Art of Fighting

Starring:Tetsuya Bessho, Masanori Ikeda, Ayumi Hamasaki, Takeshi Aono, Kaneto Shiozawa, GinzÃ´ Matsuo, Masako Katsuki, Iemasa Kayumi, Veronica Taylor, Cliff Lazenby, Nick Sullivan, Alden Crews, Eric Stuart (III), Carter Cathcart, Sharon Becker
Director: Hiroshi Fukutomi
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Director Herbert Ross (The Turning Point) pulled a winning movie out of this almost self-consciously archetypal tale of teenage rock rebellion. Kevin Bacon stars as a hip city kid who ends up in a Bible-belt town after his parents divorce. An ill fit for a conservative community where rock is frowned upon and dancing is forbidden, Bacon's character rallies the kids and takes on the establishment. Between a good cast really embracing the drama of Dean Pitchford's screenplay, and Ross's imaginative, highly charged way of shooting the dance numbers, you can get lost in this all-ages confection, and you won't even mind Kenny Loggins's bubbly pop. Bonuses include one of John Lithgow's best performances (a bit reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart), and Christopher Penn (who sure doesn't look the same anymore) as a good-natured hick who learns to boogie. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Rock To Footloose ........2007-05-23

Hey i just love this film footloose brings me back to those carefree days i had as youth. i just dug the story about an outsider from a big city shaking things up in a small town but for a good reason. not being allowed to dance come on! it's part of our culture so i found that law in the film a little silly and thought it was just made up for the film until i saw the bonus stuff on this disc recently. the film hasn't aged that much other than some of the fashions being what they were in 1984 and they're were artifacts left. but nothing that would take away from the enjoyment of watching the movie, but what i like most about it was the music, the classic tracks that i heard and did'nt realize they were in the film until i viewed it again. the reason why i gave it four stars is the fact that top gun special edition came with the music videos from the film, that would've been nice to see the music videos from this film on here but oh well, can't win e'm all.

This Film Was shot In Utah. Lehi , American Fork and few other places.
The Mill still stands but is surrounded by resturants and gas stations , once there was nothing there but the mill and few houses and school, oh how times have changed.

When I see the Mill it brings back some fond memories, May It always stand.

Footloose fun.......2007-05-07

I loved this movie in highschool. Now my daughters can enjoy it too!! It was fun seeing the actors all grown up.

Thank Goodness for Dancing.......2007-03-23

A feel good movie for the whole family. Teaches the youngters that if you want something, you have to go for it and be willing to fight for it. This movie is one I recommend for everyone's library.

Let's hear it for the boy...

An American Classic .......2007-03-19

An American classic dance movie. Also watch the special 2-part feature on the making of the movie. It was forward and backward looking in so many good ways, anticipating the break out of pop music into mainstream culture through MTV as well as telling the story of a real small town in Oklahoma which had banned dancing for 95 years before one senior class petitioned the town fathers for a prom.

Although it contains some clichés, then, the story is still a meaningful one, and the very human performance of John Lithgow as the baptist minister and father of the rebellious Lori keeps the filim from descending into stereotype. Of course, Kevin Bacon in the lead role of "Ren" is just riveting. The dancing, choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, is good but not too good. Although there are clearly some ringers in the film (which makes the extravaganza closing scene just that much more fun), for the most part she worked with the native talents of the actors she had, who were not professional dancers. Just an all-around fun movie with foot-tapping music.

great music and dancing.......2007-02-22

I would give it five stars if the story of the movie wouldn't be a little lame (a little town where there is no music and dancing allowed - hello?)The dancing and the music make up for the story line though. A nice movie to pop into your DVD player once in a while.

Average customer rating:

good movie
get it!
"As your attorney, I'd advise you to buy this DVD."
Hilarious!
better than fear and loathing..............

Where the Buffalo Roam
Starring: Peter Boyle , Bill Murray , Bruno Kirby , Rene Auberjonois , and R.G. Armstrong
Director: Art Linson
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006H32EI
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Amazon.com

Bill Murray is in his early-career, shambling glory as Hunter S. Thompson, the gonzo journalist with a fondness for Wild Turkey and firearms. While Murray does not do as exact an impersonation of Thompson as Johnny Depp (in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), he does capture Thompson's dazed, anarchic nature. Unfortunately, the movie around him is just anarchic: a series of episodes (true or invented) from Dr. Thompson's career, circa 1968-72. The haphazard structure is probably meant to suggest the spirit of the counterculture or something, but it's just flabby storytelling. Thanks to Murray's blissful delivery, there are scenes that have a stoned giddiness to them: Thompson and his attorney (Peter Boyle) terrifying an unsuspecting hitchhiker, or Thompson alone in a men's room with Richard Nixon. Neil Young contributes some music, and Murray warbles "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" while drunkenly piloting a plane. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

good movie.......2007-06-10

This is a very descent portrayal of Hunter S. Thompson. It's a little bit more laid back than "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." This is a better portrayal of the day to day Hunter S. Thompson, and is not just focused on one event. If you liked fear and loathing, you will like this.

get it!.......2007-05-15

if you own F&L in LV you have to get this one. bill murry come on and peter boyle!

"As your attorney, I'd advise you to buy this DVD.".......2007-04-18

This movie kicks butt...plain and simple. Don't be swayed by those who compare "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" with this film; they are two totally different movies about two totally different eras of Thompson's life and psyche.

This film deals with the exaggerated life and times of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson the journalist at the beginning of his nationally recognized career, circa 1967-1973. The movie moves in chronological fashion, pulling stories and situations from 4 or 5 books he wrote which chronicled his travels and findings during that time period ("Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail" is one of those books). The movie was made a t a time (1979) when few knew who this man was, so it was presented in a manner which would make the characters in the film easily accessible to movie-goers and fans alike. I read "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" for a book report assignment before I saw this movie, and immediately recognized the few, short moments attributed to stories told in the text.

Contrary to what other reviewers have written, Bill Murray played the character of Dr. Thompson very well. Bill & Hunter were very good friends throughout the 70's, and despite his assertion that he "signed off on the production rights" to the movie on day-one of shooting, Thompson was still on location for the entire filming (albeit, firing machine guns off set for fun), he still had some say so in the story. If you've read the books Dr. Thompson wrote about his travels from 67-73, you will enjoy this movie. The situations are hilarious, and just when you think Thompson is going to clean up his act, Lazlo (a character loosely based on Hunter's attorney friend Zeta Acosta), played obscurely by Peter Boyle, shows up and coerces Hunter into destructive, unreal situations.

