Rating: 
Summary: A love story for the neurotic
Review: As a fan of P.T. Anderson films, this was one that I approached with some trepidation, namely because it starred Adam Sandler, whose movies have always inspired a particular kind of loathing from me. Although Punch Drunk Love is certainly Anderson's weakest film to date, I was pleasantly surprised. Sandler's performance as Barry Egan, a man hen-pecked to the point of serious neurosis by his seven sisters, is excellent and garners sympathy from the viewer even when we see the dark side of his character.
As for the rest of the film, it is one of the most beautifully shot films I have ever seen. The cinematography and camera work are absolutely brilliant, with each shot carefully constructed like a work of art. However, the film suffers from a script that is often not fleshed out enough, leaving the viewer with too many questions. The characters and situations are intriguing enough to warrant a deeper understanding of them through background information, but that information is never provided. All in all, the film stretches itself a bit thin branching out in too many directions that are all only partially developed.
What Punch Drunk Love presents us with is part character study, part love story. We are given insight into Barry Egan's quirky and eccentric mind and see the composite of a person made meek and jittery by years of verbal browbeating. Anderson effectively makes the viewer feel Egan's neurosis by showing his bizarre behavior and creating a feeling of tension and claustrophobia through both camera work and music. We are also witness to Egan beginning to overcome his timidity and take charge of his life by drawing on the strength that his relationship with Emily Watson's character Lena has given him. What is truly at the heart of this film though is the message that now matter how strange or different we may be, there is someone out there for us, someone who complements and completes us. However, finding this person often requires a certain amount of inner strength and the willingness to take a chance. Egan is frightened at first, unsure of whether his leap of faith will turn into a fall, but by taking that leap he is able to find someone that is a perfect fit for him, bringing a calming sense of balance and harmony into his life.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice try, but just not that good
Review: I'm a bit surprised by the viciousness by some of the fans of this movie to those who did not like it. Evidently you can't be a fan of this director's work and still not care for one of his movie. Shame, there.Punch-Drunk Love has some good moments in it, but left my wife and I thinking that the film was made before the script was truly realized. Points to Sandler for wanting to break-out of his comedic persona to try something different, and at times he really is good in this film. Unfortunately the script lets him down, as his character never goes beyond being a cardboard stereotype of a hyperactive loser. To have Watson's character want to stay with him makes little sense; and the audience we saw it with left the theater asking themselves why these characters were together when there was never any indication why she would stay with him after his actions in the film (except that the film's creators wanted them to be together). Simply a case of a movie where the people behind the camera being unable to allow the story be told on the screen, and had to force characters into unnatural actions in order to make their point. Ultimately, the movie is not bad or horrible, just lazy and a misstep. Good luck to all in the future, though, and it was nice to see Sandler trying to branch out.
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful little movie becomes a great dvd.
Review: Punch Drunk Love is a tough movie to swallow. Its hero, Barry Egan, has a frustrating, anxiety filled life. But the movie never becomes too uncomfortable. Writer/Director Paul Thomas Anderson mixes drama and comedy well. His use of music and surreal colours help give the film a dream-like quality.
The acting is excellent all across the board. Sandler is excellent and Emily Watson turns in another great understated performance. Luis Guzman and Phillip Seymour-Hoffman both turn in their usual strong performances.
Punch Drunk Love is a trying, yet satisfying film.
The DVD looks excellent, as does the packaging. The extras are good, making this dvd well worth its modest price.
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of hype, a big disappointment
Review: Let me begin by saying that I was extremely excited to see this film seeing as PTA's Magnolia is a personal favorite. So I went into it expecting a film that had a lot to say and had brilliant characters. This film is nothing like Magnolia, and I was very disappointed. I watched just about one hour, and that was enough to annoy me thoroughly. The check out associate at Blockbuster warned me as I was renting this that movie stunk. I politely shruggled off her warning, writing her off as just a young teenager and probably watched it just because it had Adam Sandler in it. I should have taken her advice, because whatever her reasoning, this movie [stunk]. All or most of the characters in the movie are very annoying, especially Sandler's seven sisters. I realize it was an attempt to be humorous, but from the very start of it they just annoy the hell out of the viewer. You can certainly see why Sandler's character is such a nutcase. I could elaborate more on the sisters, but I won't. While Magnolia had lots of characters with different stories going on at the same time, this film is just a bunch of mixed up pieces that don't make a bit of sense... the dramatic car accident at the beginning?? The piano?? Maybe it would have all been tied together in the end, but there is nothing in this movie to make you want to stay with it that long. I will congradulate Sandler for being able to break his regular mold and be a serious actor in the movie. It is a shame that the movie itself and story couldn't have been better, his talent was really wasted. Hopefully someone else will give him a chance in a future film. Emily Watson on the other hand, besides what I hear about her being a great British actress, she is an awfully ugly woman. She looked to old for Sandler, she wasn't anything to look at on screen, and as far as I'm concerned, she can stay with film in the UK. Although there are pleanty of thoughtful revelations in Magnolia, things that make you really think about life, there is no moments like this in PDL. Nothing in the film seems to mean anything at all. The only things I thought was brilliant was Sandler's scheme to get millions of flyer miles off the pudding cups. They made it out to be crazy in the previews and in the film, but honestly, it is a genius concept. Final wrap-up, stay away from this film. It was a waste of studio money, acting talent, and it will be a waste of your time too.
