I was very impressed by the racing scenes when I watched it in HD DVD.
Especially the Monza race...
I agree it's a real showpiece for HD DVD. Fantastic restoration job and an amazing film, the racing scenes have probably never been bettered.
shareIt was a phenomenal movie in the theatres. The sound surrounded you, and it was realistic in volume, and even in the 37th row, when the cars were flying towards you, you flinched.
Unfortunately, on analog television, the visual effects, new in 1966, are old and tired, and with little images and "we have neighbors, dear" sound volume, you don't get that.
What you're left with is a movie where the plot is anemic. The characters are two-dimensional, deliberately so, because they live to race, and race to live. The stars are the cars - but Miss America of 1966, while probably still attractive, would never win today's Miss America pageant, either.
I'm glad to know that it's great in HD. All I know was that it was great in 1966, and it's disappointing on AMC.