Great scenes? 'The Superbowl.' Instead of attending (like he was supposed to), he has a wild, drug induced party-of-one in his hotel room, as s he sets his room up like a miniature football field. He gets a hotel bell boy and a maid to "play out" the game, as they continue to get high and drunk. 'The zoo.' Hunter is forced to ride on an airplane with the camera guys and other misfits instead of the regular plane for the writers. He slips what appears to be quaaludes or microdots into someone's mouth, gets super drunk thanks to his surgeon's bag filled with grapefruit slices and vodka, and ends up piloting the plane while singing "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."
"The hospital." Lazlo comes and "rescues" Hunter, as he his held up in a hospital room with a vidka IV and a youing pin-striper that he almost has nude. Lazlo and Hunter take off in his convertable, crashing it into a religious statue and foutain out in fron of the building. the great scenes are endless.

Unfortunately, director Art Linson was a hapless mess on the set. The movie isn't epic; it's just another spoof style, slapstick comedy. but if you're a fan of Dr. Thompson, Bill Murray and comedies, this is a must have. Don't expect an intellectual mind journey...that was not the purpose of this film. This movie is nothing at all like Terry Gilliam's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."

Hilarious!.......2007-03-28

Just wanted to say if you were a fan of Hunter S. Thompson (RIP) or love Bill Murray this is the movie for you. Great acting and up there with "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". Worth the measly cash.

better than fear and loathing.....................2007-02-14

this movie made me laugh so damn hard, i was in tears half the time. bill murray did a way better job playing hunter than johnny depp did. fear and loathing is still a good movie, but this one goes way more into detail of how much drugs were really used on hunter and his crazy gonzo lawyers adventures. as your lawyer i advise you to watch this movie, and maybe toke a few too.

Average customer rating:

A great classic
Fahrenheit 451
One of my favourite films
Strange, but true
A Powerful, Thought-Provoking Film

Fahrenheit 451
Starring: Oskar Werner , Julie Christie , Cyril Cusack , Anton Diffring , and Jeremy Spenser
Director: François Truffaut
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000087F6L
Release Date: 2003-04-01

Amazon.com essential video

The classic science fiction novel by Ray Bradbury was a curious choice for one of the leading directors of the French New Wave, François Truffaut. But from the opening credits onward (spoken, not written on screen), Truffaut takes Bradbury's fascinating premise and makes it his own. The futuristic society depicted in Fahrenheit 451 is a culture without books. Firemen still race around in red trucks and wear helmets, but their job is to start fires: they ferret out forbidden stashes of books, douse them with gasoline, and make public bonfires. Oskar Werner, the star of Truffaut's Jules and Jim, plays a fireman named Montag, whose exposure to David Copperfield wakens an instinct toward reading and individual thought. (That's why books are banned--they give people too many ideas.) In an intriguing casting flourish, Julie Christie plays two roles: Montag's bored, drugged-up wife and the woman who helps kindle the spark of rebellion. The great Bernard Herrmann wrote the hard-driving music; Nicolas Roeg provided the cinematography. Fahrenheit 451 received a cool critical reception and has never quite been accepted by Truffaut fans or sci-fi buffs. Its deliberately listless manner has always been a problem, although that is part of its point; the lack of reading has made people dry and empty. If the movie is a bit stiff (Truffaut did not speak English well and never tried another project in English), it nevertheless is full of intriguing touches, and the ending is lyrical and haunting. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

A great classic.......2007-06-27

A great classic that is pretty faithful for the book. The cinematography is superb and the overall DVD image and sound quality is superb.

Fahrenheit 451.......2007-03-20

Timeless story of the evil of political correctness. The cast in this movie is outstanding. Michael Moore deserves to burn in hell for besmirching the name of this movie for his petty drivel.

One of my favourite films.......2007-02-19

François Truffaut's first film in the English language still stands up well, in my opinion. It is a very fine adaptation of Ray Bradbury's book.

I wonder what it says to us today? Possibly quite a lot. The world in which the story takes place does look, superficially, inviting. Maybe this is what it means to be living in a police state? Guy Montag, played with great style by Oskar Werner, is a cool character (and forget the moronic American meaning of the word "cool" here), in that he isn't passionate and lives a rather passionless life. Millie Montag, his wife, is played by Julie Christie, who also plays the role of Clarice.

The film is powerful because it rarely overstates its case and keeps the violence to a minimum.

The film was "futuristic" in the mid-sixties, when it was made, and it does have a decidedly '60s look about it now. However, it does present us with a people who have forgotten books and get their kicks from very large -interactive TV screens - not that that would ever happen, would it!?

Strange, but true.......2007-02-07

This film had a powerful effect on me. 95% of the people I know don't read books. I met a millionaire not long ago, who boasted to me that he had never read a book in his life. Lady Di was reported never to have read anything --- except perhaps fashion mags. My children hardly read, and their husbands and wives certainly don't. My ex-wife never read anything. Her father thought Ulysses was a dirty book. I stopped watching television in 1980, and I own 10,000 books --- but not Fahrenheit 451, which I'd read about 45 years ago. This was long enough for me not to compare the film with Bradbury's text, but the message came through the movie medium loud and clear, and with a very solid punch to the plexus. The manner in which it is written, played and directed, added to its impact. This world of sleep-walkers perfectly matched what is already all around us. The style was strange, but gradually you realise that this strangeness is actually what is now completely normal. People live and work like automated morons. They can't think for themselves, and their critical faculties are almost totally atrophied. They can't conduct a stimulating conversation of any kind: in fact, present them with an idea, or attempt to initiate a discussion, and they'll often become angry. Some of the several low end reviews on this site illustrate precisely what the film depicts. Ludicrous suggestions: remake it with mad Mel Gibson. Have infantile Spielberg direct it. Bulk it out with computerised SFX. These ghastly proposals precisely reflect the mentality of the sub-humans which the film targets, and many of them seem unable to understand their own language, let alone write it, or spell it. This is a memorable film, for those whose memories still function. Unlike the Captain of the firemen.

