Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10350 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-02-02
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 128 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
After building up the duo's popularity through 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

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-fiancée, 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 smash-ups 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

"We're on a mission from god"
This is a classic movie. Who can resist a musical comedy starring Dan Akroyd and John Belushi? This DVD belongs in your collection alongside all the other classic comedies.

This particular package is a good one. On disc 1 you get the theatrical version of the movie along with a making of bonus feature. On disc 2 you get the extended version of the movie and some bonus features. The features include an introduction to the movie by Dan Akroyd, and a few other features that you'll enjoy.

I recommend that everybody buys this DVD. You'll watch it many many times.

Jake and Elwood forever
What can I say? I adore this film. This is definitely my favourite.
I've watched this film at least 40 times in my whole life. I still want to watch it sometimes and when I watch it, I still enjoy it.
I am not the only one watched this film numerous times. There are lots of Blues Brothers fans whole over the world.
It explains how great this film is!

This 25th Anniversary DVD contains 2 discs.
One is the extended version, which is actually the same as other Blues Brothers DVDs, including the one in The Blues Brothers Collection.
The other disc is the theatrical version. Editing is not brilliant compared to the extended version but if you are a Blues Brothers fan, it's worth getting this 25th Anniversary version.
This also has some new bonus materials. Personally, I didn't enjoy "Going Rounds: A day on The Blues Brothers" very much and I didn't get the point of having the same production note on both discs. Furthermore, I thought Dan Aykroyd's introduction was pointless.
However "Transposing The Music" and "Remembering John" were not too bad.
It would be perfect if this had an audio commentary but I guess Universal is keeping it for 30th Anniversary version.

If you simply want to watch the film, I think you should get the ordinary version unless the price is the same or cheaper.

The only musical worth watching
Now I'm not a fan of musicals really and I'm generally a heavy metal fan, but I adore this film. It has a fantastic story, brilliant acting, gobsmacking car chases and is overall amazingly good fun and a great watch. Jake and Elwood are the coolest characters because no matter what happens (including being shot at, chased by nazis and bottled by angry country and western fans) they remain as cool as ice in a freezer on Pluto. The music is fantastic and it's great to sing along to. There is an amzing amount of talent in this film, and who knew John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd could dance?