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Blazing Saddles - Limited Edition Collector's Set

Blazing Saddles - Limited Edition Collector's Set

List Price: $79.98
Your Price: $71.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Until a Special Edition comes along ...
Review: ... this will have to do. But that ain't all bad.

Politically incorrect and loving it, "Blazing Saddles" holds up as a comedy nearly 30 years after its release, and maybe even has gotten funnier as Americans get more uptight. Heaven help us if we lose our ability to laugh at the outrageous.

And while the bathroom humor (and the campfire scene) gets all the notice, there are some very subtle jokes in the film, such as the "laurel and hardy handshake" and "Thank you, Van."

As for extras ... there's not much. A trailer, both widescreen and cropped versions, and an monologue by Mel Brooks that plays over the first half of the movie. It's not scene-specific, but it's worth listening to. For instance, Gene Wilder wasn't even supposed to be in the movie. To find out who was, and why Wilder got the part ... listen to the interview.

This film cries out for a special edition. A scene-specific commentary by Brooks and co-writers Andrew Bergman and Richard Pryor. A making-of documentary. The scenes that were edited into the TV version of the movie (like the diving scene and the governor's visit to the fake Rock Ridge)...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Come on Boys - I don't hear no singing!
Review: 30 years old and still funny, that's an achievement in itself, but perhaps like others I have to agree with the fact that this movie would never have been made today, without a slew of law suits from just about everyone.
A wonderful satire on the western genre with Cleavon Little, and Gene Wilder in the main roles, obviously enjoying the material and farce of it all, in one of Mel Brook's best offerings. Fans will see most of the familiar Brooks crew (including himself) in either supporting or cameo roles throughout the picture, and although I loved this picture, it will not be to everyone's taste. There is an almost adolescent quality to the vulgarity of the movie that (without wishing to generalize) will surely be as appealing to the 18-25 demographic today, as it was in 1974. That said, you will probably want to put the kids to bed before watching this, as a young audience today, may find the messages a little mixed. There are some very good moments of biting satire, as well as over the top obvious sight and line gags, but this is still a good funny movie. Enjoy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Mel Brooks' Finest Film! Pure Hilarious Genius!
Review: BLAZING SADDLES has survived throughout these years as one of Mel Brooks best films. Filled with hysterical sight gags and some of the funniest lines ever spoken, it is no surprise that many people argue that BLAZING SADDLES is the best Mel Brooks film. The film revolves around Bart, a black man living in the time of the old west, who smashes his overseer's head in with a shovel, and is saved from being hung because he would be perfect for a plan devised by the sinister Hedley Lamaar. What ensues is one of the wackiest and out of sight films of the 1970's. Cleavon Little stars as Bart, whose fine performance stands out as the best he ever gave to a film. Gene Wilder is brilliant as ever as Bart's friend Jim, or as he was known so many years ago, the Waco Kid. The truly magnificant performances are done by the supporting cast. Harvey Korman is slam-bam fantastic as Hedley Lamaar! Definitely his best performance in a Brooks film. The late, great Madeline Kahn received an Academy Award nomination for her great performance as Lili Von Schtupp, and she is amazing from beginning to end. Slim Pickens shows great comic poise as the dim-witted Taggert. Mel Brooks plays dual roles as the hilarious Governor and later as the Indian Chieftain. Dom Deluise, though only appearing for less than five minutes, gives a wonderful performance as an effeminate director. All in all, Mel Brooks' direction and screenplay co-written by Richard Pryor among others are awesome. I love this movie!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Forget Political Correctness ....
Review: Blazing Saddles is one of the great comedies of all time. Unfortunately, it's likely that no major studio today would release it. South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, Something About Mary and American Pie (all hilarious movies which I would highly recommend, by the way) contain toilet humor that makes Mel Brooks at his most graphic seem like a Disney movie in comparison. However, today's politically correct Hollywood would be horrified with a comedy that uses racial epithets left and right, worrying about the backlash that subject matter would cause.

This is too bad because Blazing Saddles shows that such language, given the right context, can actually combat bigotry by showing how stupid it really is. Cleavon Little, as Sheriff Bart, and Gene Wilder, as The Waco Kid, are presented as islands of sanity in a sea of ignorant, racist townspeople. The 'n' word is thrown out repeatedly, but is intended as an insult to the people who say it rather than a slur against blacks. Mel Brooks, a very liberal Democrat, recognized that racism is offensive and nasty in nature and showed it in its true light in Blazing Saddles. As a result, the film does more to ridicule racism and bigotry than most serious "message films" on the same subject ever could.

Unfortunately, the corporate suits who now run the big studios are more worried about image and profits than producing quality movies. As long as a film offends as few people as possible and appeals to as many members of the general public as possible (preferably between the ages of 18 and 35), the executives like it -- even if the film has no originality or artistic merit at all. As a result, films like Blazing Saddles and TV shows like All in the Family are taboo these days. Hollywood has lost a lot of daring and courage since 1974. See Blazing Saddles and you will realize just how much.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Funny, funny, funny! Even nearly 30 years after its release
Review: Blazing Saddles was released by Warner Brothers in 1974. Run time is 93 minutes. The late Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder are the principal actors. Co-stars include none other than Slim Pickens, with Harvey Korman, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, and Mel Brooks.
Directed by Mel Brooks
Genre - Comedy

From an opening scene with a number of blacks and what appear to be Oriental laborers working on building the railroad to a final scene where the two stars dismount their trusty horses to ride off into the sunset in a limousine, this was one hilarious movie. In the first five minutes, we see an invitation by the white work gang supervisors reversed: a hilarious harmonious rendition of "I Get No Kick from Champagne." When asked to sing a more traditional slave song, the work gang says they don't recognize "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" or the "Camp Town Ladies." Soon the white cowboy supervisors are singing and leaping around in their asinine rendition of the latter song. The look on Cleavon Little's face as he smirks at the silly antics of seven white cowboys jumping and singing the song is priceless. It ends while the gag is still funny when Slim Pickens shows up. Firing a revolver into the air, he enters hollering "What in the wide, wide world of sports is a-goin' on here?"

