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Category:    Home > Reviews > Comedy > Satire > Romance > Used Cars (1980/Sony/Columbia Pictures/Twilight Time Limited Edition Blu-ray)

Used Cars (1980/Sony/Columbia Pictures/Twilight Time Limited Edition Blu-ray)


Picture: A Sound: A Extras: A Film: A



PLEASE NOTE: Used Cars is now only available from Twilight Time, is limited to only 3,000 Blu-ray units and can be ordered from the link below.



Before Back to the Future, before Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and even Romancing The Stone, legendary director Robert Zemeckis made Used Cars starring Snake Plisken himself, Kurt Russell. Along with writing-producing partner Bob Gale, the two young filmmakers made an explosive and hilarious comedy that has been beautifully restored by Twilight Time in this Limited Edition release of 3000 units.


Kurt Russell is a charming/ devious used car salesman named Rudy Russo caught up in a war between two feuding car lot owners who happen to be brothers named Roy and Luke Fuchs (both played beautifully by Jack Warden). The two brothers though they look alike could not be any different. Luke is caring and understanding while Roy is evil, twisted, and will stop at nothing to see his lot the successful one. Rudy has aspirations of being a politician and Luke agrees to invest ten grand into Rudy's campaign if he promises to keep his business alive after his death.


Luke's biggest fear is that his younger brother Roy will take his life insurance money and his lot in an evil attempt to expand his empire. Roy hires his mechanic and ex-demolition derby driver Mickey (Michael Tabbot) to recklessly test drive Luke around the block into an accident until he has a heart attack. When Rudy comes across Luke back after the staged accident which results in a car wreck, Luke dies and Rudy decides to hatch a plan to keep his word to Luke. Rudy has his superstitious co-worker Jeff and mechanic Jim help him bury Luke in the lot's backyard and when questioned say that Luke has went to Miami on vacation.


The plot thickens when Rudy and his friends make an illegal live broadcast of their commercial in the middle of an important football game. A freak accident with a beautiful blonde exposes her on live television and visitors to the once struggling car lot suddenly rise. The re-appearance of Luke's beautiful daughter Barbara (Deborah Harmon) changes the course of Rudy's life when he gets himself into a tall tale about the truth behind Luke's absence. Another forced television broadcast destroys some of Roy's cars and the war starts to wage higher.


Roy storms into New Deal Car Lot (Luke's lot) where he discovers the resting place of Luke in the back lot. Once Rudy finds out that Roy is onto their plot, he rigs an elaborate death for Luke hooked up to a power transformer that causes his car to explode upon impact. The love between Rudy and Luke's daughter Barbara thickens until she finds out that Rudy had a hand in the secret behind Luke's elaborate death, causing Barbara to take New Deal back under her ownership. Roy's last stand comes from when he re-edits Barbara's television commercial for the lot and makes her sound like she has a mile of cars to sell. Roy sues her for false advertising and its up to Rudy to get 250 cars (equaling a mile long) to show the Judge that her advertising was truthful and that she shouldn't be charged. Will Roy reach this insane goal and get the girl? You'll have to see this fabulous film to believe it!


It's incredible to me the scope of this film. The first few scenes play out like an excellent short film and then it takes over and gets bigger and bigger as it goes. The production all around is fantastic and it has great characters and an original concept. It was only made for an astonishing 8 million dollars, which is pretty impressive when you see the exciting climax to the film even for the time that it was made. I hadn't seen this film prior to this review and have to say that I am now a huge fan!


The HD 1080p High Definition transfer preserves in a 1:85.1 aspect ratio is flawless. Along with the audio in an English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (MA) mix that is loud and fills the room with every little sound to make sure you feel like you are there. There are also English subtitles. Keep in mind that this edition is limited to only 3,000 units so you better snatch yours up quick!


Special features include an Isolated Score Track and Unused Score, Audio Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis, Writer Bob Gale, and Actor Kurt Russell, Gag Reel and Outtakes, Radio Interview and Radio Spots, and a peek at the Twilight Time Catalogue to the date of this release. It also comes with a nice insert booklet with cool photos and production notes, which I may add is refreshing in a new release.


To order the Used Cars limited edition Blu-ray, buy it and more Twilight Time exclusives while supplies last at this link:


www.screenarchives.com



- James Harland Lockhart V

www.vimeo.com/jamielockhart


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