Rating: Summary: Good, except... Review: The DVD's are very good. But, one major problem, this isn't a complete set. It is missing one of the best films of the series "The Return of the Pink Panther". Apparently this has something to do with studio copyrights and what not, but I felt a little jipped since this is not mentioned at all. Otherwise a good set.
Rating: Summary: Major Disappointment Review: The issue of this Pink Panther DVD compendium is a rather big disappointment for a few important reasons. I knew that RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER would probably not be included for legal reasons, but I did expect to have CURSE OF THE PINK PANTHER and SON OF THE PINK PANTHER included. SON OF THE PINK PANTHER though doing very poor at the box office, is a genuinely funny film harkening back to the days of the original two films with its nostalgic flavor for 60's stylistic humor. CURSE OF THE PINK PANTHER even with its forced and heavy-handed approach did feature several cast members of the original PINK PANTHER including David Niven as Sir Charles Lytton, Robert Wagner as George Lytton his nephew and Capucine as Simone the ex-Misses Clouseau. Also, Henry Mancini's score for CURSE OF THE PINK PANTHER is wonderful. The material on the disk containing extras is rather sparse, evasive and much too short. The commentary on the series was poorly structured and not well thought out. 1968's INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU with Alan Akin as Clouseau is scarcely mentioned and SON OF THE PINK PANTHER is written off as a failure. I was looking for more critical and artistic dialogue on these two films in particular. The only saving grace is that TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER is finally presented on DVD in letterbox. I did find this film constructed primarily from Peter Seller's outtakes and retakes actually to be incredibly funny until the footage of Sellers runs out. Also, mention of the actual packaging is lovingly designed with its retro 60s cartoon animation cleverly and nostalgically prominent. If you have the previous DVD releases of THE PINK PANTHER, A SHOT IN THE DARK, THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN and REVENGE OF THE PINK PANTHER recommendation for this release is rather tenuous.
Rating: Summary: Missing Movie and All, Still a Hilarious Collection Review: The Pink Panther Collection has some week moments, yes, but all in all, still one of the funniest set of movies to be released...ever.
Some of the gags in this movie go down in history as some of the most hilarious of all time, and some of the subtle little idiosyncracies of Peter Sellars made these films.
My personal favorite, the Pink Panther Strikes Back, has some of the best sequences of any comedy I've ever seen, and there are funny scenes all of the films-with that being said, there are funny gags in the non-included DVD's, but this product warrants buying if you are at all a fan of the series, even a casual one like myself, you will come to admire how great these films actually are, and may soon accept them as what they are: films that ranks along side the great comedy series of all time.
Rating: Summary: Fabulous Value, Great Films, Mediocre Extras Review: The Pink Panther Film Collection consists of 5 Panther films and 1 bonus disc. Only 4 of the films are worthy ('Trail of the Pink Panther' is a train wreck of a film - it's a film made of outtakes and clips from previous films tacked together two years after Peter Seller's death), and it's also missing a major Panther film ('Return of the Pink Panther') which was the first Sellers-Edwards collaboration immediately following the hiatus after 'Shot in the Dark'.The 4 worthy films, though, shine as comedy classics, fully display Sellers' genius, witness the evolution of the Clouseau character, and feature the talents of Seller's surroundings casts and Edwards' direction. Many can argue which is the best film; I personally prefer 'The Pink Panther' followed by 'Revenge of the Pink Panther'. The bonus disc has one documentary about the Panther films, one documentary about the Panther animation, and 6 Pink Panther cartoons. The main documentary has some good info about the Panther series, but is not nearly as comprehensive as it could be. There is no mention of the thought process behind 'Trail' and scant detail about the other films. 'The Pink Panther' has audio commentary by Blake Edwards, a trivia feature, a photo gallery, and the original trailer. The other films have only the photo galleries and trailers. Deep insight into the Pink Panther series is missing in this collection, but it's also an excellent value for four great comedies.
