The Addams Family / Addams Family Values

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The Addams Family
Director Barry Sonnenfeld (Men in Black) brings his distinctly cartoonish sensibility to this feature film version of the old Charles Addams comic strip. Anjelica Huston was born to play Morticia Addams, matriarch of the ghoulish Addams clan, while the late Raul Julia is a very agreeable, lusty Gomez. But it's Christina Ricci who arguably steals the show as their stone-faced daughter, Wednesday. As is often the problem with adaptations of comics or television shows, somehow an original story has to be implemented that doesn't clutter things up. But clutter is an issue here as the script gets tangled on a lame plot concerning efforts to steal the Addams' house and fortune. Still, it's fun to see an ideal cast reanimate an old favorite. --Tom Keogh

The Addams Family Values
This somewhat more cohesive follow-up to The Addams Family has the same director, Barry Sonnenfeld (Men in Black), but a better story line. Joan Cusack plays a busty gold digger who ingratiates herself into the Addams home and convinces Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) that she wants to marry him. Besides Lloyd, the cast includes Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia, ideal as those Brontëan lovers, Morticia and Gomez. But Christina Ricci again walks away with the best moments as the chilly Wednesday Addams, making life miserable for two camp counselors (Peter MacNicol and Christine Baranski) who want her to fit in with other kids.--Tom Keogh

Description

The Addams Family - When long-lost Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) reappears after twenty-five years in the Bermuda Triangle, Gomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia (Anjelica Huston) plan a celebration to wake the dead. But Wednesday (Christina Ricci) barely has time to warm up her electric chair before Thing points out Fester's uncommonly "normal" behavior. Could this Fester be a fake, part of an evil scheme to raid the Addams fortune? Based on Charles Addams' beloved cartoons and following the success of the hit TV series, The Addams Family is a visual funhouse, packed with plenty of treats, tricks and turns by director Barry Sonnenfeld. The Addams Family Values - It's love at first fright when Gomez (Raul Julia) and Morticia (Anjelica Huston) welcome a new addition to the Addams household - Pubert, their soft, cuddly, mustachioed baby boy. As Fester (Christopher Lloyd) falls hard for voluptuous nanny Debbie Jilinsky (Joan Cusack), Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) discover she's a black-widow murderess who plans to add Fester to her collection of dead husbands. The family's future grows even bleaker when the no-good nanny marries Fester and has the kids shipped off to summer camp. But Wednesday still has a Thing or two up her sleeve...

Customer Reviews:

Two of my all time favorite movies.......2007-09-16

I cannot envision a better cast to play these roles than the ones selected in these films. Raul Julia is perfection in the role of the dashing and romantic, but easily collapsable Gomez. Angelica Huston is absolutely sublime, mysterious and seductive. Christopher Lloyd is sheer genius as Fester, bumbling and awkward but completely ghoulish. I'm so glad he didn't copy the screeching voice from the Fester in the series. I'll stop short of saying Christina Ricci stole the show, simply because both movies were so very well written, directed, cast and acted that I cannot for the life of me pick a favorite. These are two of my favorite movies of all time. There is humor in almost every line, every expression, every situation. Marvelous.

Excellent.......2007-08-24

If you liked the TV show you should enjoy these. Both flicks on one disk is nice space wise. They do seem to grow on you. The more I watch'em the more I seem to like them.

ADDAMS FAMILY.......2007-08-02

I loved Raul and Angelica in this movie. I loved the way they redid it with so much originality to the TV series and enjoyed the humor much. Christopher Lloyd looked very real as Uncle Fester.

Thank You, Thing.......2007-05-17

The movie Addam's Family is a little darker than the orginal TV bunch. More sinister -- less innocent in intent.

Wonderful campy performances by the entire cast, especially Wednesday. The camp sequences in _Addams Family Values_ alone is worth the price of admission.

Very witty screenplays -- I pretty much laughed my way through both of these.

Two thumbs up.

Two good movies, one disk, one low price!.......2007-04-29

These are both enjoyable movies. The first one is my favorite of the two, but the second is still highly enjoyable and worth having on this disk. All the major roles are perfectly cast as far as I'm concerned. The special effects are fantastic for their time. I've always wondered how they did the effects for Thing. If the movie were more recent It'd be done as a CG character, but I'm pretty sure this was before they would have been able to do it that way.

