Rating: 
Summary: Amusing spoof of basic training
Review: This movie is one of the funniest spoofs of the military aside from "Private Benjamin" that you can get. My father used to be a drill sargeant so he finds this movie to be a real scream. He always shakes his head at the recruits singing that do-wadd-ditty song on their way out from getting their uniforms. And Warren Oates performance as Sgt. Hulka isn't such a far cry from the real thing...my dad would attest to this. All in all, this movie should be viewed on cable to save yourself from unneccessary nudity and a few foul words...while this movie would not make it on my top 100 list, it does rank up there with amusing comedies of all time. Haven't viewed DVD yet, but Wal-Mart had this for 9.44 in case any one is interested.....
Rating: 
Summary: Does anyone think the military is anything like this?
Review: I don't know how this movie has so many 5-star ratings. I happened to watch this movie from the beginning on TV, and it was so bad that I had to put a review immediately. I am in the Marine Corps, and I feel even for the Army, that military training was portrayed very unrealistically. The Captain and the other "soldiers" show a sense of unprofessionalism and disrespect to superiors and the country. The graduation day scene is unbelievable. They all seemed to get it all together in one night and add their own twist to the drill. Bill Murray is horrible along with the rest. He clearly keeps his sarcasm even after basic training. How can he talk like that to a General? I don't know, but there is no structure or discipline between the Army soldiers and officers. I know this movie is a comedy, but it makes me wonder if they were trying to make the military look like a joke.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply the Best
Review: Thsi si by far the best buddy army movie, and one of the best over all comedy movies in history. Each and every one of the 'names' is at their peak, firing off each other.. amazing...
Rating: 
Summary: Bill Murray Shines In Uneven Comedy...
Review: STRIPES, the best service comedy of the 80's, was released during Bill Murray's halcyon career years (1979-1984), and has moments of absolute lunacy and imagination, faltering only during the last third of the film. A showcase for many rising stars (Harold Ramis, John Candy, John Larroquette, Sean Young, Judge Reinhold) and featuring Warren Oates' funniest performance on film, it nevertheless is primarily Murray's show, and he delivers, brilliantly!As an arrogant but likable loser who thrives on twisting the 'rules' to suit him, Murray combines physical humor, sly one-liners, and an anti-establishment point of view to establish himself as the logical successor to the anarchists of ANIMAL HOUSE. His character, John Winger, is not only a jerk, but charismatic enough to make being a smartass desirable! After losing his girl, his job, his home, and even his pizza ("Then depression set in," he announces), he sees a TV commercial for the Army, and convinces his friend Russell Ziskey (sweetly played by Harold Ramis), an English language teacher who's better at teaching cuss words to his students than English, to drop everything and enlist with him. Basic is a challenge for Winger, as the Army expects him to be a soldier! In a unit comprised of idiots, psychopaths, potheads, and an overweight recruit who enlisted to "shed a few pounds" in a 'Club Med'-style environment (John Candy, who is very funny), Winger immediately attempts to take charge, only to be put down by gruff drill instructor, Sgt. Hulka (Warren Oates), who is wise to all of Winger's scams. Not that this interferes with Winger and Ziskey's social life; the pair soon have MP girlfriends (P.J. Soles and Sean Young) sharing trysts in the General's quarters! The film's highlight occurs after Sgt. Hulka is incapacitated by an exploding grenade. Faced with having to start basic training all over again, Winger coaches the unit overnight in HIS kind of drill for the final Review and Parade. Unfortunately, everyone then oversleeps, and arrive at the Parade Ground in all manner of dress. Winger's unorthodox marching routines are a hit, however, and the General, thinking he is watching a crack outfit, addresses Winger in one of the funniest exchanges ever recorded on film! GENERAL: Where's your Sergeant? WINGER: Blowed up, Sir! UNIT: Blowed up, Sir! GENERAL: You mean you trained YOURSELVES? WINGER: That's the FACT, jack! UNIT: That's the FACT, jack! Unfortunately, STRIPES doesn't end with this brilliant piece of insanity, but moves to Europe, where the unit is assigned to guard an attack vehicle that looks suspiciously like an RV. While there are a few amusing moments in this final chapter of the film, it lacks the inspired madness of basic training, and drags, a bit, until the famous 'Magazine Cover' postscript. All in all, STRIPES is a memorable, if flawed near-classic, and paved the way for Murray and Ramis' blockbuster, GHOSTBUSTERS. If you're a Bill Murray or service comedy fan, it should DEFINITELY be in your collection!
Rating:
Summary: "A lean, mean fighting machine!"
