Rating: 
Summary: To Quote a Phrase, See It Again ... For The First Time !
Review: Had to go get this collector's edition of The Beatles in " A Hard Day's Night " today on the first day of release and really think it's a wonderful package now that I've viewed it . The film images are incredibly sharp and all the musical sequences jump out at your ears with a fidelity and clarity previous VHS tape versions can't come close to equaling .( As for critiqueing the film itself well, what hasn't already been said except that you've got to be a pretty miserable sort not to enjoy it ) .
The extras in this 2 DVD set are truly great to have such as recollections from Director Richard Lester , Beatles producer George Martin , Beatles confidant Klaus Voorman, other actors and behind the scenes people and many others . Beatles fans, of course , haven't had a new album release ( let's not count their very successful " 1 " CD of a couple of years ago ) to savor in quite some time , but this DVD set fills the void pretty nicely .
Rating:
Summary: Pop Fan from Hollywood...
Review: ...gets 10 stars for sarcasm. That is the funniest thing I have seen here yet. As for AHDN, it is still as charming, clever, and amusing as it was when I first saw it. The music still holds up as well of course. Only problem is, you really have to listen carefully at times to understand what the Fabs are saying underneath the layers of "scouse." Almost as hard as understanding the kids in "Quadrophenia" at times.
Rating:
Summary: A(nother) reply to Pop Fan
Review: Pop Fan - As an informed student of modern popular music, I (for one) appreciated your succinct, rational analysis of why the Beatles simply don't measure up to the current standards of the music industry. However, I would like to point out one factor in their defense. You of course realize that part of the definition of a great band is not only how well their music conforms with industry standards of innocuousness and professionalism, but also how well they can be merchandised. Moving product -- both the CD's themselves and other group-branded XXXXXX -- is also the hallmark of a great b(r)and. My research has indicated that the marketers and handlers of these Beatles were responsible for a wealth of disposable lucrative consumer products that would compare favorably to the many fan magazines, posters and collectible bobble-headed dolls featuring the likenesses of the great N'Sync. Truly, from the amount of money made from them by promoters, radio payola distributors, and of course, the noble men who headed the Major Labels, I believe you could classify them as the first Boy Band. Perhaps you now begin to see the appeal. They were, as one of them says in the film itself, an early clue to the new direction. (Seriously, since I now feel obligated to post an actual review: I applaud Miramax for restoring and finally releasing on DVD a film that Roger Ebert called "one of the great life-affirming landmarks of the movies." Although I have a feeling that watching my favorite scene, which I reference above -- the corporate teen fad marketer accosting George without realizing who he is --- is going to make me a little sad this year.)
Rating:
Summary: Defines a Generation
Review: Richard Lester's "A Hard Day's Night" bursts from the screen in glorious black and white, showing the world what it was like to be young, handsome and talented in the early 1960s. It's a fabulous picture, and every "rock" movie and video since then are mere copycats, trying too hard to recreate the frenetic fun-in-the-park sequence, John's one-liners and quirky gestures (notice the Coke-bottle-in-the-nose gag on the train), and Ringo's solitary man sweetness. There's nothing better, really. The despair on some of the young girl's faces at the ending concert will even bring tears to your eyes, and you'll wish you had that kind of passion in your life.
Rating: 
Summary: langweillig!
Review: the beatles composed many nice songs but they could not act in the movie. The story in this film is absolutely nonsense, the band's popularity rose up in the UK & they ran and jumped with the screaming crowd. let me tell that the act of the musicians were ok in the music scene but terrific in the scenario!
The songs they played are okay! but to be honest the Beatles
were a good band but not in the wide screen. That is the same childish story like their second one HELP.....if you re a die hard fans,..it is ok.
Rating:
Summary: First review not acurate.
Review: Just wanted to comment on Robert W. Moore's review. He mentions in his first paragraph that, "Fist, before going on with my review of the film, let me point out, before someone complains about the DVD not being widescreen, that the film was shot in 35mm, which means that the DVD of necessity is fullscreen. Widescreen is appropriate only to films shot in 70mm. HELP! was also filmed in 35mm. So, please, no One-star reviews because the DVD isn't widescreen." Well not sure if he knows what he is talking about, widescreen versus fullscreen is not dictated by film size, rather by the type of lense used when the film was originally shot. Further this film is presented in the Widescreen anamorphic - 1.66:1 ratio. So I am really not to sure what he is talking about? As far as the movie goes, well it is the best Rock movie ever.