Average customer rating:

An inspirational, entertaining classic
A bit corny, but grand and awe inspiring too with great music!
Treasured Memories
Great movie!
Mythology is fun.

The Robe
Starring: Richard Burton , Jean Simmons , Victor Mature , Michael Rennie , and Jay Robinson
Director: Henry Koster
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005NKT7
Release Date: 2001-10-16

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When Roman tribune Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton) is sent to Jerusalem, one of his assignments is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Marcellus, a cynical and hardened man, wins the robe Jesus wore to the crucifixion while gambling with other Roman soldiers underneath the dying savior. He later becomes convinced that his hallucinations and violent outbursts are the result of a curse received from the robe, which is now in the possession of his escaped slave, Demetrius (Victor Mature), somewhere in the Middle East. He sets out to find Demetrius in order to destroy the robe and the curse and finds faith instead, converting to Christianity. This was the first movie to be filmed in CinemaScope, and won Oscars in 1953 for costume design, art direction, and set decoration. The visual aspects of the film are stunning, and it may be worth viewing for that alone; however, the script and acting leave much to be desired, and you won't find inspiration in these areas if that's what interests you. If, however, you are more interested in this film for its religious matter, the story of the conversion of the hardened Marcellus is inspiring. --James McGrath

Description

The first movie ever filmed in CinemaScope, THE ROBE ws nominated for five Academy Awards in 1953, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Richard Burton. Burton stars as Marcellus Galilo, the Roman centurian charged with overseeing the crucifixion. But when he wins Christ's robe in a gambling game at the foot of the cross, his life is forever changed.

Customer Reviews:

An inspirational, entertaining classic.......2007-08-13

Twentieth Century Fox's adaptation of the classic Lloyd Douglas novel, "The Robe," has often been overshadowed by one important fact: it was the first film released in CinemaScope. Actually, Fox filmed "How To Marry A Millionaire" with Bette Grable, Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, William Powell, etc., before it filmed "The Robe," in CinemaScope. It is said the studio thought it would be more appropriate, and possibly more financially rewarding, for the studio to release "The Robe" as the first release in the new widescreen process.

It is well known that all of the major studios were trying to deal with the impact of television in the early 1950s, especially since many people were staying home and watching the small, black and white screens, which offered FREE programs in a family's own home. The studios decided to offer things that weren't available on television: first, stories that couldn't be told because of the stricter censorship the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) imposed on television compared to the motion picture production code (which became more open to provocative stories as time went by); second, films could tell longer, more detailed stories, with obviously bigger budgets; and third, color, stereophonic sound, and wide screen processes were only possible in movies since the technical aspects of television were still being developed.

CinemaScope came after the introduction of Cinerama and 3-D in 1952. All of these processes had been developed and demonstrated years earlier; for some reason, the use of the costly processes, along with color film, did not become widely used until the 1950s. Technicolor itself began more economical and practical with the introduction of a more compact camera that used a single strip of film compared to the three strips required from 1934 until 1954. (The last film shot in three-strip Technicolor was Universal's "Foxfire" with Jane Russell and Jeff Chandler.)

Lloyd Douglas' Biblical novel, set in the first century, loosely discussed what might have happened to the robe of Jesus Christ, after he was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem. It also showed the initial impacts of Jesus' life and ministry, including the deep devotion of His followers. Douglas focused particularly on what happened to the tribune who supervised Jesus' crucifixion, as well as the impact of his Greek slave; both men ultimately became Christians and were put in conflict with the deeply troubled emperor Caligula.

The film which Fox made is a lavish, lush production and is generally faithful to Douglas' book. It was enhanced by vivid color photoraphy, impressive sets and costumes, and the inspirational musical score by Fox's musical director Alfred Newman.

When "The Robe" was finally shown on television, it was usually presented in the conventional version that had been prepared for theaters not equipped to project the film in CinemaScope. This was typical of most widescreen films presented on television, until the advent of larger screens and high definition television. Now it is possible to see "The Robe" in the proper aspect ratio, which is particularly impressive in the large crowd scenes and the chase scene which features a wagon pulled by four magnificent stallions.

