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Jeff Bridges actually corralled an Oscar nomination for his spirited, oddball performance in this genre crime story, directed by first-timer Michael Cimino who (a short two films later) would bring down a studio with Heaven's Gate. Clint Eastwood plays a bank robber par excellence with a flair for explosives who is being hunted by his former partners, who think he has their loot from their last job. Bridges is his eager apprentice and sidekick, who helps him escape; when Eastwood finally makes peace with his hunters, Bridges convinces them to try a daring robbery--but things inevitably go awry. The relationship between Eastwood and Bridges is both funny and touching in this, one of Eastwood's better post-Dirty Harry efforts. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (17)

CLINT Does it Again!
Clint Eastwood portrays a robber ( John Thunderbolt Doherty ) who takes on a side-kick played by Jeff Bridges (Lightfoot ). There is money to be found in an old church. Trouble is, the church has been moved. Also: Geoffrey Lewis ( Goody ) and Gary Busey (Curly) and Catherine Bach (Melody). There is action in this film. But, I wouldn't consider it an action film. It is more of road chase with subtle dramatic elements. Great film. ***Note, we had no problems playing this DVD on our JVC DVD player.

Clint Eastwood And Jeff Bridges Make One Heck Of A Pair!
Released in 1974, "Thunderbolt And Lightfoot" starring Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy and a host of other actors, is one of those movies that will have you glued to your seat (or couch) for the entire movie. Eastwood plays a bank robber named "Thunderbolt" and Bridges plays "Lightfoot" a young drifter. The beginning of the movie has Eastwood (who is giving a sermon in a small church) running from an old ex-con buddy and literally bumps into Lightfoot, driving a stolen white '73 Pontiac Trans-Am. The two of them are followed by yet another ex-con named Red Leary (played by George Kennedy) and his sidekick named Eddy Goody (played by Geoffery Lewis)who wants to get even with Thunderbolt for hiding some stolen cash from a heist that Leary and he had done years ago. Both Leary and Thunderbolt settle their differences and together the four end up planning on robbing the Montana Armory again the second time around. Who would ever suspect Leary And Thunderbolt? The movie is full of car chases and laughs (ex. Jeff Bridges is a riot dressed in drag in one scene) and the ending is quite a surprise. An all around excellent movie which has finally made it's way onto dvd. Recommended!

Eastwood's most underrated film!
In 1974, director Michael Cimino, who had helped write the script for MAGNUM FORCE, made his debut as director for THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT. The result is a surprised combination of action, suspense, and comedy. Clint Eastwood plays John Doherty, a bank robber who is hiding from other members of his gang who think he ran away with the loot,(it is actually hidden behind a blackboard in a schoolhouse). After nearly being gunned down in his own church, Doherty takes off across a wheatfield, and literally runs into drifter Jeff Bridges,(Lightfoot) , who has just stolen a Pontiac. After getting Doherty out of trouble, the two begin a friendship that involves hookers, stealing cars, and running from Doherty's enemies.

George Kennedy plays Red Leary, a member of Doherty's gang who eventually catches up with him. Geoffery Lewis plays Goody, Leary's sidekick. After cornering Doherty,(nicknamed Thunderbolt) and Lightfoot, Doherty convinces them that the money is gone, although he is unaware the schoolhouse had been moved. They all then decide to rub off the same bank because no one would suspect them of doing it again. The plans leading up to it are funny. I always liked the part where Kennedy tells off the snotty kid while they are planning their route in the ice cream truck. Bridges dresses in drag to fool the security guard. When the whole operation is done, the police still catch up with them, and all hell breaks loose.

Still, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot escape and find the money stashed behind the moved schoolhouse on the side of the road. They then buy an expensive convertible and light victory cigars. What happens next is very sad, although I won't give that away. The movie is highlighted by beautiful Montana scenery and long quiet periods with no music, creating a relaxing and peacful setting that will please any action buff. Cimino was obviously off to a good start, and he would win an Oscar for DEER HUNTER 4 years later. This is the most underrated movie of Eastwood's career, and it shows him on the other side of the law and doing a very good job of it.

