MovieChat Forums > Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) Discussion > Movies That Make Us Think pt. 2

Movies That Make Us Think pt. 2

posted 20 years ago by daqwoo
3 replies | jump to latest

Earlier, I discussed the powerful meaning of "Garbage Pail Kids: The Movie" (If you wish to be enlightened, please visit the film's designated board.) Now focus will be brought toward the powerful, extrordinary, and dramatic motion-picture classic, "Smokey and the Bandit III."

This film is a masterpiece. This film is an epic. This is the best movie ever made that did not feature Burt Reynolds. Jerry Reed is a thinking man's Myrle Haggard. He makes us understand the bandit. He is a god amoung men. This film is tradgedy in its purest form. We see the distinct and harsh realities of starting a seafood business, as well as how a common man (Jerry Reed) can become a hero against the forces of evil. Burt Reynolds appears at the end and gives Bufford T. Justice sage-like advice. This film is powerful, and reflects some of the hardships that we all face in finding ourselves in a society of misfits. The nudity (titties) is symolism of innocence lost, and is a precursor to Jerry Reed beoming a true hero, whose angt and cynism are abolished in redeeming Buford T. Justice and his quest for a mighty stuffed fish.

(For part III I will dissect the mighty film "Mac and Me." Watch for it.)
"Don't pity the man, pity the foo."- Walt Whitman

[–] clath86 20 years ago

I never thought about it that way, thanks for that.

[–] indy_go_blue44 17 years ago

Here my journey started, but I couldn’t help it. When I was born, they left me where I was.

**********
Is that a rumor or did you just make that up? -Mom

[–] safeinheaven 16 years ago

(Of course audiences didn't like it). The original version is about a spiritual dichomety inside man . . . the released version is more about the superficiality of the existential man.

to quothe a Smokey expert "MK:"
Smokey and the Bandit 3 Could Have Been Even Worse Than It Already Is By:MK
http://www.avology.net/information/bandit3.html

On April 3rd, 1983 the first test screening of Smokey Is The Bandit was held in Marina del Rey, California. The audience viewed the entire 145 minute long movie without understanding or enjoying even a single moment of it. Not only did it not make any sense to anyone, but also had the profound ability to make everyone deeply depressed. One audience member thought about throwing up on his own lap. There were children in the audience that developed learning disabilities just from having seen it, and for years the studio was embroiled in a class-action suit (which they eventually lost) concerning their liability. A state senator in attendance described the film as “less appealing [than a] septic tank, ____you!”

At a cost to the studio that more than doubled the total budget of the film, one half of the picture was entirely reshot. All sequences involving The Bandit had to be discarded and then recreated with a new actor, and the film was cut down to 85 minutes long. Jackie Gleason became despondent, and vowed to never take on a dual role again. Also, he swore off roles that would involve, or have him in proximity to cars, trucks, streets, the ground, other people, ET, Harrison Ford, or radios. The movie failed, and Smokey and the Bandit IV was shelved. The original cut of Smokey Is The Bandit, is rumored to be in existence somewhere, purchased by the Gleason estate to prevent it from ever seeing the light of day. I am currently trying to find a copy of the film to see it for myself. Anyone who has any information that would assist should please contact me.