Blues Brothers 2000
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Movie Reviews of Blues Brothers 2000
Movie Review: Controversal Movie, naked DVD
Summary: 3 Stars
Well, let's get the ugly part out of the way. In trying to make a sequel to the beloved "The Blues Brothers," Landis and Aykroyd took a huge risk in a desperate money grab. The result is far short of perfect, and as a result the creaters have suffered a howling chorus of dreadful reviews. But step back and realize that anything short of the PERFECT sequel would have been critically thrashed, to say nothing of what the fans would have done (and did). Now one can see so many of the things that went right that could have gone horrifically wrong. In bringing John Goodman aboard, They refused to try to replace Jake, and instead created the new, likeable Mighty Mack, a much lower-key personality, and left Elwood in the driver's seat. I do want to say a second and point that Goodman is legitimately GOOD in this movie, without any handicapping. The same loony stunts are back. Then, ultimately, they DID remember the single best thing about the original movie, the music (as they adroitly pointed out in the first trailer). Here they have lined up a staggering array of musical talent, and the movie gets lively, upbeat feel from the marvelous sound.Of course, they also did a lot wrong. J. Evan Bonifant, as Buster Blues, is a mysterious addition. Cab Blues is an even more bizarre addition, purely added, in my estimation, to cover another loss (Cab Calloway) and let them re-work the I-see-the-light-scene from the first. The movie hems a little TOO close to the original, and quite frankly, the first movie's plot was stretched almost transparently thin in the first telling, setting aside the second. Some of the cameos are bordering on offensively flat (Darrell Hammond's, in particular), and that really brings us to the sum of the movie: it has all the right parts, but somehow they don't fit together. But many of the parts are REALLY right.
But there a lot of friendly nods to the first film, and the movie keeps a fun breezy spirit. And really, on its own, without trying to make it stand next to the towering, built-up remembrance of the first, it is a fun movie with terrific music.
The DVD, though, is one documentary away from being a direct copy of the VHS release. Shame! Shame! At least the DVD lets you skip to the musical numbers.
Overall, it's a movie I liked an enjoyed, and like to go back to and watch every now and then (more than the original, mainly because its easier to skip scenes without a feeling of missing out). Not a great movie, but still something fun.
Movie Review: Mr Landis- you should be ashamed
Summary: 1 Stars
Can't see how anybody who loves the original can rate this pathetic sequal.The worst aspects for me are the casting of a silly little boy as a 'third' blues brother , the rip off of virtually every plot line from the first movie & second rate musical interludes from former greats who look & sound like they're only in this for the money.Don't buy this movie please .
Movie Review: A comedic action musical? An action-packed musical comedy?
Summary: 3 Stars
I never watched the first one, so I'm not going to say anything about John Belushi, or "Was it better than the last one?" or any of that. If you saw the first one, you will be continually saying, "Duh, we know this backstory already," throughout the review, so you may choose to read a different one.Elwood Blues is an old blues musician, and he has an interest in restarting the Blues Brothers band. He finds out that his "father" and brother have died, and without these key players, it takes a little doing to restart the Blues Brothers. One of the new additions is a little 10-year old who is presumed to be kidnapped by Elwood. The Illinois police are soon after them, and the Blues Brothers join a battle of the bands competition. When the police aren't chasing them, a band of Russian communists (and later, a group of guerilla, anti-U.S militants) are. One car chase stands out in particularly: a road block turns into a fiasco as something similar to a mosh pit of police cars develops. Some of the songs are absolutely purposeless, as if a series of commerical jingles and music videos were played spontaneously throughout the movie.
This movie has a little of everything. It's a featherweight (but certainly not light) on action and a definite heavyweight in comedy and music. This movie is a bit like a standard sports movie: a bunch of guys, past their prime, who used to play together, decide to get together once again and show the world who rules. It's a great comic musical, and one of the few musicals that isn't full of pickpockets or little girls singing in an orphanage (i.e. , Oliver Twist and Annie.)
Movie Review: Not as bad as they'd have you believe
Summary: 4 Stars
OK, So this isn't as good as the first film. And how could it compare to a classic. But it's actually one of the best sequels of any great film.Yes, the story is ludicrous, but it does still amuse. But in truth, the entire film is really just an excuse for linking great musical sets together.
The music IS magnificent. (The acting is awful, but since most of the cast are professional singers rather than professional actors it isn't really surprising.)
If anything the film is more of a homage to the original, taking everything (car chases, ridiculous plot) to the extreme. If you don't like the film the first time, watch it again. You might be surprised!
Movie Review: Don't bother
Summary: 1 Stars
As a huge fan of the first Blues Brothers movie, I was very excited to hear that a sequal was being made. I thought that without John Belushi, the movie wouldn't be the same. I was right. After seeing the previews and heard the reviews, I still saw this movie against my better judgement. It was one of the worst movies made. How the Blues Brothers went from one of the best to one of the worst is beyond me. If you are a fan of the first, DO NOT BUY THE SECOND!