"1:42.08" remains, in my opinion, one of the lesser George Lucas student films due to it's lack of a strong concept or idea to convey during the runtime. There is no real story to speak of for the five minutes or so that it runs, and this certainly doesn't allow any room for an idea to begin with, as in earlier films like "Herbie" and "Freiheit", which are both solid examples of a good student film. The technical skills displayed within those latter two works are likewise showcased here, always remaining excellent for a student work, and if anything, this brief film is more like in exercise in these skills with nothing more to stand on than that. Not a bad thing, as it does give more focus and highlights this aspect, but at the same time, it feels a lot emptier in general, even for one watching it for these things alone.
The title of this short refers to how long it takes Pete Brock to complete a full lap in his race car - the subject of the film. That's all this film really consists of - footage of first the car being readied, then the remainder taken up with views of Brock completing his lap. The setup certainly gives the filmmaker an opportunity to show off good camerawork and editing, and both are indeed included - with great stationary shots, tracking shots, and even an airplane view all nicely mixed together. Very well made indeed, with excellent craftsmanship, but not the most interesting thing to watch for the average viewer. Without a real story, it comes off more like a documentary that can only really be appreciated if seen for the technical side alone - and hence something that only a buff of independent films (like myself) would be interested in.
The title of this short refers to how long it takes Pete Brock to complete a full lap in his race car - the subject of the film. That's all this film really consists of - footage of first the car being readied, then the remainder taken up with views of Brock completing his lap. The setup certainly gives the filmmaker an opportunity to show off good camerawork and editing, and both are indeed included - with great stationary shots, tracking shots, and even an airplane view all nicely mixed together. Very well made indeed, with excellent craftsmanship, but not the most interesting thing to watch for the average viewer. Without a real story, it comes off more like a documentary that can only really be appreciated if seen for the technical side alone - and hence something that only a buff of independent films (like myself) would be interested in.