A rousing action film that is also supremely funny
Before he destroyed his career with the excess of Heaven's Gate, Michael Cimino, the screenwriter of Eastwood's second Dirty Hary flick Magunum Force, created this wonderful caper flick, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, under the discipline of producer and star Clint Eastwood. The cast is excellent, with Jeff Bridges first rate in his Oscar nominated role as Lightfoot, and Oscar winner George Kennedy and Eastwood regular Geoffrey Lewis (father of Juliette) both very memorable as Red and Goody.

The scene of Red and Goodie in the ice cream cart confronted with an obnoxious lad is a classic in cinema.

The climax of this film is superb. A definite MUST SEE for all Eastwood fans!

Auspicious debut for Cimino...
Buddy films are always fun, and this is no different. The exotic American locales of Idaho are every bit as unique as the Bolivian settings in "Butch Cassidy". As in "Butch Cassidy", the script (by Cimino) is character-driven, and you'll find yourself cheering on the bad guys. Jeff Bridges Oscar nomination (Supporting) surprised a lot of people, but it was most deserved. His role was really equal to Eastwood as far as importance (and screen time). Eastwood was, well, Eastwood. That's not a bad thing. I always thought he was underrated. The DVD transfer is excellent, with a wide 2.35:1 letterbox that shows off some of our country's best scenery. There's action, humor and great chemistry between our buddy-heroes. George Kennedy is about as nasty as they come, though he somewhat copied his nasty performance in "Charade" (10 years earlier). The most interesting thing about this film is that it is the debut of "wunderkind" Cimino. The strength of his work on this film allowed him to create his masterpiece, "The Deer Hunter". No doubt the man has vision and talent. Too bad he over-indulged himself in the dismal "Heaven's Gate" and ruined a studio with his excesses. ("Heaven's Gate" really wasn't that bad, except for the first hour). I think of "Thunderbolt & Lightfoot" as an up-dated version of "Butch Cassidy". Though the music wasn't as frivolous and the script not as taut, there are definite comparisons. Not bad. Check it out. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Chemistry and Charisma
Richard Norton and Cynthia Rothrock co-starred in movies before
"Rage and Honor", such as Samo Hung's "Millionaire's Express",
but "Rage" established the charismatic pair as the Bogie and Bacall of martial arts movies. The chemistry of the two leads is
undeniable in this swiftly entertaining actioner about an Australian (Norton) set up falsely for a murder charge in L.A.
Norton's pursuit for exoneration pairs him with Rothrock in a battle against their criminal couterparts, played by Catherine Bach and Brian Thompson. Eccentric characters from the L.A. underground assist the leads in their mission, and the movie shrewdly punctuates the action-charged pace with light moments.
An actor of integrity, Norton delivers a performance with integrity as the unfairly accused Aussie. Thanks to the appeal
of both stars, "Rage and Honor" remains a rarely equaled martial
arts movie, even ten years after its initial release.

why does she do this to herself?
Cynthia Rothrock is a terriffic sport Tae-kwon do champion. she does know how to fight. but she refuses to show any of her skill in her movies where every move thrown is slow and impractical. The plot of this movie is unforgivingly slow. Rothrock still tries to depend on her good looks for sales dispite that her ravishing model body has aged her into a 40 year old average woman who thows attacks the same way as would an amature. I think her name would mean a lot more if she stuck to sport competitions and stoped hurting herself making awful movies. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This film needs a soundtrack album
Or better yet, a special edition DVD with accompanying soundtrack CD. In addition to this being an all-around great movie, Lee Ving (from the band Fear), as his character Roy Boy, sings a couple of great country & western type tunes that I'd really like to have on a disc to listen to whenever I want. I won't hold my breath for the DVD or the CD though, people just don't appreciate good cinema these days.

