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Roller Boogie

Roller Boogie

List Price: $14.95
Your Price: $13.46
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A definite time capsule
Review: Acting - Fair
Plot -Fair
Production - Good
Music - Definitely fun

Why would I like this film? For one thing, the outdoor shots of Venice, California are well-done, and bring back memories of an fun time in a long ago place. And the music? Well, OK, it's disco, break dancing music, but it's fun to watch, listen to, and remember. The cast is attractive, Linda Blair does a competent job, and the cinematography is pretty good.

The plot is the oldest storyline in the book: boy meets girl, boy hangs out in roller rink, boy loses girl, boy loses roller rink, boy gets girl, boy saves roller rink.

Mark Lester directed the film. Lester also directed one of the classic drive-in films of all time, "Truck Stop Women" in 1974. (Tag line from that flick - 'No Rig Was Too Big for the Truck Stop Women'. Classic? You bet!). Roller Boogie is of the same genre. Not meant to do anything but to put rear ends in the theater (or the drive-in), entertain you, and leave you happy you went.

On that score, Roller Boogie meets the goal. Extra star if you like the music.

Recommended if you like late 70's LA, roller skating, and disco.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Hey, the fact that I'm actually reviewing Roller Boogie surprises me as much as it does you. I sort of have this thing for Linda Blair, you see, and she was twenty years old when this film was released in 1979 - instead of turning her own head around (The Exorcist), she was now old enough to starting turning guys' heads instead. Unfortunately, all of the guys in this film are full-fledged, knee-high-tube-sock-wearing products of that awful decade called the 1970s, but Linda was looking fine from start to finish, and that's really all that matters.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually liked this movie. It doesn't look good on paper, though. You basically have the world's most ubiquitous cookie-cutter plot, a good deal of bad acting, tons of terrible disco music, awful 70s attire, and about ten times more skating than you find in the film Xanadu. You could give yourself a lobotomy and still predict everything that is going to happen in this movie, yet for reasons I can't explain, Roller Boogie isn't that bad. Linda Blair plays Terry Barkley, a poor little rich girl whose parents ignore her and thus drive her to rebel; she doesn't enjoy being a musical prodigy, and she certainly doesn't want to go to Juilliard. What does she do? She goes roller skating and, after meeting up with local roller boogie whiz kid Bobby James (Jim Bray), she announces her new ambition in life is to win the roller boogie dance contest down at Jammer's skating rink. You see where this is going? It's your classic poor boy-rich girl love story. Something is still missing, though. Oh, I know, let's throw in a sleazy businessman and his two goons, and - yes, I've got it! - let's have them threaten to burn down Jammer's skating rink as part of their evil plan to put up a shopping mall. Obviously, those crazy kids are going to have to come up with a plan to save their beloved skating rink. We cannot possibly let this movie end without that big roller boogie dance contest we were all so looking forward to.

As you can see, apart from Linda Blair's starring role, there is no discernible reason for me to have enjoyed Roller Boogie, but I did. That doesn't mean I want to watch it again any time soon, though. For my fellow Linda Blair fans, I say go ahead and bite the bullet and watch this movie; you'll be glad you did - maybe.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Blair boogie-oogie-oogies til she just can't boogie no more
Review: Hey, the fact that I'm actually reviewing Roller Boogie surprises me as much as it does you. I sort of have this thing for Linda Blair, you see, and she was twenty years old when this film was released in 1979 - instead of turning her own head around (The Exorcist), she was now old enough to starting turning guys' heads instead. Unfortunately, all of the guys in this film are full-fledged, knee-high-tube-sock-wearing products of that awful decade called the 1970s, but Linda was looking fine from start to finish, and that's really all that matters.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually liked this movie. It doesn't look good on paper, though. You basically have the world's most ubiquitous cookie-cutter plot, a good deal of bad acting, tons of terrible disco music, awful 70s attire, and about ten times more skating than you find in the film Xanadu. You could give yourself a lobotomy and still predict everything that is going to happen in this movie, yet for reasons I can't explain, Roller Boogie isn't that bad. Linda Blair plays Terry Barkley, a poor little rich girl whose parents ignore her and thus drive her to rebel; she doesn't enjoy being a musical prodigy, and she certainly doesn't want to go to Juilliard. What does she do? She goes roller skating and, after meeting up with local roller boogie whiz kid Bobby James (Jim Bray), she announces her new ambition in life is to win the roller boogie dance contest down at Jammer's skating rink. You see where this is going? It's your classic poor boy-rich girl love story. Something is still missing, though. Oh, I know, let's throw in a sleazy businessman and his two goons, and - yes, I've got it! - let's have them threaten to burn down Jammer's skating rink as part of their evil plan to put up a shopping mall. Obviously, those crazy kids are going to have to come up with a plan to save their beloved skating rink. We cannot possibly let this movie end without that big roller boogie dance contest we were all so looking forward to.

