Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #490 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-02-02
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 127 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
After building up the duo's popularity through popular recordings and several performances on Saturday Night Live, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd--as "legendary" Chicago blues brothers Jake and Elwood Blues--took their act to the big screen in this action-packed hit from 1980. As Jake and Elwood struggle to reunite their old band and save the Chicago orphanage where they were raised, they wreak enough good-natured havoc to attract the entire Cook County police force. The result is a big-budget stunt-fest on a scale rarely attempted before or since, including extended car chases that result in the wanton destruction of shopping malls and more police cars than you can count. Along the way there's plenty of music to punctuate the action, including performances by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway and James Brown that are guaranteed to knock you out. As played with deadpan wit by Belushi and Aykroyd, the Blues Brothers are "on a mission from God", and that gives them a kind of reckless glee that keeps the movie from losing its comedic appeal. Otherwise, this might have been just a bloated marathon of mayhem that quickly wears out its welcome (which is how some critics described this film and its 1998 sequel). Keep an eye out for Steven Spielberg as the city clerk who stamps some crucial paperwork near the end of the film. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Synopsis
In roles made famous by their famed Saturday Night Live skit, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi star as Ellwood and Jake Blues in this extremely entertaining and successful comedy. Upon Jake's release from prison, the brothers are reunited and visit the orphanage they grew up in--only to discover that it is in danger of being shut down by the county for failure to pay taxes. With a little help from James Brown as a revival preacher, the Blues Brothers are divinely inspired to raise the $5,000 that the orphanage needs to stay open. On their mission from God, they must reunite their old band and raise the money by playing various gigs around town. The wild adventures of the band include dodging evil neo-Nazis, playing in a rowdy redneck bar, and narrowly escaping the crazed Carrie Fisher as Jake's ex-fiancee, who is out to see him dead. Finally, the boys have to get to a gig at the Palace Hotel Ballroom and deliver the $5,000 to the county assessor's office--leading to one of the most wild and hysterical car-chase smashups in film history. John Landis has spiced this wonderful romp with fabulous rhythm-and-blues numbers from such greats as Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Cab Calloway, and Ray Charles.

Customer Reviews

Extra Scenes No Choice
I love this movie but have only given it 4 stars for one reason. There are extra scenes included, which you get no option over, adding 14 minutes to the movie. Thing is they add nothing and some of them actually ruin the pace. You can understand why they were originally cut. Alas there is no mention of this on the cover, so just be warned.

Brilliant, original, ultra hip.
This extraordinary movie was panned on release- sophisticated critics trashing its gleeful sense of mayhem, highly unnecessary levels of carnage and wonderful Rhythm and Blues soundtrack. 22 years on though, its status as a cult favourite is confirmed- EMPIRE readers rated in their Top 100 movies ever (Oct 99), and even the painful sequel cannot dent the reputation of this hugely entertaining, very, VERY cool movie. Snappily dressed, superbly deadpan throughout: Aykroyd and Belushi are terrific- they don't bicker or quarrel as many comedy pairings do, bringing instead a sense of warmth to the film which many critics failed to grasp or appreciate. That isn't to say that it isn't a sporadically foul-mouthed, often violent film, but rather that it's heart is indisputably in the right, highly soulful place. Action movie, comedy, musical... this film is all these things and more, a must see!

A true cult movie
The best of the SNL spin-offs. John Landis (he of 'Trading Places', 'Animal House' and 'An American Werewolf in London' fame) creates one of the best comedy/musical films of all time. Its true that not everyone finds this film funny (my cat got up and walked out halfway through but everyone else was rolling in the aisles) however I'll guarantee they'll be jiving along to the musical set pieces! Don't just settle with adding this to your wish list. Buy it. Now. Go on then...