One of my all time favorites!!!
This movie never got the publicity or popularity it deserved. I LOVE this movie!!! Very funny, very enjoyable, and very memorable! I'd like to have it on DVD!

outstanding
One of the funniest moview that I have ever seen. A cast of hilarious, though little-known, actors and the best cameo appearances in any movie this decade. If the price would drop then I would but it.

The 4 basic food groups --- Beer, Chips, Dip.......and Beer
GREAT movie !!! Hilarious individual characters AND cameos by Candy, Akroyd, Jim Belushi, George Wendt. If you watch it a few dozen times you will catch many subtle lines and sub-plots. Just plain dumb fun if you are in the mood. Honestly one of my favorite movies (and several of my friends). We can quote the whole damn thing.

Fun biker farce
This movie is a crude, rude, and devilishly clever biker movie. Get this for David Rasche. He's hilarious, as is usual for him when he's in comedy roles. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"Everybody Hustles."
One of the last 5 films by director Robert Aldrich (Kiss Me Deadly, Apache, The Dirty Dozen) and starring pre-moustache/Bandit Burt Reynolds (who also starred in Aldrich's previous film, "The Longest Yard") as Phil Gaines, a L.A. cop who would rather be living in the 1930s when life was cleaner. Ironically, he is in love with a prostitute (Catherine Deneuve). They have dreams of going away and starting a new life together, but never make it. The other side of the story concerns Gaines' case of Gloria, a teenage girl found dead on the beach and the Father refuses to believe that she committed suicide. His reckless investigation and obsession with revenge on his daughter's "killer" ends in the murder of an important, yet crooked and slimy attorney, Leo Sellers (Eddie Albert). Also co-starring is Ernest Borgnine as Santori, Gaines' boss, but he doesent quite seem on the "up & up". "Hustle" is not that bad, although it's also not spectacular. It is a pessimistic film, like a modern film noir, that in the hands of any other director or actors would probably not have had much significance. Many elements, especially the vulgar language and the drugs/porno theme (common in the 1970s) are what help this to get lost within the slew of 70s exploitation films. I would probably not have seen it if it were not for taking a film course where the focus was on the films of Robert Aldrich. As of yet, the film is not available on DVD and you're lucky if you can even rent the VHS, let alone own it. Still worth a look for fans of Aldrich, Reynolds (before "the bandit") and 70s cop or exploitation film.

Trivia:
*Look for Robert Englund (Freddy Kreuger) who shoots Burt Reynolds during the store robbery.
*Look for Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke) as Peggy, a porn actress and former roommate of Gloria

Despite efforts, Hustle falls short
Hustle is an attempt at the film noir of the 1940s. A clean shaven (and tougher looking) Burt Reynolds is a streetwise L.A. detective with a problem. He's fighting crime while committing somewhat of a crime himself: his girlfriend is a hooker (played by the venerable Catherine Deneueve). What a premise! Perfect for film noir...but. But the entire idea wasn't thought out enough to achieve its goals. First off, film noir is visually darker, slicker. Hustle's locale should have been New York(even Seattle, if you want to stay on the left coast)--someplace with stints of bad, dreary weather. But L.A.? Director Aldrich had to stretch it by actually putting in several rainy, night sequences. Second, film noir is supposed to have an sense of mystery about it. Hustle (despite a cast of several Oscar winners) has all the awe and mystery of an episode of Starsky and Hutch. Last, film noir dialog is gritty, memorable. Hustle's dialog is too gritty--more filthy than gritty. It's full of too many sexual inuendoes that are memorable but unrepeatable. Despite its efforts, Hustle falls way short of classic noir. It's instead mired somewhere in that muttled gray mess of bad 70's cinema. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

One of the four best movies ever made
This movie is wicked good. It is the movie with car chases that is better than a lot of other movies like that. Some of the cars go very fast, but some just move along at a good speed. In a cross country race it is all about strategy. There are a lot of people in this movie. Some of the actors are more famous than others, and some are really famous. Steve McQueen is not in this movie. It is all a surprise when you see it the first time. There is a good fight scene at a ranch or something like that and it's good. The cars are cool. The winner of the race is a real cool plot twist. I love this movie and it's a good one. There are a lot of scenes that involve drinking and driving, but it is not made to look cool. This is a good movie for the whole family.

