Footloose (Deluxe Edition) (1984)

I saw this movie in the theatre on opening night. I still enjoy watching it. The acting in this movie is great, and the storyline is top notch as well. I think the movie represents the attitudes in small town America as they were. I know of many cases in real life that were a lot like this plot, but in real life the protagonists faired worse than Kevin Bacon. I have heard a lot of bad reviews about this movie from people who watch it today. Mostly because it is a "white" film with almost no racial diversity considering the subject matter. Well, you have to look at the social and cultural context in which the film was made to begin with. I happened to live in a small colorado town during my teen years and HELLO we only had 1 black family in the town. That was reality, as it was in many small towns. And as for the music, mind you, this was about 4 years before the forthcoming of the rudimentary forms of rap and hip hop. Micheal Jackson had more white fans than black, and most blacks listened to rock and roll. You cannot judge this film by modern standards and do it justice. I think that if you keep an open mind you will enjoy this film a great deal.

Herbert Ross' "Footloose" is one of those feel good flicks from the 80s that has dated at about twice the rate of most films from other decades. Its story is based in fact: that of a town ordinance that banned any form of public dancing. When Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) arrives with his family he can barely contain his distemper over the outdated law. He's young, rebellious and full of energy that just needs to be expressed. Together with the rest of the town's high school brethren, Ren resolves to challenge the law and its most ardent supporter, Rev. Shaw Moore who lost his only son after a night of drunken abandonment and a fatal car accident and thereafter blamed rock music for everything. Moore's daughter Ariel (Lori Singer) is behind Ren's move to ditch the law. Actually, she's the model of good girl/bad girl, staying out late, smoking and making out with her studly boyfriend. The film also co-stars Chris Penn as Willard, a clutsy cowboy who becomes a high steppin' catch after Red teaches him all the right moves. And somewhere in this little trifle you'll find Sarah Jessica Parker as Rusty, another high school senior in desperate need of a better hairdo and a lot less lipstick.

Before you pull out you're wallet and cut loose you may want to consider that Paramount's new Special Edition of "Footloose" offers NO improvement over the previously issued DVD. The transfers are identical in their image and sound quality and a complete and thorough disappointment to watch. An incredible amount of film grain plagues many of the opening scenes. There's also more than ample digital grit and aliasing and edge enhancement problems to go around. Age related artifacts crop up everywhere and are distracting. Colors are muted and, at times, extremely muddy and dated. Black levels are never black but a tonal mess of brown and gray. Really, there's nothing to get excited about here. Extras include a three part documentary (it's beyond me why Paramount continues to take one documentary and chop it into three short featurettes that can't be simultaneously played) that includes interviews with the cast and crew and the film's theatrical trailer. Truthfully, though, this is not an outstanding or even ample effort for the folks on the mountain.

Buy Footloose (Deluxe Edition) (1984) Now

This movie does not leave anything to be desired. This movie will want to make you get up off the couch and DANCE. It is imposible to stand still while listening to this movie. It is exciting, brilliant and make you wish you were back in those good old days. Keven Bacon did it again with this awsome drama.

Read Best Reviews of Footloose (Deluxe Edition) (1984) Here

Loved this MOVIE!! I liked the new version, but no one does that part like KEVIN BACON did it....just saying!! And the blu-ray version is GREAT LOOKING!!

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This film is an example of early-1980s films at their best. FOOTLOOSE stars a young Kevin Bacon as Ren McCormick, a teenager from Chicago, who relocates to a small, bible thumping town with his mother, when his father walks out on the family. This is a town where rock and roll and dancing are illegal--a law enforced by the local reverand (John Lithgow). Ren is determined to challenge this law, and bring dance back to the community. He gets some help from Willard (Chris Penn) and the reverand's rebellious teenage daughter, Ariel (Lori Singer).

Yes, people, this really is an example of when 1980s films (and dance movies, for that matter) go refreshingly right. Kevin Bacon is simply exhuberant and glowing as Ren. The best sequences are when we see Kevin cut loose and dance up a storm. One of the greatest scenes that lingers in my mind (and the minds of many) is when Ren teaches Willard how dance to "Let's Hear It For the Boy" by Deniece Williams (one of the catchiest and most joyous dance songs from that time). The cast is great here, and it's really a trip to see the (usually) comedic John Lithgow play straight man, as the buttoned down preacher. This film truly sucks you in from the opening credits with shots of dancing feet (yes, feet in flashy 1980s pumps, ratty old sneakers and someone wearing leg warmers) and doesn't let go until the final dance number at the end. A lot of fun.....

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