Rating: 
Summary: Valley Girl- romantic comedy on dvd with special features
Review: This meaningful romantic comedy is finally back on dvd with special features this time around. This modern day Romeo & Juliet type of love story with a happier outcome is set to great music.It's an intelligent emotional romantic drama with comedy thrown in throughout it.Some of the funny lines & actions ad-libbed.Many unknowns at the time were cast with the most well known being Nicolas Cage who is showcased in the extra features.It is great to see Nicolas Cage before with a full head of his own real hair at 18 with his own real teeth before he had them capped. Unfortunately, the valley girl of the movie: actress Deborah Foreman is very ABSENT from the Extra Features to great disappointment as the rest of the main cast is all there. All the extra features leave out the valley girl of the movie. There is NO Deborah Foreman in any of the extra features on this dvd after watching all the extras in intense detail:an Interview with director Martha Coolidge and Nicolas Cage just mention her,the pop-up 1980's trivias simply state she was a Maybelline Makeup Model,the director commentary track says more of the making of-filming of the movie rather than the small personal details about the cast's behavior or other interesting tidbits we would never know unless the director told us & she didn'.Deborah Foreman was absent from all the featurettes and even the front cover of the dvd. Anyone know why the lead actress was left out of all the extra features of this 20th anniversay special edition ? The charmingly pretty actress Deborah Foreman co-starred with Emilio Estevez & Martin Sheen in "In the Custody of Strangers",co-starred with Val Kilmer in "Real Genius",co-starred with John Travolta,Kelly Preston & Ayre Gross in 1989's "The Experts" & Ted Raimi in 1990's "Lunatics: a Love Story" so where is she now ? Recent pictures online show her to look good at 38 in 2003. Nicolas Cage ( Face/Off,The Family Man ) and Deborah Foreman ( My Chaffeur, Real Genius,The Experts ) are the teens in love. One is from the valley and one is from Hollywood.Frederic Forrest ( "Whatever" movie ),Colleen Camp ( "Sliver" ) as Foreman's parents. Michael Bowen ( Jackie Brown,Echo Park )as the valley girl's ex-boyfriend.An assortment of actresses( Michelle Meyrink also of "Real Genuis" is one, Elizabeth Daily of "No Small Affair" is another )as her friends who exert peer pressure on her to be with the boyfriend who is socially correct ( a valley dude ) yet makes her unhappy.Lee Purcell ( Eddie Macon's Run ) as the young stepmom who tries to entice her stepdaughter's to-be-boyfriend as a spin on "The Graduate" still looks the same after 20 years in the reunion interview. A wonderful movie loaded with extras. The romance is beautiful. The comedy is funny. The drama is heart-breaking. The acting is excellent. The extras are great except for the lack of Deborah Foreman being involved or any update on her now-a-days. The widescreen clear picture shows things you would never notice before. Just don't be disappointed if you are a Deborah Foreman fan as there is no extra footage of her. The movie is in it's second release on dvd. Perhaps next time we will get the 2nd takes ( outtakes ) & the interview with the main star other than Nicholas Cage who is readily available in this special edition. If you want to re-live or get to know the 1980's romantic comedy- this is your meaningful movie. This started the California Surfer talk "Radical",etc. along with sporting great songs like "That's the oldest story in the world" & "A Million Miles away" by The Plimsouls as one of it's love themes- the other being "I Melt with you" by Modern English. The way the teenagers talk in 1982 when this movie was filmed is certainly modern english that is a million miles away from nowadays way of talking. Nicolas Cage & Deborah Foreman have LOTS of GREAT KISSING SCENES which look even better on dvd.This is a wonderfully dramatic romance with just enough comedy set in the trendy early 1980's California that Hollywood can be proud of.This may remind you of your first love. It may just show you what being in love can be. Valley Girl is a movie of quality that is best seen ready to laugh and cry. Relax & Enjoy as this movie is time well spent.
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of Cool Extras
Review: "Valley Girl" is one of my all time favorite movies and it has now come to DVD. This DVD edition of "Valley Girl" is worth the wait. The film includes a lot of neat extras like a featurette named "Valley Girl-20 Years Later." The featurette includes new video commentary from all of the cast members-except the star Deborah Foreman who is missing. In addition to the featurette, the DVD also includes 80's trivia, a site down talk with the director and Nicholas Cage, and a segment about "The Music from Valley Girl." The film itself was restored well. This is a fun movie that will take you back to the 80's and your high school days. It is definetly something that you should add to your DVD collection.
