The Blues Brothers (The Blues Brothers (DVD))

Member Name: xcom

Product:	The Blues Brothers (DVD)
Date:	26/05/01 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great soundtrack, very funny

Disadvantages: none

I can't remember when I first saw this - after all it is quite old (1984). I remember I missed the first bit, but thought the rest of it was great - in fact I think it was on the end of a video of something else I had recorded. Years later I have seen the film several times and own my own DVD of it.

The story is based on two brothers - Jake (James Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Acykroyd) Blues. Jake has just been released from prison and Elwood has just picked him up.

Their first stop is the Penguin - in fact the Penguin is a nun. She tells them that the orphanage they grew up in is about to be closed down because it owes so much tax. The only way it can be saved is by raising the money - legally. There is only on answer - reform the Blues Brothers Band.

And so starts a bizzare series of adventures as our two heroes travel round recruiting the old band members. On the way they are hunted by a hitman or woman (in the form of Carrie Fisher), manage to annoy the Nazi Party and have to pretend to be The Good Olde Boys (a country and western band).

Finally, they set up their gig, manage to sing one song - the now famous Everybody Needs Somebody - and have to run to evade not only the law, the Nazi Party and The Good Olde Boys but also to get to the tax office 150 miles away before 9am the following morning.

This is a truely excellent film. With guest stars such as James Brown, Carrie Fisher, John Candy, Arethra Franklin and Ray Charles plus a host of other famous blues singers all providing an excellent soundtrach (well worth getting on its own). The chase at the end is one of the most memorable chase scenes every with dozens of police cars being wrecked along the way.

Well worth watching - even if you don't like blues (which I don't) you will be tapping along to the music.

Summary: