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If Franz Kafka had been an animator and film director--oh, and a member of Monty Python's Flying Circus--this is the sort of outrageously dystopian satire one could easily imagine him making. However, Brazil was made by Terry Gilliam, who is all of the above except, of course, Franz Kafka. Be that as it may, Gilliam sure captures the paranoid-subversive spirit of Kafka's The Trial (along with his own Python animation) in this bureaucratic nightmare-comedy about a meek governmental clerk named Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) whose life is destroyed by a simple bug. Not a software bug, a real bug (no doubt related to Kafka's famous Metamorphosis insect) that gets smooshed in a printer and causes a typographical error unjustly identifying an innocent citizen, one Mr. Buttle, as suspected terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro).When Sam becomes enmeshed in unraveling this bureaucratic glitch, he himself winds up labeled as a miscreant.

The movie presents such an unrelentingly imaginative and savage vision of 20th-century bureaucracy that it almost became a victim of small-minded studio management itself--until Gilliam surreptitiously screened his cut for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, who named it the best movie of 1985 and virtually embarrassed Universal into releasing it. This DVD version of Brazil is the special director's cut that first appeared in Criterion's comprehensive (andexpensive) six-disc laser package in 1996. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (302)

the definitive look at this masterpiece
Brazil is, arguably, Terry Gilliam's crowning achievement. Originally called 1984 1/2, this film was embroiled in an infamous battle to be distributed. The studio didn't like Gilliam's version and cut together one of their own. Gilliam went to the press and got the L.A. critics behind his movie and finally shamed the studio into releasing his version.

Criterion's 3-DVD set documents the struggle Gilliam went through to get his film shown. Disc One contains his cut of the film with an informative and entertaining commentary by the director. The second DVD contains the bulk of the extra material. Not only is Gilliam's struggle documented but also various aspects of the production are examined -- including the screenplay, costumes, art direction, etc. The final disc contains the studio's ....py cut with a film historian's audio commentary documenting why this version sucks.

Once again, Criterion comes through with an exhaustive look at an important film of modern cinema. Brazil is a brilliant satire of a dystopian society run amok by pointless bureaucracy. Anyone who has worked a souless job in an office will immediately empathise with the protagonist's plight. Like any great work of science fiction, Brazil offers more questions than answers -- not everything is wrapped up neatly, instead the viewer is left questioning certain aspects of our modern society. Great stuff.

Great movie about dreams and hope
Brazil, despite the science fiction, social commentary and surrealism, is at it's core a film about a man who trapped by the mundanity of life, imagines himself in a more fantastic world.

Jonathan Pryce stars as a tiny unimportant member of a vast hyper-capitalistic society. Life is cold and dreary for everyone. All his spare time is spent dreaming of magical romantic worlds and the beautiful woman who lives there. One day, a simple beaucratic mistake causes a monumental disaster. Not that anyone cares... they just don't want to be blamed. Sent to solve the problem, or maybe to be a scapegoat, Pryce accidentally meets the literal woman of his dreams. As he pursues her, he brings suspicion on himself of being a terrorist (the scourge of the government), and his dreams begin to invade his waking thoughts.

A suprising list of talent lend themselves to the film and is written, minus Kafka and Orwell themes, by Monty Python's Terry Gilliam so expect some obvious humor and much biting satire throughout. Depressing and magical without losing it's hope, any person who can identify with the main character should find themselves entranced.

Despite being made in 1985 the special effects prove to be suprisingly effective (although easily noticed). I personally think this movie is the second best Science Fiction film, 2001 being first, and the best 1984 type movie ever made.

Much loved, but I never got it ...
This is a cult classic, but I find it over-rated. It delivers the zaniness, surreality and crazy camera work, but the film has no interest in its characters -- you'll feel nothing for them, and for me that leaves a big hole in the center of the movie.

For a movie with a similar feel but considerably more heart, try Barton Fink instead. Or even Amelie.

Boring
This movie is really disappointing and boring.

a bizzare and frightening film
If you enjoy futuristic Sci-Films then I would heartily reccomend this, as it presents a number of interesting and imaginative concepts.
The setting is the far future.The world is a polluted wasteland. A strange network of wires covers the ceiling of every room.
A corporation-government, Central Services, controls all trade enterprises. Any who indulge in the businesses they control (which are almost everything) without the proper paperwork are labeled terrorists. So, unfortunately, are those who criticize Central Services' inane policies.
Their Cops, clad in spacesuits that look like they came straight out of David Lynch's adapatation of "DUNE", frequently capture these "terrorists" to be interrogated, tortured, and/or executed with bizarre devices.
The "food" eaten by the characters in this film is premasticated garbage, into which are stuck pictures of what the characters believe they are eating.
The rich and powerful under Central Services rule get daily facelifts and parties,
and they strike the viewer as stupid and frightening.
The plot of the film concerns a daydreaming young paper-pusher (Jonathan Pryce) for Central Services' Ministry of Information who discovers a glitch in some paperwork that led to the wrongful arrest and unfortunate execution of Archibald Tuttle, who was mistaken for Archibald "Harry" Tuttle (Robert DeNiro), who has fallen out with the law because of his entrepeneurial fix-it man services.
Soon, a truck-drivin' gal(Kim Greist) who witnessed Archibald Buttle's wrongful arrest pleads for his release to the Ministry of Information, who label her a terrorist.
Later, The young MOI employee notices her picture in the lobby of his workplace, and decides to pursue her. He saves her from being arrested, and, in doing so, is labeled an enemy of society, which eventually leads to his tragic end at the hands of his friends(Ian Holm and John Palin).
This frightening look at the evils of technology, corporations,wrongful arrests, and totalitarian governments is not to be missed by any except the very young(if it gave ME nightmares, imagine the effect it would have on a seven-year old boy!) . ... Read more

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Originally telecast in the 1970s, Good Neighbors is the wonderful 1970s Britcom about an upper-middle-class couple who relinquish consumerism and turn their cozy suburban London home into a self-sufficient farm. Tom (Richard Briers) and Barbara (Felicity Kendal) Good trade in one version of the good life for an impoverished other--an old tractor instead of a car, a goat instead of a purebred pup--to the continuing consternation of their best friends and executive-salaried neighbors, Jerry (Paul Eddington) and Margot (Penelope Keith) Ledbetter. Among the episodes contained in the first three series are "Pig's Lib," in which Margot covertly seeks help from the local residents' association to stop Tom's plans for keeping pigs; "Just My Bill," in which Tom and Barbara face the rare problem of a harvest surplus that has to go somewhere; "Mutiny," in which poor Jerry is caught in a crossfire of obligations to both his boss and bossy Margot; "Going to Pot," in which the Goods come close to abandoning their self-sufficiency ethic when Tom proves a profitable craftsman at the potter's wheel; "The Happy Event," in which the birth of new livestock is wonderful news for the Goods but a sore point with the Ledbetters; and "The Last Posh Frock," featuring Barbara at the end of her rope when her last nice dress gets torn. As always, the series' concept ultimately takes a back seat to the lovely chemistry among four outstanding actors, and story lines that wisely emphasize relationships. Fans of British television would do well to look into Good Neighbors. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Finally!!!
Easily one of the best Brit Coms...I have these taped off of PBS, and have been waiting for the DVD to come out for a long time.I know Brit Coms are not to everyones' taste, but I have found everyone I have watched Good Neighbors/Good Life with absolutley love it.The episode with Margo telling off the rates guy is a classic.Definately a must buy!

The best of all Britcoms.
Like the title says, it's the best of the Britcoms.The cast is great, the writing is great, and the whole thing is utterly charming.

There's not a whole lot more to say, except, in response to one of the previous reviewers questions, that it's going to contain all those episodes that didn't make it to VHS.The three seasons on these DVDs each had seven episodes.At about 28 minutes each, that's 588 minutes, which doesn't even come close to the 640 minute runtime advertised for this set.