It has been incorrectly stated that Alfred Newman's famous fanfare, with the extension he wrote in 1953 to introduce CinemaScope films, was first used in "The Robe." Actually, the film has the familiar Fox logo, still used today, and the words "CinemaScope" appear on the screen for the first time during the opening credits. The music is a special hymn-like tune, with a wordless chorus, that sets the stage for this ambitious epic production.

It remains highly entertaining and indeed inspirational. One wishes that Hollywood still made such deeply moving films. The sincerity of the story cannot be questioned and it is presented with some spectacular scenes that are based on Douglas' vivid descriptions in the original book, including the impressive sword fight between the tribune and a centurion who questions his authority.

The performances are generally quite good, too. This is Richard Burton (as Tribune Marcellus) when he was a handsome young actor who could certainly challenge Fox's reigning swashbuckler, Tyrone Power, especially in the fight scenes. Jean Simmons brings a sweetness and sincerity that remains quite charming and appealing. Victor Mature, as usual, has considerable strength and dedication, as he portrays the slave (Demetrius) who encounters Jesus. Michael Rennie is the "Big Fisherman," Simon Peter, who displays physical strength that is tampered by devotion to Jesus, as well as honesty when he admits to Burton his own personal failings. Jay Robinson is the delightfully wicked Caligula, representative of the decline of the Roman Empire. One will also notice a brief but impressive performance by a young Richard Boone as the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, who is already troubled by sentencing a man to death who he obviously believes may be innocent of the charges presented by Judea's religious leaders.

A bit corny, but grand and awe inspiring too with great music!.......2007-08-10

My wife just finished reading the novel and she wanted to see the movie, so we watched this DVD last night. That was fine by me, as I remember seeing bits and pieces of this movie throughout my childhood (I think it was one of the many "bible movies" that got rerun every Easter back in the early years of television) but I never actually sat through the entire movie from start to finish.

I must say that I truly did not remember just how visually stunning this movie is. Right from the get-go, I really believed I was in ancient rome. The first thing I admired was the costumes. For the first time I genuinely understood why there is an academy award for costume design, and color-me-surprised The Robe won it.

The Robe also won Best Art Direction Set Decoration and that was richly deserved too. A person shouldn't have to have a Christian belief system just to gawk at some of the visuals in this movie.

Now, one of the fun things I could do that most people can't is sit there and ask "is this in the book?" of someone who had just read the novel. I was saddened to learn just how much the screenplay adaptation changed the book. I think the book had a much better story, but it might have taken a mini-series to tell it. (Now there's a remake idea!)

The movie has some legendary actors, but I thought some of the acting was a bit over-the-top. Jay Robinson as Caligula must be the most whiney and annoying Roman emperor ever. The only mistake in casting I could stick my neck out and mention would be Richard Boone as Pontius Pilate. His performance was so deadpan I wondered if he knew the camera was rolling.

Of course, Jean Simmons as Diana was downright enchanting. A Roman who sounds British? Who cares!

On a historical note, if you are a Christian this movie might make you wonder just how many amazing events and stories unfolded in all those little villiages in Israel after Christ was crucified. How many little kids really got free donkeys and then gave them away? We'll never know, but I'll stuff like that really happened.

And finally, the use of music really left an impression with me. For some raeson I was nearly mesmerized by the opening credits music. It was much darker and foreboding than I expected, and creepy-cool too!

Also, I was rather moved by the scene in the village where the paralyzed woman plays a lyre (I think) and sings a hymn. It looked and sounded very authetic from what I know of the music of ancient Israel. It reminded me of Paul in 1 Corinthians encouraging believers to teach and admonish with "Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs". I'll bet stuff like that happened too.

Treasured Memories.......2007-08-09

This was great fun and nostalgia for my wife and I. The cast was especially good for this type of movie.

Great movie!.......2007-07-06

This movie is one of the all time greats! Anyone who doesn't own it needs to get it. If you're religious it will renew your faith--and if you're not, it may just make you be. I highly recommend it for all ages.