it's fun!
Look sure it's not going to win awards and it's not the best looking movie around but it's a lot of fun. i look to a movie for fun and not all of them must high budget, twisted plot line type to do it, burt and these stars had fun making it and it shows. plus there if a monkey in it and people like Jackie Chan in a early role, it has corny jokes you know are coming but you still laugh i mean who can not laugh when you have Dom, Burt and sammy davis all dressed up in womens clothes dancing?

get this movie is you want a fun light hearted movie to enjoy.

An Honest Review!
This movie is great! But the reason I gave it a 1 star was coz Jackie Chan had a very small role and he appeared through both movies. I know his english isn't good but he could've done some of the fighting scenes

The first one really deserved a sequel?
If you liked the first Cannonball Run movie, then I guess there's no reason not to like this one. There's a little bit other than the race going on in this one. They have the mob chasing them. It stars out with the exact same opening credits as the first movie with the cops casing on of the fast cars and the sexy women defacing a speed limit sign.
Then there's that familiar "Cannonballers getting drunk at the hotal the night before" thing.

The race starts in the west coast this time, but throughout the entire movie, they never get past the Nevada desert until the cloing credits. Almost the entire movie take place in the Navada desert so there's not much racing going on.
This movie had a slightly better supporting cast than the first one, which is why I gave this movie 2 stars instead of 1.
This time we have the 19-foot tall behemoth Richard Kiel sharing a small computerized Japanese car with Jackie Chan. Some of the baddies chasing them include Henry Silva (who's always a ruthless bad guy, but here he's more of a nerdy bad guy), Abe Vigoa, Alex Rocco, Telly Savalas, just to name a few. Another mismatch of 2 people sharing a car is Mel Tillis and Tony Danza. You really have to be a fan of redneck fast car movies like Smokey And The Bandit, Hooper, and Stroker Ace, then maybe you'll like this, but If you like comedies that are actually FUNNY, then you'll be disappointed.

The Cannonball Run 2 (1983)
This film is exactly like its original only this time the mob is after them. And also instead of Michael Hui, Jackie's capilot is Richard Kiel (the giant who played "Jaws" in 2 James Bond Movies: "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker"). But then again it's quality is very poor... if you want to buy it don't waste your money on the expensive DVD edition, buy it on the cheap VHS edition. Jackie Chan still appears in a few cameo appereances but this time a few more. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

One of the four best movies ever made
This movie is wicked good. It is the movie with car chases that is better than a lot of other movies like that. Some of the cars go very fast, but some just move along at a good speed. In a cross country race it is all about strategy. There are a lot of people in this movie. Some of the actors are more famous than others, and some are really famous. Steve McQueen is not in this movie. It is all a surprise when you see it the first time. There is a good fight scene at a ranch or something like that and it's good. The cars are cool. The winner of the race is a real cool plot twist. I love this movie and it's a good one. There are a lot of scenes that involve drinking and driving, but it is not made to look cool. This is a good movie for the whole family.

it's fun!
Look sure it's not going to win awards and it's not the best looking movie around but it's a lot of fun. i look to a movie for fun and not all of them must high budget, twisted plot line type to do it, burt and these stars had fun making it and it shows. plus there if a monkey in it and people like Jackie Chan in a early role, it has corny jokes you know are coming but you still laugh i mean who can not laugh when you have Dom, Burt and sammy davis all dressed up in womens clothes dancing?

get this movie is you want a fun light hearted movie to enjoy.