Upcoming "Good Neighbors" release on DVD
I love the Good Neighbors (or as in UK "The Good Life") since I first saw in on the local PBS channel in the late 70s. I have the complete collection on VHS, but I am missing 7 episodes which are the following:

Season 1/Episode 3 The Weaker Sex?
Season 1/Episode 5 The Thing in the Cellar
Season 2/Episode 2 The Guru of Surbiton
Season 2/Episode 6 Home Sweet Home
Season 3/Episode 1 The Early Birds
Season 3/Episode 3 A Tug Of The Forelock
Season 3/Episode 6 Whose Fleas Are These?

Does anyone know if the new DVD set coming out in June, will have ALL the episodes from the first 3 seasons? (I hope so!)

Thank you!
SheShe

A cracking comedy series from the 70's
I loved this stuff when I was a child. It tells the tale of Tom and Barbara Goode and their attempts to live the self sufficient life, turning their backs on the rat race, and doing it in London surburbia; under the watchful eye of their freinds and snobby neighbours, Jerry and Margot Ledbetter.
In my country the series is know as, "The Good Life" and the gentle hilarity that ensues as the mini farm grows,is outstanding. Richard Briers is energetic and naughty as Tom while Felicity Kendall, as Barbara, is sweet and cute (Felicity Kendall was huge British pin up in her time and you can see why in this series).
The late Paul Eddington is very funny as the long suffering Jerry but for me the show is always about the insufferably snobby Margot, Penelope Keith, who is forever on the look out to keep up middle class standards; her accent makes the Queen sound a little common! Fabulous nostalgic stuff!

one of the best british comedies
Definitely up there with Fawlty Towers in the running for best British comedy.

A wonderful cast that does a wonderful job. Starring Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith, and Paul Eddington whom you may have seen in many other great Britcoms.

As others have said, I'm glad this is finally coming out on DVD. ... Read more

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Lots happened behind the scenes between seasons and early on in the seventh year of Friends, leaving audiences speculating this might be the last. Matthew Perry became seriously ill again, and returned looking more emaciated than ever. Courtney Cox regained weight, but despite finishing Scream 3 happily, things were already rocky with David Arquette. Much was made in the press about Aniston marrying Brad Pitt, of course, but the real news (allaying fans' fears) was NBC's expensive renewal of the cast for two years at $750,000 per episode each (more than six times their previous increase). On-screen, at least there was Chandler and Monica's engagement lasting the whole year, despite predictable ups and downs (e.g., "The One with the Truth About London" revealing that Monica fancied Joey). By the time we finally get to "The One with Chandler's Dad" (Kathleen Turner!), it seems inevitable that the two-part finale will be an insane mess--but with a happy-ish ending. Sure enough, "The One with Monica and Chandler's Wedding" features Gary Oldman joining in the chaos as Chandler repeatedly goes missing.

Other star turns in the year were Seinfeld's Jason Alexander as a suicidal office manager, Susan Sarandon as soap queen bitch Jessica Lockhart, Denise Richards as one of Ross and Monica's endless number of cousins, and Winona Ryder as a surprise old friend, prompting "The One with Rachel's Big Kiss." But perhaps the most telling installment of this weirdly atmospheric year was "The One Where They All Turn Thirty." It suggested that maybe the Friends were all getting too old to carry on living their frivolous lives the same way after all. --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Great package, not the best season, but very good, but....
This is a good season, but my opinion is suspicious, because I like them all. Anyway, it's impossible to not notice how this season is inferior to 1-6.

Altough I'm a great fan, I am not fanatic. Unlike some reviewers and FRIENDS fans in general, I would never make the mistake of confounding the characters with the actors. The characters, I love them, and that's why I like the show. The actors, I don't give a sh...t. (of course, they don't give a sh..it about me also).Why?

Because it's clear they just realized they hit the jackpot and all of them were on a race to squeeze the greatest quantity of money possible while the show lasted. They were spoiled by NBC and Warner in a way no sitcom star ever was.

In interviews (like the recent Jay Leno's Tonight Show, the day of the last episode, or even in Oprah) all the cast have an extremely annoying aloof attitude towards the interview. They don't seem interested at all in the questions, of giving new information, of enjoying it (Schwimmer being the most boring of them, and Le Blanc the more friendly - but one can not say if that's because he knows he will remain at the spotlight with his spin-off "Joey" and still need "audience acceptance"....)

They are rich and they really live like extremely rich people, all with buying houses that cost more than three million dollars, and I've never heard any donation or charity work made by them.

As another reviewer put it, the fact that, up until now, there are simply NO interviews or introduction by ANY of the six cast members can show only indifference.

That's it. I enjoy the product,not the actors.

my favorite season
I am a loyal follower of Friends. I have all the dvds, and watch them over and over and over and over and over. But when I got season 7, I just watched it non-stop. There were certain episodes that I perticullary enjoyed:The One with Monica's Thunder, The One with the Nap Partners, The One with the Holiday Armiddillo(my favorite friends episode of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), The One with the Vows, The One with all the Candy, The One where Chandler Hates Dogs, The One with Monica and Chandler's Wedding(i LOVED the surprise at the end) and finally, The One with the Engagement Picture. These are some of the most memorable friends episodes of all time, and I think is the best season of all time.

There is also a gag reel at the end, it cracked me up!!!!!

This is a must-have dvd for any loyal and true friends fan.

A very weak series, maybe the worst
I have all the series on DVD and have seen each of them at least three times, but it was during this seventh series that I have found myself reaching for the fast forward most often. Some of the lamest storylines are found in the seventh series, but you could never consider not buying it. So I recommend people to buy it, but just to know that there are some real howlers of stories in the series. The worst being:

- Chandler not being able to smile properly for engagement photos
- Ross and Joey's naps together
- Holiday Armadillo which i hated even the first time i saw it. Definition of lame plot line.
- the flashback one. Can't even remember what it is in this series but I pretty much can't stand any of them after about series three and reek of producers padding out the series. Just remembered, in series 7 it is TOW The Wedding Vows
- Ross and Monica's hair-shaking cousin

it is to be expected that they were a couple of poor years in the ten, and seven I think was the worst of the lot. Came back stronger in eight I thought but seven...oh dear!

I LOVE THIS SEASON
I've enjoyed watching Friends for many years. This season especially was entertaining. In it, everyone turns 30, Monika and Chandeler get married, and the "Holiday Armadillo" certainly is great. It is one of my favorite seasons.

I LOVE THIS SEASON
Whenever I have free time its watching Friends. This season especially was entertaining. In it, everyone turns 30, Monika and Chandeler get married, and the "Holiday Armadillo" certainly is great. It is one of my favorite seasons. ... Read more

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If you've got a taste for big hair, broad Texas accents, and gay rights,this mixture of white-trash comedy and coming-out melodrama is for you.Sordid Lives starts out as chicken-fried farce, as a funeral isprepared for a woman who died when she tripped over her adulterous lover'swooden legs; about midway the emphasis shifts to a drag queen unfairlyheld in a mental institution and the dead woman's grandson, an actor inLos Angeles who hasn't come out to his mother. The tone shifts wildly, andthe humor depends on your fondness for the white-trash genre--if you likeit, this will tickle your ribs; if you don't, it'll fall flat as thepanhandle landscape. But it must be said that the cast (including BonnieBedelia, Beau Bridges, Delta Burke, and Olivia Newton-John) dives rightin, no matter how over-the-top their characters get. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (95)

This movie is a reflection of it's characters - Hysterical!!
It was easy to invision Delta Burke as the queen of a trailer court type neighborhood, but when you throw in Olivia Newton-John as a lesbian folk singer and Beau Bridges as a pathetic loser you begin to see the picture of a highly dysfunctional group of friends and relatives intertwined in a tale, more about righting the wrongs of a dysfunctional history and less about the real story: What are we going to bury mama in now that she is dead. Apparently she tripped over Beau Bridges prosthetic leg on the way to the bathroom in a cheap motel where they were doing the nasty!! Sordid Lives is a befitting title to a movie that will have you somewhere between horrified and in tears from laughter. Sounds like the way things were in many families I know!

