 "Great DVD set--no scratches (for me, at least)" | 2008-09-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: A33445NEXBTLXW |
| I've heard people complaining about the DVDs in this limted edition set. When I bought mine, there were no scratches on the DVDs. As for getting the DVDs in and out of the cardboard slipcases, I have done so numerous times, and I have not one scratch on the DVDs. Unless I start noticing scratches on them from the case as time goes by, my review still stands. |
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 "I'm rating the bowling ball special edition DVD, NOT the movie!" | 2008-09-10 |
| - Reviewed By marblehead72 |
The Big Lebowski is on my top ten list of all time best films. I've seen A LOT of films by the way. I don't need to explain to anyone why this movie is so brilliant, and why it continues to be a cultural phenomenon. I mention these things first because I don't want people to feel like I'm giving the film one star. If I could I would give the movie 100 stars. What I'm giving such a poor review for is my distaste for movie studios pumping out special editon dvd's every few years because they know a film has a huge following. This new "bowling ball" edition of Lebowski is further proof that Universal has nothing but contempt for the fans of Big Lebowski. They wrap it up in a nice big package and make it look slick, but that's as far as the creativity goes into supplying anything new in terms of extras. Does anyone remember the terrible repackage they gave it a few years ago with a towel and coasters? No actual extras existed, but they still put it out as a revamped "deluxe edition". Well, don't expect much more here.
The only new extras to this edition are four very brief featurettes. They feature new interviews with all of the major players (with the exception of the Coen brothers, of course), but they mostly just sit around and say stuff like, "It's a great film! It's hilarious! Coen Brothers are geniuses!". Err, yeah, we know all of that. It also has a featurette that centers around the Lebowski Fest which is vaguely interesting for a few minutes until it turns into the same old "Lebowski is great!" territory. The featurettes are a snooze fest to say the least.
What really annoyed me with this DVD, though, is that they included the SAME "Making of Big Lebowski" documentary that has been on every release of this film! Not only that, it looks as if it was recorded from an old VHS tape and plastered onto a full screen format. It looks horrible, and what's more, we've all seen it before! How many times is Universal going to pump out the same damn extras to the same audience?? It's an insult to be charged more and more money for the same mediocre extras that were never that good to begin with. Luckily I was able to rent this and didn't actually buy it! "The Big Lebowski" will NEVER have proper extras until the people who created it (the Coen Brothers) are involved. We want a commentary, a full length documentary with in-depth interviews, and deleted scenes (and plenty of them!).
DON'T BUY THIS EDITION. It's junk! Simply keep the edition you already have (the very first edition) safely knowing that you are not missing anything with any other edition! |
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 "10th Anniversary Bowling Ball Edition" | 2008-09-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: A39GWYGCPCDCUR |
Just got my brand new Big Lebowski 10th Anniversarry Bowling Ball Edition.
My thought, case is cheaply made and had visible scratches on what should have been a brand new purchase.
The DVDs are enclosed in cheap cardboard sleeves that are placed inside the bowling ball one on top of the other. Print on the cardboard sleeves show visible fingerprints like the glossy coat of a PS3.
It's still a cool collectors item, but I don't think it's worth the price Universal is asking for. luckily I had a $25.00 gift certificate! |
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| "Eight year-olds, dude." | 2008-08-30 |
| - Reviewed By russellgmoore |
It takes the Coen Brothers to combine a Hispanic pederass, a case of obvious mistaken identity, Nihilists, Viet Nam vets, Nixon, Shomer Shabbos, green toenail polish, Tai Chi, a Pomeranian, a marmot and take them all bowling and it becomes a classic film that we know every line from.
I started drinking White Russians and smoking because I wanted to be like the Dude. It made me feel good, but I never gained any integrity or had quick one-liners to offer as a result. The closest I ever came to being a character in the movie was Brandt. Not good. Now that I'm out of rehab for the third time, I'm going to try it again only with powder creamer instead of half and half. I'll keep you posted.
Take 'er easy.
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| "ONE 100% COOL POLISH-AMERICAN DUDESTER. LEBOWSKI LIKES HIS BREWSKI BUT HAS A TON OF INTEGRITYSKI - A CLASSICSKI!" | 2008-08-26 |
| - Reviewed By miamidenis |
| A classic. Don't miss the message in the movie: Lebowski seems very party guy and laid back, but is the only guy in the story with a lot of integrity and heart. Classic! |
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 "see it for free on hulu (with ads) - great movie" | 2008-08-25 |
| - Reviewed By User: A27W0Q9XI0IVDX |
just that.. i saw it on hulu a few weeks back. should still be there. video quality is actualy quite nice -- i full screen it onto my 56"..
