Reviews (2)

this is the best fukin SNL movie ever
this is one hilarious gut busting comedy with all of chris farleys greatest SNL moments. GET THIS DVD

Mostly great for boring times
I saw this at a friends house. It's pretty funny, but some is not. ... Read more

Description

An intriguing and entertaining study in characters going through varying levels of crisis and introspection. This psychological drama leads you in several different directions, weaving and intersecting various subplots and characters, from a brilliant Tom Cruise, as a self-proclaimed pied-piper, to a child forced to go on a TV game show and the pressures he faces from a ruthless father. ... Read more

Reviews (653)

Brilliant!
Magnolia is a hard film for many people to watch. The reason for this is that Magnolia is a film about what we watch movies to escape from... real life. That's what its about; forget the sprawling plot, Magnolia is about the trials and tribulations of modern life. It's about coping with regrets and fixing our mistakes. This makes for a very depressing film. It also makes for a very real film.

Filled with many different characters, its easy to find someone to identify with. Whether it be Frank TJ Mackey, a womanizing motivational speaker who refuses to come to terms with his father, or Jim Curring, a cop who's trying to find love while doing the right thing, you're sure to find someone who you love.

Stellar performances are turned in across the board, but that's no surprise looking at the cast. You stop seeing William H. Macy, you start seeing Quiz Kid Donnie Smith. The only weak link is Julianne Moore as Linda Partridge. She's way over the top, but its forgiveable if not dismissable.

Magnolia is one very smart film. It is filled with themes of redemption, courage, freak accidents, and God. Director Paul Thomas Anderson does not dumb these down for us; he does not insult his audience. He knows we are smart, capable people and leaves it all up for our own interpretation. It may be a little overwhelming, but that's why this is a great DVD to purchase. You can watch it repeatedly and pick up on all the little things you may have missed that make a big difference. On the suplemental disk is an interesting documentary about the making of Magnolia that offers much insight into PT Anderson and the way he works. The only thing that's missing is a commentary track by Anderson; he thinks the film speaks for itself. He may be a little off base there, but Magnolia is nonetheless a very satisfying purchase.

Best of the Year
I know "Magnolia" technically came out in 1999, but it's wide release was in 2000, and with this year not even half-over, I can honestly say that this movie is one of the best I've ever seen. With few and relatively minor flaws (such as trying to tackle 10 different storylines; some of them not resolved well enough by the 3-hour period)P.T.Anderson beautifully uses the camera to convey moods parallel to the characters that he writes. There are some surreal moments that are just flat-out cool, ie. the whole singing thing (that's being labeled as stupid, but aren't you supposed to leave reality at the door?) A great soundtrack that makes this movie as amazing as it is and a brilliant ensemble performance with stand-outs by Julianne Moore and John Reily (who plays the most damn convincing cop I ever seen). But I agree with the last review: Anderson should have focused on 3 or 4 storylines and explored them more. Even so, one has to admire it's gutsiness to take on themes like desperation and lonliness and do so with such conviction-

(There are also symbols in this film, which at times can be confusing-but after you see this, read Exodus:8 from the bible and some of your questions will be answered.)

Just for the record. . .
It really does rain frogs, though it is a rare occurance. I always get a bit peeved when people complain about that aspect of this wonderful film.

Do a little research. It shouldn't take you long to find a dozen or so newspaper articles documenting frog storms.

". . .but it did happen."

Original Artistic Masterpiece
This movie is a must see for anyone who appreciates artistic well thought out movies. If you are dumb then I don't recommend it as you will be unable to comprehend it's brilliance, most of the time these people will dimiss it with negative reviews just because they don't get it.
.... And I quote Bob Dylan ' Don't criticize what you can't understand'
A unique film run with fantastic acting and an undercurrent of genius. The music, Starring Aimee Man's Beautiful voice captures the atmosphere of the movie with insane accuracy as does the superb camera work. Well Done!

Powerful, impacting movie
This is not a perfect movie but I think it comes across powerfully. The acting is superb. Tom Cruise's character suits him well and Julianne Moore plays her part so daringly that I ended up hating her and then pitying her. The other actors/actresses all do a great job. The film is fast-paced, a good thing considering it lasts about 3 hours. There is a coming together of several seemingly unrelated stories. A common thread that I picked up is the severe pains caused by personal, self-serving decisions that hurt loved ones. The message of the movie is powerful and compensates for some of what I consider the movie's shortcomings--such as the seemingly constant yelling and cursing--much usage of the f-word (just like in real life) and several scenes drowned out by loud music and an odd even of the sky raining bullfrogs, an event that plays an integral part in the climactic ends to the several stories. ... Read more

Description

From Hollywood's hottest new director comes the outrageous epic that throws the covers back on California's adult entertainment industry in the swinging seventies. It's a touching and often humorous portrait of a most unusual family of filmakers, brought ... Read more

Reviews (248)

Why don't you feast on that?
Boogie Nights is a very stylish and funny film that is sure to please movie fans. While its slightly subtle and offbeat humor may be lost on some viewers, Boogie Nights is a hilarious movie.

The film is centered around the rise and fall of adult film star Dirk Diggler (played by Mark Wahlberg). Diggler starts out as a polite, bright-eyed kid but is slowly corrupted by life in the fast lane. Wahlberg gives a great performance as the dopey Diggler, whose words aren't necessarily meant to be funny yet often come off as hilarious.

The supporting cast also does an excellent job in this film. John C. Reilly plays Diggler pal and fellow adult film star Reed Rothchild to perfection. Reilly is funny throughout the movie, but stands out particularly in a scene where he is being interviewed about the impact of movie violence on viewers. Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle, William H. Macy, and Philip Seymour Hoffman also deliver very strong supporting performances.

It's hard to explain what makes Boogie Nights such an entertaining movie. The humor in the dialogue is often quite subtle, but is nevertheless very effective. The characters are colorful and really seem believable despite their sometimes odd behavior and personalities.

Director/writer Paul Thomas Anderson did a great job with this film. Viewers are sure to feel empathetic towards the characters as they struggle and yet will likely find themselves laughing at just how bad and weird things get at times.

The scene that best sums up Boogie Nights as a whole occurs when Diggler, Rothchild, and friend Todd Parker find themselves in the home of an oddball drug addict trying to sell him some bad dope. The use of music and camerawork in this scene really creates a feeling of tension, yet viewers will probably be tempted to laugh at some of the various events of the scene. I won't say exactly what happens, but the entire sequence shows how Boogie Nights is a dichotomy of the laughable and the tragic.

In short, Boogie Nights is a very entertaining and memorable film. Wahlberg's portrayal of Dirk Diggler is top notch and the other actors also do excellent work in the film. Boogie Nights seems to get better with each subsequent viewing and I highly recommend the movie to fans of subtle and slightly dark humor.

Worthwhile
Boogie Nights is an entertaining movie, but not a fantastic one. While Burt Reynolds and of course Don Cheadle are solid choices for their roles, the film hinges largely on the performance and natural charisma of Wahlberg, who is possibly the only actor who could even be imagined in this role without risking his career. Claims that the story is based on that of John Holmes are nothing but publicity to give it more legitimacy than a completely fictional narrative about the porn industry, which is really what it is. Wahlberg's character bears no specific resemblance to Holmes whatsoever, and the narrative is entirely generic of its topic: pool parties, drug use, filming porn scenes. The "big package" schtick is too repetitive and overdone, and in fact is the main drama of the entire film: Will we get to see it after witnessing the jaw-dropping over-reactions of nearly everyone else who appears on screen, or not? Such tension. Wahlberg's persona is portrayed as overly stupid, almost appearing to have a significant mental impairment, and with minimal comic advantage. His total wide-eyed gullibility gets tiring, but is balanced somewhat by the grittier drug deal scenes in the second half of the film.

Although this film does have its moments and is worth watching overall, it is not a legendary cinematic achievement.

