Rating: 
Summary: A pack to get
Review: Well I have a player and will definitely get this pack. At such low price, it is attractive to get 8 movies, but bear in mind that none of these will have any features. It's worthy to mention that Allen said that he will not consider doing any extras. Let's hope, nevertheless, that MGM includes the theatrical trailers and subtitles in the DVDs. What's Up Tiger Lily and Take the Money and Run, like mentioned in another review, have been released, and couldn't have been released with this pack anyway since MGM doesn't own the distribution rights. What bothers about this is that MGM doesn't also own the rights to the following film A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy which is rare to find even on videotape.
Rating: 
Summary: Interiors? Interiors?
Review: When Maltin says "study of a family full of unhappy, frustrated men and women" well it sounds pretty funny (if the usual Woody film) but this one time the wood-man made a draggy, dreary drama with not even a scent of comic relief. For gosh sakes, this is the kind of movie (and characters) he usually makes fun of! If they had included 'Take the $ & Run' this would be on my pre-order list...
Rating:
Summary: That's what widescreen IS, Mike...
Review: With the exception of 'Manhattan', all of the movies in this box set are presented in the MATTED widescreen ratio of 1.85:1, the ratio they were presented in in cinemas. The "full screen" versions are the full 35mm frames, with superfluous picture information at the top and bottom. This is the case with 95% of 1.85:1 widescreen movies, and it's a GOOD thing because it preserves the director's intended shot composition, even if there IS less picture information.It's usually only 2.35:1 movies, like 'Manhattan', that are cropped at the sides for "full screen", and survive with more picture information when presented properly in widescreen. Essentially, there are two basic kinds of letterboxing, that are both good, but for different reasons. The fundamental rule is that movies should be presented on home video in the same ration in which they were shown in cinemas.
Rating:
Summary: "They do nothing but give awards"
Review: __________________ Annie Hall is one of the best films of the 1970s, in some ways it defined them. Woody outdid himself, and yet it really was just the first of his "real" movies. Without this one, well, never mind, I can't bear to contemplate that. This is often rated as one of the best American movies ever made. I'd like to warn you that it has no chase scenes or shootouts, no hostages get taken, no wrongly-convicted criminals try to break out of jail, and no one says "excellent" or high-fives. It's just a good film. If you don't have an ounce of heart or have a poor ability to remember premarital affairs, you may not like it. Otherwise you will. Manhattan - Not only one of Woody Allen's best movies, one of the best movies, period. While Annie Hall is a great movie, the development of Allen's talent between AH and Manhattan is startling. The chemistry of the cast is a factor in its success. The humor is smoothly integrated into the dialogue and not distracting. The scenes are well acted, shot, and edited. It's a love story in which the only mature participant is a 17 year old. Interiors - Not much music in the soundtrack, which contributes to the somber feel of this film. Despite some of the critical rejection of it, and despite the Bergman influence, this is one of his finest. I remember seeing this reviewed by Gene Shalit who was nearly speechless (not much of a change, since he was doing those 30 second reviews for Today back then) and in awe. The performances were natural and believable, and the cast were well chosen. This film may appear derivative, but I found it to be innovative and original, and couldn't take my eyes off it, despite the deliberate drabness. Stardust Memories is one of Woody's most underrated films, stronger than any of his "early, funny ones" and is very cohesive, particularly with repeated viewings. The gags have more impact because most of the movie is stress and strain. There's a jail scene (a common element in Woody's films - off the top of my head, there are at least four other movies with some form of confinement), three different breakups, and its flashbacks anticipates the recent "Deconstructing Harry". Stardust Memories was in part a kiss-off to critics of "Interiors". It's shot in black and white, has a great cast and performances, has unexplained props (like a cervical collar), Laraine Newman (first cast of SNL), Brent Spiner (Commander Data in ST:TNG), and the most graceful integration of Woody's childhood memories. This is a movie best experienced more than once -- another thing it has in common with "Deconstructing Harry". Love and Death is one that I've only seen once, and it didn't make much of an impact on me. A friend of mine considers this the best of Woody's funny movies, and he's the one who loaned it to me. I found it a little too gag-filled, although I must admit that I fell asleep a few times. Sleeper is a more sophisticated version of Bananas. Although it also gets preachy, it looks better on the screen, has better gags, and superficially is a great send-up of science fiction of all kinds. I love the bit about health food. Bananas is poorly shot, preachy, and not too funny, which is odd because it's one of the "early, funny ones". I know people who mistakenly think of this as his finest work. [...] Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex but Were Afraid to Ask is one of his classic funny ones, but having seen it I don't see anything much to recommend it. The gags look like things he based on his stage act that may have been daring during the Bitter End years. [...] Now that we know what is in the second Woody box, the main question to ask is "why?" This first box set is a far better deal, and the selections in the second box mostly mystify fans, buffs, and critics.
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