Mythology is fun........2007-06-19

No historians of the time mention Jesus. Suetonius (65-135) does not. Pliny the Younger only mentions Christians (Paulists) with no comment of Jesus himself. Tacitus mentions a Jesus, but it is likely that after a century of Christian preaching Tacitus was just reacting to these rumours, or probably talking about one of the many other Messiah's of the time. Josephus, a methodical, accurate and dedicated historian of the time mentions John the Baptist, Herod, Pilate and many aspects of Jewish life but does not mention Jesus. (The Testimonium Flavianum has been shown to be a third century Christian fraud). He once mentions a Jesus, but gives no information other than that he is a brother of a James. Jesus was not an unusual name, either. Justus, another Jewish historian who lived in Tiberias (near Kapernaum, a place Jesus frequented) did not mention Jesus nor any of his miracles. It is only in the evidence of later writers, writing about earlier times, that we find a Jesus.

Average customer rating:

The Addams Family - Volumes 1 & 2
Director: Arthur Lubin , Sidney Miller , Nat Perrin , Arthur Hiller , and Jerry Hopper
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

ASIN: B00000AM6N
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Average customer rating:

Great family fun!
One of my favorite movies
A joy!
Addams did it right!
death, coffin, black rose and humour - perfect

The Addams Family
Starring: Anjelica Huston , Jimmy Workman , and Barry Sonnenfeld
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305744793
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Amazon.com essential video

Director Barry Sonnenfeld (Men in Black) brings his distinctly cartoonish sensibility to this feature film version of the old Charles Addams comic strip. Anjelica Huston was born to play Morticia Addams, matriarch of the ghoulish Addams clan, while the late Raul Julia is a very agreeable, lusty Gomez. But it's Christina Ricci who arguably steals the show as their stone-faced daughter, Wednesday. As is often the problem with adaptations of comics or television shows, somehow an original story has to be implemented that doesn't clutter things up. But clutter is an issue here as the script gets tangled on a lame plot concerning efforts to steal the Addams' house and fortune. Still, it's fun to see an ideal cast reanimate an old favorite. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Great family fun!.......2007-08-04

There aren't a lot of movies that you can sit down and enjoy as a family, but this one has something for everyone. It has a lot of laughs, and some small scares, and is really rather entertaining. I recommend this if you're having trouble picking a movie that toddler- grandma can enjoy.

One of my favorite movies.......2007-07-14

I think the addams family is one of the funniest twisted movies ever in the early 90's. I also love their haunted house especially their secret vault loaded with golden doubloons. I know this sounds strange but I wish I lived in a house like that seriously. raual julia's (RIP) character was histerical to play gomez addams and christopher lloyed was the perfect character to play as fester addams. I loved this movie I still have it on vhs and I like to watch it at a perfect night.

A joy!.......2007-05-18

What a splendid film! The acting and actors are all wonderful, the script is an absolute hoot, the filming is brilliant, and the one-liners come faster than you can say 'Groucho Marx.' Highly recommended!!

Addams did it right!.......2007-02-12

A great version of the Addams Family. Wonderful cast and great sets. A definite for an Adams collector.

death, coffin, black rose and humour - perfect.......2007-01-22

Just amazing movie for all the times. Can watch for many times and still you wanna watch more and more of it.

Anjelica Huston and Paul Julia are pale example of perfect eternal unusual, amazing, inimitable love. Christina Ricci is a perfect daughter - cold-livered deadly beauty. All actors match perfect and create "one big happy family"

Everything that have to be dead - will be alive in this movie, everything that have to be alive will be dead with a smile on it's face.

Average customer rating:

Well performed and funny
A rare sequel that outshines the first movie!
A disturbing sequel but I loved it. 5/5 stars
DON'T EVEN BOTHER
Even Funnier than the first one

Addams Family Values
Starring: Christine Baranski , Joan Cusack , Julie Halston , Harriet Sansom Harris , and Christopher Hart
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305744823
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Amazon.com essential video

This somewhat more cohesive follow-up to The Addams Family has the same director, Barry Sonnenfeld (Men in Black), but a better story line. Joan Cusack plays a busty gold digger who ingratiates herself into the Addams home and convinces Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) that she wants to marry him. Besides Lloyd, the cast includes Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia, ideal as those Brontëan lovers, Morticia and Gomez. But Christina Ricci again walks away with the best moments as the chilly Wednesday Addams, making life miserable for two camp counselors (Peter MacNicol and Christine Baranski) who want her to fit in with other kids.--Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Well performed and funny.......2007-08-05

Well performed and funny. In particular, Uncle Fester, Debbie, Wednesday, and everybody connected with Camp Chippewa are memorable.

