it all up to you and ed . now you get to play the game . the day my father leave my mother and he take me to see this film with his new girlfriend and on opening day at the cinerama dome in hollywood . i be but fourteen year old . i wasn not even entirely sure what i be see and but i will never forget it and especially the scene with ned beatty . watch it today and thirty six year later and it still give me quiver . my father be a huge burt reynolds fan and hence the reason for stand in line for almost an hour in to watch what be suppose to be an action movie . i have see two film at the dome prior to this represent grand prix and the song of norway . well this wasn not exactly mario andretti or the brady bunch . after leave the theater and i be shell shock . but even at that tender age and i appreciate the artistry . and after see again today and be i surprise i be still stand after witness this highly disturbing and yet extremely well craft film . suffice it to say it be a traumatic experience for a fourteen year old that have yet to kiss his first girlfriend . i do not blame my father for take me and but it be a bit much for a child to witness . a an adult and i still find it quite disturb and yet i be still very impressed with the quality of the film making . burt reynolds a an absolute wonder and a be all the principle . from billy redden a the inbred guitar wonder and to ronny cox a the terrified insurance salesman . everyone do an admirable job . the sound quality be second to none and from the chirping bird to the ticking clock . the photography and cinematography . all the technical aspect of this remarkable film be first rate . the moral question raise and from murder the sexual assaulter to the aftermath of deal with kill a human be and remain a profound today a they do when this groundbreaking film be release . and the classic sequence of attempt to survive in the wilderness after deal with such unforeseen brutality be life alter . these four men and city men and suddenly confront with a situation with never imagine and raise the bar from action to horror . it a classic to be sure . and the phrase you have a pretty mouth have be quote endlessly and from saturday night live to off the cuff comment around water cooler at work and this movie be without a doubt a huge part of our societal pop culture . as much a make my day or i will be back ever be . so what would you do if you find your friend be sexually assault at gunpoint by mountain men far away from your life in the city and cozy bed and wife and kid . and if you take the measure burt reynolds do ( and i would have do the same ) would you bury the body beneath the soon to be lake and or stand trial and take your chance . the bottom line be represent deliverance delivers . you can take that to the bank . if this movie doesn not get under your skin and then you be not human . even if you have see this before and rent it again and ask yourself the above question . my favorite part of the film remain the same represent ed fail to kill the deer . then change . life and it unpredictable circumstance can change a man . and i suppose that what this film be all about jon voight and in particular and a ed and give the best performance here . and he remain one of the more gifted actor in hollywood history and from midnight cowboy to his highly underrated performance a franklin d. roosevelt in pearl harbor and his act lift the movie to another level . climb the rock at dusk and terrified and determine to make it right it need to be see to be believe . i guarantee your heart rate will elevate to a new level . briskly pace and tense and taut and tightly draw as a a a banjo string and this be a morality play that ask question that remain today . time have change and but our choice a human being have not . ten out of ten star .