Rating: 
Summary: Worst Movie Ever
Review: I can't believe I wasted 2 1/2 hours of my life on this movie. It has as much excitement as Fat Free Bread. I'm afraid to watch the orignial version called Death Takes a Vacation.
Aside from the drawn out, extremeley uneventful plot was the obvious hidden meaning. Wealthy people are more special than the rest of us, and when they die it is tragic but when normal people die, it is no big deal. You'll understand what I mean if you don't listen to me and watch this movie anyways. Brad Pitt gets hit by a car in the beginning of the film. No big deal...life moves on, but when old rich man dies, there is drama and tragedy. I don't know about everyone else but I hate rich snobs and I if I knew this movie was dedicated to about how much better they are than me I would have never watched it to begin with.
Oh, don't forget the part about how death has been around since the beginning of time and knows english and table manners but has no clue about peanut butter and other simple things. Whatever.....
Rating: 
Summary: EMOTIONAL POT BOILER WITH A GREAT FINISH
Review: "Meet Joe Black" is a film of contradictions. After starting out with a genuinely thought-provoking premise (what would happen if death took a human form and came to earth to learn about life from his next victim) the plot comes to a grinding halt when Death - in the embodiment of Brad Pitt - falls for his victim's daughter. Anthony Hopkins is Bill Perish, Death's next intended victim and, as usual, gives us a performance of quiet, poignant introspection that is masterfully crafted and beautiful to behold.
After some laborious inner conflict and some totally extemporanious scenes that have nothing to do with the central plot, "Meet Joe Black" concludes with a knock out birthday celebration sequence that has such an emotional swell built into it, I found myself getting weepy before the final fade out.
This is the "Ultimate Edition" of a DVD already made available, which really translates to the fact that all Universal Studios has done is to slap the same transfer into some snazzy new packaging while adding some real throw away extras on a second disc that one could easily live without if one already owns the first DVD incarnation.
Image quality on this DVD is the same as the previously released DVD. At times the picture is quite solid, with excellent color fidelity, shadow and contrast delineation and solid black levels. Unfortunately, quite often the picture gets bogged down with pixelization that really breaks apart background detail. There's also some minor edge enhancement and some slight shimmering of background and fine detail. Contrast levels can, in a few instances, be too low. The audio is 5.1 and well balanced, with explosive bass levels that will really give your rear speakers a work out.
The big, big, BIG extra that Universal throws us on disc two is "Death Takes A Holiday" a Paramount flick with Frederick March playing Death, come down to earth to study mankind before claiming one for his own. It's a dated movie with overly theatrical performances and a generally middle-of-the-road budget that really makes the whole thing pretty tacky. As for the quality of the transfer, the gray scale is adequately balanced but with chips and scratches on the original negative. Contrast levels are often too low. The audio is mono and strident.
BOTTOM LINE: If you don't already own this movie, I'd recommend it. Just keep in mind that it's a two hour premise stretched to a three hour running time. However, if you already own the previously issued DVD - this copy is not worth a repurchase!
Rating: 
Summary: Hopkins/Pitt...a perfect match
Review: There is a reason this remake of `Death Takes A Holiday' works.
Simply, this, Hopkins is Hopkins, and Pitt actually ACTS.Death assumes the body of a man Hopkin's daughter has met. Death decides he/it wants to experience the human life that he is so used to taking. The thing is, Hopkins (Bill)is not your average man, and his daughter (Susan)is not the average woman. And it near destroys him. This film is not so much about Hopkins (absolutely incredible performance as always) trying to deal with Death (he is due to die within 24 hours), as Death trying to deal with human emotions and justify his/its own actions. Pitt/Death, learns from Hopkins that there can be a morality in the powerful, and that it must be meted properly. He learns to repect the man, and also learns what love means from Hopkins daughter, Susan, whom he falls hopelessly in love with. Discovering his feelings, Death decides to take Susan, along with Bill. Hopkins (Bill), shows Death that his actions are selfish, and argues that Susan should be allowed her true future. Death is supposed to be without feeling, without remorse, but because he has assumed the guise of a man, he is flooded with emotions and ultimately the desire to do right. Something Death is not supposed to consider. Most viewers will see this as a man dealing with his impending death, but it is really about Death (set as a real figure) dealing with newfound emotions and the struggle between right and wrong. While this film may have been slow at the box-office, it is so worth seeing. The cinematography is excellent, the soundtrack excellent, and the team of Hopkins and Pitt excels. Hopkins is always good, but Pitt as Death really acts in his role. He underplays nicely, and allows the story to supercede his stardom. The dvd is 2 1/2 hours long, but I was never bored, and felt every emotion the movie was supposed to convey. This is a great love story, with a nice twist.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie
Review: I did not see the movie when it came out since the name and explanation on the cover did not interest me. I rented it later on only because of anthony hopkins and brad pit. Was I pleasantly surprised. Excellent movie. Good acting, good plot and a nice ending. I highly recommend wathing this movie.