Sordid Lives
This movie is a total crack up and deals with denial, [same sex relationships], infidelity, and the inner workings of a Texas family dealing with the death of the matriarch of the family. The movie revolves around the death of the matriarch who has just died in a motel room after having an affair with the husband (Beau Bridges,) of Delta Burke. She looks great by the way! The matriarch dies after tripping on Beau Bridges two wooden legs on the way to the bathroom, in a seedy motel after having committed adultery. Delta Burke's best friend is the daughter of the deceased and is worried about how this will affect their friendship. Beau Bridges plays a real jerk in this film, but you can't help but love to hate him. My favorite character is Brother Boy, played by Leslie Jordan. Brother Boy is also the son of the deceased. He is a [same sex relationship] transvestite who has been in a mental institution for 23 years after being beat up by his straight best friend. Brother Boy is my favorite character in this film. He gets through his life in the nut house by dressing up as Tammy Wynette and carrying on her legacy. He performs every day in the rec room of the mental institution for the other patients. Too funny, and he is great. Brother Boy's therapist is trying to dehomsexualize him in order to get a book deal on go on [a TV show]. This is a must see for anyone with a dysfunctional family (which most of us have.) I got a copy of the pre-released DVD and watch it almost everyday to get my Brother Boy fix. I highly recommend this movie to all. It is side splitting funny.

Sordid Pleasure!!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome to the wonderful world of White Trash---And boy are you in for a ride!!!!! When their mother (and sister) die in a motel after committing adultery (she tripped over her married lover's wooden legs!) a family comes together for the funeral of the family matriarch. There is Sissy (played by Beth Grant, who made the movie for me, she was HILARIOUS!), sister of the deceased, who unfortunately tried to quit smoking three days before the untimely death of her older sister. Her neighbor is Noleta (Delta Burke), who is the distraught wife of the man (Beau Bridges), who's wooden legs accidently became murder weapons. There is Brother Boy (Leslie Jordon), who for 23 years, has been in a "looney bin" for dressing in drag as his favorite country artists---Tammy Wynette being his ultimate----and in therapy to clear up his homosexuality. There are more wonderful characters (Bonnie Bedelia, Olivia Newton John play a couple of them)but not enough time to discuss them all. Suffice it to say, this comedy is well worth your time. And, while giving you plenty of laughs, the movie also has a message that can help all of us----accepting people as they are. Reward yourself with laughter----watch this movie!!!!!!!!!!!

Disappointing, Contrived
Perhaps it was sooooo built up as this amazing gut buster, that I viewed it with too high expectations. I was actually bored. I thought the writing was contrived and the acting so over the top that it was hard to find a shred of believability. Also - SHRILL goes a long way. I'm from Texas - I grew up with hicks and these characters were sub-standard imitations. I always miss that magical mix of the absurd with characters that you empathize with in Del Shores writing. One positive note, the slapstick element during the coffin scene helped pick things up a bit.

Destined to be a cult classic of 'white trash' humor
This DVD came highly recommended by several friends. I was sure not disappointed. I've watched it a half-dozen times now and loved it every time.

The actors are fabulous, especially Leslie Jordan as 'Brother Boy' Earl. Far from playing the role in typical drag queen camp, Jordan brings depth and even poignancy to his (hilarious) character, who copes with his hellish looney bin existence by living out vicariously the life of Tammy Wynette. Beth Grant is also sensational in her protracted nicotine fit.

I've seen enough of mega-studio Hollywood not to mind the fresh, offbeat, low-budget feel of this film. The big-name talent certainly delivers, including, as musical backdrop, Olivia Newton-John's awesome guitar numbers (impressively sung live on camera--wow what a talent, she's still got it).

Apart from uproarious laughs, the film offers a meaningful theme of the dysfunctionality that non-acceptance from DENIAL can inject into family relationships. Be sure to add 'Sordid Lives' to your DVD collection, because it's becoming a cult classic of white trash humor--and memorable lines from the film are starting to go around. I'd tell you more about this movie, but you'll have to, in the words of Brother Boy...."excuse me...I got a show to do!" ... Read more

Reviews (493)

Way underrated
Anyone who has ever worked in corporate America will relate to this hilarious gem.
It is low key as opposed to slapstick comedy. I think the movie was well cast about a cube dweller who had enough and basically quits working and gets a promotion to upper management while his hard working and dedicated buddies get slated for layoffs by "The Bob's" two management consultants.
Ron Livingston does a great job as Pete Gibbons, and Ajay Naidu as "Samir Nu, ne, nunu, uh nnn ,not work here anymore" David Herman as Micheal-why should I change - Bolton.
The boss Lundbergh is played perfectly deadpan by Gary Cole, and I think there is a Tom Smykowski and Milton Waddams in every organization. Lets not forget the "Bob's" I knew two idiot consultants just like them.
Office Space has it all, from stupid meetings, CI programs, and of course the infamous TPS reports - "didn't you get the memo about the new cover sheets?"
I could not stop laughing through the whole thing.

Well worth the price of the DVD, even though the transfer was only fair.

Hiliariously Close to the Truth
Though the situations and characters in Office Space are certainly larger than life, they are not that far from the truth--to which those of us in the corporate world will readily attest. That's what makes the movie so delightfully funny: seeing characters on screen act out (without much exaggeration) the trials and tribulations of today's desk-bound workforce.

The plot of the movie itself is somewhat secondary to its entertainment value. Basically, the main character (Ron Livingston) isn't happy with his job; having been asked once by his high school guidance counselor to picture what he'd do without being paid and consider that his ideal job, he responded that he's like to sit around and do nothing. The rest of the main plot centers on his attempt to get his life back on track, from discovering a love interest in a local waitress (Jennifer Anniston) also unhappy with her job to plotting revenge on his company for firing his friends.

Quickly one sees exactly why the characters are so unhappy with their jobs: a clueless, paper-shuffling boss who speaks in total monotone; inane office regulations requiring more time spent on reports than on real work; faulty office equipment; and so on. Carefully crafted to represent archetypes we all know from our own office experiences, the characters and their attempts to break free of the 9-to-5 drudgery are absolutely hilarious.

You don't have to be a computer programmer or engineer to enjoy this film--all you need is to have worked somewhere once in your life that was far from the ideal environment. Watch this film and enjoy a laugh at schmucks who have it ten times worse than you ever have!

THE comedy movie to see from the late 90s
If you see one comedy from the late 90s, see this one! The cast is great, and the story is better. The only person I know who didn't like this movie just doesn't understand the modern industrial/metroplitan environment. Driving to work in Silicon Valley REALLY IS THIS BAD, and if your definition of heavy traffic is going 15-20 mph on the freeway, you might not appreciate this film.

Dilbert's got it easy!
OFFICE SPACE either suffered from bad marketing or poor distribution because I had never heard of it nor did many of my movie-going friends. When I saw it on cable, I kept asking myself, "Where did this come from?" While the film occasionally breaks down in predictable sequences and cheap shots, it really does hold together remarkably well. This is one of the better written, directed and acted comedies in a long time. Even though the late 90's office world it illustrates is long gone, muddle-headed supervisors, know-nothing consultants, and very weird office workers are not. Enjoy this movie!

A MODERN CULT CLASSIC
Having seen and enjoyed bits and pieces of this movie countless times on cable (usually on Comedy Central) over the last couple of years, I finally broke down and purchased it to add to my DVD collection. Smart move on my part. Now that I've seen the entire movie from start to finish, it makes a lot more sense now (I'd never seen the hypnotism scene). It has all the makings of a modern cult classic. How do I know? Because every time I roll across it on cable I usually wind up watching the balance of the film and enjoying it all over again. Having 2 Geto Boys songs on the soundtrack and co-starring Jennifer Aniston doesn't hurt either. Damn it feels good to be a gangsta. ... Read more

Reviews (85)

It's Good to Be Mel Brooks
When this film first appeared more than 20 years ago, it temporarily threatened to replace world history courses in schools, colleges, and universities. Of course, that didn't happen. Probably just as well, given the fact that screenwriter, producer, and director Mel Brooks never wrote, produced, and directed Part II and its eagerly-awaited portrayals of "Jews in Space" and "Hitler on Ice." There are historians' homes in which Brooks is still not welcome. In any event, what we have in Part I is a combination of five extended sketches: The Dawn of Man, The Stone Age, The Spanish Inquisition, The Bible, and The Future. Inevitably there are some gaps.

