The Longest Yard (DVD, 2005, Widescreen Version)

A remake of the 1974 Burt Reynold's Classic, The Longest Yard is the story of former NFL quarterback Paul Crew (played by Adam Sandler) who was jailed for point-shaving and leads his fellow inmates in a football game against the wardens (lead by James Cromwell as Warden Hazen). The Longest Yard follows Paul Crew's arrival into jail, his efforts to recruit a mediocre team, and ends with the warden vs. inmates football game. While based on the same premise, the 2005 version of The Longest Yard spins the movie very differently than the 1974 version. Burt Reynold's version was more methodical, more serious and spent time and dialouge around race and emotion. Meanwhile, the 2005 version - evident enough by the casting of comedian Adam Sandler - was designed as an action-comedy from the beginning.

The movie is fast-paced and features a huge cast of celebrities and former NFL personalities and players: Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds, James Cromwell, Nelly, Bill Goldberg, Michael Irvin, Stone Cold Steve Austin, ESPN reporters, etc. Part of the movie's fun is that it doesn't take itself as seriously as the 1974 version - instead, The 2005 Longest Yard moves quickly between football highlights, one-liners and cameos. If you are in the mood for a slower, more emotionally rich movie - the 1974 Longest Yard is your better bet. That said, the 2005 Longest Yard is true to its intentions - a light, funny and exciting football movie. There is more substance than Sandler's previous football film (The Waterboy) and is less dramatic and dark than Any Given Sunday. Unfortunately the football scenes aren't as exciting or intense as Any Given Sunday's - but the last scene (the warden vs. inmate football game) is entertaining and, in terms of realism, again lies somewhere between The Waterboy and Any Given Sunday.

Cons: Adam Sandler is funny - as he normally is - but he's not very believable as quarterback. Consequently, during action scenes, its rather obvious when film is spliced or there is a 'stunt' double. Secondly, this is not Chris Rock's best performance - he has plenty of funny lines, but there is no depth.

Excellent movie with Adam Sandler at his finest. This remake of the Burt Reynolds original is lighter and faster moving than the original. Adam takes the role and makes it his own and Chris Rocks plays the character of Cartaker superbly. The movie follows the original script to a great extent, taking liberties to let Adam and Chris infuse their style of humor into the movie.

A disgraced Professional Quarterback who shaved points in a game and got caught and kicked out of professional football. Adam gets the nickname of "Superstar" to identify the inmates disdain for anyone who would dare to cheat in a football game while they are convicted murderers and felons. A corupt warden, Semi Pro Guards only football team and the "Superstar" spells a combination for a lot of action. A convict team emerges to give the guards a tune up game for their season and team tryouts begin for the convicts. You can imagine the type of players that try out for the team.

Enjoy this action packed, fun and fast movie that will get you rooting for the bad guys

Don't compare today's comedy version of "The Longest Yard" to the old with Burt Reynolds. Today's is good and effective for what it is, a comedy film with a bit of action interlaced. So many classic Hollywood films were so good, that any attempt at a remake is just going to fall flat on its face. The Longest Yard with Adam Sandler is more of today's take on the story if you asked me. It has humor, and is Sandler at his best with Chris Rock playing his role well too. Critics and classic moviegoers beware. Unless you are open-minded, you will never find the hidden treasures of the movie world. It's a football comedy, plain and simple.

I love sports movies and I love sport movies starring Adam Sandler. Th eLongest Yard features a great cast (Goldberg, Stone Cold, Big Sexy, The Monster, The Great Khali, Chris Rock, etc...) and a great story.

The Longest Yard is packed with laughs and full of great football action. Adam Sandler is great as the lead character and the other actors are cast perfectly.

Final Verdict:
5/5

Yet again Adam Sandler creates another strong comedy football film. This movie, by far, is my favorite of all of the Adam Sandler movies. They use unexpected sport celebrities to play as well as a make believe fun life as a maximum security inmate. This movie does not have the adult humor where no one laughs to it, but everyone understands the funny scenes. I cannot really find any dislikes to it, that's how great the film is. I got it through ebay because after seeing for the 5th time on direct TV, it funny scenes just never get boring so I had to have to movies before it is completely gone.