Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

When my husband came home from the video store with this one, my first reaction was "Huh? What the 'bleep' is Bandits? I never even heard of it!!" Well, that goes to show you what I know. Guess I must have been sleeping during this preview, because this little known movie starring Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton is a gem.

It's the story of Joe and Terry, two prison buddies who break out and decide to become "bank robbers"; well, in a fashion. Things go great for a while, until they meet Kate Blanchett's character, aptly named, Kate! She's a bored housewife on the lamm looking for a little excitement. If Hollywood has overdone the "likeable crook" theme, than this might be one of the cons of this movie. But I'll leave that opinion up to the viewer.

Thornton is great as the sweet, sensitive Terry, and Willis plays the tough, ladies man. Blanchett's character is a symbol of freedom, a "prisoner" herself in an unhappy marriage.

This movie is really funny, exciting and yet touching at times. Women can empathize with Kate, and men have enough of the shooting and ballyhooing that makes a great action adventure type movie. It's rated PG-13, and with very little graphic violence that I can even recall, and little foul language, I would even venture to say my 9 year old son could watch and enjoy this movie. The writing is clever, and the music adds to it as well, with song's like U-2's "Beautiful Day" and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart", which turns out to be a favorite of both Willis's character and Blanchett's; ahh..what a coincidence!

See Bandits with a date... You'll both be pleasantly surprised; I know I was. I'll have to send my husband to the video store more often!!

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older