Brooks appears in several different roles while (in fact) portraying himself: Moses, Comicus, Torquemada, and King Lou. Other members of the Brooks Ensemble Company include Madeline Kahn (Empress Nympho), Cloris Leachman (Madame de Farge), Harvey Korman (Count de Monet), Ron Carey (Swiftus), Andreas Voutsinas (Béarnaise), and Shecky Green (Marcus Vindictus). Brooks has assembled a cast of thousands. The production values are remarkably good. However, as in other Brooks films such as Blazing Saddles and High Anxiety, the quality of the humor varies from Brilliant & Inspired (e.g. King Lou professing love of "the little people" while shooting at airborn peasants who have been launched as targets: "Pull!") to Oh No (e.g. Moses reducing the number of Commandments to Ten by dropping/breaking one of three tablets while descending Mount Sinai, and, Jesus becoming confused by use of his name as an expletive). Brooks is an incurable gagster and punster. More often than not, the humor in this film works. But when it doesn't....

Several clever touches. For example, beginning the film with a parody of 2001: A Space Odyssey, with Orson Welles providing the voice-over. Also, it is fun to play the equivalent of "Where's Waldo" by trying to spot familiar actors in supporting roles such as Bea Arthur (Clerk), Charlie Callas (Soothsayer), Jack Carter (Rat Vendor), Sid Caesar (Chief Caveman), John Gavin (Marche), Ronny Graham (Oedipus), Nigel Hawthorne (Official), John Hillerman (Rich Man), Hugh Hefner (Entrepreneur), Barry Levinson (Column Salesman), Spike Milligan (Monsieur Rimbaud), Howard Morris (Court Spokesman), Jan Murray (Nothing Vendor), and Henny Youngman (Chemist). As I said, a cast of thousands...if not more.

Brooks' best films, those most effectively developed, are The Producers and Young Frankenstein, the latter being a remarkably respectful version of several earlier films. All comics are thieves. The best comics steal from the best sources. I thought about that when I saw this film again recently, wondering if Brooks' History of the World -- Part I was in any way influenced by The Story of Mankind (1957), a film based on Henrik Willem Van Loon's bestseller. For purposes of parody, The Story of Mankind would be an excellent target of opportunity. Those among its diverse cast of thousands (if not more) include Charles Coburn (Hippocrates), Ronald Colman (The Spirit of Man), Cedric Hardwicke (High Judge), Dennis Hopper (Napoleon), Hedy Lamarr (Joan of Arc), Peter Lorre (Nero), Virginia Mayo (Cleopatra), Chico Marx (Monk), Harpo Marx (Isaac Newton), Groucho Marx (Peter Minuit), Agnes Moorehead (Elizabeth I), Vincent Price (The Devil), and Cesar Romero (Spanish Envoy). Whenever a list of the Ten Most Pretentious Movies Ever Made is formulated, The Story of Mankind is frequently and deservedly given serious consideration.

Despite its several flaws, The History of the World -- Part I remains a generally entertaining, at times hilarious film. Whenever I see it again, I feel eager anticipation as I await its strongest scenes, willing to endure its weakest meanwhile. To me at least, the previews for Part II (which conclude Part I) suggest why Brooks resembles the Little Girl with The Curl: "When she's good, she's very very good but when she's bad...."

Mel Brooks at his Bawdy Best
Mel Brooks is at the top of his game with this hilarious spoof on world history beginning with the Stone Age and touching on subjects all the way through the French Revolution. While much of the humor is far from sophisticated, it doesn't diminish the fact that the film is just plain funny!

Lots of comedic actors, great and small, make side-splitting appearances in the film, including Sid Ceasar, Harvey Korman, Dom DeLuise, Bea Arthur, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Jackie Mason, and Gregory Hines.

The beauty of Brooks' scathing spoofs of historical events and figures is that the humor is timeless, holding up just as well in 2004 as it did when the film was originally released in 1981. If you have never seen or heard of this film, rent or buy it now, as you have missed an iconic movie. I've even heard of European History professors using Brooks' wacky take on the Spanish Inquisition in their history classes.

When it comes to bawdy satire, Mel Brooks found it "good to be the King" in the 1970s and 80s!

written by David Laing, not Julia Laing
One of Mel Brook's finest movies, in this one, he sets out to parody history, from the Stone Age, to the French Revolution. The first time period is the Stone Age, where we see the first homosapien and homosexual marriage, and discover how music was invented. Next, in a very short bit, we see Moses coming down from a mountain with the 15 commandments, until he drops one slab, and it becomes the 10 commandments. The next era is the Roman Empire, where after Philatipis[or something like that] gets a gig to do comedy for Caescar, he offends, the emporer, so him and his new found friend must fight each other to the death, but instead stop fighting and try to escape from Rome. The 4th era is by far the funniest, and the most offensive, The Spanish Inquisition. So in a musical extravaganza, we see how the Catholics tried to convert the Jews to become Catholics, and in the last part, we behold the French Revolution, and one of the greatest lines in this movie. So, see this hilarious movie, but if you are easily offended, then do not see this. The only thing that aggravates me was that Brooks had a part 2 planned out, but it was never released. At the end of the movie, we get a preview of the unreleased History of The World part 2.

History has never been more hilarious.
I wasn't familiar with History of the World until someone recommended that I see it. I knew a little of who Mel Brooks was and had seen Young Frankenstein so I knew this might be good. Now I think it is one of the funniest movies ever, a genius spoof of world history troughout different period of time. You get to see prehistoric man invent art, and along with the first art came the first art critic. We see the real story behind Moses and the Ten Commandments. The best part to me was the part about the Roman times, when Comicus the stand up philosopher is introduced. I was laughing long and hard when Comicus gets a job as waiter at the Last Supper. Also spoofed are the Spanish Inquisition and the French Revolution.

History of the World is a great movie that features a terrific cast including Mel Brooks, Gregory Hines, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman and Sid Caesar. There are others, but together they give an entertaining perspective into some of history's most important events. There are also countless quotes from the movie that will stick with you for a long time after you hear them. This is something I recommend seeing, as even after 23 years it still seems as fresh as ever with the humor it provides.

Nobody Expects the (Musical) Spanish Inquisition
Probably the success of MONTY PYTHON'S LIFE OF BRIAN two years earlier was the inspiration for Mel Brooks' HISTORY OF THE WORLD - PART I (A year earlier Python/'Brian' probably also inspired the also lesser ripoff WHOLLY MOSES). One reason are many of the biblical spoofs in this episodic movie. A lot of this is pretty lame especially during the Dom Deluise as Nero sequence that seems to go on forever. The only funny thing to come out of this is the classic line "When you die at the Palace..you really die!". Included is a scene outside of the actual Las Vegas casino Ceasar's Palace with Roman citizens going into it as if it is actually in ancient Rome. The rest of this particular sequence seems to come right out of Richard Lester's/Zero Mostel's A FUNNY THING HAPPENED TO ME ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM only it is not very funny. There are a couple inspired gags (i.e. The Spanish Inquisition- the musical,Moses receiving the 15..er, 10 Commandments, and a tribute to Esther Williams/MGM musical aqua dancing extravaganzas featuring bathing beauty nuns) in the rest of the film, but they are not very memorable. Whereas Monty Python's 'BRIAN' was deemed sacrilegious (at least in 1979) and brilliantly irreverent, 'HISTORY' is just plain dumb. Brooks' seemed to lose his touch starting with this film and would continue with SPACEBALLS,ROBIN HOOD MEN IN TIGHTS and DRACULA DEAD AND LOVING IT etc. Overall, a general waste of celluloid,talent, and time. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After the Sunset may not be the greatest jewel-heist caper comedy ever made, but it sure is easy on the eyes. Shifting back into his crowd-pleasing Rush Hour mode, director Brett Ratner kicks off the action with a rousing chase scene that pretty much describes the entire film: utter nonsense, but adequately enjoyable. Things get very sunny thereafter, when FBI agent Woody Harrelson lands in the Bahamas to track down ace diamond thief Pierce Brosnan and his lovely accomplice Salma Hayek, whom he suspects of planning their next big heist on a cruise ship. A Bahamian gangster (Don Cheadle) wants in on the action, and the whole thing's about as fluffy as an Elmo doll and just as harmless, especially when you consider Hayek's revealing wardrobe (which, thankfully, distracts from Brosnan's less-than-Bond-like physique). There's an abundance of witty banter between everyone, and the tropical locations make After the Sunset a balmy, vicarious vacation. Critics weren't exactly kind to this breezy dose of popcorn entertainment, but it's an agreeable time-killer and an instant cure for seasonal affective disorder, even if the comedic chemistry leaves something to be desired. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Better Than I Expected
This isn't really a caper film, which is one reason I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.Sure, it has some of the elements of the Hollywood caper movie--the debonaire, super-clever and super-successful thief, the cop out to thwart him, exotic locations--but the movie isn't really about will-he-pull-it-off-or-won't-he.It's more of a cat-and-mouse buddy movie.That the heists are utterly implausible, to the point of being ridiculous (as they are in most caper movies, like Oceans's Eleven and Ocean's 12) doesn't matter as much, because it's not what the movie focuses on.