Rating:
Summary: look listen and think
Review: when you see this movie you have to look and listenand you will understand what barry goes through because he has 7 sisters and every time he's told what to do he gets mad and also you have to think about the life he has everyday but when he finds love it changes is whole world so use your brain and watch this movie
Rating:
Summary: What is this????
Review: Everyone once in a while, I choose to rent movies that I haven't heard of before, out of curiosity, but I have to admit, I screen the actors' names before, which gives me some sense of "how bad can it be?" For example, I have yet to be dissapointed with a movie that I hadn't heard before which had actors such as Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Meg Ryan, Al pacino....
Until this one, Adam Sandler also fell in that category of "if he chose to play it, it must be ok". WRONG!!!! I am a strong beleiver that actors should play different roles in their careers, but in this case, it looks like Adam Sandler's thought process was merely to say "I always do comedies, this is different, so yes I will do it."!!
It's one of those movies that you wait, and you wait, because you beleive there HAS to be something that will eventually make sense, and then it ends, and you are right where you started, NOWHERE!!
To conclude, don't rent it, loss of money, and more importantly, loss of time!!!
Rating:
Summary: PT Anderson shines
Review: This was one of the better films I have seen all year...that being said, the Special Addition DVD carries the material very well. For those who appreciated this picture for what it was, I highly recommend this DVD and all it has to offer.
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasant Surprise
Review: Sandler plays Barry Egan, a man who owns his own business selling novelties. Egan is pretty much henpecked. He was raised in a family with seven obnoxious sisters. The treat him pretty much like dirt nagging and insulting him without any regard for his feelings. Barry's problem is he tries to play nice. He's a walking tea kettle and every so often he blows. Barry is not a sociable person. His life outside of work conisist of pallets of pudding to earn frequent flier miles. He is generally lousy with women. He calls a sex hot line number, and being incredibly naive, (or stupid) he gives out as much personal info as humanly possible which comes back to haunt him in a major way. Watching him on the phone with the phone sex girl is a treat. He has no idea how to interact with a female. His sister wants to hook him up with a coworker (Emily Watson). Sandler wants nothing to do with it, but she asks him out, he accepts, and this becomes one of the most unconventional love stories to come out of Hollywood in years. The DVD extras are strange. There is a deleted scene in which Barry Egan is working with a customer and notices a little boy playing. He then flies into a sort of controlled rage. Given today's social climate it's easy to see why this did not make it into the theatrical release. Worth a look though.
Rating:
Summary: The Magic of P. Thomas Anderson
Review: As one of P. Thomas Anderson's sturdiest sentinels, I went in to this film expecting greatness again. I've always admired his writing style and grace. More than any director/writer in the 90's P. Thomas Anderson has forged ahead and created films unmatched by almost any other director. However, the movie Punchdrunk Love is far more abysmal than I could have imagined. The film has all the elements of a REALLY bad idea: Weak character development at best(no arcs), a storyline that meanders all over the place, enough loose ends to tie the world's biggest knot, the flow and cadence of a gruesome funeral, bad soundtrack, the audience is never LET IN on the story. Case(s)in point: the harmonium had absolutely no significance! There was no follow up on Barry's family problems! The mattress man "climax" is trite and unbelievable! Why was Barry the way he was? The phone-line extortion scenario is simply stupid. Savant like even! Hey Barry, how about a costume change?!?! The pudding/frequent flyer miles subplot was suffocating, bland and ignorant! I could go on, but why? The idea here is: STAY AWAY FROM THIS FILM!!!! If you are thinking about a newer or comparable Magnolia, think again! Magnolia had beauty, majesty, wonder, perfection, vision and glory. PunchDrunk Love has all the opposites. The only good thing about the film is the color. I scored 1 star because I couldn't score the film lower.
Rating:
Summary: A COMIC, TENSE AND MOVING MASTERPIECE OF FILM
Review: This film means many things to many people, but to me, it is a film that cherishes life and makes the little things in it much more beautiful. Whoever thought pudding could have such character? This film is incredibly tense because it puts the viewer in the main character's figity and paranoid sense of the world, but in that intensity is alot of laughter, alot of heart and at the end, you realize you just witnessed a romantic comedy that speaks to the romantic and the understanding. Those who don't like it or don't get it, I have no idea how you couldn't unless you are predisposed to hating Adam Sandler movies or think of romance as dancing, drinking and one night stands. This film is about the love that most of us strive to find in our daily lives and with hope, chance and fate, it could happen to you as well. So collect the pudding because you might have to go on a trip very soon.
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