A Powerful, Thought-Provoking Film.......2006-12-19

Francois Truffaut's English language debut "Fahrenheit 451" is based on the world famous science-fiction novel by Ray Bradbury and stars Oskar Werner and Julie Christie. The movie is about a world in which books are banned and firemen don't put fires out, but instead burn books. Werner plays Montag, one such fireman who becomes involved with a schoolteacher named Clarisse (Christie), who dares to read. Meanwhile, Montag's wife Linda (also Christie) becomes more and more worried about her husbands reading habits. That's a quick summarization of the film. The movie came out in 1968, but is still as relevant, powerful, and fresh as it was back then. Nothing in the film seems to have aged...The term "science-fiction" can turn people off, but in this film that term hardly applies. Truffaut was already world-famous director, who has made French hits like The 400 Blows and Jules & Jim (which starred Werner). Truffaut never mastered the English language, which makes this even more impressive. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to direct a film in a language you hardly understand...Let alone a good film. The casting of Julie Christie in a dual role could have been a dire mistake, but manages to work perfectly. When the two characters are on-screen, I hardly noticed (or cared) that they were the same person. Werner adds a lot of depth to his performance as Montag (a character name that you're not likely to forget), although I'm not sure if he ever did another film in English. The films cinematography is by Nicolas Roeg, who would later direct Walkabout, The Man Who Fell to Earth, and Don't Look Now (also starring Christie) and the film has the mark of a genius. The cinematography here is excellent. I've never read the book, but the movie is extraordinarily powerful. It's a film that everyone should see, and while you're at it...See some other Truffaut films too.

GRADE: A-

Average customer rating:

"Help him, help him" "Help who?"
You either Love it or Hate it...
Not as good as the book
An Indictment for the Ages
Decent antiwar movie

Catch-22
Starring: Alan Arkin , Martin Balsam , Richard Benjamin , Art Garfunkel , and Jack Gilford
Director: Mike Nichols
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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Catch-22

ASIN: B00005ASGC
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com

Joseph Heller's novel was one of the seminal literary events of the 1960s, but Mike Nichols's film ultimately proved too literal in its attempt to bring Heller's fragmented fiction to the screen. Still, Nichols, who made this on the heels of The Graduate, seemed the ideal candidate to tackle this Buck Henry adaptation. The story deals with bomber pilot Yossarian (Alan Arkin), who has flown enough missions to get out of World War II but can't because the number of missions needed for discharge keeps getting raised. The satire and absurdity of Heller's book get lost in Nichols's effort to give screen time to the members of his all-star cast, which includes Orson Welles, Jon Voight, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Richard Benjamin, and Martin Sheen, among others. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

"Help him, help him" "Help who?".......2007-06-23

The story is mostly flashback on flashback. The basic story is of Capt. John Yossarian (Alan Arkin), World War II bombardier, who wants to get out of the war. However it gets real complicated with many characters that are players by a bevy of character actors. There is plenty of subtle comedy mixed with some scenes that can make you sick.

A lot of what looks like disjointed and irrelevant scenes with becomes one cohesive story by the end. Even the frontal nudity scene fits. If you like this sort of film you should watch "Jacob's Latter."

With all the effort and great filming this film still has no exceptional or socially meaningful message. Luckily the film is complete and we can understand what is being cut out of TV versions.

My favorite part was the part where when Yossarian first sees Luciana (Olimpia Carlisi) in white walking by and they play "Also sprach Zarathustra" Written by Richard Strauss

You either Love it or Hate it..........2007-05-28

Sitting down to watch Catch-22 after finishing the novel, I was curious how the movie was going to work. The anti-war comedy novel is filled with many more characters, and storylines, than what would feasibly fit into a feature length movie. Understanding this, I was thoroughly impressed with the liberties that were taken with the story to make it into a movie. Furthermore, I had such a comical picture of Yossarian in my head after finishing the book, I thought that the theatrical representation of the main character would be severely lacking and ruin the movie. I couldn't have been more wrong. Watching Alan Arkin bring Yossarian to life was a treat and a pleasure to watch.

As far as the cinematography of the film, there are some instances where the sound quality is not the best when character dialog is set over the roar of airplane engines. But there sure are some great film moments. That opening sequence is amazing and the long single take opening on Yossarian is just something that you typically don't see in today's movies.

Some love it and some hate it. I subscribe to the former group, and I believe this is one of the best book to movie adaptations that I've ever seen. A must have for your DVD collection.

Not as good as the book.......2007-02-19

But then again, how could it be? The title of the book itself has become synonomous with the "no win" situation you often get involved in when dealing with the government or the military. The background Heller wrote into the book makes the story that much more interesting and sharpens the idea behind it.

The movie makes an effort to follow the book, but it is hard to do and I think it is not so much the fault of the director or the cast as it is the fact that some books just don't translate well into film. This is one of them.

An Indictment for the Ages.......2007-02-10

The dystopia that is Catch-22 comes to life in this film. The cinematography is great and the story arch is very nicely envisioned through flashback narratives that prove affective in use. My reason for writing this review, however, is to quell the notion that the film isn't true to the text.

A first reader of Catch-22 will likely find humor in the fantastical aspects of the novel. Actually, everyone who has read the book will attest to the fact that the humor is in the tone and presentation of it; yet, to be able to do so, one has to always recognize that the humor is a product of a far-fetched reality. Clearly, this humor, which is often found at the sentence level, is lost when put to screen.

Once the surface of the novel is scratched, a new text emerges, and this is what comes to life in this film adaptation. The core of the novel is layed bare in this film, and to not recongize this requires a deeper read.

I don't want to take away from the humor of the novel. In viewing this film, a lover of Catch-22 will further recognize how dynamic a book Joseph Heller actually gave us. To laugh at the situations, characters, and overall logic while recognizing the social commentary that pervades each character-based chapter is the real testament to the novel's worth.

The novel is laced with humor, but to move beyond our own personal first encounters with Catch-22 will be the factor proves the story one for the ages. It isn't the humor that gets us every time; it's the glaring reality of faulty logic that continues to replicate itself from war to war. Catch-22 plays to that eternal theme and should be viewed with this in mind.

In our unflinching acceptance of Heller's wit, Mike Nichols gets us to flinch. I, for one, think he should be accredited for doing so.

Decent antiwar movie.......2007-01-31

"Catch-22" is a comedy, but not a "Happy Gilmore" sort of comedy. Dry rather than hilarious, with more than a few downer moments, it succeeds as satire rather than as laugh-out-loud escapism. A definite artifact of its time, in terms of its style and content, it still holds up today.

"Catch-22" is a scathing indictment of war, as well as the State. Yossarian's confrontation with Cathcart near the end of the movie highlights this, when Cathcart attempts to bully Yossarian into following Cathcart's orders by asking whether he loves his country. Yossarian counters, correctly, that Cathcart and his lackey are not his country. M&M Enterprises, referred to by its organizer from square one as the "Syndicate," is just a mafia by a different name, and its co-option of Cathcart and its effects on the fliers make the point that the State is just another organized crime outfit.

The cinematography of this film is spectacular, with some astounding complex shots that last a very long time.