An Honest Review!
This movie is great! But the reason I gave it a 1 star was coz Jackie Chan had a very small role and he appeared through both movies. I know his english isn't good but he could've done some of the fighting scenes

The first one really deserved a sequel?
If you liked the first Cannonball Run movie, then I guess there's no reason not to like this one. There's a little bit other than the race going on in this one. They have the mob chasing them. It stars out with the exact same opening credits as the first movie with the cops casing on of the fast cars and the sexy women defacing a speed limit sign.
Then there's that familiar "Cannonballers getting drunk at the hotal the night before" thing.

The race starts in the west coast this time, but throughout the entire movie, they never get past the Nevada desert until the cloing credits. Almost the entire movie take place in the Navada desert so there's not much racing going on.
This movie had a slightly better supporting cast than the first one, which is why I gave this movie 2 stars instead of 1.
This time we have the 19-foot tall behemoth Richard Kiel sharing a small computerized Japanese car with Jackie Chan. Some of the baddies chasing them include Henry Silva (who's always a ruthless bad guy, but here he's more of a nerdy bad guy), Abe Vigoa, Alex Rocco, Telly Savalas, just to name a few. Another mismatch of 2 people sharing a car is Mel Tillis and Tony Danza. You really have to be a fan of redneck fast car movies like Smokey And The Bandit, Hooper, and Stroker Ace, then maybe you'll like this, but If you like comedies that are actually FUNNY, then you'll be disappointed.

The Cannonball Run 2 (1983)
This film is exactly like its original only this time the mob is after them. And also instead of Michael Hui, Jackie's capilot is Richard Kiel (the giant who played "Jaws" in 2 James Bond Movies: "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker"). But then again it's quality is very poor... if you want to buy it don't waste your money on the expensive DVD edition, buy it on the cheap VHS edition. Jackie Chan still appears in a few cameo appereances but this time a few more. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

CLINT Does it Again!
Clint Eastwood portrays a robber ( John Thunderbolt Doherty ) who takes on a side-kick played by Jeff Bridges (Lightfoot ). There is money to be found in an old church. Trouble is, the church has been moved. Also: Geoffrey Lewis ( Goody ) and Gary Busey (Curly) and Catherine Bach (Melody). There is action in this film. But, I wouldn't consider it an action film. It is more of road chase with subtle dramatic elements. Great film. ***Note, we had no problems playing this DVD on our JVC DVD player.

Clint Eastwood And Jeff Bridges Make One Heck Of A Pair!
Released in 1974, "Thunderbolt And Lightfoot" starring Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy and a host of other actors, is one of those movies that will have you glued to your seat (or couch) for the entire movie. Eastwood plays a bank robber named "Thunderbolt" and Bridges plays "Lightfoot" a young drifter. The beginning of the movie has Eastwood (who is giving a sermon in a small church) running from an old ex-con buddy and literally bumps into Lightfoot, driving a stolen white '73 Pontiac Trans-Am. The two of them are followed by yet another ex-con named Red Leary (played by George Kennedy) and his sidekick named Eddy Goody (played by Geoffery Lewis)who wants to get even with Thunderbolt for hiding some stolen cash from a heist that Leary and he had done years ago. Both Leary and Thunderbolt settle their differences and together the four end up planning on robbing the Montana Armory again the second time around. Who would ever suspect Leary And Thunderbolt? The movie is full of car chases and laughs (ex. Jeff Bridges is a riot dressed in drag in one scene) and the ending is quite a surprise. An all around excellent movie which has finally made it's way onto dvd. Recommended!

Eastwood's most underrated film!
In 1974, director Michael Cimino, who had helped write the script for MAGNUM FORCE, made his debut as director for THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT. The result is a surprised combination of action, suspense, and comedy. Clint Eastwood plays John Doherty, a bank robber who is hiding from other members of his gang who think he ran away with the loot,(it is actually hidden behind a blackboard in a schoolhouse). After nearly being gunned down in his own church, Doherty takes off across a wheatfield, and literally runs into drifter Jeff Bridges,(Lightfoot) , who has just stolen a Pontiac. After getting Doherty out of trouble, the two begin a friendship that involves hookers, stealing cars, and running from Doherty's enemies.

