Rating: 
Summary: Best pre-Annie Hall movie by Woody
Review: Some say Bananas, most say Sleeper, but I am not the slightest bit hesitant to call Love and Death the best of Woody's "earlier, funnier" movies. Diane Keaton, as the flightly object of Woody's desire, is hilarious, esp. when she breaks into her philosophical flourishes. One of the best lines in the movie: Keaton's "No, no...not here". See the movie to find out what I mean. One of Woody's ten best.
Rating:
Summary: The wittiest & deepest parody or Russia's 19th c. literature
Review: Even those who have never read Dostoyevsky or Tolstoy, will appreciate the intelligent humor of this film. Those who have read some of the Russia's late 19th century literature, or even watched Russian-made movie version of "War and Peace" will find it even more funny. Every time I watch the movie, I discover new parallels, new undertones, new jokes, and new meanings.
Rating: 
Summary: Light yet Heavy...
Review: I truly think that this is one of Allen's better films. The smart and witty examination of man's tragic and futile pursuit for happiness, love and long life is easily overlooked because you can't stop laughing. Grab the encyclopedia and popcorn and prepare yourself for a romping good time. Oldie but goodie!!
Rating:
Summary: Smart & Funny
Review: A great film that explores Woody's largest fears/questions - life, death & the meaning of it all. One of my all time favorite films - I laugh every time I watch it! A must see for Woody Allen fans.
Rating:
Summary: Woody's personal favorite (of his own films) and one of mine
Review: I love how Woody manages in this movie to be both serious and hilarious. He examines issues he is clearly obsessed with--death, fleeting love, the meaningless of existence--and we laugh the whole way through. That in itself is a small miracle but the wit and sight gags in this film are miracles themselves.
Rating: 
Summary: Finally, some intelligent nonsense!
Review: With Mr. Allen and Ms. Keaton continuing their comdic chemistry in film, "Love and Death" shows all the intellectual jargon that people have wanted to say throughout history but never had anyone to listen to them. Going through the historical background of early Russia, Allen and Keaton try to captivate a respectible mockery of philosophy, government, love, and of course Woody's favorite topic, death. Done early in Allen's career, "Love and Death" is still slapstick enough to make you laugh and at the same time make you think about things that are usually not discussed outside of a college campus.
Rating:
Summary: my favorite Woody Allen movie!
Review: this is woddy allen's best movie; and before i hear cries of protest from the "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan" fans, allow me to explain myself.this movie is the perfect blend of his physical comedy (the silent bottle scene) and his quick witted, rapid-response dialogue ("Let's assaginate Neapoleon" "Yeah, okay, it's getting a little late sweetheart, you wanna start knitting dinner?"). The "War and Peace" paradoy also makes for great comedy, complete with the Esienstein soundtrack to the classic Soviet propaganda film "Alexander Nevsky". Allen and Diane Keaton are at their best in this movie, i think because they're not pontificating the great love-releationship dilemma they they also perform brilliantly in "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan", they're just having a lot of fun!
Rating:
Summary: Hot cockles and wheat
Review: For me, "Love and Death" bridges together the slapstick satire of Woody's early movies with the grand verbal wit of the later movies. It never falls into the trap of relying too much on the former, and its reliance on the latter produces some of the silliest Woody dialogue I've ever heard. But it's the perfect mixture between the two that makes this my pick for funniest Woody Allen flick. So far. I've always felt that the context (Russia in the 19th century and the Napoleonic Wars) and the content (pre-existentialist philosophy) were fine targets to satire. The opening scenes, where Woody as narrator introduces his screwball family, are truly looney-tuney. And the scenes where Woody (Boris) and Diane Keaton (Sonja) talk philosophy, serve more to make fun of the ridiculous gibberish they are engaged in than to further the philosophical discourse. The truer philosophical discussions come in the form of setup-punchline jokes delivered later on ("If it turns out that there IS a God, I don't think that he's evil; I think that the worst you can say about him is that basically he's an underachiever"). This is all good stuff. Woody's performance here reminded me a lot of really good Groucho Marx. His wiseguy retorts to oblivious inquisitors are done in the same winking/nod to the camera manner that Groucho mined for gold. And Woody, with his messy red hair and horn-rimmed glasses, looks every bit the sarcastic clown that Groucho did. There's one particular scene ("She's a great kidder... No, you're a great kidder... No, you're Don Francisco's sister") which mimics the Marx Brothers doubletalk style perfectly. In the film's second half, Woody takes a step back, to allow Diane Keaton some grand time in the Groucho persona. And she runs with it. Keaton is an underrated comic actress, usually overshadowed by Woody. Here, she rolls her eyes, grins goofily, has great comic timing, and appears to be having a gloriously good time delivering her dialogue. You can see Woody's pride as he stands to the side and watches her go great guns. There are many truly hilarious scenes here (my favourite: Woody, drawn into a duel, is offered to choose his weapon from a pair of guns; he picks them both up, examines them for a moment, and then says "I'll take these"), the scenery is shot gorgeously, the music by Prokofiev is jubilant and fits in perfectly with the film, and there is never a down moment. Come to think of it, the pace reminds me of the joke-a-minute style "pioneered" by the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker "Airplane" movies. Only Woody, dear Woody, bestows such intelligence and wit upon the material that it is elevated to a divine state.
Rating:
Summary: A swiss cheese and rented children
Review: It seems that review titles for this masterpiece feature quotes that scored with the reviewer. I saw Love & Death in the theater when it was first released (and I was a pre-teen) and the scene that had me rolling in the aisle was Diane Keaton's assesment of life with cousin Boris (he had proposed marriage on the eve of a duel he was certain to loose): (paraphrase) "Or would I feel trapped, my youth gone, living with a swiss chese and rented children?" I was amazed at how a line like that could actually make a lot of sense... in context... and awed at the intellect that could create such a context. From that point on L&D became a favorite film (I've seen it more than any other, although not as much recently since hubby hates Woody). If you can see humor and idiocy in war, if you have any interest in v. early 19th century France or Russia, or if you just love a good laugh I highly recommend this film. (And this is the only Woody flick that Allen-hating hubby will watch :-)
Rating:
Summary: A Small Piece of Land
Review:
This is one of my favorite movies, and I just ordered it express shipping because I cannot wait to get it! Me and all my friends in high school used to watch this movie every day after school. It has so many great parts, and actually has its own brand of philosophy. This is one of the lesser-known Woody Allen movies, but it is one of my favorites!
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