Instead, we get a lot of cute banter and bonding between Harrelson and Brosnan, who are fun to watch.There are some good, low-brow laughs in this movie--they are enough for me.I laughed out loud, for instance, when during the fishing scene Harrelson is putting tanning lotion on Brosnan's back, and Brosnan says, "My pole!" and Harrelson pulls back with disgust and says, "No way, I'm only doing your back!" (Of course, Brosnan meant, Look at the pole; I caught something.)There are other, similar crude jokes and sight gags.

Both men are good in their roles, and fun to watch.The female roles in the movie seem incidental, a formulaic requirement of Hollywood movies, and are never really developed beyond that basic requirement.And what is Don Cheadle, a great actor, doing in such a miniscule role?Anyone could have done his rolel he's sadly wasted.Chris Penn has an amusing cameo...but my goodness, has he gotten fat.I remember seeing him in movies in the 80's, before he starting hitting the Big Macs.You don't often see an actor let himself go like that.

Commercial for Bahama Tourism Starring...
After the Sunset is a fluffy piffle that is almost always beautiful to look at, but emptier than the nutritional content of cotton candy.

Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek make a good-looking couple, and the movie actually TRIES to address a theoretical dilemma that is infrequently brought up in movies.If a rich and successful criminal retires, what do they do?If, presumably, part of why they were a criminal in the first place is for the thrill of it, how can they be content simply retiring?If being a thief is both your job AND your hobby, what do you do after the last "big one"?The only film I can think of that showed the boring lethargy that sets in on a successful criminal is the end of "Scarface" when Al Pacino is lying around in the marble tub of his palatial bathroom, smoking a cigar and cursing at his wife and buddy.

But I digress.After the Sunset would be familiar territory if the only movies you had seen were the "Ocean's 11" remake(s).It's a "steal the jewel" caper.It tries to be a comedy, but Brosnan and Woody Harrelson don't have the comic chemistry we've seen both of them have in other work. Harrelson appears as the FBI agent who has been repeatedly burned by Brosnan, and wants to get his revenge.It follows the film cliche where the lawman is "hot on the trail" of the criminal - a la "Heat", etc., but instead of an edgy relationship between the Thief and the Lawman we get a bumbling comic relationship between Brosnan and Harrelson.

The "star" of the film is the way it looks, and much of that is owed to the Bahamanian resort standing in for paradise.The movie made me want to go there - but it didn't make me want to ever see this film again.

Our family has been in manure for three generations!
Did I miss something?Was there a contest going through all the Grade Schools of America to find the best story for acclaimed director Bret Ratner to bring to the silver screen?If so, why wasn't there a calendar made for those who didn't make the final cut?Oh, wait, apparently children did not write this film, but instead a guy that wrote for the TELEVISION SERIES the Weakest Link.That surely makes him ready by all means to tackle the caper genre and inherit a big payday ... right?You are the weakest link ... good-bye.This movie was a disaster from the beginning.With cardboard acting, an aging (and girth growing) sex symbol, and a corny ending that incorporated nothing that we were shown through the entire film, it is a big wonder how After the Sunset ever saw the illustrious "green-light".Perhaps it was the size of Salma's boo ... name, or perhaps the fact that Pierce Brosnan's The Thomas Crown Affair was such a cult film, or maybe because Don Cheadle was in it, because it had really no pull with just Woody headlining.So, how did this film get made?This film targeted pre-teen boys and retirement communities, and with their great pull, the financing behind this film became very easy.

This was a caper film right?We are supposed to go on this roller coaster ride of who's conning whom, coupled with lies, deceit, and a surprise ending that will make you want to rewatch from the beginning to experience anything that you missed.That is the focus, goal, and overall tone that a film like this should have followed.Instead, Ratner decided to just make a movie without any sort of excitement or drive.As I watched this film, I never once felt excited about the plot.Why?Because there was nobody getting me excited.The acting in this film was well below par for anything that Hollywood has released.Pierce tries, but just can't seem to capture the essence of the film.There is no little demon inside you rooting for anything.Salma's role was basically for eye-candy.She provided nothing spectacular either.I can literally say the same for Woody and Cheadle as well.Here we have strong actors doing absolutely nothing during the course of about two hours.These characters never drive the plot, they bring nothing but clichés to the table, and by the end we really don't have any true grasp as to whom they are.Honestly, cardboard cutouts could have replaced the actual actors and After the Sunset would have been a better film.There was no depth to the characters, no emotion, no structure, just the simple direction of "step here, say your line, step here, look surprised".It was embarrassing for all that were involved.

I think a major flaw to this film was that Ratner did not fully understand, or was prepared, for the caper genre.From the opening moments until the end of the film, you can tell that Ratner is just trying to use his friends in the industry and show the world that he has some power as well.I say this because I saw no true direction or moment of impressiveness where he defines himself as a director.He reuses the same ideas throughout the entire film, he doesn't give anything strong to his players, and nothing stood out in this movie.Sure, it was a beautiful location, but am I to believe that Salma spend a majority of the film building a deck for them to sit on?Am I to believe that Pierce is still a sex symbol even with a HUGE gut sticking out?Am I to believe that Cheadle is a bad guy/imported American who is at the top of the community?Finally, am I to believe that Pierce could still move as quickly as Ratner defined?I swear that in the final unclimactic moments of this film, I could hear Pierce doing some heavy breathing to get from point A to point B.Maybe he isn't ready for the next Bond role.

So, without a good story, or decent characters, maybe there was some humor in it that could pull us away from the sour sensation cultivating in your mouth.Well, guess who is placed in to do the humor element? Woody Harrelson.Now, I don't mind Woody, but in this role, he just wasn't believable and his humor was so cliché that I had trouble believing that he brought anything to this character.He literally plagiarized his entire role.Teachers, and film viewers of the world, should be very upset with him.Instead of bringing a new twist to his character, he resorted to weird sex humor, skimpy bully humor, and that ever-popular drunken humor while fishing that is sure to make that senile woman in the front burst out with laughter. To me it was pathetic and a worthless attempt to make a joke out of already dead film.

Overall, this was a massive disappointment.Here you had a decent director, some strong players, but the worst story ever written by a man who wrote for a game show.Which piece does not fit?There was this huge sense of apathy throughout this entire film and clichés riddled it that I just couldn't get past.Brosnan had trouble with this film, and I couldn't tell if it was because he just didn't care, or because he was working with such low-talent that his heart just wasn't in it.The ending hurt as well.There was no excitement or intensity, just plain ... "here it is ... like it or not".I personally couldn't digest this film with its poor acting and below-par story.This may be a good film for some that are not familiar with the caper genre, but for me it was just hogwash.