Everyone in this movie went on to be famous, just about, if they weren't already - or at least became a "hey, it's that guy" type of actor. It's amazing how young some of the actors are. Good luck spotting an 18ish Bob Balaban without his expected beard and glasses! The same goes for Richard Libertini. Fans of the "Bob Newhart Show" will see half the cast in this movie, from Newhart himself as Major Major, on down.

On the downside, the commentary track is disappointingly sparse. Mike Nichols just doesn't say much. Steven Soderbergh asks good and probing questions in an attempt to get Nichols to talk, but Nichols' answers are short and unenlightening.

"Catch-22" is worth at least a rent.

Average customer rating:

Review of "Yellow Submarine" by a crew member.
Don't give it a superficial viewing
Out of print????
good job by the voice actors who played the beatles
Words Misheard from Mrs. Malaprop

Yellow Submarine
Starring: George Dunning (II) , John Clive , Paul McCartney , Geoffrey Hughes , and Ringo Starr
Director: George Harrison
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Yellow Submarine (Songtrack)

ASIN: B00000JRUQ
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Amazon.com essential video

This restored, animated valentine to the Beatles offers viewers the rare chance to see a work that's been substantially improved by its technical facelift, not just supersized with extra footage. Recognizing that its song-studded soundtrack alone makes Yellow Submarine a video annuity, United Artists has lavished a frame-by-frame refurbishment of the original feature, while replacing its original monaural audio tracks with a meticulously reconstructed stereo mix that actually refines legendary original album versions.

What emerges is a vivid time capsule of the late '60s and a minor milestone in animation. The music represents the quartet's zenith--Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The story line, cobbled together by producer Al Brodax and a committee of writers, is a broad, feather-light allegory set in idyllic Pepperland, where the gentle citizens are threatened by the nasty, music-hating Blue Meanies and their surreal arsenal of henchmen, with the Beatles enlisted to thwart the bad guys. Visually, designer Heinz Edelmann mixes the biomorphic squiggles, day-glo palette, and Beardsley-esque portraits of Peter Max with rotoscoped still photographs and film; Edelmann's animated collages also nod to Andy Warhol and Magritte in properly psychedelic fashion, which works wonderfully with such terrific songs.

High orthodox Beatlemaniacs can still grouse that the animated Fab Four are (literally) flat archetypes, but that's missing the sheer bloom of the music or the giddy, campy fun of the visuals. Making sense of the story is second to submerging blissfully in the sights and sounds of this video treat. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Review of "Yellow Submarine" by a crew member........2007-06-16

As one of the animators who worked on the Beatles' animated epic, YELLOW SUBMARINE, I am delighted by the almost universal praise heaped on this recent DVD release of the renovated and digitally remastered version of the movie.
It is immensely satisfying to know that a whole new generation has come to discover the delights of this 1960's flower power masterpiece, and with the legendary "Hey Bulldog" sequence - deleted from all but the original British prints - reinstated in all its bizarre glory, Beatles fans can at last experience the full version of this psychedelic animated odyssey as it was originally meant to be seen.
I know I am totally biased in giving the film a 5-star rating, but I would say that the twelve months I spent working on it (during 1967-1968) was, without a doubt, the single most exciting period in my almost 50-year career in the animation business. It was made even more memorable by the fact that, during production, I became engaged to Diana, my wife of nearly 40 years, who worked on the "LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS" sequence.
The struggle to produce anything resembling a final script while production surged inexorably on past the writers towards an impossible deadline, the creative arguments, the personality clashes, the budgetary nightmares, the physical kidnapping of the film - with the whole thing being propelled by the sheer exhilaration of knowing that we were all taking part in an astonishing revolution in animated films - all made for a heady and never-to-be-repeated experience. For a detailed look behind the scenes during the making of the film, read Dr. Bob Hieronimus' "INSIDE THE YELLOW SUBMARINE" and Al Brodax's "UP PERISCOPE YELLOW".
While the authors differ on some points, both books are packed with detail and anecdotes, and the debate about who said what and who did what on YELLOW SUBMARINE seems set to continue for quite some time. But there is one undeniable fact in all of this - if producer Al Brodax hadn't stuck his neck out and taken a chance on producing an animated feature all those years ago, the phenomenon that was the YELLOW SUBMARINE would never have set sail on its fantastic voyage. For that we all owe him a vote of thanks.

Don't give it a superficial viewing.......2007-04-03

With the passage of time it's easy to forget the Beatles were once cutting edge and loved to tweak the nose of authority figures everywhere and the gentle tone of "Yellow Submarine" compared to today's animated features only emphasizes that point. At the time of "Yellow Submarine" the Beatles were at the height of their success, and while they undoubtedly wanted to send a message to authoritarian figures everywhere they didn't want to do that in a ham-fisted manner. Considering the counter-cultural wave that was about to follow, "Yellow Submarine" seems almost quaint by comparison and it moves at a considerably slower pace than modern day cineastes or casual viewers may care for.

"Yellow Submarine" depicts the conflict between the Blue Meanies (representing authoritarianism, be it Fascism, Communism, or whatever) and the peaceful residents of Pepperland. The Blue Meanies employ a means of weaponry to freeze the residents of Pepperland, leaving a sole resident to seek help via the Yellow Submarine. The set up of action, in particular, unfolds particularly slowly, giving time for the character of each Beatle to slowly be explained amid scenes of rather Peter Max inspired psychedelia. The overall effect isn't exactly trippy unless you're actually tripping I suppose. Several memorable Beatles songs are included throughout the film and at points it's almost like a precursor to music videos, but rather than enhancing the film they're more of a distraction, especially "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."

Ultimately the Beatles arrive to save the day and the movie itself is a satire on the foolishness and limitations of authoritarianism in all its manifest forms, as well as the benefits of freedom. Some of the newer songs are a bit weak, especially "All Together Now" with its especially incongruous line about "chop the tree" which is hardly an eco-friendly lyric. Having seen it as a kid I doubtlessly enjoyed it, yet 30+ years on I could scarcely remember any details. Having seen it again I could scarcely be bothered to see it again anytime soon. I honestly couldn't recommend this except for die-hard Beatles fans, fans of animation or pyschedelia, or those looking for satirical films. "Yellow Submarine" is sadly more of a time capsule of a different time and place, when all you needed was love. It's a bit sad we've moved so far beyond that, but the message of fighting tyranny, despotism, and authoritarianism is all too appropriate today.

