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Product Description
A group of British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than its advertisements, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you begin let go of the past.
From the director of Shakespeare in Love and featuring an all-star British cast, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a charming, life-affirming comedy drama about life, love and new beginnings…
Special Features:
From the director of Shakespeare in Love and featuring an all-star British cast, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a charming, life-affirming comedy drama about life, love and new beginnings…
Special Features:
- · Behind the story: Lights, colours and smiles
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
501 of 509 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is not a gritty real life drama set in a council flat in the British midlands despite (a) being a British film and (b) featuring Bill Nighy. No, it is a stylised, slightly surreal film about a group of British pensioners who are inveigled to take out a long term residence in a hotel in Jaipur in the belief that it is a retirement home. The hotel itself is, of course, run down but quite astonishing - Indian Raj architecture of the highest order, run by a slightly crazy young man with a great vision for the future.
The film is full of cliches - the Indian call centre; the man returning to his childhood home; the racist old woman who hates black doctors; the mismatched couple; a couple of old imposters looking for romance... We have Delhi Belly; we have the exorbitant club serving pink gins; we have elephants on the street and mystic healers. Every shot shows bustle; bright markets; temples or the contrast of the shabby but peaceful courtyard in the hotel. There's an overbearing Indian mother; a family of untouchables; a heavy dose of the class system and glorious sunsets.
But the cliches are welcome friends. There is nothing challenging in the film - just a vast travelogue enticing the viewer to come to Jaipur at the first opportunity. Most of the stories end well - sometimes improbably but it doesn't matter. There is no pretence that this is real life - just two hours of pure fun, laughs, comedy and sadness mixed in together. It's colourful and vibrant. It provokes the odd thought without being too demanding.
The cast is to die for. Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel... All delivering epic performances.... Read more ›
The film is full of cliches - the Indian call centre; the man returning to his childhood home; the racist old woman who hates black doctors; the mismatched couple; a couple of old imposters looking for romance... We have Delhi Belly; we have the exorbitant club serving pink gins; we have elephants on the street and mystic healers. Every shot shows bustle; bright markets; temples or the contrast of the shabby but peaceful courtyard in the hotel. There's an overbearing Indian mother; a family of untouchables; a heavy dose of the class system and glorious sunsets.
But the cliches are welcome friends. There is nothing challenging in the film - just a vast travelogue enticing the viewer to come to Jaipur at the first opportunity. Most of the stories end well - sometimes improbably but it doesn't matter. There is no pretence that this is real life - just two hours of pure fun, laughs, comedy and sadness mixed in together. It's colourful and vibrant. It provokes the odd thought without being too demanding.
The cast is to die for. Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel... All delivering epic performances.... Read more ›
120 of 124 people found the following review helpful
By haunted
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
I enjoyed this movie a lot. It has an outstanding cast with some of the greats of British cinema such as Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Tom Wilkinson. There are also some great supporting actors like Penelope Wilton and Ronald Pickup but as usual Bill Nighy steals the show.
The rather far-fetched story revolves around a group of people in their advancing years who for various reasons, decide to move from the UK to a run down former hotel in India. An enthusiastic but slightly incompetent local young man, played by Dev Patel, runs the hotel.
We see the back-stories of each of the main characters and see how they cope with living in a new continent. There is a predictable quota of amusing and touching moments and you always feel you are in safe hands with the cast of familiar faces.
The ending is predictably neat and tidy and you should leave the cinema with a smile on your face, as I'm sure the makers intended.
The rather far-fetched story revolves around a group of people in their advancing years who for various reasons, decide to move from the UK to a run down former hotel in India. An enthusiastic but slightly incompetent local young man, played by Dev Patel, runs the hotel.
We see the back-stories of each of the main characters and see how they cope with living in a new continent. There is a predictable quota of amusing and touching moments and you always feel you are in safe hands with the cast of familiar faces.
The ending is predictably neat and tidy and you should leave the cinema with a smile on your face, as I'm sure the makers intended.
128 of 133 people found the following review helpful
By Golden girl
Format:DVD
I thought I wanted to be on a Greek island with 2 friends, plenty of wine listening to Abba music, now I know what I really want is to stay in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with a bunch of wrinklies like me. One of the best films I have seen and can't wait for the DVD to be released so I can watch it over and over again. It just proved there is a lot of life in us golden oldies and any film with Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench plus other REAL British actors can't fail to be a success.