As you can see, apart from Linda Blair's starring role, there is no discernible reason for me to have enjoyed Roller Boogie, but I did. That doesn't mean I want to watch it again any time soon, though. For my fellow Linda Blair fans, I say go ahead and bite the bullet and watch this movie; you'll be glad you did - maybe.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A great movie that takes you back .
Review: I can't believe it's been 20 years since it's release. Watching Roller Boogie really brings back memories of the 80's . It's upbeat and has good music and dancing. ( on skates that is ) They make all kinds of movies these days but I find myself enjoying the movies from the 70's and 80's much more. I hope they release Roller Boogie on video soon. My tape of it has worn out.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: We want Roller Boogie on DVD
Review: I know Roller Boogie has not big cinematic values. Maybe that's why it hasn't been released on DVD. The story is the classic tale about a rich girl who defies her parents by hanging out with a poor skater. The teenager cliches are all over the movie. In spite of this, I think that the real value of this movie (besides the sentimental one), is that it shows a particular moment in late 70's culture that a lot of people enjoyed as teenagers. The music and the way the characters have fun disco-skating, is one of my happiest movie memories of that time. I don't understand the reason why they haven't released it on DVD yet. There are a lot of bad, bad movies out there being sold on DVD. But the most incredible thing is that the best element of the movie (¡the soundtrack!), has not been released on CD ever. I've tried to make an LP-MD transfer from my old record but the sound is awful. I love Bob Esty's songs and I don't find them anywhere. Please, release both, the DVD and the soundtrack! A lot of buyers will appreciate it, I'm sure.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: We want Roller Boogie on DVD
Review: I know Roller Boogie has not big cinematic values. Maybe that's why it hasn't been released on DVD. The story is the classic tale about a rich girl who defies her parents by hanging out with a poor skater. The teenager cliches are all over the movie. In spite of this, I think that the real value of this movie (besides the sentimental one), is that it shows a particular moment in late 70's culture that a lot of people enjoyed as teenagers. The music and the way the characters have fun disco-skating, is one of my happiest movie memories of that time. I don't understand the reason why they haven't released it on DVD yet. There are a lot of bad, bad movies out there being sold on DVD. But the most incredible thing is that the best element of the movie (¡the soundtrack!), has not been released on CD ever. I've tried to make an LP-MD transfer from my old record but the sound is awful. I love Bob Esty's songs and I don't find them anywhere. Please, release both, the DVD and the soundtrack! A lot of buyers will appreciate it, I'm sure.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Most Wonderful Memories!!!
Review: I loved this movie growing up. Most people I come across don't believe I've seen it over 100 times (and still have the ticket stubs)! Furthermore, most people have never even heard of it. I used to try to dress up like Linda Blair every time I went to the roller rink. Let's hope they re-release this movie. If anyone comes across a copy, please e-mail me. I would love one and love to prove to my husband this movie exists!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: roller boogie
Review: i think this movie is very exciting and a very romantic movie. i think the best part is the end but i also like when he tries to teach her to skate. the movie is a combination of a comedy, drama, action, musical and romance. if you watch this you wont be disappointed

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Finally On DVD-Thanks MGM!
Review: I was really happy to see this late '70s "rollerploitation" movie on DVD. It was really difficult to find on VHS a few years ago, and the ones I found were over $50! This movie looks great on DVD, the transfer is clear, and the colours are vibrant. On this disc, you have a choice of full-screen or wide-screen. It's a double sided disc. There are not a lot of features, you just get the movie trailer, but it's still great to see this gem released on disc. For fans of '70s disco music, the soundtrack has lots to offer and sounds great on DVD. I am glad to see that MGM re-released this Linda Blair classic because they always do a nice job with making sure that the prints they use are prestine, unlike some junior distributors that will use the worst print available, and put it on DVD. If you are a fan of Linda Blair, or just like a fun movie to watch, you can't go wrong with this boogie classic!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Gluteus Maximus - The Movie
Review: I was the 'lucky' recipient of this contemporary classic in my ( sometime ) capacity as DVD reviewer for an online newsletter. However - as the regular author of that 'column' has returned from sabbatical and my efforts in his stead have now been rendered superfluous, I thought I might impart a few of my entirely idiosyncratic musings as regards this film. As an example of pure '70's cheese, one would be hard-pressed to find a better exemplar of the era, it's fashions, musical taste (in the sense of genre - don't listen for big hits on the soundtrack, because there aren't any ) and general cultural miliu. This movie should have been placed in a time capsule that future generations might gain a keener appreciation for just what the 'me' generation was really like. Apart from nostalgia, the single redeeming quality of 'Roller Boogie' is the presence of Linda Blair. She's the perky, archetypal teen heroine and actually a fairly good actress. However, it is her appearance in this film that will cause you to take real notice - ILM, eat your hearts out, because Ms. Blair should have won the award for best special effect the year this came out. I guarantee that you'll forget all about that snotty, pea-soup-spewing 12 year old from The Exorcist once you have seen this movie. She blossomed into a jaw-droppingly gorgeous young woman, and mere words do not suffice - if there was only one reason ( okay, two - Linda Blair's legs ) to see 'Roller Boogie', her presence in the film is it, and while I would love to give the movie a higher rating, I'm afraid I can't. If positive reviews for films were awarded soley on the basis of the beauty of the actresses, then I suppose 'Charlie's Angels' would be held up as the latest Citizen Kane - But it's not. And certainly, neither is this ( however, in a contest between the latest Demi Moore vehicle and 'Roller Boogie',I do feel this is a superior product ). As such, despite whatever captivation I felt/feel for the beautiful Ms. Blair, and her singular charms,I can only offer one star for this epic of adventure and romance in the roller rink.


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