Rating: Summary: "Someday, I hope to build on it!" Review: Brilliant film parody of "War and Peace" (and every other 19th century Russian novel), along with standard Allen gags. Love and Death goes on to inform our personal philosophical outlook almost as much as the Russian novels themselves. When Keaton says "I think this is the best of all possible worlds", Allen counters with "it's certainly the most expensive". Too much "content" in this movie to summarize in this short space, but if you have any regard at all for Love and Death, no matter, because you will begin to memorize it after the first scene.
Rating: Summary: ... Review: Love and Death is a slightly more satisfying take on the spoof genre than efforts like Airplane and Naked Gun and slightly less satisfying than others like The Life of Brian or Young Frankenstein. It makes equally great fun of Russian literature and the people who insist on constantly discussing it, as well as makes humorous use of slapsitck and the typical gags that haunt the genre (food vendors on the battlefield, etc...).Although my limited experience (just War and Peace and Notes from the Underground) apparently prevents my full appreciation its literary or filmic merits (which seem to elicit the most praise for Love and Death), I still found it an enjoyable and often hilarious experience. Its biggest trouble (and some of the funnier moments) is that it seems to have been assembled in a period of a couple days- with the basic framework assembled from a mash of the works it parodies, most of the lines and gags seem improvised, or at least performed by actors tripping over a teleprompter. It would have been much more funny had it been made more carefully and less self-evidently(?), but Love and Death is enjoyable, and maybe worth watching just for the (suprisingly pretty) last scene (one of the few film references I picked up on).
Rating: Summary: Pleasant Surprise Review: Woody Allen is without a doubt my favorite director. I love all of his films. However, I often find myself prefering his more contemplative later films such as Annie Hall, Manhattan, and Hannah and Her Sisters over his earlier more zanny comedies. Love and Death is the exception. The film still has some deeper contemplation when Allen's character feels that murdering someone to save others' lives is still murder and therefore immoral but some of Allen's zanniest influences are most prevalent. Any Marx Brother fan is sure to their influence on Allen in this film.
Rating: Summary: This is a Movie you MUST see. Review: I have seen this movie so many times and laughed again and again every time. If I have to pick one comedy out of all - this would be the one. When something is this funny on so many levels, there is something in it for everyone....eventually.
Rating: Summary: The best of Woody. Review: I have been looking for a DVD version of this movie for awhile, and now I have it from Amazon. This DVD has the widescreen version and the pan and scan version. The video is excellent, and so is the sound. Can't recommend it enough.
Rating: Summary: To Love Is To Suffer...I Hope You're Writing This Down Review: This is the funniest Allen film ever, bar none. I first saw this film when it was released when I was 14 and it has stuck with me ever since. I've seen it more times than I can count and still am in tears every time. I love the juxtaposition of modern life with 19th century Russian society (the black Russian DI is as funny as it comes). While far from a student of Russian lit, the reference to the Karamozov Brothers is hilarious. A laugh a minute which never fails to get me rolling on the floor. Allen is droll and insightful, Keaton takes the role and delivers the dialog with an understanding and wit it deserves. Best scene (among many) is the play and NY Times worthy review of this sad educational warning. Other highlights are the philosophical panderings (Keaton delivers these brilliantly with a subdued importance that parodies the importance of the content), which are delightful as intellectual stimulous as well as word play. Maybe as funny a movie as has ever been made. Well worth the time.
Rating: Summary: funny Review: only woody allen can combine existential philosophy and russian literature with groucho marx and the three stooges and come up with a hilarious film. a not so subtle spoof of ingmar bergman is just icing on this multi-layered hollywood cake. watch it and laugh.
Rating: Summary: Besides, I Need the Eggs! Review: Long before "Annie Hall", before "Manhattan", before "Hannah And Her Sisters", before all the personal issues and controversies, before the dabbling in art films and other genres that show how talented, versatile, and gifted the Allen touch is, Woody Allen gave the gift of "Love And Death', a quite hilarious take-off on a message film that asked rhetorical philosophical questions as set-ups for Allen one-liners. And it all works brilliantly, as when a woman, impressed with his lovemaking style asks him, "Have you had many lovers?" To which Allen answers, "No, but I've practiced a lot when I was alone". The whole movie is full of such gems. Who but Woody can quote Kierkegard in a monologue about the meaning of life and turn it into a joke fest? Who but our intrepid New York Nebbish can make a romp through rual 18th century Russia somehow a contemporary and even timeless experience, just another romp through the countryside jesting with Death? The slapstick is more than above par, the jokes are still fresh, funny, and new, even though I've obviously heard them before. Nowadays it is unfashionable to admit that you like Woody, so demonized has he been by feminists still angry over incidents in his personal life. Yet as an artist and a comic he is certainly one of a kind, and he's the kind I'd choose to entertain me any day of the week. Enjoy!
Rating: Summary: Woody's Best Review: Over the years, this is one of the Allen films that I most often revisit. It truly gets better the more times it is seen. The dialog is brilliant. The interplay between Allen and Keaton is perfect. I also think it is Diane Keaton's best role as she has the opportunity to exercise her wonderful comic touch and timing. Each scene contains lines that have become classics: Allen; "I heard voices". Keaton: "I was praying". Allen: I heard two voices". Keaton: "I do both parts". The dialog is layered and the Russian literature references are very funny. This is a film treasure and certainly ranks with the great comedies of all time.
Rating: Summary: One of the Greatest Comedies of all time Review: This is certainly one of my favorite comedies, and in my opinion the funniest movie Woody Allen has ever made.
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