Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!

Starring:Victoria Abril, Antonio Banderas, Loles LeÃ³n, Julieta Serrano, MarÃa Barranco, Rossy de Palma, Francisco Rabal, Lola Cardona, Montse G. Romeu, Emiliano Redondo, Oswaldo Delgado, Concha Rabal, Alberto FernÃ¡ndez de Rosa, JosÃ© MarÃa Tasso, Angelina Llongueras, Manuel Bandera, Virginia DÃez, Juana Cordero, Francisca Caballero, Francisca Pajuelo
Director: Pedro AlmodÃ³var
Studio: Anchor Bay
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Perhaps only Pedro Almodóvar could come up with a story about a mental patient who stalks and kidnaps an ex-porn star--and turn it into a tender love story. But that's exactly what happens in Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, a lively installment from the Spanish director's wacky middle period (after the scruffy early films, and before his mature melodramas). Two of Almodóvar's sexiest stars, Antonio Banderas and Victoria Abril, play the leads: a cracked young man with dreams of bourgeois domesticity, and an actress who used to specialize in porno and heroin. Despite that fact that he binds her limbs with cord when he leaves the house, he always returns with a cheerful "I'm home!" For all Almodóvar's outrageousness, there's a touch of classical Hollywood in his construction. And while this movie is not for the politically correct, it does play by its own warped rules. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

bizarre comedy that recommends an unorthodox way to fall in love.......2007-03-19

This is the story of a mental patient who happens to be a hunk (a very young Banderas), who attempts to use an original method to get a b-film star to fall for him: abducting and then tieing her up. It isn't all that funny if you ask me, but it is well acted and interesting in spots. Really a strange drama. Almodar's later dramas are infinitely superior.

Unsophisticated-- primitive desperation as romance for clods.......2006-12-02

I found nothing whatsoever sympathetic about Ricky. His pathetic view of romance is the same as the highschool kids that jump off a cliff together. Her view of the romance was pity for that pathetic. Disturbed individuals will see this validating their own twisted view of romance, not a behaviour to encourage. The story is essentially "The Collector" (1965) with a "they all live happily ever after" ending. Modern cave-man still drags his mate off by the hair, and you all go "oh, isn't that romantic." "The Taming of the Shrew," or "Zandy's Bride," are far better "battle of the wits," romances, if that's how you prefer to define it. This was simply the battle of the witless...

Perceptively witty / sexy comedy. Banderas as psycho!.......2006-01-07

`Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down' directed by the Spaniard, Pedro Almodovar and starring Victoria Abril and a young Antonio Banderas strikes me as great fun with at least a few sparkling moments of insight or perception worthy of Woody Allen.

The dominant aspect of this 1989 movie for us today is the Banderas performance that I kept comparing to the performances of Mel Gibson and Brad Pitt as psychopaths in `Conspiracy Theory' and `The 12 Monkeys' respectively. Banderas plays a newly released inmate from an insane asylum who, on the face of it, immediately takes up his asocial behavior by stalking a porno movie / Wes Craven type movie star who is just finishing up her work on a `movie within a movie'. While Gibson and Pitt really pushed their characterizations over the top, to the point where Pitt was nominated for an Academy award for his role, Banderas keeps his nuttiness toned down to be almost imperceptible. This is good, because it makes his motive for stalking the actress more believable. He is claiming that an earlier meeting he had with the actress turned him around and led him to convincing his parole board to free him from the asylum.

The major perception used in the plot is based on the fact that the female lead has a bad toothache, but since she was once a heavy user of opiates, most painkillers no longer work for her, so she needs either the very strongest prescription drugs or illegal morphine or heroin.

This is rated NC-17, but as a rather farcical satire, the few scenes or explicit sex and nudity are more funny than they are titillating. That still doesn't mean I would let a 12-year-old watch the movie, but I would get it for a great `stay at home' date movie.

I suspect there is enough substance in this film to warrant two or three viewings and I would especially recommend it as one of the great sexy comedies, at least until I see and review more of Almodovar's films.

Antonio Banderas was Irresistable!.......2005-04-01

This is the fourth film by Almodovar that I have seen, and it's also the first Antonio Banderas' pre-crossover to Hollywood movie I have seen. It's level of sexual theme is as provocative as his latest Bad Education. It's got more appeal to female or straight audiences. Antonio Banderas was so hot and sexy more than 10 years ago! He had some very stimulating love scenes with Vicoria Abril.

Antonio played a mentally unstable "sociopath" named Ricky who just got released out of an mental institution, and he headed to a movie studio to track down an ex-porn actress/prostitute(Marina)played by the sexy and gorgeous vitoria Abril. He had a one night stand with her years ago, and he's obsessed with the idea of becoming her husband one day. He kidnapped her from the studio where she was starring in a B-movie for a renowned director.

Naturally, he had to tie her to the bed all the time, since she resisted him romantically and sexually at first. He will spend days tryinng to manipulate and convince her to fall in love with him at whatever cost. How can she not be moved and tempted by a crazy and hot guy with a big heart reserved for her?

This film was a good erotic thriller with a very unique style and the occasional imaginery sequence was a trademark of most of Almodovar's films. I didn't find this movie to be emotionally impacting like All About My Mother and Talk To Her, but it's more fast-paced, and Antonio Banderas was at the top his game!

