| | |  | BLUES MUSIC | Home » » Crossroads | | | | | | | Description: | | Eugene Martone (Ralph Macchio, The Karate Kid & The Karate Kid Part II) struggles with the devil and his destiny when he goes down to the Crossroads in this contemporary drama. With a potent blend of adventure, romance, and music, the film takes gifted young guitarist Martone into a dangerous and challenging new world. Obsessed with unlocking the mysteries of the blues, the fledging musician finds cantankerous Willie Brown (Joe Senaca), a master of the blues harmonica, and frees him from prison. The unlikely duo hobos from New York to Mississippi as Martone searches for runaway Frances (Jami Gertz, Quicksilver). With a rich mixture of Delta blues and driving rock produced by Ry Cooder, the film takes Martone and Brown on an intense odyssey that leads them to a dramatic climax at the Crossroads. | | | Features: | |
• Condition: New
• Format: DVD
• Anamorphic; Closed-captioned; Color; Dolby; DVD; Subtitled; Widescreen; NTSC
| | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca, Jami Gertz, Joe Morton, Robert Judd | | Director:
| Walter Hill | | Format:
| Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC | | Language:
| English | | Subtitle:
| English, Japanese | | Number of Discs:
| 1 | | Studio:
| Sony Pictures Home Entertainment | | Run Time:
| 99 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| August 10, 2004 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 211 reviews |
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| $4.13 | Used
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- Mint | | | $4.94 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $4.99 | Used
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- VeryGood | | | $6.98 | New | | | $6.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.00 | New | | | $7.02 | New | | | $7.02 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.13 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Good | | | $7.18 | New | | | $7.21 | New | | | $7.33 | New | | | $7.36 | New | | | $7.77 | New | | | $7.80 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.80 | New | | | $7.82 | New | | | $8.47 | New | | | $8.57 | New | | | $8.58 | New | | | $8.58 | New | | | $8.73 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $8.74 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.74 | New | | | $8.81 | New | | | $8.88 | New | | | $8.89 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.92 | New | | | $8.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.27 | New | | | $9.39 | New | | | $9.52 | New | | | $9.70 | New | | | $9.95 | New | | | $9.99 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $9.99 | New | | | $10.01 | New | | | $10.19 | New | | | $10.35 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- VeryGood | | | $10.95 | New | | | $14.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $30.30 | New | | | $33.16 | Used
- Good | | | $34.88 | New | | | $119.99 | New | | | $135.00 | Collectible
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| New | |
| $5.22 | New | | | $5.23 | New | | | $5.27 | New | | | $5.61 | New | | | $5.61 | New | | | $5.80 | New | | | $5.88 | New | | | $6.20 | New | | | $6.26 | New | | | $6.42 | New | | | $6.67 | New | | | $6.73 | New | | | $6.76 | New | | | $6.98 | New | | | $7.00 | New | | | $7.02 | New | | | $7.18 | New | | | $7.21 | New | | | $7.33 | New | | | $7.36 | New | | | $7.77 | New | | | $7.80 | New | | | $7.82 | New | | | $8.47 | New | | | $8.57 | New | | | $8.58 | New | | | $8.58 | New | | | $8.73 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $8.74 | New | | | $8.81 | New | | | $8.88 | New | | | $8.92 | New | | | $9.27 | New | | | $9.39 | New | | | $9.52 | New | | | $9.70 | New | | | $9.95 | New | | | $9.99 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $9.99 | New | | | $10.01 | New | | | $10.19 | New | | | $10.95 | New | | | $14.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $30.30 | New | | | $34.88 | New | | | $119.99 | New | |
| Used | |
| $4.13 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $4.14 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $4.16 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $4.25 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $4.46 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $4.87 | Used
- Mint | | | $4.88 | Used
- Mint | | | $4.94 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $4.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $4.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $5.00 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $6.91 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $6.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.02 | Used
- Mint | | | $7.13 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Good | | | $7.80 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- VeryGood | | | $8.74 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.89 | Used
- Mint | | | $8.99 | Used
- Mint | | | $10.35 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- VeryGood | | | $33.16 | Used
- Good | |
| Collectible | |
| $135.00 | Collectible
- Mint | |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 211 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
66 of 69 found the following review helpful:
 Wonderful, Atmospheric Blues Fantasy!Sep 11, 2004
By Benjamin J Burgraff
CROSSROADS (Walter Hill's Blues film, NOT Britney Spears' self-indulgent 2002 fluff) is a terrific introduction to a uniquely American musical genre, with a remarkable cast and a dead-on southern 'atmosphere'. It has always astonished me that when released, critics were unable to look past Ralph Macchio's previous film work, and accept this gem on it's own merits, but it's subsequent status as a cult classic is certainly well-deserved, with films such as the Coens' O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? utilizing the Robert Johnson subplot and borrowing many of CROSSROAD's visual elements. Perhaps the film, with a magnificent Ry Cooder score, was just too far ahead of it's time, a strange criticism to apply to a Blues movie!
The tale involves young Long Island guitar prodigy Eugene 'Lightning Boy' Martone (Macchio), a rebel at the Julliard School with his passion for the Blues ("Primitive music," one professor sneers), on a quest to recover legendary guitarist Johnson's fabled "30th Song" of 1938. His research leads him to a NYC nursing home, where fabled harmonica player Willie Brown (the late actor/singer/songwriter Joe Seneca), a friend and collaborator of Johnson's, is confined. Promising to 'give' the song to the youngster if he can be "busted out" and returned to his Mississippi home, the pair are soon on a cross-country odyssey, with Martone learning about discrimination, the darker side of humanity, and love's loss (through a brief encounter with Jami Gertz, who was never lovelier), providing him with the core of sadness Brown says is essential to truly play the Blues.
