Crash (Uncut) [1997] [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: David Cronenberg, James Spader, Elias Koteas: DVD

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Amazon.co.uk Review
Adapted from the controversial novel by J.G. Ballard, Crash will either repel or amaze you, with little or no room for a neutral reaction. The film is perfectly matched to the artistic and intellectual proclivities of director David Cronenberg, who has used the inspiration of Ballard's novel to create what critic Roger Ebert has described as "a dissection of the mechanics of pornography". Filmed with a metallic colour scheme and a dominant tone of emotional detachment, the story focuses on a close-knit group of people who have developed a sexual fetish around the collision of automobiles. They use cars as a tool of arousal, in which orgasm is directly connected to death-defying temptations of fate at high speeds. Ballard wrote his book to illustrate the connections between sex and technology--the ultimate postmodern melding of flesh and machine--and Cronenberg takes this theme to the final frontier of sexual expression. Holly Hunter, James Spader and Deborah Unger are utterly fearless in roles that few actors would dare to play, and their surrender to Cronenberg's vision makes Crash an utterly unique and challenging film experience. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

Average Customer Review

3.0 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)

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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast cars, fast women., 20 April 2004

By	R Jess "Raymond Jess" (Limerick, Ireland.) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Crash [VHS] [1996] (VHS Tape)

I didn't know what to expect from previous reviews of this film, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was most impressed by the daring of the actors involved. In fact I think fans of James Spader won't be disappointed. This is a typical James Spader movie in which he plays a stereotypical cold and aloof James Spader (but that's why we like him). How many recognizable male Hollywood actors would put their carefully constructed image on the line by engaging in an erotic scene with another male actor? Not many. But fortunatley for us Spader doesn't put commercial limits on the parts he chooses to take.

Bisexuality seems to be a recurrent theme amongst Cronrnberg's most recent movies i.e. 'Dead Ringers', 'Naked Lunch' and 'Madame Butterfly'. It's an acknowledgement of that perennial Cronenberg theme, the dominance of the physical over the mental. The characters give free rein to their desires unburdened of society's restrictive mores and conventions. Their criteria for indulging in these rather eccentric pleasures is whether it excites them or not, society's prejudiced definitions of right and wrong don't enter the equation.

As for the idea that [adult relations] and cars go together, this has always been prevelant in our culture, "fast cars, fast women" as the saying goes. The thrill of stepping on the gas has conveyed an orgasmic high in countless films, books and songs. The auto industry readily endorses it if it can sell more cars.

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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A film that examines the need for danger in a 'safe' world, 23 Jul 2002

By	L. Hennessy "slowly losing weight" (Twickenham) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Crash [VHS] [1996] (VHS Tape)

Cronenburg always has a serious point to make in his films, and there's no point watching this film unless you are prepared to examine the reasons for making the film.
The film is set in the near future where society has enveloped itself with technology; the characters are made safe from any danger by this, but find themselves almost instinctively bored; they have a jaded attitude towards most things, and they seek refuge from the pervasive torpor that surrounds them by seeking thrills in more and more extreme ways, leading to the now-infamous car crash fetishism scenes; they derive a sense of being alive by experiencing the few seconds of mayhem that occur during the impact of vehicles.
So this film examines the need for danger and excitement in peoples' lives; forget the fuss caused by the censors back when it was released - this film is way above the level of 'pornography', as I believe Alexander Walker of'The Daily Mail' described it.
If you're prepared to make a leap in how you think about things at a basic level, then try this film; it's not perfect, but it's got something to say...

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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing, stimulating, 5 Mar 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Crash [DVD] [1997] (DVD)

Ballard may have been out to explore the "connections between sex and technology", but I have not read the book and would say the film is more concerned with the connection and contrast between sex and death. By risking their bodies and lives in car crashes, the Crash fetishists amplify their vulnerability in order to intensify their pleasure in sex. The film is slow, but this gives the viewer time to become absorbed in the fetish; as one's natural inclination is to dismiss it as repulsive, unlikely and absurd. I would suggest that anyone who is easily disturbed should not watch this film - it is not a "great" film, so why risk upsetting yourself? But if you're up for it, climb aboard for an intellectually stimulating dark ride. The film leaves us to ponder the attraction of such a fetish: facing/embracing death and so life, breaking out from the modern cosseted world, defining ones own reality, exploring vulnaribility...

Incidentally, if you enjoyed Videodrome you will probably enjoy this.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for dummies
The dialogue is so thin you have to invent a lot of the story for yourself. Good crew with some good performances and just on the Art House side of Soft Porn. Read more

Published 20 months ago by Jay Zee

3.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable but intriguing
For me this is a love hate movie.

The hate side is I cannot understand the motivation of the characters who get sexually aroused by car crashes (and not very aroused... Read more

Published on 8 Jun 2007 by pointone

1.0 out of 5 stars I'd rather chew my own leg off
I turned this film off after about 25 mins. This film is trying to be shocking for the sake of it. The plot is terrible, supported by very poor sex scenes. Read more

Published on 2 Jan 2007 by E. L. Shiel

3.0 out of 5 stars seedy but entertaining enough
crash is a david cronenberg film that was released in 1996 to mixed reviews and i guess thats how my review is as well,while the film is well shot with a very dark theme... Read more

Published on 30 Oct 2006 by sean paul mccann

4.0 out of 5 stars Sex & Drags & Wreck & Roll (Part 1)
Not to be confused with this years Oscar winning sensation, you can't help but conclude that Crash 2005 must be referencing its older namesake with the opening dialogue... Read more

Published on 13 Oct 2006 by Adrian Stranik

4.0 out of 5 stars Well, it's different...
Cronenberg has never been one to shy away from controversy. This film is unashamedly about fetishism regarding car accidents, injuries, disfigurement and sex. Read more

Published on 21 Jun 2006 by S. Connor

1.0 out of 5 stars Nearly unwatchable.
Crash is a film depicting a group of people whose sexuality is bound up with the experiences of being in and witnessing car crashes, which generated a lot of controversy on its... Read more

Published on 16 April 2006 by David Welsh

3.0 out of 5 stars The original Crash...
NOT to be confused with the more recent, Oscar winning, Matt Dillon starring 2005 film, this Crash is directed by David Cronenberg and stars James Spader, and is inferior to the... Read more

Published on 23 Mar 2006 by Mr. Jd Ware

2.0 out of 5 stars Rather empty and Average, but James Spader!
I have now watched Crash, about four times in the vein hope that there was a mysterious subplot, but there is not - not that I am aware of. Read more

Published on 16 Feb 2004 by V. J. K. Lamburn

1.0 out of 5 stars awful
Many people seem to make an arguement for this film being a masterpiece--I myself do film studies and I can tell anyone buying this that this is not a film worth watching for the... Read more

Published on 11 Feb 2004 by Ms. E. K. Groom

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	45% buy the item featured on this page: Crash (Uncut) [1997] [DVD] 3.0 out of 5 stars (15)
	36% buy Crash [DVD] [1996] 4.0 out of 5 stars (1) �3.98
	9% buy Crash [2004] [DVD] [2005] 4.0 out of 5 stars (166) �4.98
	5% buy Secretary [2002] [DVD] 4.0 out of 5 stars (12)


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Crash (Uncut) [1997] [DVD]

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