82 of 86 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Set to be a classic, this film highlights every aspect of senior citizenry, and not all of the most flattering kind.
It is a glorious, eye-wateringly colourful film, made with honesty and sympathy for characters - to use the horrid phrase - past their sell-by date.
If I have a small criticism; the characters when they are not stereotypical, border on the cartoon. Having said that it is not enough to lose it a single star-in fact, it makes them not less human, but more!
It is a masterpiece of cinema, for all ages and genders: can't wait to view it on DVD!
It is a glorious, eye-wateringly colourful film, made with honesty and sympathy for characters - to use the horrid phrase - past their sell-by date.
If I have a small criticism; the characters when they are not stereotypical, border on the cartoon. Having said that it is not enough to lose it a single star-in fact, it makes them not less human, but more!
It is a masterpiece of cinema, for all ages and genders: can't wait to view it on DVD!
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By amk
Format:DVD
This movie makes you feel good and it made me laugh out loud, many times, which is no mean feat. It's not edge of your seat gripping or a cinematic tour de force, it's a life affirming, funny, well written, poignant film that portrays older people taking risks and making the most of their lives.
The film should be celebrated for what it is, not denigrated because it shares certain parallels with other films. Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith are both excellent, as is Dev Patel. A good buy!
The film should be celebrated for what it is, not denigrated because it shares certain parallels with other films. Bill Nighy and Maggie Smith are both excellent, as is Dev Patel. A good buy!
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By Close Range.
Format:DVD
This film really is a breath of originality, as it stands out so far above the current rash of GCI 3D monsters & sequels. The plot is a simple one, yet the film moves along at a good pace, and still leaves time for each character to develop. The cast is wonderful: Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy. Also starring is Dev Patel who plays Sonny,(manager of the hotel in the title), a real scene-stealer with his delightful enthusiasm and optimism. The film features a group of elderly (or "ready for the scrap heap",depending on your attitude)English people who decide to live abroad, in sunny India to enjoy their remaining years in tranquility. Well, things don't quite work out exactly as shown on the hotel brochure. They arrive to find Mumbai teeming with people,animals,tuk-tuks,cows,dogs. And plenty of new sights, smells and tastes all completely foreign. This is part of the beauty of the film: it is packed with colour, activity and life, yet still the focus remains the characters in their new surroundings. How each new arrival copes with India is interesting to see. Some dive straight into the crowded markets and temples, others remain in their hotel room with a book. There is a lesson in there somewhere, but it is delivered in a lovely non-preachy way. This film has joy, sadness, and a warm heart. Definitely one to watch when you feel life is getting you down. This will lift your spirits very nicely, I am certain.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Enjoyable If Undemanding Experience
If you are after film noir, this one is probably not for you but, if you want an entertaining film with a great cast, you should love this. Read more
Published 1 hour ago by Jack Point
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent movie.
This is a really good film with a superb cast. Dev Patel, in particular, really shines, supplying both the humour and the memorable line of the movie. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Uncle Feedle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marigold Hotel
I have watched this video 4 times which is 4 times more than I watch other films. Very good story and has some well known actors in it. Recommended.
Published 3 days ago by trevbrad
3.0 out of 5 stars
Best Exotic Hotel
Started well and was very amusing at the beginning, but then turned into a maudlin farce. Will not be watching it again for a while.
Published 4 days ago by JMA
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disk was not good quality
I enjoying the film, but halfway through the quality of the disk was bad which spoiled the show for us
Published 5 days ago by arthur murphy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun and games
Mad, daft and delicious to watch. If only life were like that. Beautifully filmed. Beautifully acted. A treat to view.
Published 5 days ago by Mr. David G. Hall
4.0 out of 5 stars
girly film
A pleasant way to spend a girly afternoon or evening, doesn't require much thought or effort, and does provide a few giggles. Read more
Published 5 days ago by E. A. Mcnair
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
I bought this for a friend who has shown it to others. I have my own dvd. I have seen this film on a cruise liner last December and everyone was laughing. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Valerie M Everitt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful
Bought for my mother who was unable to see the film at the cinema. I loved it when I saw it at the cinema and now want to get myself a copy. Read more
Published 6 days ago by MBNA Platinum Plus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Feel good film
Fabulous performances by all the cast. I have been to India twice and it truly captures the spirit of the country.
Published 6 days ago by D. A. Oakes
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