Audio quality is right around where your expectations likely are with 2.0 mono which is clear and understandable. There's obviously no deep bass when someone is hit and roaring crowds surrounding you are non-existent. What's important in a mix like this is that the dialogue is clean, and it is. (***)
The original release was barren of extras, so anything here is an improvement on that. Burt Reynolds and Albert Ruddy (writer) provide a commentary track that's active and interesting to fans. Doing Time on the Longest Yard discusses where the idea for the film started, shows some behind-the-scenes photos, and is almost narrated by Ruddy. Burt Reynolds does appear on screen for a few minutes in this 11-minute feature.
Unleashing the Mean Machine should have been slapped together with the previous featurette, but that wouldn't look as good on the back of a DVD case. Various current NFL stars and columnists discuss the film and it ends with a blatant yet unsurprising promotional plug for the remake. It runs just a little shorter than Doing Time. Finally, we have the obligatory brief look at the remake that doesn't provide any other useful information other than to make you use that $5 coupon included in the case to see it. Finally, the cover art for this disc is terrible, as it seems like Burt Reynolds has hands eight times the size of his head since they're so obviously not his. (**)
There are always those movies that you don't "get." They're classics, you're told they are; yet for some reason, it just doesn't click for you. How this film is considered a classic is baffling. The only message it seems to send is that if you beat your wife in a drunken rage, dump her car into a river, and beat up cops, it's all okay if you win a football game. Makes sense.
Article comments
1 - Kyle
Matt Paprocki is way out of touch with older film reviews here. I saw the original in a theatre after coming home from tours in Viet Nam and Europe. It was funny then and I laughed when I just watched the remake and the original again. The car chase scene in the original is one of the best all time. Don't know how old you are Matt, but I would guess still wet behind the ears and difinitely not as film savy you think. My advice to you is "Get another job"! This one is well beyond your league.
2 - Matt Paprocki
Yes, I'm sorry my opinion doesn't agree with yours. That means I can't do this job. *end sarcasm*
This was probably a great movie back in 1974. Now, well, not so much. I have my reasons which are stated in the review. You obviously have fond memories of the movie, and that's great. I don't, and I can see it through cleaner eyes that way.
There are a bunch of terrible movies I love because I saw them years ago. It's blind nostalgia. I've also reviewed a slew of "older" films, dating back to the fifties. Some work, some don't. This one doesn't... at all.