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Rating:  -
"The Blues Brothers" is one of those films you wind up watching again and again. In large part this is because of the music-- the film is really a musical at heart, and a chance to showcase the talents of some of the greatest singers of our time. And because it is a musical, the film gets away with taking liberties with reality that even a comedy would hesitate to do.
It helps that this is also Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi at the height of their game. Few comedians could have kept these characters interesting for a solid 2 1/2 hours, sometimes making us laugh with nothing more than a glance. And the car chase scenes are nothing short of inspired, particularly at the end, when the movie slips into an almost surreal armageddon for police cars, with a supporting cast of angry country singers and even the infamous Illinois Nazis for good measure.
A mission from God, indeed.
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I love this movie and you will too, Jake and Elwood are like the brothers i never had, The part where they go into a 5 star restaurant and eat like pigs is my favorite scene.
Rating:  -
The Blues Brothers in my mind should really be considered a hip musical comedy,or am I just blowing smoke here? The entire film has almost non stop music,either that performed by on screen acts or as background filler;so what could be more musical than that? And the acts and talent behind them....it just blows the mind.
The plot in the film,like any musical,is just something to hang the songs on but the starring characters here Jake Blues(the late John Belusi) and Elwood Blues(Dan Ackroyd) give the screenplay much more depth than normal and as such raise it above the ordinary.
After being released from the Illinois State Pen(Joliet) Jake is met at the gates by brother Elwood.Jake isn't too pleased that his brother sold their old ride for a microphone and bought a used cop car instead,but they're off to see Sister Stigmata,aka the Penguin.It seems the orphanage she runs,in which both the brothers were also raised in,is about to go into foreclosure.The brothers decide to somehow raise the cash to keep it afloat.Jake gets "inspired" at a local church and they decide to put their old band together.While pursuing their "mission from God" they raise the ire of the local constabulary,they use every dirty trick to get the band members to re-form,Jake's ex girlfriend pursues them both hell bent on getting them closer to God sooner than they expected,an irate country band whose gig they took and the bar owner who they owe money to give chase and even the Illinois Nazi Party would like to shove their swastika up both their keesters.When they finally get their break and the band plays a huge concert 165 miles from Chicago,they get their money only to be followed all the way back to the County Assessors office in Chicago to pay off the orphanage debt.In the end everyone including the National Guard catches up with them.The orphanage is saved but the brothers both end up in the Pen.The movie musically fades out with the brothers doing,appropriately,"Jailhouse Rock".
This movie is a modern who's who of musical talent,the likes of which will never be seen again in one place.Just some of the personalities that perform;the legendary Hi-De-Ho man himself Cab Calloway,Ray Charles,Aretha Franklin,James Brown and Johnny Lee Hooker.Then there is the on screen band itself:Steve Cropper and Don Dunn formerly of Booker T and the MGs,Willie Hall formerly of the Bar-Kays,Matt Murphy from Howlin Wolf's band and so many others,and the rest of the horns from the Saturday Night Live Band.It is/was an amazing combination of talent and it never fails to impress.The resultant soundtrack from this movie went platinum at least three times that I know of.
Of course as we all know the entire concept for the characters came from the fertile mind of Dan Ackroyd and the wildly hailed performances of Ackroyd and Belushi on Saturday Night Live in the late 70s.This SNL sketch-to-movie has been the most successful of all the others to follow.Ackroyd's passion for the music genre itself has been the largest contributing factor in its' initial success and all that has followed;with subsequent live tours with the band and a follow up movie(not as successful as the first).
Six actors of note to watch for in the film;John Candy as one of the law enforcement officers,veteran actor Kathleen Freeman as the Penguin,a bit part with "Pee Wee Herman" Paul Reubens as a waiter,"Miss Piggy/Fozzy" voice man Frank Oz as the releasing officer in the Pen,singer Steve Lawrence as the brothers agent in the steam room and "Laugh-In" funny man Henry Gibson as the head of the Nazis.
Technically the movie has been transferred well.This is apparently the original cut of the movie when it previewed so it is nice to have the re-inserted footage back into the movie.It now clocks in at about 2 1/2 hours but surprisingly the pace is still pretty good throughout.It is presented in its' original widescreen glory and the special features include an almost hour featurette on the making of the film,the trailer and a still gallery.
All in all the Blues Brothers is a clear musical winner.Considered more of a comedy than a musical,I think this film is just so good at what it does that most don't think of this being a musical;but I believe it is just that and a darned good one too.I invite you to look at the techniques of the older "gotta sing,gotta dance" style movies and you will definitely see styles from every type poured into this one.Besides what it may or may not be there is one thing we can all agree on;the film is a foot tapping, hilarious and enjoyable 2 1/2 hour ride that aims to please,and does!
Rating: -
I love this movie. It is a classic comedy. I purchased this DVD specifically because it's formatted in Anamorphic Widescreen for 16x9 tvs (I hate buying an older movie only to pop it in and find that its got big black bars around all sides and a little picture in the middle of the screen). Overall, the movie is great. Picture quality is ok, nothing exception. There are some special features (deleted/extended scenes, interviews with the cast, etc). The only thing that bothers me is that the deleted scenes are added right into the movie. There's no option to watch them or not. After being used to the original movie, it makes watching it a little strange, especially since some of the scenes feel out of place with the flow of the film. Overall, its not too bad. There's really only a few of them in the movie. I just wish I had the option to watch it with or without the added scenes.
Rating: -
With Jake's release from Joliet the two brothers, Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) Blues, are back together again. After visiting "The Penguin" (Kathleen Freeman), a nun at their old orphanage, they have a quest to save their old orphanage which requires the reformation of the Blues Band. We follow them on their quest, kibitzing when we can as they come across many of the musical greats from the past such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, James Brown etc.
Toss in some Chicago neo-Nazis (Henry Gibson), Twiggy, Carry Fisher, and the entire Cook County police force in an intense chase scene.
Will the band get together?
Will the escape the revenge of Carry Fisher?
Will they be caught by the Real "Good Old Boys?"
Will they be caught by the Cook County Police force?
Will they be able to save the orphanage?
Will we have fun and lots of good music? (YES)
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