Interesting, but good
Boogie Nights is a good movie(i watched it last night) with a lot of good actors just some of the scenes seemend to drag but you want to see what happens. while i was watching it seemend like it lasted about 4 hours and i just began to get bored with it but it still kept an intresting story with great performances from Burt Renyolds, Mark Whaelberg, and Julianne Moore

This movie was funny, touching and even nostalagic
When I first saw this film, I was skeptical, thinking it was a low-brow glossed-over "milk the renewed interest in Disco".

I am pleased to say I was wrong!!

In a very elite cast, I thought Mark Wahlberg, as "Dirk Diggler" aka John Holmes, the well-endowed porn king who winds up a hapless coke addict "stole the show". Growing up in this "era", it was very nostalgic to see Hi-Fi's, 70's hair, and the soundtrack brought back the whole era, along with a story of people who extended themselves past their most essential limit- that of self-control.

I rated it a "5 of 5"; to all who enjoy it, "54" is a must-see, also!!

the arrival of a truly great director
although Hard Eight was the first time people may of heard of Paul Thomas Anderson (and a really great movie also) Boggie Nights was the film that truly marked the arrival of great director..for my money this movie is a well made and ENTERTAINING (something many film makers forget about) as almost any films to come out in the last 10-15 years. great story arc..well written script..authentic feel, without trying too hard for that 70's cheesiness it just seems natural..and just flat out stellar performances from a huge cast...too me while not on the same level it has the same sweeping through the gutter, rags to riches to rags feel as Goodfellas..and like that movie gives realness and depth to a group of people who live outside of the world the rest of us live in..but are still effected by it...P.T. Anderson with his next movies Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love cemented his place as one the great directors in hollywood...check out Boogie Nights to see where it started ... Read more

Description

The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format. ... Read more

Reviews (324)

Sandler finally has a chance to shine.
Anyone who has watched Adam's Sandler's movies knows he has the ability to become a great dramatic actor. While his other films were slapstick comedies, the characters in them were often more than just pratfalls and booby jokes. 'The Waterboy' was by no means intelligent fair, but Sandler artfully managed to imbue into his character a sense of despair, of being trapped by love and a sense of responsibility to his mother. You found yourself feeling sympathy and understanding for a character who, in less capable hands, might only have been obnoxious and irritating. True, this does not make the film anything more than a lowbrow comedy...but the potential was there.

Punch-Drunk Love finally offers Sandler a worthy medium for his talent. It's a story of Barry Egan, a socially inept businessman who, by virtue of his loneliness and an ad in the paper, finds himself being extorted by a phone sex operator. As if this were not difficult enough, Barry also has seven controlling, verbally abusive sisters to contend with. Yet even while he struggles (at times violently) against the shackles of his existence, Barry manages to find love. Or rather, love finds him--and it won't take no for an answer.

It's difficult to categorize Sandler's character in this movie. Barry is a wonderfully three-dimensional character, a man so repressed by his circumstances that when he does explode it with with all the intensity of a nuclear bomb. He is awkward, painfully shy, depressed and at times physically violent. The floridly colored inserts between certain scenes in the film make you wonder if Barry isn't suffering from some more severe mental illness. Yet despite all his flaws Barry is a very likeable character. You find yourself aching at his lonliness, experiencing his rage, rooting for his ultimate victory over adversity...even if your initial instinct says this probably won't happen.

A lot of people say that the love story between Barry and Lena (played by Emma Watson) is unrealistic. It's true that Barry and Lena seem to be polar opposites, yet those kinds of relationships are very often the best kind. And they do have some things in common (the unusual nature of their pillow talk, for one). Also, one must remember than Lena chose Barry--she saw a picture of him on his sister's desk and she wanted to meet him. Perhaps she saw what a vulnerable, damaged person he was from the picture alone and therefore was not surprised by what she found. Or, having discovered his flaws, perhaps she wanted to help him. It's called Florence Nightingale Syndrome and it isn't all that uncommon. And as for Barry loving her... She was the first woman who ever treated him with affection and respect; he was a lonely man. Of course he fell in love with her. And P.T. Anderson never tried to convince us their relationship was a flawless fairytale. He never implied it would last. He just made us want it to...all I can say is it takes a special type of person to watch this kind of fare. If you are a fan of 'The Royal Tenenbaums', 'Magnolia', or anything Hitchcock, you will most likely love it. If, however, your tastes run to the more obvious, shallow kind of neat little love story save your time. Take your money and rent 'A Walk to Remember' instead.

One of the Best Films of the Year
Paul Thomas Anderson is probably the most talented new director in the industry, with the possible exception of Wes Anderson. With Boogie Nights and Magnolia, he tried to make big Hollywood films with indie supplies, and I have to say, he did a fine job at that. This time around, he tried to do something simpler with Punch-Drunk Love, and he presented to us one of the most extraordinary-looking indies of the past few years.

Adam Sandler plays Barry Egan, a single man with his own business who for years has been unable to fall in love and show affection for another. Part of this is due to his upbringing, with seven sisters who dehumanized him in childhood to fear and more or less hate women as an adult. Despite this, he is still a lonely person who never has anyone to talk to when he needs help. One day, he calls a phone sex company just for conversation and finds himself caught up in a credit card scam ran by the repulsive Dean Trumbell (PT Anderson regular Philip Seymour Hoffman).

Things get even more complex when Barry meets one of his sisters' coworkers, a timid young woman called Lena, played by Emily Watson. After one date and a few chance meetings in between, they immediately fall in love with each other. To make things even stranger, Barry realizes that if you buy enough Healthy's Choice pudding packages, you could wind up with enough frequent flyer miles to last you your entire life.

Though labeled as a romantic comedy, you should expect anything when you see this film. Not to mention that there's more to this film than what I've told you. The biggest surprise of all is Adam Sandler's terrific performance, proving that he can play both a lovable fool and a truly psychologically damaged human being at the same time.

Furthermore, Punch-Drunk Love is filled with excellent moments of wry humor, some gorgeous painting-like images, and some unforgettable performances. A real achievement in independent film.

Or: Adam Sandler¿s attempt at being taken seriously
I rented this movie with an open mind. Sure, Adam Sandler is responsible for some of the dumbest comedies of recent times; but he's also done some very good ones- THE WEDDING SINGER, ANGER MANAGEMENT & 50 FIRST DATES as a case in point. Then there's the Rob Schneider comedies Sandler co-produced. And admittedly THE WATERBOY & HAPPY GILMORE were stupid but still reasonably enjoyable- plus there was the added incentive of ogling Fairuza Balk and Julie Bowen.- here we have Emily Watson but ..... More on that later.
I also had high expectations for the movie when I saw Paul Thomas Anderson's name on the credits as director. BOOGIE NIGHTS was excellent and MAGNOLIA was very good (if half an hour overlong). Anderson managed to elicit a brilliant performance from Tom Cruise, and the climax with the plague of raining frogs ranks in my opinion as one of the coolest moments in recent cinema. Ingenious.
Now Anderson has given the world PUNCH DRUNK LOVE. What can I say, except when I subjected myself to PUNCH DRUNK LOVE I was STONE COLD SOBER.
Sandler plays Barry Egen; a naïve, shy, sheltered young man whose life is dominated by his seven highly dysfunctional sisters who would drive any guy mad. Even Ron Jeremy and Randy West would be struggling to crawl out from under them, giving a frenetic "time-out" sign. Folks, this is The Brady Bunch as envisaged by Robert Crumb, with artistic pretension substituting for the laughs.
At heart a kind, but lost and lonely soul, Barry has previously looked for companionship by calling phone sex hotlines - the women in question taking full advantage of his naivety and conning him into giving them his personal details and social security number, ending with Barry willingly allowing money to be extorted from him. Poor schmuck.
But one day while working his dead-end warehouse job Barry finds himself struck by Cupid's Arrow when he lays eyes on the lovely Lena Leonard (played by the incredibly cute Emily Watson, who sadly is utterly wasted here). It turns out for some reason that Lena likes him a lot too, but the socially awkward Barry doesn't know how to build on their attraction. In time they have their first date and slowly but surely; love blossoms.
Now, I'll admit that I don't mind the occasional love story if there's a good story or an interesting angle to it (e.g.: THE GRADUATE, SUMMER OF '42, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 3- seriously!) but words almost fail me when it comes to describing this movie. The picture has a bright, chirpy look about it but its tone is very bland. It had the potential to be a good movie but Anderson's self indulgence swallows everything up and the result amounts to nothing more than 90 minutes of wasted time.
However, every cloud has a silver lining, however brief, and here is some amusing dialogue from the love scene:
Watson: "I wanna bite your cheek and chew on it coz it's so f***in' cute."
Sandler: "I'm looking at your face and I just wanna smash it- I just wanna f***in smash it with a sledgehammer and squeeze, you're so pretty."
Watson: "I wanna chew your face and I wanna scoop out your eyes and I wanna eat them and suck on them."
Sandler: "OK" [pause] "This is funny." [Pause] "This is nice."
So bear than in mind next time you're on a date and you experience one of those awkward silences!