Out of print????.......2007-02-19

Just rented a copy of this because it's out of print! I can't believe it. These are THE BEATLES, not some jive time band. I'm not a musical marketing guy so I don't know exactly what your sales goals are to keep something like this in print, but it seems like after all of the care they put into giving this scrumptious sound, you might want to keep it in print.

Anyways...

This is good but not great stuff for me. I'm more of a Black Music fan than a Beatlemaniac. This is the first Beatles flick that I've seen. After initially resisting the Beatles due to their Motown imitator origins, I've followed the Ray Charles' of the world and taken to their superior songwriting. I've been watching a bunch of performance videos as of late and I decided to watch Yellow Submarine to see the Fab Four brought into animation interpretation light.

I dig the music. "All Together Now" is fun Paul stuff. I like the Sgt. Peppers stuff that's on the video. There are a couple of filler tracks, but on the whole the music is outstanding and I can see how Funkateers like George Clinton gain inspiration from works like Yellow Submarine. It's a short jump from Beatles vs. Meanies to Dr. Funkenstine vs. Sir Nose Devoid of Funk.

The plot for this takes on more metaphysical meat than it's willing to thoroughly digest. When they have John's character pontificate on Einstein and the Sea of Holes, I'm wishing that I saw The Phantom Tollbooth with Beatles songs for the soundtrack rather than a hodgepodge of writers trying to do justice to the trippy visions of the Revolver and Sgt. Peppers albums. I can see how the out there visions of this music would lead the Beatles to go back to basics with the upcoming White Album.

Man, I can't see how they let stuff like this go out of print, though. Maybe there's some sneaky packaging thing going on that I don't know about. Like not selling the CD any more solo and making Yellow Submarine a DVD/CD combo only for Beatles completists. Hmmmmmmm.

4 stars

--SD

good job by the voice actors who played the beatles.......2006-12-30

I'm Not sure if anyone has pointed this out BUT the voice's for paul and company is not their own , these were in fact voice actors and they did a very good job too . This was also confirmed by paul proir to the movies release

Words Misheard from Mrs. Malaprop.......2006-12-08

Jeremy Boo saying "...ad hoc, ad loc and *crypto quo*/so little time, so much to know." It is NOT "...crypto quo..." for those of you who missed your Latin lessons. It is "quid pro quo" which means "The concept of getting something of value in return for giving something of value." In any case Dr. Boo is quoting Latin cliches to sound more erudite and smarter than he is.

And Mrs. Malaprop..."A malapropism is an incorrect usage of a word by substituting a similar-sounding word with different meaning, usually with comic effect." Such as that famous line not by Jimi Hnedrix, "Excuse me while I kiss this guy" instead of the real lyrics "Excuse me while I kiss the sky."

Other than that, Yellow Submarine is one of those true classics that should not be missed.

my $1.98

Average customer rating:

Is this documentary a fake???
Who the *&^( is Teri Horton?
Trucker momma proves the emperor has no clothes!
Fair and Real
Populist granny vs. art snobs - an entertaining match-up

Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock?
Starring: Teri Horton
Director: Harry Moses
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000NVI0EY
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Amazon.com

Ex-60 Minutes producer Harry Moses made Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock?, a favorite documentary film at festivals in 2006. Like an extended 60 Minutes segment, the film presents all aspects of the drama surrounding San Bernadino resident Teri Horton's ten year crusade to certify that her thrift store art purchase is an authentic Jackson Pollock painting worth $60 million. The story, hilarious because of Horton's vibrant, spitfire personality, and because of the absurd lengths she has gone to prove skeptical Pollock experts wrong, extends into a larger sociological discussion of art historical fraud. Gathering forensic evidence to battle art critics and collectors, Horton's attempt to buck the system, which requires provenance and a paper trail to qualify artwork, seems lame. Early on, for example, she claims that the painting was made in a bar at ski resort Mt. Baldy, where several movie stars were snowed in and forced to make artwork together culminating in Pollock's signing the painting with his penis. Interviewed, she explains why she's declared war on the established, discriminatory "art world." As the plot thickens, the viewer chuckles at its absurdity, but also sympathizes with this clever woman who, if anything, deserves some payment simply for her dedication to the cause. --Trinie Dalton

Description

When Teri Horton, a 73-year-old former long-haul truck driver with an eighth grade education bought a painting in a thrift shop for five dollars, she didn't know that it would pit her against the most powerful people in the art community and perhaps forever change the way art is authenticated around the world. Who The #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? is a rollicking adventure that documents a 15-year war with the art world's inner circle, lifts the veil on how art is bought and sold in America and introduces audiences to the funny, profane and utterly unforgettable Teri Horton.

Customer Reviews:

Is this documentary a fake???.......2007-06-20

....OK, I'm going to go way out on a limb here and state I think this documentary is a fake!!!I think what was made here was a "Spinal Tap" for the art world. If that is the case this "Movie" is deeper and more interesting than any documentart could ever be....think about it.

Who the *&^( is Teri Horton?.......2007-06-18

I happened upon this documentary at the video store. As an artist, I was intrigued. I watched the entire video twice.

Teri, as the cantankerous truck-driving little woman is the perfect underdog we can really get behind in fighting the establishment. I thouroughly enjoyed this tale. If you like a good story, it's a must see.

Trucker momma proves the emperor has no clothes!.......2007-06-17

This film just tickled me; delightfully done with a light touch, it pits a down-to-earth dumpster-diving trucker named Teri Horton against a pretentious boatload of art world snobs, and she proves (in the words of a famous author) that they don't know their scrotums from Kentucky-fried-chicken. The film stands up well as a documentary, covering a lot of ground to interview witnesses who knew Pollock, as well as forensic, art, and legal experts. Bottom line is that the fingerprint and other physical evidence pointing to the authenticity of the painting is just overwhelming; if this were a murder case, there would be more than ample evidence to send someone to the electric chair. The only thing standing between Ms. Horton and $50,000,000 (the estimated value of the painting if it were deemed authentic) is a bunch of arrogant blowholes who can't utter a single coherent or persuasive sentence in support of their position that the painting is a fake. If I ever had any doubts about the credibility of the art world, this certainly settled the issue once and for all. As for Teri, a phenomenally feisty, if complicated and self-destructive woman, she makes one of the most interesting lead characters I've encountered in fact or fiction.

Fair and Real.......2007-06-12

I am an artist of thirty years and consider myself well-read and aware in regards to artworld issues and painting, my main form of expression. Having grown up with people who became the world's most profound art critics once they got a little alcohol in them and who regularly counseled me that what I was learning in art school was all wrong, I found this DVD quite fun. It was fair to both the experts and the philistines.

