Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
Product Description
South Africa, 1990. Two major events are about to happen: the release of Nelson Mandela and it's John 'Spud' Milton's first year at an elite boarding school. Cursed with parents from well beyond the lunatic fringe and a dormitory full of strange new classmates, Spud has his hands full trying to adapt to his new world - a world where his eyes are opened to love, friendship and complete insanity.
Based on the International Best-selling book by John Van De Ruit.
"Funny, fast-paced and wonderfully observant" - The Daily Express
"Achingly funny!" - Sunday Times Lifestyle
Special Features:
- Making of
- Deleted Scenes
- Cast Interviews
- Audio Commentary with the director, producer and author John Van De Ruit
Based on the International Best-selling book by John Van De Ruit.
"Funny, fast-paced and wonderfully observant" - The Daily Express
"Achingly funny!" - Sunday Times Lifestyle
Special Features:
- Making of
- Deleted Scenes
- Cast Interviews
- Audio Commentary with the director, producer and author John Van De Ruit
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Maritha
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Being an expatriate South African, I was deeply touched by this film, for it brought back a lot of childhood memories. I love the movie: the setting, the period of profound political change, the countryside, and especially the call of the hadeda... Hearing the hadeda call made me weep with longing for my country of birth. It is a heartwarming film!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A. C. Murray
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
True to the first book in the series. Some genuinely funny bits. Great cast. Looking forward to the sequel, which I gather has been filmed last summer.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By M. A. Hay
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Interesting to see how things have changed in SA schools since my 1950's days. An amusing film, if heavy handed and repetitive at times.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The DVD arrived in good condition. The film is about a young boy's experience in his first year at an exclusive South African private school in the early 90s just as Nelson Mandela is about to be released. It is redolent of Public/boarding school life in 60s & 70s UK & I believe all ex-pupils who were 'boarders' will really enjoy what is a hoot from beginning to end. Obviously the film focuses more than the book on the role of The Guv as the makers wanted to showcase an outstanding John Cleese in the lead. However, he is an matched by the relative innocence of the lead boy, portrayed convincingly by Troy Sivan. As in most good comedies the many outrageously funny incidents are balanced by moments of real sadness - tear-jerkingly so.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A very good film with plenty of comedy and an insight into kids in boarding school. Typically there is bullying and the formation of close friendships. The film tackles the death of a close friend in a sensitive way. Wonderful acting from John Cleese as an excentric form teacher with a passion for books who drinks and has marital problems. He takes to Spud and encourages him to read as much as possible. The star of the film playing John Milton ( Spud ) is 12 year old Troye Sivan. Troye is an excellent, talented actor he also has an amazing singing voice. You can hear Troye singing many songs on YouTube where he has his own music channel. ( TroyeSivan18.)
Troye recently played the part of young Logan in Xmen, he was spotted by Hugh Jackman ( Logan ) while performing on YouTube which landed him the part. Although Troye lives in Perth Australia his family are originally from South Africa where the film Spud is set.
I loved the film and highly recommend it.
Troye recently played the part of young Logan in Xmen, he was spotted by Hugh Jackman ( Logan ) while performing on YouTube which landed him the part. Although Troye lives in Perth Australia his family are originally from South Africa where the film Spud is set.
I loved the film and highly recommend it.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Close Range.
Format:DVD
This film is based on the hugely successful book "Spud",by South African author John Van De Ruit.In all,there are 4 books in the series,this being the first one to be filmed.For anyone who ever attended an exclusive boarding school, this film (and the books too) should bring back plenty of memories, both sad and happy. The film has a strongly South African feel to it,with the accents, the scenery,and short excerpts of South African hits from the 1980s and 90s included. The film is a reminder of what a divided country SA was in 1990, the year of the release of Mr Mandela. Spud Milton is the character who narrates the film, and the story is based on his private diaries.The school is a private,highly elite place, and the boys are very sheltered from the harsh realities of South Africa. Yet this does not mean that their lives are blissfully untroubled.They have their own private torments and struggles, much like any teenager does. This world is beautifully conveyed, with lovely red brick buildings, & wooden polished floors. The most outstanding performer for me was, of course, John Cleese. He plays an english teacher "The Guv", who is battling a few of his own issues. Beautifully acted. Troye Sivan plays the title character with skill, and author John Van De Ruit puts in a short cameo role. Also noteworthy are Aaron McIlroy as Spuds' father, and Ben Vos as a rather unlikely, but highly amusing rugby coach. I would have liked to have seen more of him in the film.
Generally, a very enjoyable film which nicely captures an aspect of South Africa over 20 years ago. As an outsider looking in who never attended such a school, for me it was like looking through a window into another world. Fascinating. There are great extra features here, and commentary which give fans an inside look on the filming.... Read more ›
Generally, a very enjoyable film which nicely captures an aspect of South Africa over 20 years ago. As an outsider looking in who never attended such a school, for me it was like looking through a window into another world. Fascinating. There are great extra features here, and commentary which give fans an inside look on the filming.... Read more ›
By Lynda
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've read the books and thoroughly enjoyed the film - can't wait for the next one. Couldn't stop laughing at the family car - brought back lots of memories!
By CVBROWNE
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Great film that I bought for my South African son-in law. Its' a shame it is a foreign version but all you have to do is turn off sub-titles.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Amazing
Spud is an awesome movie. It truly captures the spirit of the four Spud books which by the way are great reads. Read more
Published 4 months ago by James Doane
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Power Of One
I've longed to see this film for quite awhile in fact it was one of the reasons I was drawn to Amazon UK from stateside. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Dexipuer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spud
Movie was good. Scenery was great & John Cleese portrayed the teacher perfectly. Only thing I found wrong was the kids accents. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Dawn Guy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rate DVD Spud
DVD was here within two days without any problems. Thanks for a (again) good service as always. Best regards, René.
Published 5 months ago by René Van den Langenbergh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful film
I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It is a adaption of the first book in the series (Spud), which is about a boy who goes to borading school in South Africa around the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by The Smegger
2.0 out of 5 stars
Too much voice-over makes this sound like an audio book with pictures
It became so tedious after 15 minutes as I could hardly hear any other characters talking onscreen as the Spud kid was the only who did the talking on voice-over. Read more
Published 10 months ago by CoTiGiDa Min
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