Punch-Drunk Perfection
Right off, I want to say that I'm a huge fan of Paul Thomas Anderson. Boogie Nights and Magnolia are two of the best ensemble pieces I've ever seen. Needless to say, I was quite surprised when I heard that he'd done a small picture, a love story, and that it starred Adam Sandler. But that was only the beginning of the surprises, as I soon found out...

Sandler plays Barry Egan, a quiet, lonely guy who is experiencing a degree of emotional angst about life. He's trying to make his business prosper, dealing with seven nagging sisters (all of whom badger him relentlessly about life, love, etc...), and yet finds himself swinging from sobbing uncontrollably to abject rage from time to time, with no apparent reason. In a lonely moment, he indulges in a phone-sex scam with unfortunate consequences. He's also buying up lots of groceries in an attempt to gain a million free air miles and meanwhile, a romance is blossoming with Lena (Emily Watson), a friend of one of his sisters. With me so far?

The real beauty of this film is in its imagery and simplicity. Barry and Lena are imperfect people trying to connect in an imperfect world. Anderson gives an amazing amount of trust to the actors to portray these people honestly, and it works wonderfully. They are able to convey a universe of emotion with very few words, and the connection seems so real, so tangible, that just watching them is almost like falling in love. The use of music, always excellent in Anderson's films, is just as perfect here and I have to say, the scene in which Barry and Lena walk down a hotel hallway in Hawaii with the song Maui Chimes playing quietly in the background, as he takes her hand and the camera irises in on their hands as they round a corner is quite possibly the sweetest love scene I've never seen. An earlier scene in which the two meet in the same hotel is done all in silhouette, and the effect is brilliant and beautiful. I'm getting all teary-eyed just thinking about it.

Luis Guzman and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, two of Anderson's stock cast of actors, as usual, turn in great performances and it makes me happy to see that Anderson appreciates the quality of these actors as much as many of us do. And though it appears that Sandler has returned to his more familiar genre of movies, he shows us that he really does have the chops to play serious, character-driven roles and with luck, we'll see more performances of this caliber from him in the future.

Weird.
It is a poor man's Lost In Translation, but only because it has a similar theme to it. The film style is also similar. This movie is straightforward without many plot twists, more like red herring plot twists. All the major events in the movie seem like swatting flies instead of ultimately affecting the ending somehow. This movie was not how I envisioned, and I was a little disappointed after so much I heard about it. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't very good. It's not really a movie I'd want on my shelf, unless the people who noticed I had it had not seen the movie. The movie does not uphold the edgy theme I heard about it, but instead seems like an extended short film. And if it comes down to a reccommendation, see Lost In Translation, which is a little more intellectually stimulating, if not really weird also. I'll admit the music was appropriate for the movie, really taking the movie from a boring weird taboo ride to really identifying the movie as a trip fest. Being a new director, I think he tried too hard too include stylistic fanfare and demonstrate some creativity, and I don't think the story's level of drama validated a need for strange effects. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good, but pales in comparison to "The Best of Will Ferrell"!
Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon were like two peas in a pod on "Saturday Night Live." They had good chemistry and when they combined forces they could induce plenty of laughs. Of course, Will Ferrell is equally funny without Molly Shannon. "The Best of Molly Shannon" proves it is exactly the opposite for her.

Yeah, she's a funny lady, but she pales in comparison to such "SNL" comediennes as Gilda Radner, Jane Curtain, and even Chery Oteri, who is very goofy. Molly Shannon's "Best Of" collection is fine, I suppose, but I didn't laugh that much -- and not nearly as often as I did with Will Ferrell's "Best Of" DVD.

Here she plays her most famous (and mostly original) characters: Salley O'Malley, Mary Katherine Gallagher, Courtney Love and Anna Nicole Smith (in a disgusting but funny segment with Ben Affleck), among others. But they're never exactly laugh-out-loud funny; I smiled a few times. I enjoyed some of the gags. But I was only really laughing when Will Ferrell was interacting with Molly.

Whether or not they are good films is definitely arguable, but there's a reason that Will Ferrell has been cast in virtually every mainstream Molly Shannon film. They go together. She cameos in his movies, he cameos and/or stars in hers. Remember "Superstar"? Remember "A Night at the Roxbury"? Maybe they're not good, but at least Lorne Michaels was smart enough to realize that the two have some sort of chemistry.

I noticed that Molly Shannon likes to move around a lot. I watched the Conan O'Brian interview with her (included on the DVD), and she absolutely could not sit still at all, just like her "Joyologist" character, who, in the DVD's outtakes, flipped over her chair from moving around so much.

She's good as Courtney Love, and Molly Shannon is undoubtedly a good comedic actress, but to say that she deserves her own collection of best moments at this point in time is a bit presumptuous, especially considering the fact that classic "SNL" actors have yet to appear in any sort of "Best Of" DVD collections. (Or am I just not finding them on Amazon and in the stores?) Besides, most of the compiles sketches aren't even that great -- or is it just that Molly Shannon herself isn't that great? I hope it's the former.

If you're a fan of Molly Shannon and/or "Saturday Night Live," I would definitely pick up this DVD. I bought it for fourteen dollars, and I've got to say that I'll probably return to it once and a while for some good grins. But not nearly as often as I am already returning to "The Best of Will Ferrell," which still stands as the best "Saturday Night Live" DVD I own at the current time (only three, but I'm getting there).

"Saturday Night Live: The Best of Molly Shannon" runs 76 minutes. It contains outtakes, a deleted dress rehearsal scene, a picture gallery, two TV interviews with Conan, and so on. It is not rated, but contains some language and sexual content/partial nudity. The feature's guest stars include, among others: Val Kilmer, Matthew Broderick, Gabriel Byrne, Tina Turner, Alex Baldwin, et al. It is now available on video and DVD.

Molly: One of the all time GREAT TV ladies of comedy!
Molly Shannon's presence is sorely missed on "Saturday Night Live" but not you can relive some of her finest moments with this DVD. Although I personally would have chosen some different sketches , this DVD is sure to put a big smile on even the grumpiest of faces.

Included are:

"Mary Katherine Gallagher"- Mary auditions for the school variety show and sings "Sometimes When We Touch" and does a Meredith Baxter Birney tv movie monologue. (with Gabriel Byrne)

"Helen Madden, Licensed Joyologist"- "I love it! I love it!" Helen appears on "Pretty Living", hosted by Ana Gasteyer. (with Matthew Broderick)

"The Courtney Love Show"- Courtney's got a talk show, and she interviews Julie Andrews (played by Christine Baranski)

"Elizabeth Taylor"- Elizabeth picks the winning lottery numbers on Weekend Update ("Gladiator!")

"Jeanne Darcy"- the very unspontaneous and over rehearsed comedienne makes an inappropriate appearance at a nursing home.

