Rating: 
Summary: The Boring Christian
Review: Tedious tale of the world's richest man(Sellers) and his adopted son(Ringo) out to prove that people will do anything for money. This results in a series of comic(?) vignettes that are out to prove this point. Many cameos (Raquel Welch, Yul Brynner) that prove to be a waste of our and their time. One of the few times I laughed was during a cameo by John Cleese as an auctioneer. "Come and Get It" by Badfinger is played at the beginning and that's pretty catchy. Otherwise, it's a waste of time for both Sellers and Beatles fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious Comedy Disguising Brutal Satire
Review: The first time I saw the hunting scene in which Ringo Starr opens up on game birds with a tommy gun, followed by a Peter Sellers-thrown hand grenade, British Army anti-aircraft artillery barrage, and a final flame-thrower toasting, I just about wet myself laughing. It is one of the most unpredictable, insane, fully-developed lambasting of British pomposity I've ever encountered, on film or in print. And this bit takes place early on in this wonderful movie.The film is a series of excellently written and staged sketches, connected by Terry Southern's original concept of an aging billioinaire, bored with the world and his corporate life who turns his wealth and energies to proving that all things are corruptible. The individuals and groups then corrupted, and the settings for their betrayals are hilarious, including a strip-tease to Hamlet's "To be or not to be" at Stratford-on-Avon, a jaguar disguised as a dog at Cruft's dog show, two heavyweight boxers opting to neck in the ring rather than beat each other senseless, a sham of a Sotheby's rare art auction, and a riverine melee at the annual Cambridge vs. Oxford rowing race. Concealed in the comedy are some serious observations on the nature of modern society, growing more pronounced and direct as the movie continues. By the end, the shots at class systems, sexual repression, greed, religion, vanity and pretension, government, and the Vietnam War are plainly obvioius, and brutal. This mix of serious satire and slapstick comedy come almost naturally from the cast. International comedy legend Peter Sellers is the lead, but he is not given the freedom to truly cut loose as Kubrick gave in "Dr. Strangelove." The Sellers characterizations are stock and well-known, but the situations and venues succeed in making the combination very funny. A seriously hippie Ringo Starr is the prime supporting actor, bringing along a "Yellow Submarine," "Help," and "Hard Day's Night" comic pedigree, as well as a deep understanding of the 60s psychedelic drug culture. Added to that are the emerging unpredictable surrealistic comedy of Monty Python's John Cleese and Graham Chapman. This all comes together in the chaotic train-disco scene. Keep a sharp eye out for a number of wonderful, unexpected and well-disguised A-list cameos, including Richard Attenborough, Raquel Welch, Yul Brynner, Keith Moon, John Cleese and Graham Chapman, Spike Mulligan, and Christopher Lee.
Rating: 
Summary: "Will you walk away from a fool and his money?"
Review: The Magic Christian. What can I say? Well, they certainly don't make films like this any more. I liked it, but mind you I'm a big fan of the Beatles, the Goon Show and Monty Python (there's members of all three of these groups in the film)
It's the end of the 1960s. Guy Grand (Peter Sellers), a rich English gadabout without an heir goes for a walk in the park, and finds a homeless young man (Ringo Starr) who Guy adopts as his own son. He then takes him all over London, from board room, to hunting ground, from rowing competitions to cruise ships, teaching his "son" all about the nature of man and the nature of money. Everyone has their price, it seems, and if you can pay it you can get away with anything.
Be warned, it's a very British style of humour, often verbose, often surreal. There doesn't seem to be much reason in what the characters are doing, and there are many parts which make no sense at all. For instance, there's a scene on a train where Sellers points out a guy who exploits people for a living, so he and Ringo go over to talk to him. A few moments later, the man in question falls into the wall, finding himself in a psychedelic dance party, lights strobing. He emerges a few minutes later with bits of tissue paper stuck to him, and a large man comes to their carriage demanding to see his ticket. He can't find it, so he's sent away. I don't know what they were thinking when they wrote that scene, or the scenes like it. Perhaps they're just for laughs, perhaps they're meant to point out that the world's a crazy place, made crazier when large amounts of money are involved. There's definitely a bit of satire and commentary under the silliness, I know that. (racism, war and religion among the things covered). If you're not into this kind of humour, this film's probably going to be pretty boring for you.
