video transfer will be discussed but it, negligibly, has the best audio and having the important commentary and documentary also here - we also get the addition of desirable TV version in HD, and, Heckerling at the AFI plus the director and Crowe, moderated by Wilde in a new video conversation plus the liner notes. Fans will probably find enough valid reasons to double-dip on this title. 

Gary Tooze