"Monica Lewinsky"- Monica addresses court, with Hillary watching.

"Sally O'Malley"- Sally auditions to be a Rockette! "I'm 50 years old! And I like to kick! Stretch! And kick!" (with Danny DeVito).

"Veronica & Co."- The European supermodel has a talk show whose set is located in the middle of a fashion show runway (with Val Kilmer).

"Delicious Dish On NPR"- Molly & Ana Gasteyer as the very low-key hosts of a radio cooking show. This is the famous "Schweaty Balls" episode (with Alec Baldwin).

"Leg Up!"- Molly as Ann Miller, and Cheri Oteri as Debbie Reynolds. (with Phil Hartman as a very cranky Frank Sinatra)

"MTV FANatic"- Molly as Anna Nicole Smith (with Ben Affleck as an obsessed fan who looks to Anna Nicole for a mother figure).

"Mary Katherine Gallagher"- Mary meets the real Tina Turner by hiding in her dressing room. (with Alec Baldwin)

"Rae Murphy"- an awkward blind date at an airport bar goes horribly wrong (with Will Ferrel and Chris Kattan).

"Dress Rehearsal Sketch"- that was cut from the final broadcast features Molly as an odd, accent loving girl who brings home date Bill Paxton to meet her parents (with Ana Gasteyer and Horatio Sanz).

Also features a photo gallery of Molly in different costumes, outtakes: Molly as Xena, Princess Warrior (with Brendan Frasier), as Helen Madden (with Ben Stiller), NPR's Delicious Dish (with Alec Baldwin), 70's Ladies In Bar (with Calista Flockhart), Dog Show! (with Will Ferrell- it's just a teeny blooper clip), and Jeanne Darcy on Weekend Update.

Two more goodies: two appearances on Conan O'Brien. On the first one she discusses how Courtney Love didn't seem pleased to be parodied and how Gary Coleman once trapped her in his hotel bathroom and tried to put the moves on her; the other appearance is with Will Ferrell and she talks about dating and a new sketch she was working on called "Hot Cocoa Girls."

Great collection! I would have given it five stars had it included some "Goth Talk" and "Dog Show" sketches on it. My absolute favorite Mary Katherine Gallagher sketch isn't here either (Gwenyth Paltrow was the host that week)- but it'd be nearly impossible to include everyone's favorites. I'd say that Molly Shannon definitely deserves a second "Best Of" DVD!

Good, but brief.
I believe that most people buy a "Best of" title mainly to see some of their favorite skits. Don't set your expectations too high here. This is just 76 minutes long, which includes outtakes, tv interviews, a dress rehearsal, and some recognizable skits. One can always argue about what should be on a "Best of", but this is so limited as to leave one convinced that this was made short to allow for other "Favorites" to be bundled up by producers for other DVD's to be released later. Disappointing.

Query about review
What happened to the review I wrote two weeks ago?

Molly Shannon at her most hilarious!
Out of all the Saturday Night Live collections that I have viewed, this one is the most consistently funny. Like some of her fellow SNL alumni, she may not have carved out a film career for herself, but she still does some of the most side-splitting routines. This DVD contains two Mary Katherine Gallagher sketches, her Betty Broderick monologue and her meeting Tina Turner; her Sally O'Malley "I'm 50 years old" bit with Danny De Vito; her spot-on impression of Courtney Love; the giddily over-the-top sketch about "joyologist" Helen Madden; her impression of a spaced-out Elizabeth Taylor randomly spewing out lottery numbers; her Jeannie Darcy bit in the elderly ward ("Don't get me started"); and the "Schweaty Balls" sketch with Alec Baldwin. Some of the other routines, such as the Veronica & Co. clip, the Anna Nicole Smith scene (poorly developed) and the airport bar scene with Will Ferrell, are less consistently funny. However, the first 45 minutes or so of this DVD more than compensate for the last 20 minutes. If I wanted to cheer up a friend, I would give him or her this DVD. In fact, I know that I will give it to some of my colleagues in the future. This DVD is heads above my Dana Carvey, Steve Martin, and Will Ferrell DVDs. How much do I like this Molly Shannon? Don't get me started! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

so so so funny
I could not stop laughing its adam sanlers version of kings of comedy very funny good thing to watch whiel your eating not really for seating down and watching it like a film or by urself its better if your having a party or something to put it on. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before hitting the big time with his second film Boogie Nights, young filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson impressed critics with this deftly conceived, low-budget film noir chamber piece. With its minimalist plot, deliberate pacing, and brief, but shocking bursts of violence, Hard Eight won't please everyone, but Anderson and his first-rate cast were clearly working on the same authentic wavelength. It's a mystery at first why a solemn professional gambler (Philip Baker Hall in a captivating performance) cares for a down-and-out loser (John C. Reilly) and a dimwit, Reno cocktail waitress (Gwyneth Paltrow). But his motivations become clear--and the movie packs a quietly effective punch--when the gambler faces blackmail by a small-time crook (Samuel L. Jackson). This unheralded film seemed like a closely kept secret itself, until it showed up on the 1997 top-10 lists of several prominent critics. In tandem with Boogie Nights, it marked the arrival of a new filmmaker whose talent is as impressive as that of that other '90s hotshot, Quentin Tarantino. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (51)

A nice Find
Hard Eight is one of those sharp character driven dramas that film fans will appreciate if they Like Paul Thomas Anderson in general. Anderson is the kind of writer that brings new things to life each time out. This time he finds a lonely gambler in his later days who befriends misfits. A great cast led my Phillip Baker Hall and John C. Reilly make the movie a treat and Sam Jackson and Gweneth Paltrow also show up for supporting roles.

The Special Features offer three scenes from the movie shot on video as part of a Sundance workshop. It also has two commentary tracks. The first one with Anderson and Hall is interesting, because Anderson is really funny and well spoken and has a lot of interesting things to say. Hall, on the other hand, drones on and on about character motivation and dynamics and sounds like a junior level college course on acting. Not to take away from Hall's performance which is top notch, but listening to actors talk about what goes on in an actor's mind is numbing.

Hard Eight is as interesting if not as ambitious as Anderson's later projects. If you like his other films, you'll do yourself a favor seeing this one.

compelling and heartfelt
My personal favorite of Paul Thomas Anderson's films, Hard Eight quenches my thirst with a good twist and ending. Boogie Nights and Magnolia seemed to me to be primarily centered around the characters (which is great in it's own respect), but both movies left me wanting a bit more. Philip Baker Hall stars this time as elderly lonesome gambler Sydney, who, for reasons unknown, helps two young confused kids find love and peace in the world.
This film deals with issues of regret, guilt and self-redemption as Sydney's generosity and charity is not as selfless as it may seem. And so we follow the daily lives of Sydney and these young adults, as their neuroses guide them into very unique situations which brilliantly outline the chaos they feel in their lives. The characters are sad, realistic, and evoke empathy from the viewer simply on maintaining their everyday lives.
The question that is raised is whether or not personal guilt of the past can ever be abolished by performing acts of kindness in the present. Can a man redeem his character even when he is in his 70's, or have his bad choices set the tone for his existence? Is covering up the past while refusing to deal with it head-on a detrimental decision? These questions are left unanswered in this compelling story of a lonely old man's attempt to clear his conscience.

SLICK
Move over Tarantino and Mamet we got a new writer director in town.Paul Thomas Anderson.Boogie Nights and this one Hard Eight
make him an easy competitor in the world of indie film-making
this movie is great.Philip Baker Hall finally scores a lead role
and does an outstanding job as Sydney,the kind,nice,and all to
calm and slick pro gambler who helps John(John C. Reilly)a down
on his luck chum.Then they become good freinds and we skip a head
2 years and we meet Clementine Johns new love played good as usual by Gweneth Paltrow and slick casino pro Jimmy played by
Samuel L.Jackson who is the standout.This movie crackles with
dialogue and your never bored because you never know whats gonna
happen next and we find out secrets about our nice freind Sydney
and from their it gets interesting.SEE IT NOWWWW

Too ambiguous and understated
Maybe I was born into a generation of short attention spans, but I just felt this movie moved too slowly. I understand that it's a character-driven drama and not an action flick, but I do now believe there's such a thing as too much subtlety. Ninety percent of the film consists of extremely drawn-out, quiet conversations between two characters, with lines no more than a couple of words long: "Cigarette?" "No thanks," etc. It seems too artsy and contrived. A lot of filmakers - I can't help but mention Tarantino here - use mundane, understated dialogue to act as comic bathos, or to develop character, but it doesn't work so well in Hard Eight.