Rating: Summary: "You have reh-ceived a bimp on the head" Review: The Pink Panther Film Collection is a great set with one small problem: It is missing "Return of the Pink Panther" yet includes "Trail of the Pink Panther"
"The Pink Panther" 4/4 stars
"A Shot in the Dark" 4/4 stars
"Return of the Pink Panther" 3.5/4 stars
"The Pink Panther Strikes Again" 4/4 stars
"Revenge of the Pink Panther" 3.5/4 stars
"Trail of the Pink Panther" 1/4 stars
Rating: Summary: Pink Panther The Great Review: The Pink Panther series are the best comedies ever made. Even though off screen Edwards and Sellers did not like each other, on screen they are genius. I think all of the movies are on the same level from the first to the Trail,which by the way is a awesome tribute to the late great Peter Sellers. I think this is a MUST HAVE collection. I owe all the movies on that are on DVD and some on VHS also. And if you like the series, you should also buy the Son of the Pink Panther, it is not as good as the others but Roberto Benigni had it down to a T and did a wonderful job.
Rating: Summary: There's just no point Review: There's simply no point in issuing a boxed set of Pink Panther movies that excludes RETURN. Why the heck didn't they just wait till they got the rights? MGM/UA Video clearly see's nothing but $$$ signs in their eyes and have done nothing but insult the public. But what's new, big corporations have been doing that for centuries. Trail of the Pink Panther is not even a proper movie. Oh yes, sure you can see outtakes from the other films and it could have been considered as bonus material but certainly doesn't warrent inclusion as part of the actual series. I say we should all boycott this boxed set and send a message to corporate greed. Don't be a fool and spend your hard earned cash on this incomplete set. You're just lining the pockets of the rich and letting them know it's ok to deliver unacceptable product to the public. Get it right or you don't get my money!
Rating: Summary: Great Collection but...... Review: This is a great collection but there is a big problem, it did not include the best film of the series, "The Return of the Pink Panther", with this film the collection would have been "Perfect"
Rating: Summary: What? No Return? Review: This review is based on the Region 2 British version that was released November 2003. A beautifully packaged set that features most of (5) the Panther films and a bonus disc of extras. The documentaries on the bonus disc range from excellent (most of them) to poor ('That's Panther-tainment' made at the time of 'Revenge' is very dated indeed). Also included are a selection of TV commercials that Peter Sellers made (including the last time he appeared on screen ever) and a making of, six Panther cartoons with accompanying documentary, an entertaining enough Blake Edwards commentary and 'Trivia Track' (both first film only) and a photo gallery. The films are obviously of varying quality although it depends on whether you prefer the early sophisticated ones, or the later more slapstick entries. Whatever your preference, you are sure to agree that the last film in this set - 'Trial of...' (made after Sellers' death with out-takes) - is a complete abomination and should never have been commited to film let alone been included in this otherwise excellent package. The glaring omission of 'Return of the Pink Panther' (the one with Christopher Plummer and the 'minky' look-out) is a mystery even the great Inspector Clouseu could not solve (although it's simply because MGM don't own the rights to it) but at least they haven't included 'Son of the Pink Panther' or Alan Arkin's 'Inspector Clouseu'. Overall it's really the films that make this package, with the extras leaving you feel somewhat cheated. The DVD transfer is lovely, giving the early films the polish they have so long needed.
Rating: Summary: Not what it could be Review: This set was released in England in November. That version includes the following, absent from the American release: * 1978 special That's Panthertainment * The Commercial Peter Sellers - "making of" documentary * Highly collectible 8-page booklet Besides the films missing from the series, it is unacceptable that we in this country should have to do without what the Brits get. The documentaries that are here are disappointing, considering they were made by the usually reliable John Cork who did such a great job with those on the James Bond series of DVDs. At least the Alan Atkin film is mentioned, but a clip should have been included, in letterbox. It is not like MGM doesn't own the rightd. In fact the entire film INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU should have been included as should have CURSE OIF THE PINK PANTHER which belongs with TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER. It is doubtful those filmsw will see the light of DVD day otherwise. I do enjoy the trivia track, which is very infotmatibe and, I suspect, is the work of John Cork. If so, he almost redeems himself. It's too bad the Steve Martin revival wasn't mentioned, but perhaps when this set was ready for UK release, that news had not yet been finalized. Lastly I do not like this new way of packaging multidisc sets, with no individual protection. Thinner cases would be preferable.
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