I am sure that the experts will seem quite funny to a lot of folks. Yes, it looks weird the way elderly men twist and dance in front of Teri's painting to visually test it for it's possible Pollockness. But, those feelings are ironic in the context of this story. While experts are questioned as to how they know what they know, other experts are touted as being experts, and therefore right. I suppose it is a matter of expert against expert.

This DVD has something for everyone. Beyond its entertainment value, it offers a great lesson in how artworks are authenticated. It also offers an insight into the world of people who decide what we will see in museums, a world that almost none of us has anything to do with. Finally, it's a real kick for those persons who would love to tell off artworld experts once they get a little lit. You get to watch Teri Horton do this with great verve.

Personally, I'm on the side of the artworld experts. But, you can decide for yourself. Whether you laugh more at the experts or Teri, you will get some good chuckles out of this DVD. Watch it! :-)

Populist granny vs. art snobs - an entertaining match-up.......2007-06-11

I enjoyed this little documentary that chronicles the decade-long battle of a feisty trailer-park granny seeking to convince the "art world" that an unsigned painting she found in a thrift shop was created by legendary abstract artist Jackson Pollock. I have no idea if it really was, but it was fun watching her challenge the often-stuffy "art experts" while trying to prove that her find is the real deal. I had to wonder why the arty set was so relentless in their opposition to her claim. What would they lose if it turns out to be genuine? Also, I have to wonder why Pollock's real paintings are worth multi-millions. Sure, they're interesting, but I fail to see why they're worth that much. $25,000, sure - $25,000,000, no. Maybe the answers to these two questions are intertwined.

Average customer rating:

Brute Force
Brute Force
WE ARE ALL TRAPPED!
Uncompromisingly Brutal, Pessimistic, and Affecting.
Man - hate! Woman - love!

Brute Force (Criterion Collection)
Starring: Burt Lancaster , Hume Cronyn , Charles Bickford , Yvonne De Carlo , and Ann Blyth
Director: Jules Dassin
Manufacturer: Criterion
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ASIN: B000MTEFOQ
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Amazon.com

Jules Dassin's brooding, brutal drama about a prison wound to the breaking point by a sadistic captain of the guards is a classic film noir as well as one of the greatest prison films ever made. Burt Lancaster (in only his third film but already commanding the screen like a pro) is the savvy prison veteran whose clashes with Hume Cronyn (the ambitious guard with a god complex) land him first in solitary then in the claustrophobic drain pipe, a muddy, airless work detail that slowly kills every man assigned to it. With the help of his cellmate buddies and former gangland boss Charles Bickford he hatches a plan to break out, but Cronyn has his own plans for the unbreakable prisoner. Dassin's oppressive prison is thick with atmosphere: cavernous buildings and halls that echo with the footsteps of inmates and the clanking of bars, overcrowded cells that seem to close in on the men, a busy machine shop where the film's most memorable scene takes place--the ruthless assassination of a stoolie in a pounding metal press. Cinematographer William Daniels, a master of Hollywood's soft-focus glamour, creates a harsh, hard-edged look for the film, softened only by looming shadows. A sense of doom hovers over everything, culminating in an explosive finale, but the barbaric, brutish violence hangs in the air long after the film is over. --Sean Axmaker

On the DVD
Criterion's beautiful restored print of Brute Force is accompanied by a small collection of supporting materials, including a commentary track by longtime film noir experts Alain Silver and James Ursini. They give a good brief on the film's history, such as the disagreements between producer Mark Hellinger and director Jules Dassin on the subject of the movie's use of flashbacks--an approach that would break the claustrophobia of the prison sequences and introduce female characters. Hellinger wanted the backstory, Dassin objected, and the producer won; but the point is definitely arguable. Prison-movie specialist Paul Mason gives a useful 15-minute talk, partly on Brute Force and partly on the genre of prison movies. Criterion's booklet has an excellent essay by critic Michael Atkinson, a vintage 1947 profile of the colorful columnist-turned-producer Hellinger, and an intriguing, bitter exchange of letters between Hellinger and Production Code chief Joseph Breen on the subject of the film's censorship problems. --Robert Horton

Description

As hard-hitting as its title, Brute Force was the first of Jules Dassin's forays into the crime genre, a prison melodrama that takes a critical look at American society as well. Burt Lancaster is the timeworn Joe Collins, who, along with his fellow inmates, lives under the heavy thumb of the sadistic, power-tripping guard Captain Munsey (a riveting Hume Cronyn). Only Collins's dreams of escape keep him going, but how can he possibly bust out of Munsey's chains? Matter-of-fact and ferocious, Brute Force builds to an explosive climax that shows that man's desperation for freedom knows no bounds.

Customer Reviews:

Brute Force.......2007-06-21

Made just prior to "Naked City," Dassin's gritty prison melodrama puts a twist on the archetypal bust-out scheme by revisiting, in flashback, the pre-penitentiary lives of Collins--ably played by an intense young Lancaster--and his crew, colorfully brought to life by character actors Whit Bissell, Howard Duff, and John Hoyt. In a fine performance, Charles Bickford appears as the prison's gruff de facto leader and newspaper editor who throws in his lot with Collins. The other ace in Dassin's deck is Cronyn, playing a corrupt, savage prison guard bent on bringing "discipline" to his inmates, while nursing a megalomaniacal ambition to replace the wimpy Warden. Aside from the ominous noir visuals, Dassin explores issues endemic to prison life and wraps them up in an ugly finale meant to evoke a Nazi bloodbath.

Brute Force.......2007-05-12

Excellent movie! Unlike today's movies with lots of special effects and very little story developement with dialogue, this movie is the opposite.
A must-see for all Burt Lancaster fans.

WE ARE ALL TRAPPED!.......2006-04-08

"BRUTE FORCE", ever since I first saw it on TV forty years ago,has been one of my favorite films.Directed with great vigor by Julues Dassin,it tells the story of "the men on the inside",and "the women on the outside.Burt Lancaster,Jeff Corey,Howard Duff,and John Hoyt,are some of the men "on the inside",Ann Blyth,Ella Raines,Anita Colby,and Yvonne DeCarlo are the woman on" the outside".Hume Cronyn gives a masterfull performance as the sadistic,fascist Caption of the guards.All the male characters, which also includes Charles Bickford,Sam Levine,and Roman Bohnen (as Warden Barnes) are oustanding,the women less so.This is not an easy DVD to get,so I wish someone maybe Universal,the original releasing company,would come out with a full-length commetary,with a special emphasis ,on the political repercussions that were felt by many members of the cast and crew of this and other left-leaning films.The films message is definitily anti-capitalist.The film rates 5 Stars,the DVD,with no special features rates a 3 and half Star rating.

