I first saw this film as an awestruck 10 year old having sneaked downstairs to watch it on TV in 1981 i was mesmerised by the action, the trucks, the language and yes the women (pians of hormones). Since I have gotten older I still love this movie and having read all the reviews on this film I am struck by one point! People who review films sometimes miss the point!! They are looking for the best acting perfect plots and big stars they also look at the technical side of films, I watch a move to get into it to be entertained, to leave reality! So what if the acting is a little messed up so what if the technical side is rubbish?? This is a boys dream movie, I can say that because I am now a truck driver and CB user and i cover 100,000 miles a year all over Europe, OK so my European Volvo FH12 isn't as butch as the 'Bulldog Mack' featured but I do know if i had not seen this film when i did i doubt i'd be a trucker now!
The biggest plus for this film is the stunts both the crazy car stunts and much more dangerous Truck stunts! Did you Know that Mack paid $60,000 to have their truck as the lead truck Perterbuilt only offered $40,000! If you watch this over and over you never tire of seeing Dirty Lyle and Tiny Alverez getting squashed between Spider Mike and Pig pen/Love Machine! That was such a dangerous stunt to perform they had to do it at less than 10MPH!! And then there is the Dirty Lyle Hotrod jump into the roof of the barn at the time it was the largest jump for a stunt driver and has been featured heavily in stunt documentary's and magazines. Yes I know this bombed at the box office but when released in Russia in 1985 it was seen by over 35 million people! a local cinema had a classic movie season a few years back other than Jaws this was the only other film to sell out on the day and I remember it was a lot of 30 something men with young sons in the audience just like me and my son, and i can only give thanks that i got to see it on the big screen as that's where it should remain! The UK DVD copy is pathetic as its cheaply made and actually cuts 3 minutes from the film!
Well its time to put the pedal to the metal good buddies and I'll catch you on the flip-flop.....
The biggest plus for this film is the stunts both the crazy car stunts and much more dangerous Truck stunts! Did you Know that Mack paid $60,000 to have their truck as the lead truck Perterbuilt only offered $40,000! If you watch this over and over you never tire of seeing Dirty Lyle and Tiny Alverez getting squashed between Spider Mike and Pig pen/Love Machine! That was such a dangerous stunt to perform they had to do it at less than 10MPH!! And then there is the Dirty Lyle Hotrod jump into the roof of the barn at the time it was the largest jump for a stunt driver and has been featured heavily in stunt documentary's and magazines. Yes I know this bombed at the box office but when released in Russia in 1985 it was seen by over 35 million people! a local cinema had a classic movie season a few years back other than Jaws this was the only other film to sell out on the day and I remember it was a lot of 30 something men with young sons in the audience just like me and my son, and i can only give thanks that i got to see it on the big screen as that's where it should remain! The UK DVD copy is pathetic as its cheaply made and actually cuts 3 minutes from the film!
Well its time to put the pedal to the metal good buddies and I'll catch you on the flip-flop.....
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