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Summary: Yaaaaahoooooo!!!
Review: Ask someone who knows movies to give you a list of the great comedies, and you can be sure that "Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" will come up in the top five at least. It is a classic, and deservedly so. Only Kubrick could have given us this screwball, slapstick, intelligent dark comedy about the end of the world.Each frame is a memorable moment. Each line is a classic. Every actor puts in a career performance. This bizarre jewel is one of the best films ever made. Wacky fun, yet sharp and poignant. This Special Edition DVD is a good set. One disk only, aside from the director-approved cut of the film there are a couple of documentaries, a split-screen Peter Sellers/George C. Scott interview and the award-winning add campaign for the movie. The documentaries are interesting. They include interviews with friends and colleagues of Kubrick, as well as interviews with several people who worked on "Dr. Strangelove." There is obvious care that went into putting together this DVD.
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Summary: Fluoridation's communist beginnings.
Review: Like most of his later films, Kurbrick's excellent black comedy on nuclear war was filmed in England. Dr. Strangelove is the gold standard of dark comedies and remains funny to this day. Made in the early '60s at the height of the cold war it savagely skewers the paranoia of the era. Sterling Hayden's portrayal of the pathologically paranoid General Ripper is second to none. His expression of concern towards Peter Sellers with "precious bodily fluids" and their contamination by communist inspired fluoridation of the water system is one of the funniest moments ever put to film. Ripper's decision to send nuclear bomb carrying bombers towards Russia without releasing the recall code sets up the stage for Dr. Strangelove. The US president attempt to warn the Russians and at the same time preparing for the inevitable with his paranoid and dysfunctional advisors. There are so many memorable characters. George C. Scott's General Buck Turgidson adds some great humor with his anti-Soviet posturing in the famous "War Room" scenes and with his mistress. Sellers is great in his three roles, Group Captain Mandrake one of the only sane individuals in the film who attempt to get the code from Ripper, President Muffley and the hilarious Dr. Strangelove an ex-nazi scientist who keeps confusing just whom he's working for- the Third Reich or the US.Don't miss James Earl Jones as Lt Lothar Zogg and Slim Pickens as Maj "King" Kong. Dr. Strangelove is still retains its humor. This due to the excellent casting, comedic and smart scripting and Kubricks direction. Kubrick was always a technical genius (see 2001 or Barry Lyndon), but Dr. Strangelove is also less cold than many of his films can sometimes be. It is his only comedy and one of the great films of all time. The highest recommendation.
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Summary: A classic comedy on DVD
Review: It all starts when a military officer afraid that water has been infected, by Communists, to attack our "bodily fluids," calls for a nuclear strike, preventing any contact with the bombers unless the recall code is known, which only he knows. His aide Captain Mandrake try's to talk him out of the plan, and give him the recall code. In the War Room the president is furious, and is on the phone trying to help the Russians prepare for what is happening. Soon he learns the Russians have a Doomsday device that will kill all human and animal life, if activated by the bomb. Time is running out, and things don't look too good, as Dr. Strangelove counsels them. This was directed by the acclaimed Stanley Kubrick, and stars Peter Sellers in three roles. This film was nominated for Best Picture, and Best Actor. The film is in black and white, which was the best choice, due to many darkly lit scenes. This film is considered a classic in the comedy genre, and it deserves it, because every scene contains laughs. Its ironic comedy, satire, making fun of all the paranoid war crazy politicians of the cold war. A lot of the humor is also subtle, so when you watch think about the little silly use of words. So many of the characters and scenes are memorable. The transfer is good, but sometimes grains do pop up, but mostly the black and white pictures looks crisp and clean. This disc also has 2 documentaries and interviews with the stars. As well, some humorous trailers are included. I recommend this highly, just don't take the serious subject matter too serious. 5 stars.
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Summary: This movie has it all! Realism, seriousness, and hilarity!
Review: ....and great acting too!!
This movie has it all and does it all. The acting is incredibly good. The storyline is crisp and direct, and grabs your attention literally by the throat and never lets go. The ending will do much more than rattle you. It rocks! A US Air Force general, on his own authority, has decided to order his planes to attack the old Soviet Union. His notion is brutally simple: he reasons that in order to prevent a devastating counterattack, the US will have no choice but to follow his lead and launch a full attack upon the Russian military. Well, you know that that doesn't happen. What does happen is pretty unforgettable. By the way, this is not a "fail-safe" ripoff. These are two very different movies and themes, albeit they share a single common idea--that "the bomb" might get out of control. This movie has everything. It manages to present a serious theme seriously, but the humor which punctuates this film like bullets is absolutely hysterically funny. And if you don't think so, there is something wrong with the purity of your own bodily ... fluids. (See the flick and you'll know what I mean.) The sense of reality and authenticity of this Stanley Kubrick film is incredible. When you are up with the B-52s, you KNOW that this is a real B-52. When US infantry goes into action, you KNOW it is the real thing. This is another black-and-white flick that benefits from this medium. This is a DVD that you'll want to own and watch many times. It is unforgettable.
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Summary: They don't make movies like these anymore
Review: A hilarious movie about a very serious subject.