Uncompromisingly Brutal, Pessimistic, and Affecting........2005-06-30

"Brute Force" is one of the most violent film noirs of the classic era, as well as one of the most pessimistic -and this is after some violence was removed to comply with the Production Code. The story takes place within the confines of Westgate Penitentiary, an overcrowded prison whose deficient living conditions and sadistic guards make the inmates' lives nearly unbearable. Prison life is no less than a war between the inmates and guard Captain Munsey (Hume Cronyn), who routinely uses blackmail and torture to control the prisoners. When the warden revokes all the inmates' privileges in response to the deaths of two men, inmate Joe Collins (Burt Lancaster) hatches a violent and risky escape plan with his cellmates and a senior, well-respected prisoner named Gallagher (Charles Bickford).

Director Jules Dessin doesn't let a glimmer of hope into this film. The violence is brutal and wholly without sentiment or regret. The utter hopelessness of the situation in the prison is overwhelming. Brute force is the only means in Westgate Penitentiary. The standout performance is by Hume Cronyn as the Nazi-inspired Captain Munsey, an unabashed sadist who uses social Darwinism to rationalize absolute dominance of the prisoners, who are, after all, behind bars, not free to challenge him. The prison doctor, a disgraced surgeon named Walters (Art Smith), numbs himself with alcohol and articulates the film's themes. "Do you know what this prison is?" he says. "One big human bomb!"

The film is a little too long, and the flashback scenes of wives and girlfriends are superfluous. This is perhaps the most blatantly existential film noir. It takes the position of Sartrean philosophy, articulated by Dr. Walters, which is juxtaposed with Nietzschean philosophy, articulated by Capt. Munsey. I'm not normally captivated by either of these schools of thought, but "Brute Force" kept me interested for the duration of the film. It is a brutal, beautiful film with sharp dialogue, solid character writing, and great attention to detail.

The DVD (Image Entertainment 1999): This is a good print of the film with no obvious image or sound problems. Bonus features include filmographies of director Jules Dessin, writer Richard Brooks, and 3 of the film's stars. (Choose "Filmographies", then "next" to see them.) The "Stills and Pressbook Gallery" (4 minutes) is a slideshow, with accompanying them music by Miklos Rozsa, of production stills, posters, and advertisements for the film.

Man - hate! Woman - love!.......2005-05-11

"Nothing's okay," Westgate Penitentiary inmate Joe Collins (Burt Lancaster) says, "I gotta get out." That's because the sadistic screws are keeping the otherwise tractable inmates down with BRUTE FORCE. You treat a man like an animal and he turns into one, right?
At least so sayeth the usually reliable director Jules Dassin in this overripe movie about a prison on the edge of explosion. You see, the bad guys - the inmates - have a backstory, told in a series of flashbacks, that proves they're good guys under the prison grays. They just got hooked up with bad women who made them do bad things. Flashbacks don't lie. They don't necessarily entertain, or keep a movie chugging onward at a comfortable clip, but they don't lie. The prison officials, on the other hand... the otherwise decent warden is weak and vacillating. The avuncular doctor drowns his reprehension in brandy, emerging from his alcoholic stupor periodically to crack wry about the inhumanity of it all.
The baddest good guy is Capt. Munsey (`Sir' to you), Hume Cronyn, an effete sociopath with a blood taste for dishing it out (he seems particularly fond of whips) and a penchant for the insinuating seduction.
I wanted to like it, but as BRUTE FORCE plodded forward, piling melodramatic excess on melodramatic excess, I found myself fighting it. Fighting the notion that everyone in effective authority was a heartless goon, the ineffective ones were broken (presumably by the ruthless System), and the inmates were misunderstood choirboys. Despite its good looks, good performances and exciting final scene I had too many "Aw, c'mon" moments to honestly say I liked this movie.
The transfer print is in good condition, and the disk includes a hands-free Stills Pressbook Gallery with a number of behind-the-scene photographs, publicity stills, lobby cards and posters.

Average customer rating:

a great doris day movie
Doris day sings, "10,432 Sheep".
Ra Ra Ra Ra West Point Story Is Good
Fun musical with lots of singing and dancing
Very entertaining film

The West Point Story
Starring: James Cagney , Virginia Mayo , Doris Day , Gordon MacRae , and Gene Nelson
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000MTEFUU
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Amazon.com

Eight years after Yankee Doodle Dandy, the gracefully aging James Cagney found some extra spring in his step for his role in The West Point Story, a snappy musical that finds Jimmy singin' and dancin' at the prestigious military academy. Elwin "Bix" Bixby (Cagney) is a big-city nightclub owner with a long history on Broadway, but he's down on his luck, and accepts an assignment to stage the annual cadets' musical at West Point, thinking he might be able to turn the show into a Broadway hit. To his hot-tempered chagrin he discovers a rag-tag cast of rank amateurs (among them Alan Hale Jr., long before he became "The Skipper" on Gilligan's Island), and it's his job to whip the cadets into shape in time for their big premiere. In an attempt to lure his talented lead performer (Gordon MacRae) to Broadway, Bix recruits a sweet-natured Hollywood star (Doris Day) and plots a backstage matchmaking scheme, but eventually he realizes the kid's true devotion to military service, and devotes himself to staging the best musical West Point has ever presented. This all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza seems a bit corny and dated now, but veteran director Roy Del Ruth keeps West Point Story on an even keel, letting Cagney strut his stuff like an old pro, with Virginia Mayo keeping pace as Cagney's on-and-off love interest. Catchy tunes by the legendary songwriting team of Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn make this a must-see for musical fans, and the score (by Ray Heindorf) was nominated for an Academy Award.

Available separately or as part of the James Cagney Signature Collection, The West Side Story comes with a variety of Warner Bros.' "Night at the Movies 1950" short subjects, including a vintage newsreel of President Truman vowing to eradicate the Communist threat; the Oscar-winning "Sports Parade" short Granddad of Races (about Italy's most popular horse race); the classic cartoon "His Bitter Half" and a pair of 1950 movie trailers, for The West Point Story and the Doris Day/Gordon MacRae musical comedy Tea for Two. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Academy Award winner James Cagney puts on his dancing shoes again for The West Point Story, a spirited comedy packed with star-power and tunes by vetran songwriters Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn.