Grade: * out of *****

I Liked It
I liked this movie alot. I watched it twice. I really enjoyed the little twist it had at the end.

AFTER THE BOREDOM! (21/2 ) STARS
Where the hell was the action in this movie! It started off
decent, then went down hill from there. The only thing that
kept me watching this lame script, was Salma Hayek! I gave the
movie 1 1/2 stars, and Salmas body 1 extra diserved star! ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Overlong, but worth seeing
Original little gem about love, hypnosis, and reincarnation all queezed into the package of a bright, colorful musical. Yves Montand plays a college professor who begins hypnosis treatment on Daisy (Barbra Streisand) in order to help her stop smoking. While under, he discovers she lived a former life as a 19th century vixen who was stood up by her husband and beheaded for treason. The doctor slowly falls in love with the woman of the past, while, in the present, Daisy (unaware of her former exsistance) falls in love with him.

Big-budgeted film was a box office flop when first released, but it's actually pretty enjoyable. The offbeat story line and the public's sudden lack of interest in musicals are the probably the main reason for the film's failure.

As a Barbra Streisand fan I must say that she is great even though this film is far from her best. She is adorable as Daisy and divinely sensual as the gold digger from England that she ecomes once hypnotized. Montand is a little too stuffy and mechanical as Dr. Charbot, but he and Streisand do share some chemistry.

Streisand's good, Montand is acceptale, but on the whole the movie is was too long and even a bit forced at times. Still, it worth seeing. The costumes and sets are beautiful, the ending is sweet, and there are some great songs.

Bottom line: the movie's cute, often funny, occasionally silly and sometimes moving.

Wonderful Movie the Whole Family Can Enjoy!
This has always been one of my favorite Barbra movies. ESP and reincarnation might be old hat now, but back in 1970 they were hot topics and you could count on controversy when they were discussed. I don't care much for Yves Montand, but the guy that plays Robert is very fine, even as a fine young dandy from 200 years ago! I've heard all about this movie from different sources over the years, and I think it's wonderful that Barbra was pregnant during the filming (you'd never know), that she was allowed to keep the clothes, that she played the part at cost instead of an increased fee (just after Funny Girl), and that she wasn't even the person the film was written for, but Audrey Hepburn. Again, this is an enjoyable film--remember it's a musical and the songs are very catching, don't be surprised if you find yourself humming one of the songs after you've seen the movie!

WIDESCREEN DVD PLEEEEESE !!!!!
This beautiful little gem needs to be on DVD period. The color is absolutely fabulous, the costumes beautiful. It's a colorfull cleaned up snip-et of 60's style. My favorite Barbra Striesand musical. And for those of who believe in re-incarnation or even just like to toy with the concept it is enjoyable fun.

Barbara is simply Marvy! Damn the pretentious Frenchman!
A great movie directed by a fantastic director. All this and more made in spite of Paramount's choice for one of the century's most horrid leading actors. Two words..."Yves Montand" I would certainly like to know who was responsible for telling Yves that he could act. Luckily for us, Barbara's comedic timimg and on screen presence distracts us from Yves witty droll and cardboard persona. Much of the films salvation has to be given to the credit of Vincente Minnelli, who has directed many wonderful & memorable movies such as "Meet me in St Louis" It is also a wonderful treat to see a young and handsome (yes I said handsome.. if you can believe that) Jack Nicholson who plays one of Daisy's neighbors. What's most intresting about Jack's character, is that there was a sense of ambiguity about his sexual orientation. A definite first for the Jackster! I give this movie 5 stars even though Yves is in it. The story, art direction and musical numbers are just fabulous. Besides we all know that anyone who buys this movie, certainly isn't purchasing it on account of the leading man. Now when is Paramount going to release this on DVD? Hello? Paramount? Are you listening? Hello? Is anyone awake over there?....

"Is anything else comin' off?"
This was one of the very last of the lavish screen musicals to be made in the classic mode, and, by the time of it's early 1970 theatrical release, it already seemed tired and dated. This is why it is somewhat shocking that, when viewed today, ON A CLEAR DAY is not only tremendously entertaining, but that it's also possibly the most underrated film of both director Vincent Minnelli and star Barbra Streisand. The film's reincarnation theme was pretty cutting-edge back in the early-seventies, and it still feels unique even today. The film received fair-to-negative reviews from critics at the time, and even though it proved to be a modest hit at the box office, it has been long forgotten by the general public, and it even goes unlisted on many of Streisand's selected filmographies. This is a shame, for Streisand's highly impressive dual performance may prove to be a revelation for some of her admirers and critics alike.

Like the film itself, Streisand is at her very best in the film's frequent flashbacks. Not only does she look absolutely beautiful as Melinda in Cecil DeVille's many elaborate costumes, but her Regency- era poise and accent are completely flawless. However, the film isn't absolutely perfect. Though Streisand's gives one of her most likable performances as kooky Daisy (her character's present-day incarnation), her "modern-day" wardrobe is a little too extreme. I realize that the costume designers wanted to draw a sharp contrast between Daisy and Melinda, but they went a little too far and ended up making Daisy look too buffoonish. They didn't need to go to such lengths with her garish "contemporary" wardrobe - Streisand's convincing performance alone is enough to make the contrast believable. Yves Montad is acceptable in his role - I don't believe he really deserved all of the criticism that he's received over the years, yet I do find his performance to rather stiff, and am convinced that many other actors could have done more with the part. Jack Nicholson, Bob Newhart, and John Richardson appear in small supporting roles, but they all feel rather underused.

However, there's something about the Streisand-Minnelli pairing that seems to have brought out the best in the two legendary talents. The flashback segments in particular provide the perfect showcase for Minnelli's imaginative visuals, and these are also the very scenes that allow Streisand to stretch the most as an actress. In particular, the "Love And All The Trimmings" sequence is easily one of the best moments that Minnelli ever captured on film, and Streisand has rarely been more intensely seductive than in this one sequence. Score-wise, the soaring title song is the only real classic of the eight Lenner-Lowe compositions, but a few of the others (the comic "Go To Sleep," the gorgeous "He Isn't You") are nearly as great. Bottom line: ON A CLEAR DAY is a film that's usually funny, sometimes touching, and always inventive and enjoyable. It's undervalued gem if there ever was one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Thanks to sharp writing and a pitch-perfect ensemble cast, Frasier became one of the smartest and funniest television shows of the 1990s.Following the 1993 demise of Cheers, Diane's fussy psychiatrist boyfriend, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), seemed an unlikely candidate for a spin-off series, yet the show earned smash ratings and dozens of Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor (Grammer) in the very first season. In an inspired bit of casting, Grammer was matched with David Hyde Pierce as his brother and fellow psychiatrist Niles, and the rest of the players included his radio-program manager, Roz (Peri Gilpin), his father, Marty (John Mahoney), his father's physical therapist, Daphne (Jane Leeves), and the dog Eddie (Moose).

In the first season, Frasier and Marty try to learn how to coexist in the same apartment; Niles and Daphne spend a stormy evening in Niles's house; Frasier acquires pushy agent Bebe (Harriet Sansom Harris) and searches for love with Amanda Donohoe among others; his ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) makes a guest appearance; the family takes a cross-country trip in a Winnebago; and the two brothers collaborate on a book.

Bonus features aren't spectacular, but are a cut above many similar DVD sets. Executive producers Peter Casey and David Lee provide a commentary track on the pilot episode. In a 20-minute making-of segment, they and the principal cast members discuss the creation of the show, casting (Lisa Kudrow was the other finalist for the character of Roz), and the mystery of the omni-absent Maris. "Frasier Crane's Apartment" looks at the set and props, and each disc spotlights a few of the celebrity voices that appeared as the radio show's callers.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Frasier will leave you laughing...
Big Frasier fan here. Been one for awhile. In fact, the TV show has been a staple in my television diet since it's premiere way back in 1993. After the ending of Cheers, it was hard to imagine that anything could be as funny! Enter Frasier, revamped, making a new life in Seattle, reattaching himself to his family. Let the hilarity ensue.