A rare sequel that outshines the first movie!.......2007-08-04

I really liked the first Adams Famil movie, but I LOVE this one! It made me laugh so hard in so many places. I especially loved the summer camp and poor Fester's honeymoon. You don't have to be a fan of the TV show, and it doesn't matter if you've seen the first movie. You have to see this comedey gem!

A disturbing sequel but I loved it. 5/5 stars.......2007-07-20

I loved the first addams family and this sequel was so hilarious. They have a new addam member pubert addams who makes the 2 kids so jealous that they would do any horrible thing to get rid of the baby and still become the favorites and they get sent to camp which they hate and try to escape to rescue their uncle fester from getting married to a rich horrific woman who wants him dead which she cannot kill him. well I won't say any more If your into the first addams family then this sequel is for you. most movie sequels would use mostly the same uncreative storyline but not sequels like this 10 times funnier and disturbing than the first. Buy it and you'll laugh so hard.

DON'T EVEN BOTHER.......2007-06-19

THIS MOVIE IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO ADAMS FAMILY TV SHOW. NO STYLE JUST

A BUNCH OF KNOCK OFF FROM THE ORIGIN GREAT SHOW. UTTER BLAH.

Even Funnier than the first one.......2007-06-04

We watch this movie every year on Halloween while we give out candy.

Average customer rating:

Great family fun!
One of my favorite movies
A joy!
Addams did it right!
death, coffin, black rose and humour - perfect

The Addams Family
Starring: Ryan Anderson , Tony Azito , Paul Benedict , John Franklin , and Victoria Hall
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305744742
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Great family fun!.......2007-08-04

One of my favorite movies.......2007-07-14

A joy!.......2007-05-18

Addams did it right!.......2007-02-12

A great version of the Addams Family. Wonderful cast and great sets. A definite for an Adams collector.

death, coffin, black rose and humour - perfect.......2007-01-22

Average customer rating:

Well performed and funny
A rare sequel that outshines the first movie!
A disturbing sequel but I loved it. 5/5 stars
DON'T EVEN BOTHER
Even Funnier than the first one

Addams Family Values
Starring: Christine Baranski , Joan Cusack , Julie Halston , Harriet Sansom Harris , and Christopher Hart
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305744815
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Well performed and funny.......2007-08-05

Well performed and funny. In particular, Uncle Fester, Debbie, Wednesday, and everybody connected with Camp Chippewa are memorable.

A rare sequel that outshines the first movie!.......2007-08-04

A disturbing sequel but I loved it. 5/5 stars.......2007-07-20

DON'T EVEN BOTHER.......2007-06-19

THIS MOVIE IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO ADAMS FAMILY TV SHOW. NO STYLE JUST

A BUNCH OF KNOCK OFF FROM THE ORIGIN GREAT SHOW. UTTER BLAH.

Even Funnier than the first one.......2007-06-04

We watch this movie every year on Halloween while we give out candy.

Average customer rating:

Addams Family Values
Starring: Huston , Julia , Lloyd , Cusack , and Kane
Manufacturer: Paramount Studio
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Average customer rating:

Well performed and funny
A rare sequel that outshines the first movie!
A disturbing sequel but I loved it. 5/5 stars
DON'T EVEN BOTHER
Even Funnier than the first one

Addams Family Values [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005JS3K

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Well performed and funny.......2007-08-05

Well performed and funny. In particular, Uncle Fester, Debbie, Wednesday, and everybody connected with Camp Chippewa are memorable.

A rare sequel that outshines the first movie!.......2007-08-04

A disturbing sequel but I loved it. 5/5 stars.......2007-07-20

DON'T EVEN BOTHER.......2007-06-19

THIS MOVIE IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO ADAMS FAMILY TV SHOW. NO STYLE JUST

A BUNCH OF KNOCK OFF FROM THE ORIGIN GREAT SHOW. UTTER BLAH.

Even Funnier than the first one.......2007-06-04

We watch this movie every year on Halloween while we give out candy.

Average customer rating:

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: 6305744807
Release Date: 2000-02-22

DVD:

DVD

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