No matter what rolled in on the tides of time, California surfing buddies Matt, Jack and Leory knew they’d stick together. And that they’d be ready when a rare 20-foot swell hit the coast at last.

Big Wednesday celebrates surfing as much as the most dedicated kid who ever waxed a board. It’s also a fascinating 1962-1974 chronicle of friendships and lifestyles in transition. John Milius (Apocalypse Now, Red Dawn) directs and coscripts with a passion for the ultimate ride and a truthful feel for those turbulent times. Stars Jan-Michael Vincent and William Katt are accomplished surfers; colead Gary Busey (Point Break, 1991) learned for the role. And the vivid camerawork drops you inside awesome barrels of ocean blue.

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Video Quality

Big Wednesday was released on Blu-Ray in 2018 courtesy of the Warner Archive with a wonderful 1080p transfer derived from a 2K scan of the Interpositive. The transfer maintains the rich texture of the natural film grain that resolves consistently in all locales. The gorgeous cinematography lends itself to harnessing bold colors within the natural world, clothing and production design elements. You will find a treasure trove of detail ready to be unearthed within the community and along the beaches. There are only occasional instances where the detail could be a bit sharper. We did not witness any signs of compression artifacts or banding. This transfer represents the look of the feature admirably. Warner Archive has put forth some really nice work here.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray features a strong DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track that unwaveringly showcases the original soundscape. The soundtrack and the rousing score from Basil Poledouris are treated with care and balanced well within the mix. Dialogue clearly emanates without being overshadowed by sound effects like the waves. This track provides a presentation free of any serious blemishes or digital anomalies that would detract from the viewing experience. The track is in great shape for the audience. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for those who desire them.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: An archival commentary track with director John Milius in which he discusses his reason for wanting to tell this story, evoking this time period, how they shot the surf footage, and more.

Capturing The Swell: A nearly 16-minute archival featurette produced by Blue Underground in which director John Milius discusses his early love of the ocean, his desire to make this movie, inspiration for certain characters, the casting process, and much more.

Trailer (2:59)

Final Thoughts

Big Wednesday is a potent blend of coming-of-age tale and sports drama as we follow three reckless guys experiencing the hardships that come with learning life’s lessons. While you could mistake this for a slacker movie from the outside, there is a surprising amount of thematic depth explored throughout this nuanced script. The three leads do a fine job of bringing these personalities to life, and there is an ensemble that fleshes out the world quite capably. Add in some exciting surfing sequences, and you have a story that commands your attention. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation and some notable special features. Recommended

Big Wednesday can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.