The release of the first season of Frasier on DVD is a masterstroke. Finally, you'll get all the wonderfully hilarious episodes of season 1 at your fingertips to love and enjoy all over again. See the first spark of Niles and Daphne. Meet agent Bebe for the first time. Watch Eddie tormenting Frasier ruthlessly. It's all there, and many, many, many laughs. In fact, laugh out loud laughs.

You know you watch TV and you see something and you go, that's funny. But you don't laugh. Frasier makes you laugh out loud, even if sitting alone. Wonderful writing, expert directing, and the acting all lend themselves to your enjoyment.

To be honest, it's the performances of the main cast that really stand out in this selection too. Kelsey Grammer's comedic timing is impeccable. David Hyde Pierce's everso fussy Niles plays off Kelsey's Frasier like a pair of matching bookends. John Mahoney is wonderfully gruff as Martin, while Jane Leeves plays a more cockney-ish version of Daphne, which would get more toned down later. Peri Gilpin, as one of my favorite characters Roz, has her edge back and biting. It's fun to watch these characters and actors as they started, and to realize how far they've come.

Frasier always was a comedy for the thinking person. I think these DVD's are superb, and for the price you get quite bit. It's well worth your investment of time and money. Invite Frasier into your home, and enjoy!

Classic comedy. It's still funny after many viewings.
I live in the UK, so we're a bit behind with our DVD releases (Season 2 out in May 2004 here). It's great to get whole series in one compact box set to watch over and over again, whenever an evening calls for a dose of Frasier watching. There aren't many comedies that can withstand repeated viewings and still manage to be funny - but this is one of them. There also aren't many comedies that can run for so many series and not get stale and boring, or over-the-top stupid - but with Frasier every episode manages to entertain, and every series keeps this standard up. Of course, everyone has their favourite episodes over the years - I just wish the DVDs were released quicker than just two a year (I'd happily buy a series each month until I'd got the whole set!). There are some good extras included, although not as extensive as with some box sets - but hey - there's every episode of the first series here, what more do you want!? I'm looking forward to adding Season 2 to my collection when it hits the stores in the UK next month.

FRASIER! FRASIER! FRASIER! - I CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH!
Frasier is one of the best sitcoms ever (the best, in my opinion, being FRASIER, ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, CHEERS, SEINFELD and THE SIMPSONS- I love them all) and I am eagerly awaiting for the rest of the seasons availability for purchase and wish they'd hurry up about it. I don't see why they don't just put out all the seasons at once, it's like pulling teeth waiting soooo long for one season at a time to become available to buy. I could die before they release the rest of the seasons for Gods' sake! This is a must see comedy series and if you don't love it after seeing it then there must be something terribly wrong with you darling.

The continuing story of Dr. Frasier Crane
After Cheers wrapped up for good in the spring of 1993,producers spun off Kelsey Grammer's character,Dr. Frasier Crane who first appeared in 1984. This is the first of eleven seasons and the tenth in which we see the hilarious psychiatrist. David Hyde Pierce is Frasier's brother. Peri Gilpin(her character) also becomes a friend and/or love interest of Frasier's. Not many people thought this spinoff would be successful(many spinoffs didn't become as popular as their parent shows). Only one other spinoff(at least that I know of) that lasted eleven seasons was The Jeffersons,whose parent show is All In The Family. Grammer continued to be nominated for and win a multitude of Emmys for his character(he was and did for Cheers).

Funny
I never liked the show until right around the time when it was taken off of the air. Like I said before, there aren't many spin-off's from other series that end up being successful. A take-off of Frasier Crane from Cheers, this sitcom lasted 11 long seasons that was loaded with Emmy awards. The first season is just as funny as the final season, unlike some of the other shows that are funnier in their more recent seasons, like The Simpsons. Here are a few brief descriptions of the more notable of the 24 episodes included in these four discs.

I Hate Frasier Crane: 8/10: Frasier is irritated with Eddie's habit of constantly staring at him. Niles brings an editorial to Frasier by someone who claims to hate Frasier. They exchange verbal insults, and a fistfight is insinuated. Martin encourages Frasier to fight, instead of backing down, like he did 30 years ago.

Call Me Irresponsible: 10/10: Frasier begins to date someone that he met unethically. He talked to the woman's former boyfriend on his show and told him to break off the relationship. He is torn between ethics and being happy. The crew takes a Christmas picture on October 21.

Death Becomes Him: 10/10: Martin's doctor dies suddenly at the age of 41. He was always a health freak, and this sudden death worries Frasier, because he is the same age. The funny part is when Frasier goes to the funeral and when he hears about how healthy this man was, he questions whether he is really dead.

Oops: 9/10: Rumors fly that someone at the radio station is going to get fired. When Bulldog's name is thrown around as the potential guy getting fired, he quits his job before he is able to get fired. Of course, he wasn't ever going to be fired in the first place.

A Midwinter Night's Dream: 8/10: Niles and Daphne get stuck together alone and Frasier worries about what will happen, because Daphne isn't yet aware of Niles' crush on her.

We hear a lot about Maris, but never see her. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

Priceless!
Bill Cosby is wonderfully funny. His humor is timeless, and this show is a sparkling example of a brilliant stand-up comedian at work. I've watched this on tape MANY times over the years, and, like wine, it just gets better with age -- I've realized that the more life experiences I gain, the more I laugh when I see "Himself". I loved the performance when I was in my 20s,and 30s, and now my 40s. My husband I have commented that while all the routines have always been very funny, they take on an entirely new dimension for us now that we're parents (literally making us laugh until we cry in parts). Mr. Bill Cosby is a comic genius and a national treasure. Here's hoping the studio will put this out on DVD soon!! If you haven't seen this show, or haven't watched it in a while, by all means treat yourself and WATCH IT! Bill Cosby "Himself" will make your day.

Hilarious!
I finally broke down and purchsed this tape after a lull of 20 years since I heard it last. Bill Cosby is hilarious and CLEAN (99% of the time), somewhat of an oddity in today's stand-up world. The content of the tape will have you rolling for days, as Bill creates excellent archetypes to which we can all relate. His "I don't know!" portion is especially entertaining!

The only complaint I have is the tape quality. Perhaps someone at 20th Century Fox could step up to the plate and get this presentation cleaned up and digitized onto DVD to help out. My copy is brand new, but the sound and video still suffers somewhat (original recording in 1981 I think). Other than that, this is tape is a GREAT gift idea; highly recommended.

Unintentionally Funny
While the main goal is making the viewer laugh, some parts are eerily funny and cryptic. The film starts out with an hilariously bad song called "It Was A Good Idea At The Time" then the comedy gets underway. At one point Bill jokes on his now-dead son, Ennis. Ennis was being naughty so Bill jokes that Camille wants Bill to "kill the boy...hehehe, kill the boy." Then Bill adds, "...so I go upstairs to kill my son." Morbid, given what would occur nearly 20 years later.

Cool Cos
A classic. While I'm very conservative about buying VHS/DVD's, this one is worth it. If you like Bill Cosby, this is a performance you can watch again and again.

His humor regarding raising his children is especially entertaining.

Bill Cosby, Himself
I saw this tape years ago, when I rented it to show to my sister, who was visiting. She is rather prim, but laughed until she cried.
This is a request to the powers-that-be to get this brilliant comedian on DVD before the tapes degenerate into oblivion. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Killin' Them Softly is easily one of HBO's best comedy specials, catching star Dave Chappelle at a career high in 2000 and with an abundance of hysterical, highly polished material. Taking his time, stretching concepts and bits like a master, Chappelle plunges into a wealth of anecdotes and observations about the influx of white people into Washington, D.C. (where this show was recorded) since the 1980s. ("Who are the scariest people? White guys in black gangs. No telling what they did to get respect.") There are fantastic tales of racing cops with Chappelle's white friend, Chip, and a great story about being left alone in a limousine outside a busy crack house. Other good stuff: introducing a kid to a PePe Le Pew cartoon and realizing too late the skunk is a sex criminal, and why we should know our 911 calls will end up played on television. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (36)

solid comedy
I would actually give this DVD 4 1/2 stars. It is HILARIOUS, but does have its dull moments. Chappelle did great work in this performance in Washington, D.C. a few years ago. With bits ranging from "Sesame Street" to Bill Clinton to "Downtown Washington, D.C," this DVD is a guarantee to keep you laughing for a long time. A definite buy if you are a fan of Dave Chappelle. He does great stand-up work.