Peformances? Peter Sellers, though he puts on a couple of voices, keeps pretty straight faced here, as do most of the cast. Ringo's his charming self, though for the most part he only speaks when spoken to.
There's many a celebrity here, if you keep an eye out. Keep an eye out for John Cleese as a timid art critic, Graham Chapman as an Oxford rower, Christopher Lee as a vampire. Racquel Welsh, Richard Attenborough, Roman Polanski, Spike Milligan, John and Yoko (really briefly). I'm sure I spotted the guy who plays Mike Yates in Doctor Who as well (in the crowd during the boxing scene).
The music evokes the era well. It's mostly music by Badfinger (including their biggest hit "Come and Get it", which gets played repeatedly). There is a song by Thunderclap Newman in there too.
Probably more for nostalgia value than anything else, but definitely worth a look if you're a big fan of british humour.
Rating: 
Summary: The "Magic" For This DVD Is Almost There...
Review: The picture quality of this dvd is full-bodied and sharp in comparison to earlier video releases where the tone was cloudy and muddy and a little too yellow. The picture is full frame which is sad but we can't expect Criterion treatment all the time! There's not too much wear, except early in the film where speckles and edge enhancements make guest appearances from time to time but having seen this film in theaters, on video and even network TV, I must say it's the best that may ever be presented. The only annoying aspect is the so called "Dolby Digital 2.0"
you might as well just say "enhanced mono" the highs are slightly muffled and the lows are hollow and the songs are left without their Badfinger punch. But at least listenable and good to see this wonderful Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers satirical comedy available in at least a half way decent format. No extras not even a theatical trailer, but again this isn't Criterion, whereby if it was we may have been lucky to have gotten a running commentary by Mr. Starr or at least a brief video introduction. Most recent reviews state this film is rather dated, however the nucleus of the film still rings true today, if not more so, that everyone has their price.... and the price tag on this DVD is at least worth every pence!
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: This is one of those 60's films that assumes loud music, nudity,
and obscene language to be hip. However, all of these things at
once are just boring, silly, and repetitive. Skip it.
Rating:
Summary: Witty. Fast. And Uproarious.
Review: This is the tale of Sir Guy a man set and determined to punish those for their greed. Sellers at his best doing what Sellers does best.
Rating:
Summary: Far better than the book
Review: This isn't one of Peter Seller's best movies, but it's still a LOT of fun. Ringo Starr is not one of the screen's most accomplished actors but with dozens of comedy stars in supporting roles he is one star in a firmament. The plot of the movie closely follows the book, but introduces Ringo as "Youngman Grand", adoptive heir to Guy Grand (Sellers), the latter a zany millionaire who spends his money on elaborate pranks ridiculing social conventions. The most hilarious moment in the film occurs towards the beginning, with Terence Stamp doing an unexpected striptease in the middle of a performance of "Hamlet". Unfortunately the rest of the film isn't consistently funny and the denoument, the maiden voyage of the over-the-top luxury liner "The Magic Christian", is kind of tedious rather than pulling the film together. Still there are some funny bits as Guy exhausts his fortune on mischief while paying off those affected. Terry Southern, who wrote the book, also collaborated on the script of the wonderful movie "Dr. Strangelove", as well as "Easy Rider" and "Barbarella", and wrote for "Saturday Night Live" with Michael Donovan. He seems to have produced his best stuff as part of a team.
Rating:
Summary: splendid...
Review: this movie was fantastic. i liked it so much that the day i saw it, i went home and ordered it online. it's definately my new favorite movie. i especially recomend this to fans of monty python, ringo starr or anyone who fancies english humor, which we all know is pretty damn good... BUY THIS MOVIE NOW!
Rating:
Summary: The Magic Christian
Review: This piece of work is definitely suitable for people who enjoy watching films from the psychedelic-hippie era. Because that is exactly what it is.
I never really expected much from this movie but unlike some other films now, it has a clear but ridiculous plot.
My favourite parts would have to be Ringo looking up at Peter Sellers and saying "Father" with that goofy expression on his face and his delectable Liverpudlian accent. Another would be Yul Bryner singing in drag. And finally, seeing Laurence Harvey perform Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy in a striptease version. Bare bodkin indeed!
Rating:
Summary: Magic Christian Should Disappear
Review: Totally incongruous storyline with scenes edited in rapid fire succession without any rhyme or reason. Could not get past the first half hour without feeling overcome by extreme nausea and chronic boredom.
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