Smokey and the Bandit [Blu-ray]

In honor of Burt Reynolds since he passed away today, I wanted to watch this movie again. It was so funny and adventurous.Back in the 1970s, movie theaters had no closed-caption (CC). I didn't understand what the dialogue is saying because I am deaf. Now I am happy that this Amazon Prime video has added up with CC that made me understanding. Thanks to Amazon Prime Video. Now, I know why those funny guys who escape from Texas cops. LOL!RIP Burt Reynolds. You will be missed by great fans including me.

Smokey and the bandit has been reissued again by universal this time as a 40th anniversarythe HD transfer & 5.1 master mix and the extras are exactly the same as the previous 2012 blu-rayso what makes this new reissue different from the 2012 blu-rayis the new Documentary THE BANDIT goes for 83min which covers mainly Hal needham as a stunt manturned Director for smokey and the bandit who also did the Car stunts in the film except for the Football field stuntwhich an accident did happen and 2 people were injured, but most of the car scenes Burt was driving the Doco covers both Hal & burt's relationship from when they met in the early 70's right thru to 1977 when smokey become a big Hityou have new interviews with Burt reynolds plus archive Burt interviews aswell,there's also recent interview footage of Hal needham before he passed in 2013 & archive Hal interviews tothere's also interviews with Hal needham's son, there's interviews with Universal producers Mort engelberg & Robert Levyand Linda McClure who had small acting role in the filmworth watching for sure, it's the first official Doco about Hal & Burt together making smokey and the bandittragically Hal needham passed away back in 2013this 40th anniversary has also been reissued on dvd aswell which has the same contents as the new blu-ray reissuethe only difference is the films picture quality which is only Digital remaster, not HD quality and the sound is only 5.1 Dolbyso up to you, you decide whether to buy the new blu-ray or dvd reissue of the film5 stars i give for the new blu-ray reissue based on the new Doco THE BANDIT

Being appreciative of Amazon making this movie available at this time I thought it warranted comment. This is a classic B-movie comedy that punches above due to to three men: Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed, and "The Great One" Jackie Gleeson. What we have here is....a total disrespect for the Hollywood comic method, then and now. And it scored then and is still a hoot to watch. Reynolds perfected the art of never taking a performance so serious as to suck the life out of it as is in constant evidence here. You didn't have to be a southerner to find plenty of laughs. It's a kind of Americana red-neck pop art that won't die because all of the humor is good natured and supremely rooted in reality. Reynolds just has to show up because this fit his persona quite like a hand in glove. He's at his totally assured smart-aleck best. Jerry Reed not only is the perfect side-kick, but his song nailed the whole affair like few, save Dolly Parton, could. Then there is the "silver bullet" (not the newer watery Coors) of Jackie Gleeson. It's incomprehensible that any other actor could have brought the whole chase home like his Buford T. Justice. Then there's the supporting cast of Sally Fields, Pat McCormick, and Paul Williams who ice the cake with a rich frosting that just ticks all the little extra boxes, especially Fields who no one would have likely guesses would have been such gold in such a role. There won't be such PC incorrect comedies ever made again, with such a sweet core, as five decades have obliterated the fact that good comedy pokes fun without condoning or disparaging. That is why it is such a great film that still works today and is actually a minor masterpiece. Burt was an American iconic actor and this is Burt just being Burt! RIP, you gave us many great moments on screen and other wise.

We FINALLY get the original mono soundtrack on this release, something that has never been on the format for this movie previously. Since the 2006 DVD release, it has only been the 5.1 remix available which had re-recorded sound effects along with a few omissions. The only DVD releases with the mono soundtrack are the 1998 and 2004, and from what I hear the video quality isn't that good. So kudos to Universal for finally giving this movie the definitive blu ray release. Other great things about this release is the HD remaster still looks great and all the special features from the original blu ray release have been carried over. This is definitely a 5 star product from Universal, something that's quite rare for their catalog blu ray releases.

I grew up watching this film in the early 80's and it was one of my absolute favourites, I'm not going to review the actual film because enough has been written about this classic over the years. I've owned a copy on DVD for 15 plus years and had stopped watching it as it was a narrow screen version and this looked terrible on a widescreen TV. Decided to buy the Blu-ray (to get the widescreen version) and watched today. Totally different soundtrack and what I suspect is the original one. Whilst in my heart I really want a Trans Am to sound as loud and brash as it did in the versions I've been watching since the 80's, the reality is that they just don't sound like that. They are loud but not as the DVD version I've got and TV versions would have us believe. So whilst it was a surprise to find the the more authentic sounds for me it actually both ruined my memory of the film and enhanced it at the same time. The blu-ray soundtrack seems much more realistic. Their are a few other missing sounds such as fake dog barks from Fred and a few bits of missing music during car chases but overall it was great to watch the film as I think it was originally shown in cinemas. It's still one of my absolute favourite movies. I hope this helps others thinking of buying the film on Blu-ray.