Rating:
Summary: Man I miss the 80's! Valley Girl brings them back!
Review: I have been a fan of this movie for awhile. Finally bought the DVD the other day, and have to say I was impressed. The video quality is great and the sound is decent. The extras were ok. A couple nice interview segments with a lot of the stars and also some discussion about the music. The one thing that suprised me was how Deborah Foreman didn't make an appearance in any of the interviews. I mean, Nicolas Cage, who is a HUGE star now, took the time to acknowledge how important the movie was for his career, and he shared some great memories and stories about shooting it. But Deborah Foreman, what has she done lately? Would have been nice to know. Oh well. Other than that, I'm very happy with it.
Rating:
Summary: From an original Hollywood girl
Review: Don't be fooled by the title and look of this movie. This is such an outstanding and memorable film -- you will remember it long after you first watch it. It's the type of film that you can watch over and over again, and not get tired of. That is why getting the DVD is such a great buy. I don't like many movies too often, but this is honestly one of my personal favorites. It has a great message, perfect soundtrack, and brings back a lot of 80's nostalgia. It's a real gem!
Rating:
Summary: 1 of My Favorite Films / 80's Classic
Review: Modern day Romeo & Juliet cliche plot boy from the wrong side of the tracks falls for the preppy girl who's friends don't approve. But it's done with such style and a different twist in this 80's classic. Nic Cage's 1st major role as Randy a punk rocker from West Hollywood whos falls head over heels for a preppy valley girl Julie from Southern Cali. I was basically obsessed with Nic Cage's character ( Randy) in this movie for a while being into the punk scene. Everything about this film is so defining of the 80's when he brings her to the punk club and The Plimsouls are playing " A Million Miles Away" and he looks at her and says real quick when can I see you again and then turns his head quick back away. You can just see right there how much he was into her. At the end is amazing when there at the prom and Randy & Fred his best friend crash the prom when "Johnny are you queer" by Josie Cotton is playing and Randy & Julie hop in the limo and ride of into the night Modern English's classic " Melt with you" comes on. Did I mention what a great soundtrack this movie has every song is perfect for the scenes. One of the best 80's films of all time and & in my top 5 favorite movies of all time. Essential to collection for anyone who grew up in the 80's cinema. Story of opposites attracting and following there own path together regardless of what other people think. I own the special edition DVD and a must see movie.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Film of the 80's
Review: I will not go into a long spiel about what this film is about since many have already chosen to do so (and I know that is what a review is somewhat about), however I do not want to ruin the plot for anyone. I will say that as a gal who grew up in the 80's, this is one of my FAVORITE 80's films. Even today if I were to watch it, it would take me back to my high school years...the cool tunes, the freaky styles (well, we saw ourselves as "cool" back then), and the lingo, ahhh the lingo. I will add this to my DVD collection so someday when my children are older (now 5 and 3), they can watch it and perhaps get a kick out of the 80's genre of when their mom grew up.
Rating:
Summary: They don't make 'em like they used to.