That said, it still deserves at least 3.5 stars (rounded to four). Hall's unrelentingly phlegmatic Sydney plays so well off of Jackson's 'enobled thug' Jimmy; the scenes where they confront each other, Sydney doggedly trying to assert his principles, Jimmy exposing Sydney's hypocrisy and condescension, are well played-out. You have trouble deciding where your sympathies lie, which always good, and I was strangely satisfied with the ending as well. Also, it's such a short, simple and (in some ways) unpretentious movie that it's hard to judge it very harshly; it would be like condemning a nice little schoolhouse in relation to the Taj Mahal.

Hard To Stay Awake...
Don't get me wrong here. I am a fan of Anderson's work in general, especially Boogie Nights and Punch-Drunk Love. But I just could handle Hard Eight. Usually Anderson's slower pace is a welcome change for me as I really enjoy character driven dramas. The acting was pretty good, but I just thought the script lacked anything of interest. Maybe next time, but I can't recommend actually buying this one unless you want a complete Anderson collection. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hilarious
When one sees the opening sketch, "Total Bastard Airlines", one is suddenly reminded of the wit and humor that "SNL" skits once possessed...This is the first "Best Of" dvd to be devoted to more than one cast member. Here, 5 cast members get their due: Adam Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock and Chris Farley. And it stays true to the title, showing each cast member at their raunchiest.

Sandler seems to get the most coverage, appearing in about half the sketches. His are probably my favorite. I enjoyed every minute of his sketches, from "Operaman" to "Canteen Boy" to "The Hanukkah Song", I laughed my pants off. I only wish they'd included "Cajun Man" and "The Present Song".

Spade gets some coverage as well. In addition to a well - thawed "Hollywood Minute Montage", he captures the audience with his witty sarcasm in "Total Bastard Airlines" and the one in which he plays Dick Clark's snotty receptionist who is able to absorb catchy comebacks from Roseanne Barr.

Scheider does not appear that often, but when he does, you can't help but laugh. He seems to be at his best when he is doing his famed Richmeister (makin' copies) sketch with Sting. But he's even funnier in "The Gap Girls" and "Orgasm Guy".

Unfortunately, Rock and Farley do not get as much coverage, but when they appear, they steal the show. Rock's "Nat X" and editorials are some of the freshest and rawest humor "Saturday Night Live"'s writers ever came up with. Farley outshines the rest with his interview wuith Jeff Daniles and his chubby Gap Girl.

It's especially funny when more than one cast member works together in the same sketch. Schneider and Sandler have a ball playing sex - crazed Italian waiters pining for Kirstie Alley at "Il Cantore" alongside a showstoppingly funny Dana Carvey. And Sandler and Farley are just to funny for this world in the uproarious "Zagat's".

I recommend this dvd to just about every "SNL" fan in the world. It features some extremely funny stuff, some of which is all too underrated. I hope to see a dvd in the future devoted to women of "Saturday Night live", like Jan Hooks, Molly Shannon, and Tina Fey. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even if the notorious 1970s porn-filmmaking milieu doesn't exactly turn you on, don't let it turn you off to this movie's extraordinary virtues, either. Boogie Nights is one of the key movies of the 1990s, and among the most ambitious and exuberantly alive American movies in years. It's also the breakthrough for an amazing new director, whose dazzling kaleidoscopic style here recalls the Robert Altman of Nashville and the Martin Scorsese of GoodFellas. Although loosely based on the sleazy life and times of real-life porn legend John Holmes, at heart it's a classic Hollywood rise-and-fall fable: a naive, good-looking young busboy is discovered in a San Fernando Valley disco by a famous motion picture producer, becomes a hotshot movie star, lives the high life, and then loses everything when he gets too big for his britches, succumbs to insobriety, and is left behind by new times and new technology. Of course, it ain't exactly A Star Is Born or Singin' in the Rain.Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson (in only his second feature!) puts his own affectionately sardonic twist on the old showbiz biopic formula: the ambitious upstart changes his name and achieves stardom in porno films as "Dirk Diggler." Instead of drinking to excess, he snorts cocaine (the classic drug of '70s hedonism); and it's the coming of home video (rather than talkies) that helps to dash his big-screen dreams. As for the britches ... well, the controversial "money shot" explains everything. And the cast is one of the great ensembles of the '90s, including Oscar nominees Burt Reynolds and Julianne Moore, Mark Wahlberg (who really can act--from the waist up, too!), Heather Graham (as Rollergirl), William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, and Ricky Jay. DVD extras include nine deleted scenes and a commentary track from Anderson. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (248)

Why don't you feast on that?
Boogie Nights is a very stylish and funny film that is sure to please movie fans. While its slightly subtle and offbeat humor may be lost on some viewers, Boogie Nights is a hilarious movie.

The film is centered around the rise and fall of adult film star Dirk Diggler (played by Mark Wahlberg). Diggler starts out as a polite, bright-eyed kid but is slowly corrupted by life in the fast lane. Wahlberg gives a great performance as the dopey Diggler, whose words aren't necessarily meant to be funny yet often come off as hilarious.

The supporting cast also does an excellent job in this film. John C. Reilly plays Diggler pal and fellow adult film star Reed Rothchild to perfection. Reilly is funny throughout the movie, but stands out particularly in a scene where he is being interviewed about the impact of movie violence on viewers. Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle, William H. Macy, and Philip Seymour Hoffman also deliver very strong supporting performances.

It's hard to explain what makes Boogie Nights such an entertaining movie. The humor in the dialogue is often quite subtle, but is nevertheless very effective. The characters are colorful and really seem believable despite their sometimes odd behavior and personalities.

Director/writer Paul Thomas Anderson did a great job with this film. Viewers are sure to feel empathetic towards the characters as they struggle and yet will likely find themselves laughing at just how bad and weird things get at times.

The scene that best sums up Boogie Nights as a whole occurs when Diggler, Rothchild, and friend Todd Parker find themselves in the home of an oddball drug addict trying to sell him some bad dope. The use of music and camerawork in this scene really creates a feeling of tension, yet viewers will probably be tempted to laugh at some of the various events of the scene. I won't say exactly what happens, but the entire sequence shows how Boogie Nights is a dichotomy of the laughable and the tragic.

In short, Boogie Nights is a very entertaining and memorable film. Wahlberg's portrayal of Dirk Diggler is top notch and the other actors also do excellent work in the film. Boogie Nights seems to get better with each subsequent viewing and I highly recommend the movie to fans of subtle and slightly dark humor.

Worthwhile
Boogie Nights is an entertaining movie, but not a fantastic one. While Burt Reynolds and of course Don Cheadle are solid choices for their roles, the film hinges largely on the performance and natural charisma of Wahlberg, who is possibly the only actor who could even be imagined in this role without risking his career. Claims that the story is based on that of John Holmes are nothing but publicity to give it more legitimacy than a completely fictional narrative about the porn industry, which is really what it is. Wahlberg's character bears no specific resemblance to Holmes whatsoever, and the narrative is entirely generic of its topic: pool parties, drug use, filming porn scenes. The "big package" schtick is too repetitive and overdone, and in fact is the main drama of the entire film: Will we get to see it after witnessing the jaw-dropping over-reactions of nearly everyone else who appears on screen, or not? Such tension. Wahlberg's persona is portrayed as overly stupid, almost appearing to have a significant mental impairment, and with minimal comic advantage. His total wide-eyed gullibility gets tiring, but is balanced somewhat by the grittier drug deal scenes in the second half of the film.