Smokey and the Bandit is by far one of the all time classics. Having upscaled to Blu-ray from dvd I was not very impressed. It seemed a poor attempt to upscale the quality.I really love the film so I had to get the 4k version and you can see that work has gone in to it this time. Picture is a bit sharper but very grainy however for the age of the film you have to expect that.The sound however is brilliant. That's where the difference is really noticed. The vehicle sounds, the music, everything sounds great. It loses a star for one reason. It does not have the option for the original audio unless you watch it in Spanish or French. The new audio in the movie has attempted to give the Trans am a more life like sound rather than the original roar. To me it's just not the same. To appreciate a classic you need to be able to watch the original classic. A shame the audio option was left out. That's personal views though. If you prefer the new audio then you will love this.

‘Deliverance’ will always be the film that I associate with Burt – a great movie. That was 40 years ago now; when Burt was in his prime. Five years later in 1977 we have his biggest hit - Smokey and the Bandit. Latterly in 97’, after a long lean run, he achieved his first acting awards with Boogie Nights, but the comeback faded away again. Perhaps Burt was never a great actor but his film credits are amazing, as is the money he must have earned!I can’t say I think this is a great film in any way, but it was a huge financial success and cemented Burt as one of Hollywood’s top assets. At that time he was worth zillions – how sad that we now read he is about to lose it all – he could even end up homeless?This is just a fun movie. It may be totally ‘cheesy’ but I’m giving it four stars for pure entertainment and hammy comedy value. It’s a simple enough tale but the action comes thick and fast and how people love those car chases don’t they?In summary, Burt has had a great career; yes, he’s been in some real duffers, but there are a few, like this one, where it’s nice to catch up with him again, and of course, he looks just great. I just wish he'd looked after his money better?

Smokey and the Bandit is directed by Hal Needham and the screenplay is collectively written by James Lee Barrett, Charles Shyer and Alan Mandel; from a story by Needham and Robert L. Levy. It stars Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed and Mike Henry. Music is by Bill Justis and Jerry Reed and cinematography by Bobby Byrne.He does what he does best-shows off.Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds) accepts a, illegal job/bet offer of delivering a truck load of Coors Beer from Texas across the states to Georgia. The job must be completed within 28 hours or he will not pick up the $80,000 payment for his services. Enlisting his buddy Snowman (Reed) to drive the truck, while he acts as a decoy in his Pontiac Trans Am, the Bandit must avoid capture by the Smokey (police). When he stops to pick up runaway bride Carrie (Fields), this makes him the target for one particularly vindictive laws enforcer, Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason), whose son Junior Justice (Henry) is the jilted intended of Carrie.You sumbitches couldn't close an umbrella!The best of the "CB Radio" movies, Smokey and the Bandit makes up for what little it has in plot, with unadulterated fun via car pursuits, stunts and wonderfully colourful characters. Essentially one long chase movie, it was a massive box office success on it release, becoming the second biggest earner in 77 behind a certain Space Opera from George Lucas. Cashing in on Burt Reynolds popularity, and the new found interest in CB radio on the highways, film went on to influence similar films and TV shows further down the line. The memory of the poor sequels and the inferior similar films of its type has somewhat led to many people forgetting just what an entertaining movie it is.There is no way, no way, that you could come from my loins. Soon as I get home, first thing I'm gonna do is punch your momma in the mouth.Hal Needham uses his knowledge as an ex-stuntman to great effect, setting up a number of inspired sequences that sees cars jumping, crashing or going for a swim! Wisely letting his actors ad-lib where possible, film has a natural flow that's hard to dislike. The chemistry between Reynolds and Fields is warming, due to the fact that it was off screen real, while Gleason steals the movie with a hilarious portray as the manic, cussing and determined Buford. The bumpkin based music is perfectly in keeping with the mood, and the various locations used make for an appealing backdrop to the carnage and speedster thrills.Not quite as Punk Rock anti-establishment now as it seemed back then, but still utterly delightful courtesy of a damn fine cast and some special motor vehicle mayhem. 8.5/10

The highly effective original well edited and written good character interactions and a lot of not classic scenes that make fir a engaging plot but a big box office hit at the time which led to smokey and bandit II in 1980 good conematograoghycinematograpghy along to the way all for £5,