Breakfast of Champions

Rating:
Summary: An insult not only to Vonnegut but to readers of the book
Review: A horrid adaptation of one of the most creative and influential books of the 20th century. The only good thing I can say about it is that it was well cast (with the exception of Kilgore Trout.) If you enjoyed or just read the book, avoid seeing this movie at all costs. If you havent read the book, try to avoid it. The big difference from Vonnegut's vision and this movie is that the book was not meant to be one laugh after another, nor was it meant to be as bright and er, bouncy as the movie is. The film tries to adapt this book into sort of a live action cartoon, and in doing this completely misses the point of the book. It tries rather unsucsessfully to emulate the filming styles that were used in the recent adaptation of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." It simply doesn't work. Extreme closeups and acidic camera angles wave no place in this movie. They also added another character to the movie, Dwyane Hoover's wife. This was a major part of the book's communicating what was described as "suicide being at the heart of the book." For those of you who might not know, the reason why she wasn't in the book was because she drank Drano and died. What else can I say... If you want a good Vonnegut adaptation, see "Mother Night" with Nick Nolte, which was excedingly good. Maybe it would be worth seeing "Breakfast" just so one could see what an atrocity it is not only to the author, but to every one who has read it.

Rating:
Summary: Question
Review: Why do people who like stupid movies think that those who don't like the same movies must not be intelligent? (This sums up both most of these posts and "Breakfast of Champions.")

Rating:
Summary: Breakfast for the Mind
Review: I thought that this was an excellent movie and that much can be gained from it, though it doesn't align perfectly with Vonnegut's novel. I was pleasantly surprised with Bruce Willis's acting, I thought that he did very well at portraying such a complex and difficult character as Dwayne Hoover. I am glad in a way that it wasn't exactly like the book, I know others complain about that aspect of it. If you ask me, it would take away from the value of the book if the movie were made exactly in it's image. I liked the movie a lot, it is one of the better ones that I have seen. It is understandable how some people may not enjoy it, it's difficult to take it all in, but if you can, I think that you will find it to be rewarding.

Rating:
Summary: It's ok if you didn't get it...
Review: If you ever fallen asleep reading Vonnegat after muching away on cold pizza rolls and flat Faygo - "Breakfast of Champions" is the type of dream that you would have had that night.

I watched this movie with someone who never read the book and they thought is was aweful. I, on the other hand, have been a fan of Vonnegat's writing for years - and thought it to akin to the imagery I conjured up when getting lost in his writings.

The casting was excellent...I was glad to see such "name" actors appearing. Omar Epps performance was GREAT! I think there was a lot lost between the novel and the movie. But check it out - with an open mind.

Rating:
Summary: Weird but entertaining
Review: All the major characters of this movie are weird. It was like an A-movie trying to be an B-movie pretending to be an A-movie, or a B-movie trying to be an A-movie pretending to be a B-movie. In any case, highly entertaining. Completely out of the normal. It's a twisted dark comedy.

Rating:
Summary: Very Interesting, but not for everyone
Review: Starting off this movie seems like a drug induced fantasy, and well...you could kind of call it that, of course, there are no drugs in this film. Bruce Willis (who's great in his role) stars as a man who is loosing his grip on reality and his wife, who's just as weird, played by Barabara Hershey. The films starts out with Bruce Willis about to commit suicide (which he tries continually throughout the film)and we see how messed up he is. Then we are introduced to a man named Harry played by Nick Nolte, a cross dressing psycho, who's free time consists of nothing but sex with his girlfriend, played by Kathy Griffin (who I don't care for). Then we are introduced to an old fluff writer, played wonderfully by Albert Finney. After all the characters are oddly introduced. We get to know them quit well. By the end of the movie everyone has gone crazy, and it makes you feel quite crazy too. Though hilarious and crazy, this film has some good points. The very end is just like "Wow", so...it DID have a point. All in all, a great film, I'll never forget. Also stars Glenne Headly, Owen Wilson, Buck Henry and Omar Epps. (WARNING: This movie does have a very violent and grotutus (spelling) sex scene. One of the most explicite I've ever seen. Very disturbing, so just watch out for that! Just wanted to warn you)!

Rating:
Summary: Altman's "Champions"?
Review: I understand that Robert Altman had wanted, even prior to directing "Nashville", to film "Breakfast of Champions". Watching "Nashville", this longtime Vonnegut fan finds it easy to believe that it was created under the influence of Kurt. It's too bad Altman didn't get around to creating a formal adaptation; I think it also too bad that his protege Rudolph, in taking a crack at it, didn't achieve, doesn't seem to have aspired to the lightness of touch one sees in Altman's deft, curve-ball satire -- that one hears in Vonnegut's droll, imperturbable literary voice for that matter. So here's my recommendation: want to see a great adaptation of "Breakfast of Champions"? Watch "Nashville" (wry, sprawling satire of middle-american, mid-seventies mores and morals), and use some imagination. Have fun!

Rating:
Summary: you don't have to be crazy to work here, but it sure helps
Review: to those who said it has no meaning... what is the purpose of life? to be the eyes, ears, and conscience of the creator of the universe, you fool!

to those who said it has no plot: since when does a visit from the creator of the universe not qualify as plot? coming to meet his creation and let them in on the secret.

to those who said bruce willis was not right for the role: he was perfect for the successful midwestern car dealership mogul. carrey and williams are excentric and would be out of place and no better than an intelligent gas from pluto!

to those who did not understand dwayne or celia: they are summed up in their first scene together. the stage is set and all the world is a stage, all the men and women are merely players.

to those of you willis fans who thought they were in for another die hard, and didn't understand what you got instead: look closely and you yourself are in the movie cast as the uncaring, misunderstanding public that leaves the greatest writer of all time (who is also quite possibly the creator of the universe) without a reputable publisher and his work relegated to the bargain bins of exotic bookshops wrapped in false covers promising promiscuity and action. gilgongo!

Rating:
Summary: A movie with required reading
Review: The novel, Breakfast of champions, was one of my favorite novels by kurt v. and i was excitied to watch the movie for the first time. One thought, however, that kept going though my mind while watching the movie was: I wonder what people think of this movie if they didn't read the book? This movie is almost the missing illustrations that should have gone with the book. YOU MUST READ THE BOOK FIRST in order to understand anything about this movie. The charecters were done perfectly - and the quick brilliant one liners are too easily missed if your not ready for them.

The book is brilliant, and can change your outlook on life - one of the rare books that can keep you entertained with stunning humor and brilliant philosophy. The movie left me satified and in a great reflective mood, but worried about all the hapless viewers who didn't do their homework.

Any bad reviews you may read are by people who didn't read the book.

Rating:
Summary: Of course its not a good as the book
Review: Just as watching a great porno movie nothing compared to actual sex, this movie falls short in its adaptation. However, it does a wonderful job in trying. Though I had my doubt when I heard about some of the casting, Bruce Willis IS Dwayne Hoover. I don't think anyone in the world could have done a better job than he did. Is was also nice to see Nick Nolte in a role where is was a paranoid coward. If you have ever read the novel, thenyou must know that bringing it to the big screen would be an almost impossible task, and the makers of this movie should be given much credit for doing such a good job. Still, read the book first.