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The War of the Roses

The War of the Roses

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Must see for everyone
Review: How do you hold on to someone who want stay and how do you get reed of someone who want leave?

Oliver and Barbara (Douglas and Turner) meet at the auction. With instant chemistry between the two they are soon married. Typical American family - perfect house, 2 children, work-slave husband and bored wife. As time goes by, Barbara realizes that she no longer likes Oliver and asks for a divorce. Unfortunately for her Oliver is still crazy about her, but agrees to give her the divorce. And as we all though this would be just another civilized split, all hell breaks loose. Barbara wants to keep the house that she found and decorated, but Oliver (who paid for it) will not give it up either. And after an advice from his lawyer (DeVito) he moves back into the house. While Barbara is determined to get Oliver to leave and Oliver is trying to rekindle the romance, there civilized coexistence quickly becomes very interesting.

Believe it or not I have not given much of the movie away. Yes, you now know what the basic story is, but to watch it is a completely different. Three of the return after two successful movies and deliver performances that's unmatched by anything else in there carriers. This film is one of the darkest comedies you'll ever watch. And I believe that everyone should watch it at least once. It'll make you think twice about a lot of things in life. Absolutely brilliant. An ending that will stay with you for a long time.

And when a person making $400.00/hr wants to tell you a story for free, you should listen to it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Totally Wicked yet complete fun
Review: I don't usually hand out 5 stars to any film but War of the Roses deservedly wins it hands down. It's completely bizrare, morbid at the best of times (the subject matter is indeed going to turn some completly off) yet it crackles with such dark humour one feels as though they are laughing at something they should'nt be. Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito are both superb but when onscreen with Kathleen Turner, she chews up the scenery, making her totally beleivable as a woman after 20 years of marriage totally hell bent on getting her dues in the preceeding divorce. Lets face it the divorce potrayed onscreen may be way over the top and sometimes incredibly disturbing to a point but when in the company of such incredible actors it works sickenly well. Not a film for the faint of heart or those seeking a laugh a minute good time which predictably puts a smile on your dial at the end.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Women United
Review: I found this movie to be perfect for explaining my soon to be x-husbands behavior. I can truly relate to all the controlling, abusive, manipulative, underhanded behavior in MEN. This movie truly hit home with me. If there were anyone on earth that I wish I could get away with making him part, it would be in a manner following this true excellent example. However, I would survive in the end. Anyone who wishes to seek a divorce or is in an unhappy relationship, this movie would be one for you to see.

TrulyReMarkable

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Where's the Prozac(R) when I really need it?
Review: I got dragged to this one when it first came out and the effect was one of a dark cloud that wouldn't go away afterward. If you ever were involved in a particularly rancorous divorce or were traumatised by your family environment, you might best stay away from this one. Likewise for lovers of animals because of what happens to a cat in the story. If you suspect that you won't like it because of the plot summary on the back of the box, trust your feelings.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: What i remember
Review: I saw this movie about twelve years ago... as a kid. The only thing I ever remembered about it was the ending, probably because it traumatized me. i was maybe nine at the time. But now, I realize that it's time to see the film again, to refresh my memery about the other parts of it too.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Classic Dark Comedy.
Review: I think those born into divorced families will enjoy this film, especially if you have a sense of humor. This dark comedy has a great story, great performances and great directing. What happens to two people who meet, marry and then grow apart? This film highlights the ridiculousness of love and the institution of marriage. Plenty of emotional scarring here, but it leads up to a great point. This is a must have for any film collector.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Mad movie gone Sad
Review: I thought that this was on of the best movies I have ever seen. Only being 15 I have seen so many movies and I like this one alot. The war of the Roses has to be one of the best movies that Kathleen Turner has ever done.Besides Romancing the Stone and peggy sue got married. I recommend them too. I love kathleen Turner and watching Michael DOuglas act with her on screen is just great. I hope they do many more great movies and I will never forget this one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: 4.5 stars, really. I love black comedies!
Review: I won't rehash the plot. It's simply a wonderfully observed crumbling of a marriage probably never built on the healthiest of foundations in the first place. One could say that the movie is perhaps an indictment of materialism, where we see Kathleen Turner's character finally turning bitter when she's done all the decorating she can, and Michael Douglas is too busy earning money to care that his wife is feeling empty now. Whose fault is it that the marriage is a shambles? Did Douglas continue to quest for more and more money to make himself feel good about himself and to keep his wife happy...and did she encourage it but continuing to spend, spend, spend? And when the ruins are revealed, it isn't emotional territory, as such, that they fight over, but the material goods that have come to represent emotional attachment for them.

All that may be, but what is so great about the movie is its unrelenting viciousness once the barbs start flying. When Turner tells Douglas she had to pull off to the side of the road when she thought he might be dieing from a heart attack because "she was happy" he might pass away...wow, if that ain't a slap in the face??