Review: This was Nic's first starring role under his screen name Nicolas Cage & let me tell you, he was hot in this film (despite not being rich enough yet to get his teeth capped)! He falls for the lovely, adorable & innocent Julie (Deborah Foreman, who, if any of you grew up in the '80's & stole your older sister's teen mags, you remember her in the Shine-Free ads for Maybelline). Deborah Foreman proves that some models (yes...gasp...it's true) can actually act extremely well in movies. The film is very gutsy. It's stars mainly a bunch of unknowns & they all do a great job & it was shot in a mere 22 days (the budget was so low that director Martha Coolidge had the cast provide their own wardrobes). A lot of people call the film a modern-day version of Romeo & Juliet & a lot of people have asked if the R in Randy & J in Julie was intentional as well as Randy & Julie standing under a sign of a movie theater that reads Romeo and Juliet. On the DVD commentary, Coolidge answers yes. Julie's parents are the most unique & hysterical ones you'll find in this genre. One of my favorite parts is when the father is so nervous about his daughter going to her prom that he ducks into the bathroom to smoke a funny cigarette. "Steve, where are you?! his wife asks. "I'll be right there!" he calls from the bathroom. "I'm looking for the camera!" Another great moment is when Julie comes home in the morning from going out with Randy & the parents kindheartedly advise her to protect herself & she freaks out. "Just 'cause we were out all night doesn't mean I did anything!" Yeah, the plot isn't very original: The boy from the wrong tracks falls in love with the popular girl & her friends give her crap, but the film is so much fun, it doesn't really matter. The film has a certain kind of innocence that we don't see in today's teen flicks. Julie & Randy just have fun being with each other, walking hand in hand, and talking and laughing. The topic of sex never comes up in the film between the two of them (or if it does, they're in no hurry). It's only brought up by one of Julie's best friends & Julie replies "It hasn't gotten that far yet." Any time she's about to go inside after one of their dates, they continue talking & laughing & kissing & then she closes the door & then, suddenly, opens it again it the whole
process begins again. Ah, makes me miss those times when I was a teenager in love. The DVD features are excellent. The woman that played Suzie's stepmom hasn't aged a bit. How sickening! It must be nice to be her. Elizabeth Daily (Lauren) has gotten so much plastic surgery, she's hardly recognizable. I thought she was fine the way she was. I'll stop there. I don't want to spoil the DVD for ya. I've never really cared for in the film's open ending. What's gonna happen with Julie & her friends? Is Tommy going to keep giving her hell? I also think both of the soundtracks could've been better. While they have a lot of great songs on them, poppy songs from The Flirts and, especially, Josie Cotten just grate on my nerves. Inspite of this, who could forget the film's theme song by Modern English "I Melt with You" that'll leave you humming the tune & feeling like you're on cloud nine long after the film's over.
Rating:
Summary: It's early 80's California alright...
Review: ...and most of the actors are starving artists by now. So buy & help support 'em. Valley Girl is totally excellent. What I enjoy is the realism, it could've been my California high school days. Valley Girl is too real, man. I definitely recommend the flick. Reach deep, break the suction & buy.
Rating:
Summary: Finally it's here!
Review: I had this movie on vhs for years and must have watched it a million times as it's just that kind of film I like to watch over and over and never get tired of.
Then, the day after my birthday last summer, it came out on dvd. It seemed like perfect timing..I thought for sure I'd get it as a gift. I didn't. I did get a late Christmas present from my husband a few days ago, and this was it.
It is the most romantic gift he gave me next to the sparkly diamond stud earrings. I think this movie belongs in the class.
Why? Well, first off, I am 34 yrs old, which make this movie one of many of my generation. It brings me back to those glory days of 1980's high school.
"Valley Girl" is a romantic comedy/drama, that has so much heart and such a clear and simple message of it's what inside that counts. Frederick Forrest, who plays the father to Julie, who is played by Deborah Foreman, and is Valley Girl extradionare, delivers some of the best lines of the movie in the scene where he talks to her about what really matters in life.
This is a very 80's version of Romeo & Juliet instead it's Randy & Julie. Randy, who is played by a very young Nicholas Cage, is the punker dude type that Julie falls in love with. Their's is a typical teenage romance with phony friends and a jilted ex boyfriend trying to tear it all to pieces.
"Valley Girl" has a bittersweet quality to it. I always cry when I watch it, and my heart swells up like a balloon. It sounds corny, but it's true. I still adore it after all these years.
The dvd had some good extras, I'm still checking some out, can't comment on all of them. One really good bit of trivia I learned is that Michael Bowen, who played Tommy, the Valley dude boyfriend of Julie, has appeared in a few Quention Tarentino films. It seems QT is a fan of this small, indy film..Gee, I wonder why? It's totally cool to know that now. I am only sad that Deb Foreman is not among the stars that came back after 20 years to be interviewed for this special edition disc. I highly recommend this to fans of 80's films, or even just films about the 80's, or fans of love stories...Oh to heck with it, all movie fans will find something to appreciate in the movie "Valley Girl". My husband did. Eileen F.
Rating:
Summary: Insert 80's adjective here:
Review: Awesome, cool.... 20 years later, this movie seems to be the one, most accurate snapshot of high school life in the early 80's. It totally takes you back, is fun, and has a great spirit. BTW, I got this the same time as "The Sure Thing," from the same era -- and there is no comparison. Sure Thing (and similar 80's movies) seems much more slick and calculated; an adult, corportate take on teens. If you suspend just a little disbelief, Valley Girl seems real. And the heart is there.... And a wonderful 20 minute featurette about the music with Richard Blade (KROQ dj) guiding things; Josie Cotton and fun, fun, fun...
|