LIGHT.......2005-03-26

Light light, Imeans I've seen better. I love Almodovar's movies but this one is yes...light! The good great best point of it is Victoria Abril, Pedro's Muse!? She is hot hot hot!!! She's a porn star who is kidnapped by a fan, and she finally loves loves loves him because of the Stocklom syndrome? Some scenes are really good so that makes the film a soft porno movie! But please they could have thought of anything hotter than Banderas!
>>> Nely

Average customer rating:

Absolute gem!

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!
Starring: Victoria Abril , Antonio Banderas , Loles León , Julieta Serrano , and María Barranco
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Manufacturer: Manga Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
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ASIN: B000AO2QN0

Product Description

Spain released, PAL/Region 2 2-DVD Boxset: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. Languages: o English (subtitles) o French (subtitles) o German (subtitles) o Spanish (subtitles) o Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1) Synopsis: Pedro Almodóvar takes an warmly unorthodox look at relationships in Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, a romantic comedy with a plot similar to William Wyler's thriller The Collector. Despite the tawdriness indicated in the title, this is not just a steamy tale of kinky sex practices, but rather a dark comedy with a compelling relationship at its center, both characters literally struggling for power and desperate for love. Rather than populate the film with tons of zany, colorful characters like in his previous films, Almodóvar chooses to let the camera focus on the two attractive leads, each possessing a strong screen presence. Antonio Banderas broods with boyish passion as dull-witted mental patient Ricky, showing enough vulnerability to make him adorable. His behavior is shown as a result of his lovesickness, coupled with a complete lack of subtlety. Veteran actress Victoria Abril brings enough strength to the character of Marina to make it faulty to dismiss her as just a victim. Keeping the action confined to Marina's bedroom in lclose-up shots with a swelling musical score from Ennio Morricone, the film feels more like a '50s romantic drama than the shocker its critics claimed it to be. Though it received a public outcry and an NC-17 rating upon release, this love story of a kidnapper and victim is surprisingly told with compassion. One of Almodovar´s most acclaimed comedies, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! features explicit scenese of sexuality that created worldwide controversy. Special Features: o Biographies o Cast/Crew Interview(s) o Collectors Edition o Commentary o Filmographies o Interactive Menu o Music Video o Photo Gallery o Scene Access o Special Edition

Customer Reviews:

Absolute gem!.......2007-02-09

This is an amzing movie, one of the best Almodovar's ever! And it is also worth seeing an Antonio Banderas from his 'pre-Hollywood' age, much, much better than now!

Kika (the Almodovar Collection) [Region 2 Import, English Subtitles]

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Kika (the Almodovar Collection) [Region 2 Import, English Subtitles]
Director: Pedro Almodovar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Product Features:

Interviews with Pedro Almodovar and cast members
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Spanish with English Subtitles
and more

ASIN: B000Q3E6EM

Product Description

Harshly treated by critics on release, of Pedro Almodovar's work Kika is perhaps the one that most benefits from re-viewing and re-assessment. The story of Kika (an astonishing Veronica Forque), a Madrid makeup artist whose relationship with Ramon (Alex Casanovas) leads to criminal schemes involving Kika's maid Juana (Rossy De Palma), Juana's amorous, criminal brother Pablo (Santiago Lajusticia), and Ramon's youth obsessed father Nicholas (Peter Coyote). Overseeing all, is the muckraking reality tabloid television show presided over by the formidable Andrea Scarface (a uniquely attired Victoria Abril). Attracting controversy because of the scene in which Almodovar depicts Kika's rape at the hands of Pablo with humorous detachment, the scene has since come to be more popularly viewed as further evidence of the director's tribute to the power of women.

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! [Region 2 Import- Great Britain, English Subtitles]

Average customer rating:

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! [Region 2 Import- Great Britain, English Subtitles]

Manufacturer: Pathe!
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Product Features:

Pedro Almodovar Interviews Antonio Banderas
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ASIN: B000LPPH1G

Product Description

Ricki, recently released from a psychiatric hospital, kidnaps porn star Marina and tells her, 'I am 23 years old, have 50,000 pesetas and am alone in the world. I would like to be a good husband to you and a good father to your children'. As Ricki attempts to achieve an ordinary life by force, with alternately hilarious, tender or disturbing consequences, we are left wondering about the ties that bind in more conventional relations.

Pedro Almodovar 5-DVD Collection (Bad Education; Talk To Her; All About My Mother; Live Flesh; Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Great Britain ]

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Pedro Almodovar 5-DVD Collection (Bad Education; Talk To Her; All About My Mother; Live Flesh; Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Great Britain ]
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Pedro Almodovar Collection: Bad Education / Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down / Live Flesh / All About My Mother / Talk To Her [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]
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Region 2 encoding (Europe, Japan, South Africa and the Middle East including Egypt).
Requires multi-region DVD player in the US.

ASIN: B000FK9HTK

Product Description

Feature box set with the titles: 'Bad Education', 'Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down', 'Live Flesh', 'All About My Mother' and 'Talk To Her'.

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Atame! (Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down)
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ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Description

THIS MOVIE IS IN SPANISH, FRENCH, GERMAN AND ITALIAN. WITH DUTCH, FRENCH GERMAN AND ITALIAN SUBTITLES. NO ENGLISH. SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDES, TRAILERS, INTERVIEWS WITH THE DIRECTOR AND ANTONIO BANDERAS. POSTERS, PHOTOS AND THE VIDEO CLIP OF "RESISTIRE"

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