otherwise, the movie was fantastic. a must see. |
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| "Beautiful" | 2008-08-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: A133XVTILE3HA8 |
| When I first saw 'The Big Lebowski' on its original release I enjoyed it but thought it was a bit of a slight "fun" movie with less depth than many of their previous works. Now, a few years and several viewing later, I have come to realise just how accomplished a movie it is, and it has become one of my all time favourite movies. Other film makers have attempted to weave together various genres, styles and images in a similarly eclectic, postmodern fashion, but few do it as seamlessly and with such wit as Ethan and Joel Coen. 'The Big Lewboski' is an extremely smart film, but it doesn't shout "look at me! Aren't I clever?". It sucks you in from the get go, and bottom line it is FUNNY, and as it is a comedy that's what counts the most! Everything about the movie is perfect, the script, the direction, set design, costumes, and the wonderful soundtrack (one of the most brilliant ever assembled, it includes lesser known Dylan and Elvis Costello numbers, Creedence classics, and songs from cult favourites like Yma Sumac, Captain Beefheart, Moondog, Esquivel and garage gods The Monks). Plus of course the actors, who are well cast and virtually flawless. Jeff Bridges ('Fat City', 'Starman') IS The Dude, and it's impossible to think of anyone else acting the role. Coen regulars John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Peter Stomare, and Jon Polito are all on board, as well as Julianne Moore ('Boogie Nights'), David Huddleston ('Capricorn One'), Philip Seymour Hoffman ('Magnolia') and Sam Elliot ('Mask'), even surprise cameos from Ben Gazzara ('The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie') and singer Jimmie Ray Gilmore. I can't fault 'The Big Lebowski', it is one of the most original and entertaining comedies ever made and a genuine modern classic. It's movies like this that keep me watching despite the endless mountain of mindless garbage that Hollywood continually spews out. If only every movie in the box office Top Ten was as inspired and amusing as this one! |
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| "Funny Classic" | 2008-08-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A31CFKM5SPS4IR |
| The first time I seen this was not long ago and I couldn't stop laughing. Great classic with great actors. I think just about anybody could enjoy this movie. Nothing but fun and laughs. Definitely worth is at the price on HD DVD. |
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| "A film that could only come from the Coen's" | 2008-08-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1GEPBQYM2D842 |
What is the Big Lebowski?
1 - intricate plot that everyone does best just ignoring.
1 - hippie protagonist. Someone wholly incompetent at life, but left to simmer in this intricate plot for days.
1 - misguided 'friend' with the pent up aggression to spice up the protagonist, forcing him to pursue things he probably shouldn't
1 Dozen - eclectic mix of truly diverse characters, all true to form
Mix it all together in the City of Angels, and watch the fish out of water protagonist flop around in a series of incidents that are clearly over his head, enjoy the absurd interaction of diverse characters, and the brilliant dialogue that ties it all together.
WARNING: Be careful not to partake in the plot. This is poisonous, and any attempt to make sense of it will make you hate this film like poorly sliced Japanese Fugu fish.
.....................
This is one of the few movies I have watched multiple times. It's funny, witty and endearing.......a rare gem.
Oh, and one more note about the plot, which winds and twists to places no one should follow. It really does hold up and in fact has far less holes than most of what Hollywood produces. This is DEFINITELY not the reason to watch the movie though. Doing so will result in you either 1) hating the movie or 2) an aneurysm.
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| "Just see this movie, and love it; dude..." | 2008-08-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: ANCOMAI0I7LVG |
`The Big Lebowski' has been hailed as one of the greatest cult classic films of our time, and I just might have to agree. The Coen brothers rarely disappoint (honestly, `Intolerable Cruelty' was a mess but aside from that they usually strike gold) and `The Big Lebowski', while not their smartest film, may be one of their most entertaining. In all honesty, `Fargo' is a better film, but nothing in `Fargo' can match the brilliance that is Jeff Bridges as the iconic `Dude'.
So, `The Big Lebowski' centers around two men with the same name. There is Jeffrey `The Dude' Lebowsky; a pot-smoking, White Russian drinking, unemployed slacker, and then there is Jeffrey `The Big' Lebowski, a handicapped multi-millionaire with a trophy wife named Bunny who has gotten herself in debt with some very dangerous men. Those men, attempting to get their money, come after `The Dude', mistaking him for Bunny's husband. Thus starts the tumble that is the Dude's involvement in a kidnapping scheme that pits him against some very strange (and albeit hilarious) people. Teamed with his bowling buddies Walter and Donny, not to mention Lebowski's (the `Big' man) estranged daughter Maude, the Dude attempts to make some quick cash by playing as the go between for Lebowski and his wife's kidnappers.
The plot is simple and doesn't work too hard to embellish itself, but the brilliant script work and the flawless acting help make for some of the funniest moments and most memorable dialog in recent memory. John Goodman really works well with the Coen brothers. His performance in `Barton Fink' is seriously one of my favorite supporting performances of all time, and here in `The Big Lebowski' he dominates as the Dude's best buddy Walter. Buscemi (who is also a perennial Coen star) doesn't have as much to do as he did in `Fargo' but he makes the most of it. Philip Seymour Hoffman is hilarious as Brandt; his facial expressions in the limo with the two Lebowski's is one of my favorite scenes in the film. Tara Reid plays a variation of herself as Bunny, and Peter Storemare is hilarious as the Nihilist member of the techno pop band `Autobahn'. The character of `The Big' Lebowski is a tad clichéd, but David Huddleston is hilarious enough to make up for that. Julianne Moore is fantastic, and I mean that, as Maude. I seriously am starting to change my opinion of this actress. She has been lauded over and over and seriously up until this past week I didn't understand why, but her performance here (and more notable in `Short Cuts') is starting to change my mind. Everything about her character play here is hilariously on point.
But nothing compares to `The Dude'...nothing. Jeff Bridges is in all honesty one of my favorite actors; he may even break top ten for me. He just always sells it, even when he's not mind-blowing he has that consistency about his work to where it is always solid. His performance here is not only solid, but it is mind-blowing. Comedic-wise he just devours this film, becoming this character from this inside out. He beautifully builds layers of apathy within a character that is deeper than his roots, but most importantly he understands the dialog and `how' his character would sell that dialog, and he soars.
`The Big Lebowski' can be labeled another Coen triumph, to rest on the shelf along with `Fargo' and the more recent `No Country for Old Men' as iconic cinematic experiences that one shall not soon forget. |
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