Although this film does have its moments and is worth watching overall, it is not a legendary cinematic achievement.

Interesting, but good
Boogie Nights is a good movie(i watched it last night) with a lot of good actors just some of the scenes seemend to drag but you want to see what happens. while i was watching it seemend like it lasted about 4 hours and i just began to get bored with it but it still kept an intresting story with great performances from Burt Renyolds, Mark Whaelberg, and Julianne Moore

This movie was funny, touching and even nostalagic
When I first saw this film, I was skeptical, thinking it was a low-brow glossed-over "milk the renewed interest in Disco".

I am pleased to say I was wrong!!

In a very elite cast, I thought Mark Wahlberg, as "Dirk Diggler" aka John Holmes, the well-endowed porn king who winds up a hapless coke addict "stole the show". Growing up in this "era", it was very nostalgic to see Hi-Fi's, 70's hair, and the soundtrack brought back the whole era, along with a story of people who extended themselves past their most essential limit- that of self-control.

I rated it a "5 of 5"; to all who enjoy it, "54" is a must-see, also!!

the arrival of a truly great director
although Hard Eight was the first time people may of heard of Paul Thomas Anderson (and a really great movie also) Boggie Nights was the film that truly marked the arrival of great director..for my money this movie is a well made and ENTERTAINING (something many film makers forget about) as almost any films to come out in the last 10-15 years. great story arc..well written script..authentic feel, without trying too hard for that 70's cheesiness it just seems natural..and just flat out stellar performances from a huge cast...too me while not on the same level it has the same sweeping through the gutter, rags to riches to rags feel as Goodfellas..and like that movie gives realness and depth to a group of people who live outside of the world the rest of us live in..but are still effected by it...P.T. Anderson with his next movies Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love cemented his place as one the great directors in hollywood...check out Boogie Nights to see where it started ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A Sandler CelebraSHON
For me, Saturday Night Live stopped being funny enough to watch about the same time Adam Sandler left the show. This collection of Sandler moments is a little uneven and fails to include some of my favorites, but there is still plenty of great comedy to be found here. You get performances of such Sandler classics as The Chanukah Song, Lunch Lady Land, and a less famous little Christmas ditty (but, alas, no Red Hooded Sweatshirt song), not to mention his Springsteen performance of Dancing in the Dark alongside Courteney Cox. His Operaman persona is well represented with performances scattered throughout the 87 minutes of comedy mayhem. Cajun Man puts in an appearance, as does Lucy the Gap sales girl. The Canteen Boy segment is rather hard to forget, featuring the icky advances of Scout leader Alec Baldwin to Sandler's innocent persona. Proving that this comedy remains timely, Iraqi Pete shows up to draw the jeers of an American audience. There are a couple of skits of the typically inane SNL variety that seemed out of place here: the house-sitting and New York restaurant guide commercials; it is actually Chris Farley who manages to extract significant humor out of these otherwise unimpressive offerings. The selection from The Denise Show is very funny, but I would have favored the final one featuring Nicole Kidman as the better choice. I was very happy to see one of Sandler's Halloween costume suggestion skits included here; as funny as this selection is, though, I was a little disappointed that it was not the very first one-that was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. All in all, there is something here for every Adam Sandler fan; it is a tribute to his comedic genius that there was not enough room on this tape to include all of his fans' favorite moments from the show.

Please God, give me cancer now!
This is probably funnier than all of AS's films, and that is saying a lot! From the Zagat's skit (the book is gone, but the mouth keeps on!) to the now classic Schmitts Gay commercial, it really is the BEST of Adam Sandler, the best in the series. The Denise Show was a skit I don't remember, but it's funny as hell. (here's the part of the show where I absolutely lose it!) and of course Canteen Boy is another great one. (Alec Baldwin-a great SNL host) The Operaman montage is hilarious (I especially love the two Pearl Jam bits, the Al Gore song, and of course the Demi Moore "dry-humpo!" song) Cajun Man is in here, as well as the Hannukah song. Of course, the now classic "Bellissima!" skits are untouchable, and the Gap girl skits are hilarious. It's very hard to pinpoint the best skit on here, but I would say a tie between Canteen Boy and the Operaman montage. Opera Man, bye bye!

Omigod! It's The Best Of Adam Sandler!
While not as versatile as Dana Carvey or Phil Hartman, Adam Sandler had his own special brand of humor that made him one of "Saturday Night Live's" must - watch comedians during the early 1990s'. Relying more on characters than impressions, he had an intense flair for physcial comedy, something few castmembers were good at.

For a solid 70 minutes of laughter, this dvd can hardly be beat. All of his most popular charcters are here - "Canteen Boy" (in a rather memorable sketch with Alec Baldwin), "Cajun Man", Lucy the Gap girl and , of course "Operaman". Also, there's more than a few one - time characters who make their appearnaces. "Iraqi Pete" seems is hilarious, though has eerie echoes of what's going on in the world today. The bellboy from the "Room Service" sketch (actually, he also appeared in the "Il Cantore" sketch) is also funny. My favorite is Hank Gelfand from the "Zagat's" sketch, though Chris Farley actually does better than him here.
And of course, there's the music: "The Hanukkah Song", "Present Song" and "Lunchlady Song" (though in this one, Farley once again outshines him). Plus, there's his hilarious costume suggestions ("I'm Backwards Man").

I suggest this dbd. I guarantee you'll laugh your pants off. Here's hoping tha Lorne Michaels gets his stuff together and asks Sandler to host the show again soon.

Magnifico
During the years 1986 to 1991, a few new comedians joined the cast of NBC's "Saturday Night Live". Dana Carvey, Mike Meyers, Kevin Nealon, Dennis Miller, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, Victoria Jackson, Phil Hartman, John Lovitz, Julia Sweeney, Chris Farley and a host of others built what is arguably the only ensemble to rival the first five years with Gilda, Dan and Chevy. Another comedian who joined the show around this period was Adam Sandler, then a struggling comedian who (as one reviewer pointed out) had already starred in one movie called "Going Overboard".

"Saturday Night Live - The Best Of Adam Sandler" is an excellent compilation of some of his zaniest characters (and some in which he plays himself singing a song or giving costume suggestions to the unfortunate ones who couldn't find one for Halloween. There are 20 skits here, so I'm going to just the name a few of my favorites.

"Zagats" is my favorite. A bewigged Sandler acts alongside Chris Farley and David Duchovny (both in drag) as an elderly Jewish man who is celebrating his 35 th anniversary with his wife Bev (played by Farley). Sandler's insults and one - liners ("Give me cancer now, God") are among his best work. Liken him to Mr. Roper from "Three's Company", only Jewish.

"Canteen Boy" is a rather provocative skit, with not - so - subtle allusions to sodomy and homsexuality, with Alec Baldwin as a scout master pining for a more than a little uncomfortable Sandler. Very racy, but extremely funny stuff.

Finally, there are four different "Operaman" skits. Here is where you'll hear Sandler zing such notorious figures as Amy Fisher, Lorena Bobbit, George Bush, Hilary and Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks and a hilarious song about Pearl Jam in which Operaman expresses his non - gay crush on Eddie Vedder. John Lovitz and Glenn Close also pop as Operaman's brother and his sister - in - law.

Other skits like "The Denise Show", "Grandma" and "The Herlihy Boy"are equally funny and memorable. For me, the only skit not included that I wish they did was "Operaman's Lotto Ticket". But this is still an essential collection, especially if you are a big Sandler fan.