The climax of the film is legendary; arriving home, Brown, who had 'sold his soul' to the Devil at the 'Crossroads' as a young man (just as his friend, Johnson, had), attempts to get 'Scratch' (skeletal Robert Judd) to tear up the contract. The Devil informs him that he will, only if Martone can defeat his Champion in a 'Guitar Duel'. If the youngster loses, his soul, as well as Brown's, will be lost, forever. Martone rashly agrees ("I don't believe any of this s*** anyway!"), and he and Brown find themselves in a broken-down church converted into a dance hall, with demons and lost souls cavorting to the rock strains of insanely talented Jack Butler (Frank Zappa guitarist/composer Steve Vai). With only his love of the Blues, Julliard training, and Brown's 'ju-ju' to aid him, the humbled Martone must play for far more than his life, in a 'Duel' (with the amazing Vai actually playing both guitar parts) that is so fabulous that it is unbelievable that it was NOT included in the soundtrack album of the film!
Walter Hill was no stranger to music-themed fantasies (he also directed another 'ahead of it's time' cult film, STREETS OF FIRE), and with CROSSROADS, he took a simple storyline, and turned it into an unforgettable musical cinematic experience.
That the film is FINALLY on DVD is a MAJOR cause for celebration...now, let's hope an expanded "Special Edition" with added bonus features, will follow!
26 of 28 found the following review helpful:
Devil at the CrossroadsJul 26, 2005
By Brian E. Erland
"Rainbow Sphinx"
Crossroads have long held a special significance in occult lore. They are places where there's no North or South, no East or West. They are stillpoints in the fabric of time where "things happen." Things usually associated with the darkside of the spiritual spectrum. In otherwords, places to encounter the Devil.
Just such a crossroads happens to be the ultimate destination of Eugene Martone (Ralph Macchio) a young and gifted classical guitarist attending the Julliard School of the Arts. Though classically trained, Eugene is obsessed with the music of the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. He is also quite familiar with the superstitious beliefs associated with the engimatic Johnson. Some say he sold his soul to the Devil at some unspecified Mississippi crossroads in return for musical talent. Eugene dismisses such tales as nothing more than urban legend. However one tale he doesn't dismiss is the belief that Robert Johnson had one more song that was never recorded. Eugene is determined to find that lost song.
In hopes of locating it Eugene enlists the help of Willie Brown (Joe Seneca), an old blues musician and probably the last living friend of Robert Johnson. Willie, now confined to a convalescent home in New York, promises to lead Eugene to the missing song if he helps him escape from the home and accompanies him back to Mississippi. Sneaking away at the first opportunity they spend the few dollars they have between them for tickets on a southbound bus. Thus the adventure begins.
As they walk and hitchhike their way across the rural southern landscape, Willie begins to teach Eugene the essentials that must be experienced firsthand by anyone aspiring to be a true bluesman, such as; the hardships of life on the road and the loss of first love (love interest played by Jami Gertz). However the most important lesson turns out to be one Eugene would have never suspected. It's the truth concerning the crossroads. The story of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the Devil at the crossroads turns out to be fact, not fiction. It also turns out to be true for poor old Willie Brown.
The real reason for Willie's desire to return to Mississippi is to attempt to win back his soul before it's too late. A feat that can only be accomplished with the help of Eugene and his guitar. Now Eugene must defeat the Devil's chosen guitarist Jack Butler (Steve Vai) in a musical challenge, or Willie and Eugene's souls will be lost forever.
This is one of those movies you can watch over and over again. Ralph Macchio gives a strong performance but the real stars are Joe Seneca and Steve Vai. The final competition between Macchio and Vai still gives me goosebumps everytime I watch it!
18 of 19 found the following review helpful:
An InspirationDec 11, 1999
The film "Crossroads" was a major influence on me. Of course we all heard rock music based on blues music but this was my introduction to searching back and finding the roots of music. I also began to play guitar after seeing the film, it is a most inspiring movie. I disagree with the Amazon/Matlin reviews that pan the movie due to Ralph Macchio (who i feel played a fine role) or the plot (its obvious Matlin isnt even aware of the actual Robert Johnson) I anxiously await a DVD release, my VHS is so worn....
15 of 16 found the following review helpful:
Why is this not on DVD???May 02, 2003
By Mr. C. Wright
A movie that covers all bases, and covers them well. The Mississippi Delta blues legends are explored against a backdrop of fantastic music and a good "road trip" narrative. The guitar duel sequence in the last ten minutes of the film is the finest moment of all movies ever. It is unbelievable that this classic (a thousand times better than "Karate Kid" and certainly far less dated today) hasn't been released as a DVD packed with special features, documentaries about the Blues and Robert Johnson etc etc. Simply a treat, especially if you play guitar yourself. You'll find yourself telling people that they "got no mileage", or that there are "no goodbyes on the road" for years after you see this.
10 of 11 found the following review helpful:
The blues revisitedMar 13, 2004
By Movie Spirit
"Steve"
I saw this movie when it came out on VHS format and just loved it. I really enjoyed the music, even though the plot was a little weak, it picked up the pace with the different styles of blues musicians. I particuarly loved the ending and Steve Vai. Ry Cooder... enough said. Just a stupendous display of musical prowess. Now the good news, I recently wrote a letter to Jeff Blake at the Columbia TriStar Home Videos and asked when they were going to put this movie on DVD. To my amazement, a letter back within a week from Michal Stadford, Vice President of DVD Programming and Content and he replied "release date of August 26th (2004). Wow. I am impressed. I hope the DVD comes out in 5.1 surround sound, because this is really going to rock the house. I think this will be worth the price to see in this media mode.
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