Pickens (Mr. Taggart) asks the supervisor to send a couple of men ahead to check on the possibility of some quicksand (don't want to risk the horses!). As the two laborers ride off on a handcar, they start singing the "Camp Town Ladies." The tone is set for the remainder of the film.

The story line revolves around the appointment of Cleavon Little as the sheriff of the small town of Rock Ridge. Hedley Lamar, assistant to the Governor and State Procurer wants to take over Rock Ridge so he can sell the property to the railroad at a profit. After checking a couple precedents in the state statute books under "land snatching" a plan is formulated. Taggart's men are sent to "whomp and stomp" the town into selling out to new owners.

The town appeals for a new sheriff. Howard Johnson (1 flavor!) and his relatives (Gabby, Olsen, Samuel, etc.) meet in a church and decide to try to stick it out, if only they can wire the governor and convince him to appoint a new sheriff.

We learn that the governor's agents intend to appoint Little as sheriff, hoping to see the black sheriff fail to win acceptance of the townspeople. Rock Ridge will fall and be sold to the land speculator (the Governor's assistant, attorney general, and "State Procurer"). The new sheriff turns out to be a formidable foe, winning the support of the town drunk (Wilder) who also happens to be the fastest gun in the west. Through a series of sight gags and improbable situations (including a toll booth in the desert, where we hear Slim Pickens order his man: "Someone go back and get a ---- load of dimes!" you'll laugh until the end.

My favorite scenes include the stage performance of "I'm Tired" by Madline Kahn, the hangman's gallows, the now infamous campfire scene, and my all time personal favorite: Mel Brooks performance as the cross-eyed, cigar smoking governor. I'm no fan of self-important politicians and Mel Brooks pulls his part off beautifully. Check out the title written on the back of his tuxedo ... "Gov." As Brooks carelessly signs a couple of bills, he mutters "Work, work, work." He makes a statement to the staff followed by the question ... "how 'bout a harrumph?" Harrumph, harrumph. "Gentlemen, we've got protect our phony baloney jobs!"

A close look at the film's credits reveals that Mel Brooks wrote the music and lyrics for the classic "I'm Tired" performed by Madeline Kahn, along with two other original songs. Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor are among those credited with the screenplay.

This one's worth an hour and half. Don't take the film's slapstick racist, religious, sexist and even campfire humor too seriously, folks. Just sit back and laugh at Mel Brooks' classic.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Classic
Review: From the songs to the politically incorrect jokes no 18 year old should be allowed to vote without seeing the absurdity of modern prejudice through the eyes of past reality.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Brooks Commentary NOT scene-specific
Review: I can't believe I'm giving this movie four stars instead of five, since it is my nomination as the funniest film ever made. I bought this new disc because it promised a "scene specific" commentary by Mel Brooks. Not true. My copy of this 30th anniversary disc has the same non-specific commentary by Brooks as my previous disc. It's still terrific, however, and is recommended if you don't have the earlier dvd of this movie. Also, the picture quality of the transfer is excellent.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Classic Farce
Review: I love this movie. Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder do an excellent job of playing off of each other. This movie is a must-see for anyone who appreciates comedy. Some of the jokes fall flat, but this might just be the most memorable comedy flick of all time.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: a title for your reveiw:
Review: I was a very late starter with this comedy classic masterpeice. My fav. movie since I was a kid has been Spaceballs, and nothing by Mel has come close to topping that movie for me. History Of The World almost surpassed it. But Blazing Saddles is one of my favorite Mel Brooks comedys that is very hard to beat in a comedy sense.

Forget your politcle correctness at the door. Sit down and switch off your I.Q. And kick your feet up and prepare to laugh. (note: Stuck up people with a stick up the bum need not bother watching, i'd recomend watching paint dry or cars rusting for a more helpfull reveiw on how to improve upon it when you decide to review it)

This 30th aniversary special edition comes with a commentary track that is the same one found on the other release of Blazing Saddles on DVD. I dunno why, but it only runs as long as about half the movie. Mel gives some pretty good insight into the film, and lets people know that no horses where injured or punched accross the face during the making of the film.

There is a cast reunion which isnt really a reunion, you see most of them in the featurette, but not together. It's more a "we caught up with them recently and stuck them in the same clip" kind of thing.

There is a pilot episode to BLACK BART which was the TV show that was gonnah be based on Blazing Saddles but never went to air. It wasnt really funny anyway.

There's some trailers and caravans.

I'd recomend you watch this if you like a good comedy. A bit crude and rude in some parts, your grandmother will probably hate the film. But who knows, you might just enjoy it.

I can garentee you will either like it, or you wont like it!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Only a Jew can get away with such racism
Review: If a white director tried to make a movie like this today, he'd be lynched and penniless, never to make a movie again. Marlon Brando was right.

Gene WIlder is usually superb, but in this film he acts bored and in a constant daze. I know he's supposed to be an alcoholic, but his performance slows down the movie enough to leave you bored. Sure this movie has some funny scenes, but this is not a movie that can be watched over and over again and be praised as a classic. It deserves to be seen by everybody at least once, but that's about it.


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