Not the best of Adam Sandler, but still fun for "SNL" fans!
During the early to mid-90s, a few comedians ruled NBC's "Saturday Night Live," and they got future film careers out of it all. Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, and now even Rob Schneider have all gone on to fruitful film careers, with Carvey finally getting back in the game (hopefully) after heart problems (though "Master of Disguise" didn't help him too much). Other funny comedians such as Kevin Nealon and Phil Hartman, though equally funny, never got very far. Nealon made some cameos in his fellow "SNL" friends' films ("Happy Gilmore," "Master of Disguise," "Anger Management"), while Hartman was shot by his wife before he got anywhere at all.

Adam Sandler has probably gotten the most out of "Saturday Night Live." He appeared in one film prior to his casting on "SNL." It was a film called "Going Overboard," and it is a true cinematic disaster. After "SNL," however, he has appeared in such flicks as "Billy Madison," "Happy Gilmore," "The Waterboy," "The Wedding Singer," and last year's "Punch-Drunk Love," in which he displayed his true feelings behind the goofy boy persona.

"Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler" is a compilation of his greatest moments on the famed television show, ranging from skits involving original characters such as Canteen Boy and Operaman, to the host of "The Denise Show" and The Herlihy Boy Homesitter.

I stumbled upon this DVD while I was at my video store picking up another "SNL" DVD. I was happy because I like the early 90s segments of "Saturday Night Live" much more than the recent episodes, especially now that Will Ferrell has left the show. I was pretty excited that I had found it.

Which is why I was a bit disappointed. I liked this collection of his so-called "greatest moments," but I can't necessarily say that I've seen nothing better. In fact, some of the skits on this DVD are not that funny after a while. The Herlihy Boy Homesitter gets old pretty fast, and while I liked "The Denise Show," I recall seeing a much funnier sequence of the same fake TV show with Nicole Kidman as a guest star - and it was funnier than this one.

Thinking back, I didn't laugh a whole lot at all the skits. They weren't as funny or outrageous as those included in this year's "The Best of Will Ferrell." Is it because Adam Sandler himself isn't funny? Many people think so. I think he's good at what he does. I like his goofy comedies like "Happy Gilmore" because they put a smile on my face (though he's far from being a great comedian at all). Also included on the DVD is the song that inspired his animated feature film "Eight Crazy Nights," as well as Iraqi Pete (an odd skit but pretty funny). I had already seen a few of these skits on television before, including that involving Kevin Nealon and guest star Kirstie Alley being bothered by sex-craved Italians in a hotel.

My favorite skit, however, would have to be one that has Michael Keaton paying Chris Farley to keep an eye on his frail grandmother while he goes back to his room with a girl for a half hour. The grandmother (played by Sandler with a wig) wants Joey (Keaton), and she doesn't want anything to do with Farley. Farley tries to help her with everything but "she" screams and claims he's attacking her. Keaton comes out and beats up Farley a few times in the process. Funny stuff, but still a long shot from anything extraordinary.

And just as with "The Best of Will Ferrell," I am disappointed in this DVD's length. 73 minutes is short for a collection such as this. I understand that it originally aired on television, and with commercials it runs to a full 90 minutes. However, why not make it a full two hours with commercials? That would mean the DVD, without commercials (of course), would run closer to 90 minutes than 70. Or why not include a batch of extra "Best Of" scenes for the Special Edition DVD? That would interest many more buyers.

There are also no special features on this DVD, save one single photo gallery that scans through a handful of snapshots from the skits for about thirty seconds. The new "Best Ofs" contain dress rehearsals, outtakes, Conan O'Brian interviews, and photo galleries. I suppose there wasn't much footage left over since Adam Sandler's skits were filmed before DVDs and Lorne Michaels never thought of saving some deleted scenes and so on and so forth. But it would have been interesting to have more than a photo gallery. Maybe even trailers for some of Sandler's movies?

Strictly speaking, it's not an overblown Special Edition DVD like so many nowadays. It is basically exactly what it says - a collection of his best moments. No real special features, no commentaries, etc. Just the same as the TV broadcast only on DVD format. I guess that's OK.

If you're a fan of "Saturday Night Live" or Adam Sandler, I recommend picking up this DVD. However, if you want a good laugh, I recommend picking up "The Best of Will Ferrell" or "Dana Carvey," which I am told is hilarious and is next on my list. Steve Martin is always a good bet, too, but you may have more trouble finding older episodes - not many people care for them anymore. I'm still waiting on "The Best of Dan Aykroyd," "Chevy Chase," and "Gilda Radner," to name a few of many....

"Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler" runs 73 minutes, and includes many different skits. It is not rated and contains some sexual content and language. Its single bonus feature is a photo gallery. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Prettty good mix of old and new
I'm a pretty big SNL fan. I don't get to watch as much as I'd like to anymore, but it's the most consistent funny show on tv. The SNL Christmas special is a great DVD.

It does have some notable skits. I love the skit with Alec Baldwin and the NPR ladies. It's so funny because all of them play being so serious so well. I laugh so hard every time I see this skit.

I liked the Martha Stewart topless christmas. She is such an easy target to make fun of and they do it great in this skit. Martha Stewart is annoying because of the way she talks and the way she presents herself. They spoof it so well in topless christmas. It's one of the better skits on the dvd.

All the skits with old SNL members are great. Dan Akroyd is one of the funniest guys to live and his skits as the toliet paper saleman and the toymaker are great.

Are two favorite SNL drunks Farley and Belushi both have some good stuff there fans should like.

Adam Sandler does the Hannakuh song. It's not the best version of the song, but it is the original and what a funny song it is.

I love this DVD. It's one of the better best of's they've made and I'm glad it's part of my collection.

SNL XMAS PAST AND PRESENT. a little more past please!
A good look at the best xmas skits from SNL, except they forgot
Hannakuh Harry & Gumby's X-Mas Special. It was great though to see Chevy Chase (as President Ford) open the collection, with other appearences by the BEST & ORIGINAL Not Ready For Prime Time Players Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtain, Garrett Morris, Gilda Radner and Second Season replacement Bill Murray.
Why Wont Lorne Micheals release SNL Season by season? It would be great to catch ALL the great performances, like the 1st season,PLEASE! Hail Chevy Chase!
Also Recommend:
UNDER THE RAINBOW-Chevy Chase
CADDYSHACK-Chevy Chase, Bill Murray
N.L. CHRISTMAS VACATION-Chevy Chase
SNL-Halloween
SNL-25 Years Of Laughs

Funny, but no Hanukah Harry!
This video was pretty funny. It had mostly newer stuff. I would have liked to have seen stuff from the earlier years. Also, a sticker on the package advertises that the Hanukah Harry skit with Jon Lovitz is on the video, but mysteriously it is nowhere to be found! I am certain there is more material they could have put on this 65 minute video.

Not worth purchasing
I'm a big fan of SNL, but most of the skits on this video weren't that funny. Adam Sandler singing the Hanukkah Song, and Chris Farley as Santa were the only two skits that made me laugh. I bought this as a gift for my father-in-law and I wish I hadn't! Maybe next year I'll buy him the Best of Chris Farley.

WELL BALANCED MIX
THIS 65 MINUTE TAPE IS A WELL BALANCED MIX OF OLD SCHOOL AND RECENT SNL CHRISTMAS SKETCHES. ADD THIS TO THE SNL HALLOWEEN VIDEO AND YOU'RE SET FOR LAUGHS OVER THE HOLIDAYS. I SERIOUSLY HOPE THAT THEY ARE HARD AT WORK ON VOLUME 2. THEY'VE CERTAINLY GOT PLENTY OF MATERIAL. I PRAY THE NEXT TAPE INCLUDES THE SANTA THE TERMINATOR SKIT (DECEMBER '84). EVERYONE I DESCRIBE IT TO THINKS I'M MAKING IT UP. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Thank you, Anthony!
Anthony - thanks so much for answering my question - you're the greatest! I added you to my favorite reviewers list :)

Great, Spooky Fun
"Saturday Night live - Halloween" was the first "SNL" dvd I bought not devoted to a cast member. While not as good as those retrospectives, this dvd captures the best "Halloween" - style moments on the show.