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Summary: Pushing Buttons... Or How To Prepare For Doomsday
Review: Director Stanley Kubrick's dark satire about nuclear war between the United States and Russia. Made in 1964, at a time when the cold war was at its peak, DR. STRANGELOVE remains one of my favorite films, made by the visionary filmmaker. Convinced that the Russians launched an attack on our country's resources, General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) orders a nuclear strike. His aide, Captain Lionel Mandrake (Peter Sellers in the first of three roles in the film), is sure this is a mistake and tries to recall the proper code to abort the mission. At the same time, President Merkin Muffley (Sellers) tries to contact his russian counterpart, so that he offer apologies for the error. Enter Dr. Strangelove (Sellers), an advisor to the President, warns that the enemy has a doomsday machine that means the end of all mankind. Sellers is very funny in all three of his roles. Kubrick and his unique way of movie making only enhance the story and performances The film may not be everyone's cup of tea, as far as comedies are concerned...but I think it's a winner on all counts. The special edition is a vastly improved DVD over the movie only version. The documentary on Kubrick and his lesser known works highlight the extras. There's another featurette focusing on the making of Strangelove. The "split screen" interviews with Sellers and actor George C. Scott are rather funny in the way they that they were conducted. The rest of the extras include an advertising gallery, talent profiles, production notes, and theatrical trailers If you like dark comedies (even if they are about the end of the world) then this is worth it. If you like films by Kubrick, you probably already own this disc, and know just how good it is...
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Summary: Dr. Strangelove
Review: Probably the greatest anti-war movie spoof ever made. Yet, it sends a message about the insanity of war. Peter Sellers plays Dr. Strangelove, a mad German nuclear scientist and two other roles. A crazy commander orders a nuclear air strike on Russia and the President and others must try to stop it. After talking to a drunk Russian Premier, the President learns the Russians have recently created a "doomsday" machine. "Dirty" nuclear bombs will automatically explode if Russia is attacked. If U.S. planes are not stopped, everyone of earth will die. One SAC commander (Slim Pickens) is determined to get through to his Russian target. Out of touch with U.S. communications due to a nearby missle explosion on his plane, he manages to release a nuclear bomb by riding it down through the bombay doors to its destination. This movie is great fun! It should be mandatory watching for all generations.
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Summary: Excellent
Review: This is a great comedy, despite being simple and short. Its genius is the fact that it starts out serious. The first real joke of the film doesn't come for about 15 minutes in. But then the jokes just keep coming and by the end it becomes so absurd, you know you are watching a great black comedy. I last saw this 4 years ago and when I saw it again tonite I was surprised by what I'd forgotten. I remembered Dr. Strangelove being a major character, but he's only in like 2 scenes. And yet he steals them both, that's how astonishing a performer Peter Sellers is. Although at times it may feel Mel Brooks-ish, the director is the legendary Stanley Kubrick and he shows it with reoccuring sexual undertones and brilliant satire. A great film that will purify your bodily fluids.
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Summary: "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the war room!"
Review: Being born in 1980, I am just old enough to remember the Cold War. I remember the controversy over the arms race, the talk about the iron curtain, and Ronald Reagan's speeches about the "evil empire". Stanley Kubrick's inspired black comedy is one of the funniest, and cleverest films ever to come out of that period. Made two years after the Cuban missile crisis and one year before American entry into the Vietnam War, "Dr. Strangelove" effectively satirizes anti-Communism, the arms race, and the potential for nuclear holocaust. Just because the Cold War has ended doesn't make this film any less relevent. Just look at the standoff between India and Pakistan. Convinced that Communists are contaminating our bodily fluids, General Jack D. Ripper orders an all out nuclear assault on the Soviet Union. Ripper has his army base sealed off and tells his men to shoot at anyone who comes near it. Since the pilots of the planes carrying out the assault are ordered not to listen to the radio, the planes cannot be contacted. What Ripper does not realize is that the Soviets have just developed a new nuclear weapon called the Doomsday Machine. If the nuclear assault is carried out, then the world will be enveloped in a nuclear holocaust. It's up to President Merkin Muffley and his staff to find a way to recall the planes before it's too late. Peter Sellers gives a tour-de-force performance in a triple role as the hapless Captain Mandrake, the bumbling president, and the crazed ex-Nazi Dr. Strangelove. Sellers is so good at immersing in the roles with his looks and accents, that you may not even realize that it's the same actor. Sellers was originally going to have a fourth role as Major T.J. Kong, but Slim Pickens did a commendable job. The dimwitted hillbilly Kong almost seems cheerful with his role with bombing the Soviets. His final scene riding the bomb is priceless. I loved Sterling Hayden's characterization of General Ripper. Ripper seems to have been conceived from a right-wing nightmare, with his prominent cigar and his speeches floridation and loss of essence. Locked in the same room as him, Captain Mandrake must put up with the thoroughly insane Ripper holding his head between his hands. I also loved George C. Scott's performance as General Buck Turgidson (a name that suits him well). Although on the side of the good guys, Turgidson is only slightly less crazed then Ripper and can't help but express admiration over Ripper's actions. Some immortal scenes include Muffley's phone conversation explaining the situation to the Soviet premier ("You see Dimitri, one of my men went a little funny in the head..."), a soldier's battle with the coca-cola machine, and Turgidson's scuffle with the Russian Ambassador ("I caught him taking pictures of the big board!"). I agree with Roger Ebert's comments that the final scenes end a bit uncertainly. Strangelove's struggling with his iron hand is amusing, but it doesn't really go anywhere. However, there is at least one amusing moment as the Russian ambassador finally gets to take his pictures of the big board. Then the film cuts to apocalyptic shots of the world being engulfed in a nuclear cloud. Never has such a grim subject matter made for such humorous fare.
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Summary: Ah! a masterpiece
Review: I never knew that Stanley Kubrick had ever made a comedy movie. So when someone recommended Dr. Strangelove, I knew I had to see it. One of the greatest comedy movies ever, this film was trendsetter in many ways. Peter Sellers' acting was just out-of-the-world. Watch this movie and you'll end up laughing your wits out.
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