It's interesting that Turner is really the hard case in this. Douglas keeps saying that he's still in love with her. He keeps softening towards Turner, and she rebuffs him with her jaw set more and more firmly. Yet, is he really in love with her, or just feels he can "get her back" to put back on his trophy case. He probably doesn't know either...combination of the two, I'd say.

The movie is keenly observed, and the lead performances are flawless,really. Our sympathies bounce back and forth, back and forth all the time. And because we're watching a glossy Hollywood movie, in the back of our minds, we're expecting it all to turn out OKAY. Sure, they say things and do things no human can be forgiven for, but what the heck...it's a movie. I congratulate all involved for having the courage of their convictions. This is a BLACK comedy in all the best ways. The final action Turner takes with Douglas, as they lay side by side, is PERFECT!! I hadn't seen the movie in years until the other day, but many of her comments and actions were burned in my memory. These two actors had such great chemistry. A reteaming, even after all these years, might be fun.

Anyway, my one gripe about the movie is the role of "narrator" that DeVito plays. He's an attorney (and partner of Douglas'), who, in his scenes WITH Douglas, is quite amusing. But he also interjects little comments from time to time as he is retelling the story of the Roses to a prospective client. The tone of these scenes is unconvincing, DeVito does a terrible job of smoking (don't ask), and they add nothing to our appreciation of the "message." Maybe the movie wasn't long enough without these scenes...but I could sure do without them.

By the way,the DVD has a montage of deleted scenes, "hosted" by DeVito. It's worth watching, right through to the end, because DeVito (and his wife, Rhea Pearlman) have a very brief but delightful "scene" at the conclusion.

This is a great movie, and a lost treasure, in many ways, because so few people gave it a try when it came out. It still holds quite true today, I think, and despite the slightly outdated fashions in the film, remains timeless.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: 4.5 stars, really. I love black comedies!
Review: I won't rehash the plot. It's simply a wonderfully observed crumbling of a marriage probably never built on the healthiest of foundations in the first place. One could say that the movie is perhaps an indictment of materialism, where we see Kathleen Turner's character finally turning bitter when she's done all the decorating she can, and Michael Douglas is too busy earning money to care that his wife is feeling empty now. Whose fault is it that the marriage is a shambles? Did Douglas continue to quest for more and more money to make himself feel good about himself and to keep his wife happy...and did she encourage it but continuing to spend, spend, spend? And when the ruins are revealed, it isn't emotional territory, as such, that they fight over, but the material goods that have come to represent emotional attachment for them.

All that may be, but what is so great about the movie is its unrelenting viciousness once the barbs start flying. When Turner tells Douglas she had to pull off to the side of the road when she thought he might be dieing from a heart attack because "she was happy" he might pass away...wow, if that ain't a slap in the face??

It's interesting that Turner is really the hard case in this. Douglas keeps saying that he's still in love with her. He keeps softening towards Turner, and she rebuffs him with her jaw set more and more firmly. Yet, is he really in love with her, or just feels he can "get her back" to put back on his trophy case. He probably doesn't know either...combination of the two, I'd say.

The movie is keenly observed, and the lead performances are flawless,really. Our sympathies bounce back and forth, back and forth all the time. And because we're watching a glossy Hollywood movie, in the back of our minds, we're expecting it all to turn out OKAY. Sure, they say things and do things no human can be forgiven for, but what the heck...it's a movie. I congratulate all involved for having the courage of their convictions. This is a BLACK comedy in all the best ways. The final action Turner takes with Douglas, as they lay side by side, is PERFECT!! I hadn't seen the movie in years until the other day, but many of her comments and actions were burned in my memory. These two actors had such great chemistry. A reteaming, even after all these years, might be fun.

Anyway, my one gripe about the movie is the role of "narrator" that DeVito plays. He's an attorney (and partner of Douglas'), who, in his scenes WITH Douglas, is quite amusing. But he also interjects little comments from time to time as he is retelling the story of the Roses to a prospective client. The tone of these scenes is unconvincing, DeVito does a terrible job of smoking (don't ask), and they add nothing to our appreciation of the "message." Maybe the movie wasn't long enough without these scenes...but I could sure do without them.

By the way,the DVD has a montage of deleted scenes, "hosted" by DeVito. It's worth watching, right through to the end, because DeVito (and his wife, Rhea Pearlman) have a very brief but delightful "scene" at the conclusion.

This is a great movie, and a lost treasure, in many ways, because so few people gave it a try when it came out. It still holds quite true today, I think, and despite the slightly outdated fashions in the film, remains timeless.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: i can't stand this film
Review: i'll give the film props on one thing you either Love it or you Loath it.i Loath this film.i find it to be garbage.nothing that i want to ever view again.


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