Rating:
Summary: "You're violating the laws of the universe"
Review: Meet Joe Black tries very hard to be a Significant Movie, but fails miserably. It certainly has many of the constituent parts of a classic film including a three-hour running time, a respected senior actor teamed with Hollywood heartthrobs, and an orchestral score. Unfortunately the music is also intrusive and overly sentimental, the film is at least an hour too long, and Claire Forlani irritatingly spends most of it in tears (although Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins are adequate in their roles). Hopkins plays Bill Parrish, a media mogul squillionaire whom everybody loves. We are expected to believe this without question, despite the fact that he is irritable, insensitive and patronisingly patriarchal towards his daughters. The hands of fate have decreed that it is Bill's time to die, but over the millennia Death has become curious about the ways of people and offers Bill a bargain. In return for a guided tour of the thing we know as life, Bill will be allowed to continue living for an unspecified length of time. Of course Bill has a beautiful daughter (so Death can fall in love), a Machiavellian business partner (so Death can prove that he is really a good guy), and assorted family crises which provide the fodder for seemingly endless poignant glances. Perhaps the only thing that the film gets right is the sensual undressing sequence, with Pitt and Forlani proving that incredibly slow is also incredibly sexy. That however, is the one bright point in a movie that waffles along towards its drawn out and saccharine conclusion. And as far as conclusions go, it's pretty lame. Don't watch this - you've got better things to do with your life.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLANT!
Review: I can't get enough of this movie. Eveyone was excellantly cast and just love Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins together. It's a monthly ritual for me!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Performances
Review: I have watched this film many times. I am always amazed at how Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt capture my attention.
This film causes one to openly deal with Death.
A must see if you want to be entertained and end the movie on a positive note.
Rating:
Summary: Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins give a perfect performance!
Review: Meet Joe Black is a wonderful film, showing that even Death can be as curious as a child. Brad Pitt playing the role of Death, takes a vacation, over-hearing a conversation between a rich and powerful man (Bill) and his lovely daughter (Susan), telling her life is too short not to take a chance. Afterwards, Brad Pitt as still a human man meets Susan and gets caught-up in the moment looking after her as they leave, and getting struck by a car in the middle of the street. Death uses his body as his human form and he makes a deal with Bill. He will extend Bill's life for a while if he gives him a tour of the life Bill spoke of to Susan. The film takes you with Death as he discovers the pains and pleasures of life, developing feelings for Susan, and filling the deal. A movie for both men and women and very good!
Rating:
Summary: Meet Joe Black.....and Prince Sirki..Both are Life Affirming
Review: This review refers to the 2-disc "Ultimate Edition" DVD (Universal)... Universal has called this edition the "Ultimate" and it is! Two fabulous romantic fantasies in one beautiful package. The first disc "Meet Joe Black" is the modern retelling of "Death Takes A Holiday", which may be viewed in it's entirety on disc 2. Both discs also contain special features relating to "Joe Black". "Meet Joe Black" has Sir Anthony Hopkins playing wealthy businessman Bill Parrish, who gets a visit from "Death". "Death" ain't so bad though, as it comes in the form of the one and only Brad Pitt!(I would go gently if it came to me that way).Joe Black, ("Death") makes a deal with Bill. In exchange for more time on earth with his family, Bill must entertain and show Joe the ways of the world. Bill agrees providing Joe does not include any other family members in the end, which will take place shortly after Bill's 65th birthday bash.And of course no one except Bill knows who Joe really is! Bill very much aware of his imminemt departure, begins to focus on his life, his family, and leaving his business affairs in good and moral hands. There are some wonderful scenes of the family having dinner together where we see that they are loving but not without a few problems. Complications set in when Joe, feeling very human falls for Bill's youngest daughter Susan(Claire Forlani), and not knowing who he really is, she falls for him as well.Joe wants to take Susan with him when he returns to 'the depths of eternity". Will Bill be able to prevent this tragedy from happening or will love conquer all? You will not want to miss a second, waiting to find out. Directed by Martin Brest, the story unfolds beautifully, and the photography is wonderful. There are some exquiste scenes of the party and the fireworks that must be seen to be appreciated. It is all set to a moving and mesmerizing score by Thomas Newman(see my CD review of the "Meet Joe Black" soundtrack entitled "It's a Wonderful World of Music"). The supporting cast all give outstanding performances and must be mentioned, Marcia Gay Harden, Jeffrey Tambor and Jake Weber.The DVD is a wonderful transfer and the widescreen(anamorphic) picture shows off all these fine film qualities. The sound is great. You have the choice of 5.1 Dolby Dig or DTS. There are several special features including DVD ROM and an on location featurette and...... Don't forget to meet "Prince Sirki" in "Death Takes a Holiday", the original film that Joe Black was based on. This is a little different take on the story,and even the ending is a surprise. Both films make you want to go out and live life. "Death" is played by the great Fredrich March in this one. It is an incredebly good transfer of this 1934 film classic. The Black and White images are good and the sound is in mono but well worth having, as Amazon.com(as of today) does not have this for sale as a seperate DVD(although I did see it on VHS). The entire package will "make you want to dance like a dervish"...Bill to daughter Susan....Enjoy ..Laurie
Rating:
Summary: Seductive, but the ending ...
Review: might drown you in syrup. Again I ask the question: Why do so few filmmakers know when to stop? The ending is so unnecessary here that it reminded me of Spielberg's grossly unnecessary endings--in A.I., in Minority Report, in Saving Private Ryan. There's a point in this film--just like Spielberg's--were the right balance of provocativeness and emotion could be struck, but the lure of schmaltz seems too much to resist; there's too much pressure to wrap movies in perfect bows. But aside from the ending, this movie drew me in and kept me glued to the screen. Obviously, you bring a bit of your own mood to what you watch, which may explain why some viewers found the pace too slow. I found it well paced, and it allowed me to savor some phenomenal acting turns--not just Hopkins and Pitt--that rang true to life. Cap it off with an intelligent script and a nice soundtrack which crosses to overbearing only a few times ... Meet Joe Black is a pleasant reminder of just how nice it can be to watch a movie. This is NOT a great movie, but it's a very, very good one.
| 