Think that says it all.
Rating:
Summary: Still the most stunning rock movie ever made
Review: A HARD DAY'S NIGHT was a pivotal moment in the history of the Beatle's. Until its release, they had a massive number of detractors, who were positive that they were merely the flavor of the month, four guys who would enjoy a few months of success, and then disappear. People over thirty were having an especially difficult time taking them seriously. This film made everyone, and not just their fans, take them seriously. New York Times critic Clive Barnes wrote a reluctant yet highly praise-worthy review, explaining that while he had previously not enjoyed the Beatles, the movie was, nonetheless, irresistible. By any conceivable standard, this movie is ground breaking. Visually, director Richard Lester broke new ground by employing a hand held camera for much of the film, giving the film a realistically documentary look. He was also able in this way to give the film a constant visual energy that never flags from the opening credits until the final fabulous shot of the Fab Four's helicopter freeze framed in the sky. The script contains not merely a bevy of first-rate jokes, but introduces several moments of surreality. An example of the latter is the Beatles being chased by fans through a train near the beginning of the film. They reach a baggage car with a cage in the center for valuables, into which they lock themselves. They begin playing cards while the girls all scream. They begin singing, cards in hand, "I Should Have Known Better." Gradually, however, the cards disappear, with Ringo suddenly having drumsticks in his hands, then another a guitar, until they eventually and inexplicably have all their instruments. As the song fades out, the instruments all disappear, and the cards reappear in their hands. The reason this films continues to delight and entertain is that Richard Lester wanted to make a great movie that happened to star the Beatles, that could stand on its own, and not just a film that would capitalize on their fame. As a result, the film is stuffed to the brim: with ideas, inventive camera shots, unusual and bizarre characters, and more jokes this side of AIRPLANE! There are so many jokes that many might escape the notice of the casual viewer. For instance, while the "manager" of the Beatles argues with one of the boys, Paul sits with a Pepsi bottle to his nose, apparently trying to snort the contents into his nose. Or the constant jokes revolving around Paul's grandfather being such a "clean old man." Special mention has to be made of Wilfred Brambell. He had achieved great success in one of the greatest TV shows of all time, STEPTOE AND SON, which was the series that the American TV series SANDFORD AND SON was based upon. Brambell is unforgettable playing Paul's grandfather. The boys are all so good you can't say Brambell steals scenes, but that says more about the unexpected charisma of the boys' performances than it does about Brambell, who manages to be equally as dominant in all his scenes. Astonishingly, he was only fifty-one years old at the time of filming, though he looks a great deal older than that. I have been amazed in talking to friends to find out how many have not seen this film. Anyone who is a fan of the Beatles (or even if a non-fan) should see this film as quickly as possible. It not only represents the moment when the world at large was forced to take the Beatles seriously but also remains one of their greatest moments as performers.
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Summary: forty-year fan
Review: ...
One of the things that's interesting about this movie is that it seems so unscripted, almost improvisational, yet except for a few lines of John Lennon's all the dialoge was written out and rehearsed. I think that shows how amazingly talented as actors the Fab Four were.
This movie is a treasure and number one on my list of favorite films.
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Summary: HDN is Great - Pop Fan from Hollywood is trying SARCASM!
Review: I thought I'd weigh in about the recent review from the Pop Fan from Hollywood: I sincerely believe those comments (with a thouroughly mis-leading 1-star rating) are a put-on, an exercise in sarcasm, in effect mocking today's pop scene, with pre-constructed, non-instrument-playing, non-song-writing (non-talented? maybe that's going too far) groups. And it's beautifully done sarcasm at that - that review isn't about the Beatles, it a critique of what's missing in pop today, the very thing the Beatles possessed in abundance. But The Beatles reputation for absolute first-class talent should preclude any real need at this point to justify their value. And "A Hard Day's Night", well-described by many other positive reviews here, is a wonderful early expression of that talent. I eagerly await the DVD release!
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS! YAH YAH YAH!
Review: LOVE THE BEATLES! LOVE THIS MOVIE! PEACE OUT! ROCK ON! DUDE!
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