Review: Ah, back in the days when the cast from Saturday Night Live went off and actually made quality movies. Maybe it's seeing this film through nostalgic eyes, but Stripes has aged quite well over the years as a prime vehicle for Bill Murray's comedic talents. No one quite mugs or delivers dialogue in such a funny, deadpan manner as Murray does in Stripes (except maybe the king of deadpan deliveries, Chevy Chase in Fletch). There are just so many classic bits in this film. From Murray's hilarious cab drive with a snooty lady ("I just wish I hadn't had all that cough syrup!") to his girlfriend leaving him ("All the plants are gonna die!") to hooking up with his best friend played perfectly by a young Harold Ramis (when he was thinner!). The give and take between the two of them is so well done (Ramis: My blood is on your hands. Murray: Just don't get any on my shoes.) and incredibly funny. Essentially, this is Private Benjamin but with Murray and Ramis as the leads and it still works so well and stands as probably the best military comedy to date (forget Major Payne or that Pauley Shore film). You've got a killer cast that includes the late, great John Candy (as the lovable oaf, Ox), a young, pre-Beverly Hills Cop, Judge Reinhold, John Laroquette, lovely young ladies, Sean Young and P.J. Soles, and last but not least, Warren Oates as the nasty Drill Sergeant Hulka. He's what really makes the film so great because he acts as the perfect antagonist for Murray. He doesn't take Murray's B.S. and gives as good as he gets. The scenes between them are priceless. However, the film does suffer from a weak last third. The film really should have ended after Murray and co.'s successful inspection. The stuff in Europe feels padded and added on and just isn't as strong as the first 2/3rds of the movie. Having said that, there are some amusing bits to be had in the last chunk of the film, it's just that they aren't as good. This is vintage Bill Murray at his finest. Definitely worth adding to your collection.
Rating:
Summary: bill has finally disappoited me.
Review: Ive always been able to say Bill Murrays movis are great. but now I say MOST of ill murrays movies are great. this movie is compeletly inapporpite. its a movie with a lot of nudity and jokes about our country. awful. if your going to see a bill murray movie see what about bob?. leave this one on the shelf to build up dust froever.just look at the front cover and sick joke AND mockery of out coutry all in one. look the lauge is horrible.
Rating:
Summary: A Culmination Of Comedic Minds Yields Perfection
Review: Stripes is an underrated film that is absolutely spectacular. Starring Bill Murray (who also starred in Groundhog Day, Ghostbusters I & II, and Caddyshack) and Harold Ramis (starred in Ghostbusters I & II, Directed Groundhog Day, Caddyshack, Analyze This, Analyze That, and co-wrote Animal House). The film was directed by Ivan Reitman who also directed Ghostbusters I & II. This pairing would yield a hilarious comedy about misfits struggling in the army. The movie is funny all the way through, never sporting a dull spot. It does however lack special features. It is a great movie though that is difficult to find on VHS. If you liked any of the other movies assoicated with the actors, then you will really enjoy Stripes. Ramis and Murray have the ability to play jokes off of any scenario which is what keeps this moive unpredictablle and enjoyable. Definitely pick this up.
Rating: 
Summary: Is it just me, or can Bill Murray not act?
Review: Bill Murray just seems to float through movies and look like he's not even trying to put forth any effort. Every droll line he performs is as dry and without emotion as the last. This movie is no different than 99% of his movies. The "Yeah, uh-huh, OK." formula. While his sidekick and Jon Candy save the film, it's centered around Bill Murray who once again seems not to even care a movie is being made.
Rating:
Summary: I thought this movie would be excellent
Review: I bought "Stripes" on the account that one of my favorite actors, bill murray, was in the movie- without ever seeing it prior. I don't think i will ever blindly buy a movie again because of this purchase. This movie wasn't any good. It wasn't very funny, and DEFINITELY is not Murray's best movie. In fact, it is probably the worst murray movie i've ever seen. Granted, it does have occasional funny parts, but overall i give it two stars. i think that is pretty generous.
Rating:
Summary: 5 Stars for the Flick (Wish it Could be 6), 3 for the DVD
Review: This is one of my favorite films of all time. I saw it with a boatload of fellow geology students at the end of a gruelling summer field camp in Montana and when Harold Ramis made his crack about passing 2 semesters of geology in one night it brought the house down. You don't have to be a geologist to appreciate this flick though, it's got laughs galore. Great stuff. My objective in writing the review is to beef about the DVD. The big fat mono soundtrack is pretty dismal. I have to crank the volume to the max to watch it, then it sounds distorted and hissy. My biggest beef is with the "widescreen" version of the film. It appears to be just the fullscreen version with black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. I discovered this by examining the shower scene that Captain Sillman watches through his telescope. On the fullscreen side you can see the one of the girls' head and legs down to the knees. On the "widescreen" version you have extactly the same width of view and her head and buns are cut off by the black bars. Boo-hiss. A classic flick like this deserves a much better DVD!
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