DVD Review HTF Review: Love Actually - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! MUST SEE! (1 Viewer)

[Steve Tannehill]

This should cover everything that is uncovered.

Although I dare say that this is not a movie to see for its sex or nudity.

- Steve

 

[Ray H]

On the nudity, a brief storyline involves two adult film stars (i'm assuming this one didn't make the inflight version) who romance eachother during setups and spend much of their screentime naked. Additionally, Laura Linney's character also appears topless. That just about covers it.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Didn't mean to come across as a pervert with
my question.

Steve, thanks for that link. Very helpful.

Actually, I couldn't figure out what would
have made this an "R" rated film other than
possible strong language. When you have such
an attractive ensemble of actresses it is always
an added bonus to see some nudity.

Really fun film, folks. Sensational cast (though
Rowan Atkinson seems terribly misplaced here). I
would recommend this quite highly to everyone.

....and it's always an extra added bonus when
Robert Harris endorses a film like this!

 

[Greg_S_H]

Hawaiian cruise, eh? You lucky dog! Welcome back, Ron!

 

[Scott Shanks]

There were quite a few f-bombs too, if I remember correctly.

 

[michael deakin]

Hi ron.
Just done some checking and found that "christmas is all around" video, Is only on the region 2 pal version.
michael.

 

[Nils Luehrmann]

Aloha & Welcome Home Ron!

Sounds like you had a terrific time.

I read your comments about watching the edited version of Love Actually. I'm sure you will find the original to be an even more satisfying experience as I can only assume that the edited version left out the entire story/relationship between the two soft-porn body doubles. It is a marvelous sub-plot, beautifully written, acted, and shot.

When watching this film I could not help but surmise that Richard Curtis must be a big fan of Robert Altman or at the very least was influenced by Altman's style of film making. Personally though, I felt the strength of this film was really in the outstanding performances of its ensemble cast.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

You are correct. None of this was in the edited
version.

Can't wait to see this film again. Been thinking
of it ever since I first watched it. Another one
of those "gems" that you don't catch until after
theatrical release.

Anybody reading this who hasn't seen Love Actually
should not hesitate to drop what you are doing
right now and get out to the video store and rent it.

 

[James.G]

I completely agree with Ron. This was my one of my favorite films of last year. Some may categorize it as a "chick flick," but I really enjoyed it and am really glad they didn't wait until Christmas to release the disc. I just wish there were more extras. Sigh.

Also, it's mentioned in the commentary by director Curtis that the stand-ins were supposed to be for a major movie with some erotic elements, akin to Sliver or Basic Instinct, and not a porn film. The elaborate set, for example, was supposed to be Venice.

 

[Carlo_M]

Too bad about the Christmas video, all we got is that crappy Kelly video

My girlfriend starts cringing when I start singing "I feel it in my fingers...I feel it in my toes!"

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Applause!

My friends at Laser's Edge rushed me out
a copy of this DVD. This afternoon I had the
pleasure of watching it for the first time undedited
and anamorphic.

What a totally new experience for the best film
I have seen so far this year!

First, it's quite amazing how an "R" rated film
is edited for airline and cruise ship presentation.
The person that edited this film down to a "PG"
presentation did a damn good job considering there
were many obstacles to overcome in both picture
and language that had to be snipped without ruining
the continuity. As I watched this "R" rated version
I was quite astonished as to how different this film
is. For one, the porn stand-ins never existed in
the "PG" version. Most of the pornographic artwork
was carefully hidden through clever recomposition
of the picture frame. Front and tail syllables of
adult language were carefully removed. Even the
balloon of dialogue that ex-heroin superstar Billy
Mack writes on the teen group photo is totally
unreadable in the "PG" version.

Having said all that I think you will be surprised
to hear me admit that the "PG" version worked better
for me. After hoping there would be some nudity in
this film, I thought the porn-star stand-ins were just
way too overdone. It really took away from the film
rather than contributed to it.....

....but that's only a minor complaint.

The transfer is incredible. After watching it for
two weeks on 4x3 hotel and airplane televisions
it was a real treat to see this film so beautifully
displayed in anamorphic. Transfer is very clean
with robust colors.

Though there wasn't a lot of surround activity to
be heard, the soundtrack remains vibrant. I cranked
my amp real high during my two favorite musical
moments in the film which occur at the beginning and
just prior to the end credits. The music in this
film certainly has a way of getting you up on your
feet and cheering for what is happening before you.

Naturally, Universal really botched up on the extras.
Not only do we not get the Billy Mack Christmas
Is All Around video, but there isn't even a
trailer to be seen. I saw the trailer on the plane
and thought it was cleverly put together.

I'll give Universal credit for at least including
what seems to be a huge chunk of deleted scenes.
I understand the film originally ran well over 3
hours, and much of what was cut appears in the
supplemental section. From the 25 minutes I watched,
I was quite pleased by how good these scenes
were. I was also pleasantly pleased by the simple
(but highly effective) menu featuring a heart and
guitar. The background music taken from the film
is very sweet.

This is a film I wish I had the opportunity to
review for this forum. I think Jason did an
exceptional job on the review and I am not trying
to take anything away from that. I would have
simply made this a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED offering
and talked this title up prior to its DVD release.

In fact, if Jason doesn't mind, I am going to add
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to his review. He can
blame it on me. I think Love Actually is
the coolest, warmest and sincerely best feel-good
film I have seen so far this year.

I do hope people who have not seen this film
manage to get this far into the thread to pay
attention to me hawking a blind purchase or rental
of this DVD.

Exceptional film!

 

[MattGentry]

See, for me, the stand-ins (I'm not entirely sure they were porn actors - after all, the gentlemen mentioned being a stand-in for Brad Pitt on Seven Years In Tibet, so it might just have been a movie and what we saw were the love-making scenes)...

Anyways, the stand-ins were actually one of my favorite parts. When I first saw it, yes, I thought it took away from the film just a bit. However, I just recently re-watched it and I must say, very well done story.

I mean, here you have to characters who, throughout the entire movie, have been naked with each other, and performing faux sexual acts on each other (not to mention touching each other's "bits and pieces") and when the gentlemen goes to ask her on a date, it's very awkward.

Then, when they get done on the date, it is again very awkward. Yet, they kiss, and the rest is history. I loved this part because it showed that even after they'd seen each other naked, touched each other, etc. (usually where the relationship progresses to), something as "simple" (just an innocent kiss) was a big event to them.

And yes...One of my favorite romantic comedies of all time.

 

[Joe Blech]

A little late in posting this, but I rented this with my girlfriend last night because she got to pick the movie and I didn't know what I had gotten myself in for. However, I ended up LOVING this movie!
One small point that I would like to make is that I found it a little easier to let the movie leave reality for a little bit like others in this thread have mentioned it does. I will agree that not all movies need to be as optimistic and sugary and sweet as this one. However, in its defense, I feel like as a viewer I was almost given a disclaimer at the beginning of the film. Hugh Grant's narration explains loosely that this movie is about love. Not necessarily about love lost or about love from a pessimistic point of view, but about the refreshing and sappy type of love that you see at the airport at an incoming gate. I feel like I was warned: Love actually is all around. Other not so good things are all around as well. But in this movie we are going to focus on the love stuff.
And I feel like that's what was presented as promised.