Customer Reviews:

a great doris day movie .......2007-06-14

these movie is one of doris days best
its a great movie to watch when you relax
Linda

Doris day sings, "10,432 Sheep"........2004-05-09

James Cagney is an angry, crazy choreagrapher and he also likes to bet on horses. On a deal, he must go to West Point to help this man's nephew Gordon MacRae become a musical star in the Army Theatre instead of becoming an Army Lieutenant. There is also some old history with Doris Day who comes in later in the film. When he gets to West Point, he finds Gordon MacRae in an all-male musical. No woman cast. Alan Hale Jr. (Gilligan's Island) is playing a princess. Virginia Mayo is trying to hold the fort together. Cagney will go to Las vegas if he succeeds with the deal. They talk cagney into becoming a cadet. cagney then must go to new York to bring Doris Day to West Point to play the Princess in the Army play.
Doris sings the cute song, "Ten Thousand Four Hundred Thirty-Two Sheep".
If you would like to see James Cagney get his just desserts, watch ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES (1938), colorized version is the best.
Jerome Cowan, who plays Doris' agent, was a regular in the "Blondie" film series (1938-50) in 1946-49.

Ra Ra Ra Ra West Point Story Is Good.......2004-04-29

Elwin Bixby (James Cagney) is the owner of a Night Club and is a down on his luck man who has been engaged to his sweet Girl Eve (Virginia Mayo) for 2 years well Eve tries to get him help so she gets him a job helping out with the West Point Academy Annual Musical their they meet Harry Eberhart (Gordon MacRae) who is the brains of the play and the one who wrote it up but one problem they have no girls to play the girls role but Bix promises the boys if they will help him out he will get Jan Wilson (Doris Day) to play the part. Well when they hear that they are all happy about the show so he gets her. And Harry and Jan fall in love the play is a hit to! Great Movie!

Fun musical with lots of singing and dancing.......2003-12-13

Set at West Point, this musical centers on Elwin Bixby's (James Cagney) misadventures as he tries to stage a show at the academy while trying to lure the young talented soldier Tom Fletcher (Gordon MacRae) away from army life and into showbusiness. Convinced that Tom's voice has star potential, Bixby uses pretty movie star Jan Wilson (Doris Day) as bait to try and charm Tom out of army life. But plans backfire when Jan falls under the spell of the handsome soldier.
Tons of singing and dancing by Gordon MacRae, Doris Day, Gene Nelson, James Cagney, and Virginia Mayo.

Very entertaining film.......2003-09-19

I feel like this movie is getting a bad rap by some of the reviewers who have this mixed up with an actual West Point recruitment video. Well, this movie is a musical, and a rather enjoyable one at that. Even though the plot is silly and a little far-fetched, it's still a lot of fun to watch. If you can go along with the story and forget about its credibility in real life, then you should have no problem. The cast is excellent and they do a good job moving the story along. James Cagney is wonderful and I couldn't keep my eyes off him for a second. Sometimes I would rewind certain parts to watch them all over again. This film was funny and the musical numbers were a joy to watch, like "By the Kissing Rock" and my favorite, "B 'Postrophe, K No 'Postrophe, L-Y-N". I say if you're still not sure about this film, just get it to watch the Brooklyn number at the end -- the dancing was superb! Bottom line, I think this was a fun movie. If you like lots of dancing, James Cagney, and Doris Day -- you got it made.

Average customer rating:

They don't make movies like this anymore
One of my all time favorites
Hilarious snook at the nobility!
Sure the critics loved this,BUT.....
Scary Satire

The Ruling Class - Criterion Collection
Starring: Peter O'Toole , Alastair Sim , Arthur Lowe , Harry Andrews , and Coral Browne
Director: Peter Medak
Manufacturer: Criterion
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ASIN: B00005O3V8
Release Date: 2001-10-30

Description

Peter O'Toole gives a tour-de-force performance as Jack, a man "cured" of believing he's God-only to become Jack the Ripper incarnate. Based on Peter Barnes' irreverent play, this darkly comic indictment of Britain's class system peers behind the closed doors of English aristocracy. Insanity, sadistic sarcasm, and black comedy-with just a touch of the Hollywood musical-are all featured in this beloved cult classic directed by Peter Medak.

Customer Reviews:

They don't make movies like this anymore.......2007-06-07

Outstanding! Forget Lawrence of Arabia. This is THE Peter o'Toole role!
Even his only competing ranters Richard Harris & Burton could not have brought the hip eccentricity necessary for this role. This is a defining role like Jack Nicholson in Cuckoo's Nest or Malcom McDowell in Clockwork Orange. Yes, it's funny, but you will find yourself smiling between the jokes at the overall feeling that pervades. I'm not surprised by the few negative reviews by people who don't "get it" (they were not meant to). I am amazed that this was nominated for several Academy Awards. Ah, how far they've fallen since 1972. This was a wide-release cult film that stands as one of the best of the 70's, from a decade containing a wealth of classics. It's a subversive bon-bon for the twisted intelligentsia who will revel in the language, themes, scenery and faces.

One of my all time favorites.......2007-04-02

This old movie is a joy for Peter O'Toole fans. He is vulnerable, evil, sweet, loving, twisted, cruel, deceitful, transparent, innocent, corrupt, powerful,broken,weak and strong. All that and song and dance too, by a man who's beautifully in his prime. I think he's just wonderful in this one. And, the script is brilliant. I am happy to be able to get it on DVD now.

Hilarious snook at the nobility!.......2007-01-19

This film is a GEM!!! A wonderful tongue-in-cheek snigger at the Ruling Class in Britain which got the movie banned there for decades,(if it still is not)! Riddle:Q."What's it like going from the House of Commons to the Upper House,(House of Lords)?" A."Like going from the animals to the vegetables!" But,you know,"Chacun pour soi!"

Sure the critics loved this,BUT............2006-12-26

...what about the rest of us?This film deserved it's SMALL audience..It is supposed to be a satire on the British upper classes,but it is so burdened down with unfamiliar,and boring pretensions as to make it a yawnfest from start to finish..the one-note joke about the dotty Peter O'toole charecter,who is supposed to become an Earl,or a Baron,or some other suchlike meaningless title but is as nutty as a fruitcake,and believes himself to be Jesus Christ to boot hardly makes up for the tedium that is so much a part of this picture...O'Toole,hanging from a cross near the swimming pool,or ranting and raving about his mission in life may look good in a one minute advertisement for this flick,but when you pay your money to own it on DVD you gotta sit through all of those OTHER minutes,when it becomes questionable if watching this movie or watching grass grow is the more entertaining past-time..I would opt for watching the grass grow...

Scary Satire.......2005-10-09

"The Ruling Class" is the kind of sharp, intelligent, vicious satire that only the Brits can do this well. It is by turns, c