George Kennedy plays Red Leary, a member of Doherty's gang who eventually catches up with him. Geoffery Lewis plays Goody, Leary's sidekick. After cornering Doherty,(nicknamed Thunderbolt) and Lightfoot, Doherty convinces them that the money is gone, although he is unaware the schoolhouse had been moved. They all then decide to rub off the same bank because no one would suspect them of doing it again. The plans leading up to it are funny. I always liked the part where Kennedy tells off the snotty kid while they are planning their route in the ice cream truck. Bridges dresses in drag to fool the security guard. When the whole operation is done, the police still catch up with them, and all hell breaks loose.

Still, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot escape and find the money stashed behind the moved schoolhouse on the side of the road. They then buy an expensive convertible and light victory cigars. What happens next is very sad, although I won't give that away. The movie is highlighted by beautiful Montana scenery and long quiet periods with no music, creating a relaxing and peacful setting that will please any action buff. Cimino was obviously off to a good start, and he would win an Oscar for DEER HUNTER 4 years later. This is the most underrated movie of Eastwood's career, and it shows him on the other side of the law and doing a very good job of it.

A rousing action film that is also supremely funny
Before he destroyed his career with the excess of Heaven's Gate, Michael Cimino, the screenwriter of Eastwood's second Dirty Hary flick Magunum Force, created this wonderful caper flick, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, under the discipline of producer and star Clint Eastwood. The cast is excellent, with Jeff Bridges first rate in his Oscar nominated role as Lightfoot, and Oscar winner George Kennedy and Eastwood regular Geoffrey Lewis (father of Juliette) both very memorable as Red and Goody.

The scene of Red and Goodie in the ice cream cart confronted with an obnoxious lad is a classic in cinema.

The climax of this film is superb. A definite MUST SEE for all Eastwood fans!

Auspicious debut for Cimino...
Buddy films are always fun, and this is no different. The exotic American locales of Idaho are every bit as unique as the Bolivian settings in "Butch Cassidy". As in "Butch Cassidy", the script (by Cimino) is character-driven, and you'll find yourself cheering on the bad guys. Jeff Bridges Oscar nomination (Supporting) surprised a lot of people, but it was most deserved. His role was really equal to Eastwood as far as importance (and screen time). Eastwood was, well, Eastwood. That's not a bad thing. I always thought he was underrated. The DVD transfer is excellent, with a wide 2.35:1 letterbox that shows off some of our country's best scenery. There's action, humor and great chemistry between our buddy-heroes. George Kennedy is about as nasty as they come, though he somewhat copied his nasty performance in "Charade" (10 years earlier). The most interesting thing about this film is that it is the debut of "wunderkind" Cimino. The strength of his work on this film allowed him to create his masterpiece, "The Deer Hunter". No doubt the man has vision and talent. Too bad he over-indulged himself in the dismal "Heaven's Gate" and ruined a studio with his excesses. ("Heaven's Gate" really wasn't that bad, except for the first hour). I think of "Thunderbolt & Lightfoot" as an up-dated version of "Butch Cassidy". Though the music wasn't as frivolous and the script not as taut, there are definite comparisons. Not bad. Check it out. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"CIA" operative comes home to help "Widow" from bad guys.
Michael Ontkean is an "Operative" abandoned for 15 years in a Russian prison. He was thought dead and even buried. His grieving "widow" has remarried for their daughter's sake. When Ontkean escapes, his former bosses try to kill him, following him home. When he finds his family in danger from the local crooked police/mayor et al, he becomes their protector. One has to suspend some logic while he is protecting them, his former employers are still trying to kill him. But it is played well. So all the classic hooks are there. This is the kind of movie that can grab you to root for the good guy. For that reason, and Ontkean's portrayal of the forgotten man, now fighting for everything, I like it alot.

So-so flick but great music.
The movie has a standard "gritty city" plot, but there is a song in it sung by Kim Langford and Alan Rich called "Every Now and Then" which is beautiful and haunting. What a song, and sung so beautifully. ... Read more