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M. Hulot's Holiday - Criterion Collection

M. Hulot's Holiday - Criterion Collection

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A classic that will grow on you as long as you live
Review: This is one of the most beloved movies by affictionados of the foreign film scene. Tati provided a brilliant link between the best of what the silent movie era and modern film had to offer. It is a relatively simple tale of a bumbling man on vacation on the coast of France. But repeated viewings, especially over the years, opens up more and more treasures that were heretofore unrecognized, like a classic novel. I would be surprised if anyone would rave about this film the first time they watch it. I certainly didn't. But repeat viewings over the years will give you an appreciation of this film that borders on worship. Every member of my extended family loves this movie, and everyone has there own particular reason. Some love it for its ability to perfectly capture a foreign time and place, allowing one to feel as if they themselves have escaped to the French coast for the afternoon. Some love Hulot's awkward but endearing attempts at romance the best. Many love the brilliant sight gags that are laugh-out-loud funny no matter how many times you've seen them. But regardless of what a viewer loves the most, everyone will feel a bond with Hulot's character (and, in turn, M. Tati) that will last a lifetime. With this DVD, I can finally feel safe to loan away my beloved, grainy VHS copy. A movie classic by every meaning of the term.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: At last, it's back again
Review: This magnificent movie will again be available from Criterion in early 2004. It'll be well worth waiting for.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: a nice French comedy
Review: This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film

While not as funny as I expected, M. Hulot's Holiday, is one of the most popular French comedies of the 1950's. It is directed by and stars Jaques Tati. The original French title is "Le Vacances de M. Hulot" The film is part of a quadrilogy 3 of which have been put on DVD by the Criterion Collection (as of July 2004).

The story follows Mr. Hulot, a very clumsy man who takes a vacation to an oceanfront hotel. While there he causes many different kinds of accidents ranging from a horse causing a car passenger to be stuck in the rumble seat to letting a load of fireworks to go off inside a shed.

There is much slapstick humor in the film also but does not even come close to the level attained in the Three Stooges short films. The film has a few sight gags also which are impressive.

The Criterion DVD includes an introduction by the writer, Terry Jones and includes the short film "Soigne ton gauche" or "look to your Left".

This DVD was out of print for a while and was rereleased in early 2004 The current edition is identical to the previous edition.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Just to comment on the review below...
Review: TK RILEY states in his (her?) review that "All [M. Hulot's Holiday, Mon Oncle, Playtime] were in Full Screen format (only version available) and so some of the humor was not on screen that I recalled from the Wide screen versions I had seen in theaters."

This is simply not true. Criterion *always* presents the film in one of two ways:

1) The director's preferred aspect ratio
2) The original theatrical ratio

In the case of these three films all have been presented in their *original* theatrical ratios. In the cases of 'M. Hulot's Hoiliday' and 'Mon Oncle' the ratio is 1.33:1 (same as a standard TV) while 'Playtime' is (and was) presented in 1.85:1 ratio. Why are the first two the same size as a standard TV? A lot of people don't realise that the television borrowed it's ratio (4:3 or 1.33:1) from movie theater screens. Prior to the mid-to-late 1950's films were not presented in the wide rectangle we now see at the cineplex.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Comic Genius!
Review: What can be said about Jacques Tati that hasn't already been said? The man was a comic genius, and demonstrates that talent superbly in this, my favourite Tati film of all time. The viewer doesn't have to speak French to witness the humour in all it's glory. So many comedic actors from around the world today owe so much to Jacques Tati. Benny Hill, Jack Benny, John Cleese, Paul Whitehouse and Peter Kay all owe so much to this man... Whether they admit it or not! Enjoy Jacques Tati at his best in this movie never to be forgotten once seen!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Comedy of Memory
Review: When I first saw "Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot" many years ago, I couldn't understand what was the big deal. The film had its amusing moments - Hulot's Amilcar bouncing down the road and that tennis game! - but it seemed too slight for all the adjectives that critics had bestowed upon it.

After getting the DVD two years ago (before it was temporarily discontinued), I watched it again and saw an entirely different movie. The slightness that had bored me when I was teenager had changed into a feeling of wistfulness - the sense that we're watching a transient, quickly passing moment in people's lives. Tati's comedy, much more gentle than most American comedies, reveals itself only in multiple viewings. The film is more like a comic meditation on memory: how our all-too-brief periods of leisure open up and close possbilities for friendship, love, and other human interactions. This is a film to revisit again and again.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Comedy of Memory
Review: When I first saw "Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot" many years ago, I couldn't understand what was the big deal. The film had its amusing moments - Hulot's Amilcar bouncing down the road and that tennis game! - but it seemed too slight for all the adjectives that critics had bestowed upon it.

After getting the DVD two years ago (before it was temporarily discontinued), I watched it again and saw an entirely different movie. The slightness that had bored me when I was teenager had changed into a feeling of wistfulness - the sense that we're watching a transient, quickly passing moment in people's lives. Tati's comedy, much more gentle than most American comedies, reveals itself only in multiple viewings. The film is more like a comic meditation on memory: how our all-too-brief periods of leisure open up and close possbilities for friendship, love, and other human interactions. This is a film to revisit again and again.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Comedy of Memory
Review: When I first saw "Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot" many years ago, I couldn't understand what was the big deal. The film had its amusing moments - Hulot's Amilcar bouncing down the road and that tennis game! - but it seemed too slight for all the adjectives that critics had bestowed upon it.

After getting the DVD two years ago (before it was temporarily discontinued), I watched it again and saw an entirely different movie. The slightness that had bored me when I was teenager had changed into a feeling of wistfulness - the sense that we're watching a transient, quickly passing moment in people's lives. Tati's comedy, much more gentle than most American comedies, reveals itself only in multiple viewings. The film is more like a comic meditation on memory: how our all-too-brief periods of leisure open up and close possbilities for friendship, love, and other human interactions. This is a film to revisit again and again.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: There was only 1 funny part in the whole movie...
Review: when Mr. Hulo drops a pitcher and it bounces back up. Then he drops another glass and it shatters...whoop-dee-doo! I don't have to say more; that sums the whole thing up! The End! Hope you enjoyed it...NOT!


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