Most of the skecthes here are just random "Halloween" sketches. "Gay Dracula" features a hilarious turn by John Travolta as the famed bloodsucking count. Kvein Nealon and Jeneane Garrofolo play road - weary travelers who think the count is gay. "Vampire Dating" is the worst sketch here. James Woods turns in accurate Dracula, but I just didn't get the plot of the sketch. "Consumer Probe" is the oldest sketch here, a satiical take on the many complaints of dangerous costumes.

On this dvd, it's fun to see recurring sketches like "Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker", "Wayne's World", "The Richmeister", "Daily Affirmation With Stuart Smalley" and "Spartan Cheerleaders" put into a Halloween context, as it allows them to expand the realm of the ordinary, non - holiday sketch. Also, Adam Sandler's hilarious costume ideas ("Crazy Pickle Arm") ar here, as is Ana Gasteyrer's hilarious impersonation of Martha Stewart.

This is a hilarious dvd recommended to anybody who enjoys "Saturday Night Live". Also pick up the 8 - pack dvd set.

Can anyone answer a question?
Does this DVD contain the Adam Sandler "Crazy Pickle Arm Man" skit?

Howl - larious
Hosted by Wayne and Garth, "Saturday Night Livve - Halloween" is a great collection of old and new sketches hosted by Wayne and Garth, spanning from to the early days to the mid - 1990s'. Among the best sketches are "The Richmeister", "Sandler's Costume Suggestions", and "Return Of The Coneheads". There are some sketches I suggest you skip, but I won't name the, because you might actually enjoy them.

SNL, so funny it's spooky
It's lacking a few great skits, the Landshark opening was nice but one of the JAWS spoofs could have been added. It's definitley worth it but lets hope we see a season by season deal soon! Stuart Smalley, James Woods Dracula, Scream spoof with the
CheerSquad, Wayne & Garth's Halloween Costumes and Landshark are the highlights. But, come on, lets see NBC's SATURDAY NIGHT (live) Complete 1st Season on DVD soon! With Lorne Micheals & former Cast, Writers and Hosts interviews and behind the scenes stuff, maybe 5 discs? 4 for the show, one for extra's. It sounds good to me. "Oh well, good night and have a pleasant tomorrow"
Check out:
SNL-Christmas
SNL-25 Years Of Laughs
Nothing But Trouble-Chevy Chase
Caddyshack-Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield ... Read more

Reviews (22)

"Clean" Eddie Murphy!
It is extremely rare to use the words "Eddie Murphy" and "clean" in the same sentence, which ring true in "Saturday Night Live-The Best Of Eddie Murphy". After watching Murphy convey such a unique and endearing comical warmth in which he brings to many of his SNL characters, especially in this video, it makes you wonder why Murphy resorts to using rather obscene language and risque adult themes prevalent in many of his stand-up comedy videos, such as "Eddie Murphy:Raw" and "Delirious", which are highly recommended for laughs, even though these are not satisfactory for young audiences to view. If Mr. Murphy cleaned up his act in the language department, he'd still be just as hilarious. On the other hand, if the adult themes and language were excluded entirely, the routines wouldn't be as interesting and much of their viewer appeal would be lost. No need to worry with "The Best Of Eddie Murphy-Saturday Night Live". It's "G" rating means that it's a video the whole family can watch together, although there is a slight possibility that the ethnicity present in certain skits may offend certain people, so it's best to watch this with an open mind and just laugh out loud! The only thing I dislike about this version is due to the fact there are two different skits, one that replaced the jazz skit where Murphy portrays a "Thelonius Monk"-type musician, sporting a clear plastic mask, which I found quite hilarious! Instead there's a drone skit with Eddie dressed up as Gumby, saying the oft-used phrase "I'm Gumby, Dammit!" Somebody please gag me with a spoon! Another skit featured here that wasn't in the original video was a different second skit of "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood" featuring Mr. T. Even though I don't remember the original second skit that was in the original video, I would say the Mr. T skit is/was as equally as funny. The most hilarious skit of the bunch here is definitely the "Jesse Jackson" skit. You'll have to check that one out for yourself! You rarely see any clean, wholesome and comical productions starring Eddie Murphy that are out there, which is why it is necessary to include "The Best Of Eddie Murphy-Saturday Night Live" in your comedy video library. Purchase this rare gem before it is taken out of print!

Funny, yes, but the VHS version from late 80s was better
This DVD has collected most of the best moments compiled on the VHS best-of Eddie Murphy version that came out circa the late 80s, but is missing a few moments that could have easily been fit in.

1) The Eddie Murphy "Ronald Reagan is my father" skit, which has Murphy pleading for his father to return, talking about how the last time he saw him was when he asked him to get some cereal, and he never came back.

2) Where Eddie Murphy interviews Ron Howard about his new movie, but Murphy can't get over that Ron Howard once played Opie on The Andy Griffiths Show, frustrating Howard.

3) Where Eddie Murphy and Stevie Wonder do a commercial for something called similar to Plantation Land, where people can go and pick cotton, being treated like slaves.

4) A talent show at a veterans post, with Tyrone and his Reggae Band, where Eddie Murphy plays the lead singer singing some hilarious lines I probably can't mention here, so I won't, but it would also ruin the humor. but let's just say the crowd is mad, and starts to leave. Murphy manages to both show the honesty in reggae music, and also make fun of reggae itself.

5) Popeil's Galactic Prophylactic, a superstrong condom that can last decades and be passed down generation to generation. ultra-hilarious.

So the DVD version is funny, but it's too bad they couldn't find room for these. rather disappointing. The DVD is still worth getting, but try finding a copy of the videotape.

Comedy At Its Best
After 5 years of classic comedy, "Saturday Night Live" entered a cold streak in 1980. Heavyhitters like John Belushi and Gilda Radner were replacd with Gail Matthius and Charles Rocket, and Jean Domanian (and later Dick Ebersol) replaced the show's guiding force, exceutive porducer Lorne Michaels. The results: bad reviews and the show's worst ratings. The show needed someone to revive the show's magic. Someone who could elicit guffaws in even the worst sketch. They found that in 19 - year old comedian Eddie Murphy.

Murphy's best moments in his 3 - year stint on the show are all on this 28 - sketch set. Whether you enjoy "Buckwheat", "Gumby", or "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood", there'll never be a more comprehensive Eddie Murphy/"SNL" retrospectie. Also, a lot of less popular sketches are here. "Buckwheat Shot" and "Buckwheat Dead" (one of the few 2- part "SNL" skecthes) is among the show's greatest staircal news parodies. Eddie does the Little Rascal flawlessly, while Joe Piscopo does a dead - on Ted Koppell. (Piscopo is actually in most of the sketches, probably because he brough out the best in Murphy). Also, a variety pf his classxci impressions are here: Desmond Tutu, James Brown, Stevie Wonder (the real wonder pops up in the final sketch), Jesse Jackson and others. I wish they'd included his Michael Jackson impression, though. Another plus: Eddie's hilarious Little Richard Simmons, a sidesplitting amalgam of Little Richard and Richard Simmons that most likely inspired Dana Carvey's Carsenio. And the classic short film "White Like Me" is here. The makeup artists did a great job of making Eddie look white.

This dvd is also special because it's Eddie's cleanest material aside from "Shrek" and "Doctor Dolittle". Aside from a few curses, everything here is tame compared to his movies and standup routines. I suggest this dvd for all comedy fans. Also, get the other "SNL" dvs.

Total Ripoff
I agree that this was a total rip off. One would assume that a DVD version of a show would have all the same contents as the VHS version if not more. I was shocked to find out about the missing episodes. Unfortunately I didn't read the reviews before purchasing it so tough luck on my part.

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone - get the VHS version if you can.

While we're on the topic of comedy shows. Does wnyone know if Roman Atkinson live will ever be out on dvd?

RIPPED OFF!
I gave this DVD 4 stars the first time it was released and 1 star the second time. I bought it the first time it was released. When I saw the