Rating: 
Summary: Four Words
Review: Hannah and Her Sisters. What is a Woody Allen collection without this amazing film? I just don't get it.
Rating:
Summary: Four Words
Review: Hannah and Her Sisters. What is a Woody Allen collection without this amazing film? I just don't get it.
Rating: 
Summary: The Woody Allen Collection - 8 Pack
Review: How can I describe this collection? Woody Allen is a sheer genuis at what he does, and this is the best evidence of it. The best movie is without doubt - Annie Hall. A truly magnificent film!
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Summary: Fantastic movies - come on MGM! Utilize the DVD format!
Review: I could go through my blow by blow account of each of these wonderful movies but I won't. If you're not a huge fan of Woody you won't buy this set it's that simple. If you love Annine Hall and Bananas but don't recognize some of the less popular titles, I'd recommend a trip to the video store before [buying] on the set. Stardust Memories seems to be his inspired response to all the fans who wanted him to make the "funny, earlier movies." Just a word of warning. If you're a viewer who wants to see the earlier,funnier films, Interiors, Stardust Memories, and possibly Manhattan may disappoint. My big problem with this set is the fact that MGM seems to be ignoring the benefits of the DVD format. I own most of these films on video and, except for a widescreen display of these movies, this appears to be the same presentation! No extras, no remastered sound or video, no trailers even! MGM/UA: This is a set that is clearly for the collector and really big fan. Go the extra mile! Having said all that, of course I'll buy the set. I'm just disappointed. If you don't consider yourself a major fan - I'd recommend buying the VHS version or buying the titles you know and love already on DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: Does anyone notice that this set is NOT WIDESCREEN?
Review: I discovered today that these dvd's are actually not released in WIDESCREEN format. To get the widescreen effect, the dvd makers have actually cropped the top and bottom of the films. This is quite ridiculous. For that I'm giving it a nice rating of 4, it should be a one, but the movies are excellent. How could they think they could fool us, the comsumers?
Rating:
Summary: Where is Play it Again Sam?
Review: I have the VHS versions of most of these films, and I have viewed all of the films. But I was hoping for the extras allowed by DVD, such as commentary and background info. And where IS my favorite Woody Allen vehicle, Play It Again Sam?
Rating:
Summary: Would be a perfect 5 if only...
Review: I know Woody himself said a film should stand for itself. But DVD is a format that SCREAMS for extras, whatever they might be. Even some trailers would be nice. But instead, we have, essentially, only the improved picture and sound quality (plus the assurance of never wearing out like VHS tapes) to go on. The 8 DVDs are priced right, and all have merit to make this a 5 star collection on VHS. But c'mon. This was pretty feeble, especially from MGM, considering they recently put together the phenomenal James Bond box sets.
Rating: 
Summary: MGM Takes Your Money And Runs
Review: I will say it up front. I have a "personal problem" with "boxed sets", which I liken to being stuck on a roadtrip with nothing to listen to but the driver's collection of homemade "awesome mix tapes". Perhaps a better analogy would be those wonderful package "choices" your local cable company gives you, where you inevitably end up paying for 63 home and garden channels you'll never watch just to get the 3 premium movie channels you REALLY want. Let's be honest, is the same Woody Allen fan who enjoys the gut-busting, 5-star laff-a-thons like "Bananas" and "Sleeper" going to stumble over "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan" (Allen at his peak) in his rush to get to the derivative, pretentious snore-fests "Interiors" and "Stardust Memories"? (I rest my case.) My vote is for "a-la-carte"...freedom of choice!
Rating:
Summary: Worthy collection of the director's work
Review: Just about anybody can enjoy a Woody Allen movie; it simply requires all your attention and intellect while viewing it. This collection shows Allen as a comedy director (Bananas, Sleeper) and his transition to deeper, more bittersweet films (Annie Hall, Manhattan). An excellent job by MGM, though Annie Hall is the only non-anamorphic title in the bunch. I look forward to more Woody Allen film collections on DVD in the future.
Rating:
Summary: The best of the best of the early Woody Allen!
Review: Naturally, since I'm writing this review about a month and a half before this boxed set is released, I cannot possible base this on the actual DVDs. Hell, I don't even own a player! Hah, this review is a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham. If you remember that line, then I guarantee that you will love this set! These are the first eight movies that Allen directed (not counting What's Up, Tiger Lily?, which he has since called a mistake and Take The Money And Run, which is already available on DVD) and starts with his 1971 slapstick comedy Bananas (from whence comes that earlier reference for those of you struggling to remember). It moves on through 1972's Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid To Ask); 1973's sci-fi, Keaton- (Buster, not Diane) inspired masterpiece Sleeper; the last of his purely slapstick comedies, the albsolutely wonderful Love And Death from 1975. It then moves on to his more intellectual and move acclaimed Annie Hall from 1977 (the only one of these already available in the DVD format); his 1978 Bergmanesque drama Interiors; the 1979's lovingly made black-and-white Manhattan and finishing with 1980's Stardust Memories. I have loved all of these movies, but have hesistated to buy them until they came out on the (from what I've heard) superior DVD format. And, now they have (and, of course, for the technologically stable, it's on VHS, too!) For anyone who ever loved Woody Allen's films, books or even his plays, I can personally guarantee that you will not be let down by these films.
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