Off my seat rolling with laughter!!!
Dave Chappelle's humor is one of a kind. You won't find this comedic act yelling and screaming to get your attention. This show will keep you wanting more because Dave tells his tales like it is. From the whole Sesame Street gang to sex and drugs, where does he come up with this stuff? I've seen Dave in many small movie roles such as Blue Streak and Men in Tights, but I think Killin' Them Softly shows his strong talents. I've been waiting for this DVD to come out a long time and am happy to see it be available soon. There is no comparing Chappelle to Chris Rock, Bernie Mac or Chris Tucker, this guy is on his own level.

Chappelle is even funner uncensored!!
I can't say much, Chappelle is one hilarious guy, he's number three next to Richard Pryor and George Carlin. My favorite skit was the part with Sesame Street. If you love Chappelle, get this!!

if you love chappelle show, you will love this
This is a very funny performance from the man himself Dave Chappelle. This performance was in Washington DC and was a 2 hour special he had on HBO. As going into the first hour already I was laughing my (...)! Dave Chappelle talks through the troubles of an average black man. This DVD would have been more better if it had special features. It would have been great if there was an interview with Dave or backstage behind the scene look. But its all good. This performance still covers with its raw sense of mentality. If you have the Chappelle show 1st season in your DVD collection, you have to add this to your collection. A must buy DVD.

really very nice and good.
This is probably R leval material, but it was still funny. The best part was when he made fun of seseme street. He seemed like he didn't want to stop when he ran out of time and material. He didn't end it well, but it certinly didn't hurt the overall perrformance. ... Read more

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In honoring M*A*S*H's third season with the prestigious PeabodyAward, the judges praised this series "for the depth of its humor and the mannerin which comedy is used to lift the spirit and, as well, to offer a profoundstatement on the nature of war." Contained on three discs, season threecomprises several benchmark episodes illustrative of what the Peabody judgescalled "television of high purpose." In "Rainbow Bridge," Hawkeye (Alan Alda),Trapper (Wayne Rogers), Radar (Gary Burghoff), Klinger (Jamie Farr), and anopportunistic Frank Burns (Larry Linville) participate in a swap with the NorthKoreans of wounded POWs. In "The Consultant," Robert Alda (Alan's dad) gueststars as a visiting doctor who cracks under the pressure of operating so closeto the front. And the shocking season finale, "Abyssinia, Henry," took a pagefrom Mister Roberts and killed off commanding officer Henry Blake (McLeanStevenson), who was en route home.

M*A*S*H's sense of humor did not go AWOL. The season opener, "The GeneralFlipped at Dawn," earned guest star Harry Morgan an Emmy nomination for hisperformance as a certifiable general and paved the way for Morgan to join thecast in season four. "Adam's Ribs" is a classic episode in which Hawkeye ordersout to Chicago for a very special delivery of spare ribs. In "Iron Guts Kelly,"the war's "greatest fighting general" gets a little too gung-ho and perishes inMargaret's (Loretta Swit) tent. Because of its wartime setting andlife-and-death struggles, this is that rare sitcom that may actually play better withouta laugh track, an option this set offers. To paraphrase the title of oneepisode, this was a full, rich season that offered each member of one oftelevision's finest ensembles the opportunity to shine. But Alda, who washonored that year with a Golden Globe award, fully emerges as the series' star.--Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (43)

The BEST Season Of M*A*S*H!
The third season of M*A*S*H is by far the best season out of all
eleven of them. This was the year that the show won the peabody
award,the highest award you can receive in television,and
co-producer gene reynolds won an emmy award for directing the episode, "o.r." This is also the year that actors wayne rogers and mclean stevenson left the show. The last episode of the season, "abyssinia, henry" is worth the price of this dvd set alone! Too have that epiosde with the others in this collection uncut and unedited is a M*A*S*H fan's dream come true! All the epiosdes in this season are top notch in my opinion, but the ones too really look for are the following, "the general flipped at dawn", "officer of the day", "o.r.", "alcoholics unanimous", "adam's ribs", "bombed", "bulletin board", "house arrest", "aid station", "payday", "white gold" and "abyssinia, henry". Can't wait for season's four thru six then i'm finished.

Totally agree it's the best season of MASH
I love the mixture of comedy and seriousness that pervades the entire season unlike the more slapsticky first two seasons. Now due to lack of special features on the DVD. Here are some season three bloopers not on this DVD.1) Stevenson and Burghoff laughing at (guest!) Harry Morgan saying "The irish were rotten Indian fighters" and other lines.2)A chorus of "We want something else" from the Adams Rib episode where we see Klinger and Rader sitting side by side humming and Burghoff laughng a bit.3) Another bit with guest Harry Morgan saying "My brother contacted Yellow fever during the digging of the Panama Canal." Trap (Rogers) Says something like "Well you should've called me sooner General" and gets dry mouth saying it.4) A breakout in laughter from Alda and Rogers while licking things in the ep where Radar saves the lamb's life.'

Another classic season
Some consider the third season the show's very best, full of humor but also more boldly playing with serious topics. The actors are really at home in their characters by this point, and the audience knows them inside and out, too. They no longer need to play gags over-the-top to work because we know them so well. And because we know they so well, the serious turns hit home.

Reams have been written about M.A.S.H.; offering accolades would just be repeating what has been said before. Among the most popular sitcoms ever made, the show still stands the test of time despite being a "period" show. The jokes still work, the characters are still charming and feel like old friends, and the show still more enjoyable than most of the shows that have come and gone since.

Like the other sets, this DVD collection is bare bones (though not poorly produced). We get the episodes spread out over several discs in a sturdy triple-case and a small booklet with info on each episode. That's it. No extras. No commentaries. No documentaries. Just the episodes.

And that is just fine, because the episodes are great. Good picture far quality, good sound, and an option to turn off the laugh track are about all we really need.

Even better is the price. Because this is so bare bones, we're paying only about $35 rather than the $50 or $70 so common with TV-on-DVD sets.

A no-brainer buy for M.A.S.H. fans.

I'm not sure which impresses me more...
If you were new to MASH and asked a fan which season best represented the series, most fans would point you towards season 3. By this point the writers and cast had mastered walking the fine line between humour and drama, and knew how to make you laugh while also exploring some of the deeper issues of life. There are a lot of standouts this season, including Hawkeye's craving for Adam's ribs, a supposedly dead soldier that comes back to life, General MacArthur's visit to the camp, and future cast member Harry Morgan's guest appearance as a crazy general. Two of the more serious episodes include a tension-filled prisoner exchange and a trip to an aid station at the front lines.

The one episode that most fans feel define this season is the season finale, where commanding officer Henry Blake goes home. However, I think there might actually be another episode that impresses me more, the oft-underrated "The Consultant." Guest-starring Alan Alda's father, the story revolves around a consultng doctor who shows up to demostrate a new medical procedure, only to become too drunk to operate when the time comes. While the premise could sound like a comedic episode, this is actually a very subtly done drama that shows MASH at its best. The lesson learned here is not one that gets shoved down the viewer's throats (like later MASH seasons), but is so deep yet understated that it'll take a rewind or two with the DVD remote to catch all the implications of the final scene.

By now it's obvious that each MASH season will be a bare-bones set, and maybe that's okay at least for the moment. Each set is affordable, the audio/video quality is above broadcast standards, and viewers can turn the laugh track off. For new and old fans alike, MASH season 3 is definitely a season to check out.

the best M*A*S*H season ever
this is the best season in all of its 11 seasons because it has
lost alot of its charm when mclean stevenson and wayne rogers left the show they were too funny and this season has the best episode ever (abyssinia henry) so go for this set and enjoy the best moments in this amazing show ... Read more