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
From Amazon.co.uk
Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito are reunited for a third time to fabulous effect in The War of the Roses. This is a dark, disturbing comedy of marital trauma and revenge, which couldn't be more different from their sunnier outings in Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Douglas and Turner, in career-best performances, are the materialistic, consumer-driven Roses of the title (Oliver and Barbara) whose seemingly perfect marriage has soured beyond repair; their only point of contact is their meticulously maintained dream house, which Douglas bought and Turner decorated to perfection. When Turner gets a taste of financial independence, she asks Douglas for a divorce--all she wants is the house and everything in it (aside from his clothes and shaving kit). He laughs at her and she punches him in the face. Things only get worse from there, as nasty divorce proceedings (with DeVito as Douglas's lawyer) give way to insults, threats, ruined dinner parties and pet abuse. And through it all, the Roses begin destroying their beloved home and its contents, just to spite each other. DeVito, who also directed, takes Michael Leeson's blacker-than-black screenplay and gives it a hyper-stylised spin, complete with skewed camera angles and wonderfully expressionistic cinematography (by Stephen Burum) as Douglas and Turner barricade themselves in their house, both refusing to give an inch. Shocking for a mainstream studio picture, with its unsympathetic protagonists, escalating bitterness and disturbing finale, Roses is a poisonously funny valentine to both marriage and 1980s materialism, tempered only by its framing device as a cautionary tale. --Mark Englehart, Amazon.com
Product Description
Barbara (Kathleen Turner) and Oliver Rose (Michael Douglas) seem to have the perfect marriage, until one day Barbara imagines what life would be like without Oliver and decides she would prefer it. A bitter custody battle for their dream house ensues, with their lawyer (Danny DeVito) caught in the middle.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. S. Crook
Format:DVD
As a depiction of the disintegration of a once loving relationship this film takes some beating. If you watch it with blinkers on there are scenes that are funny in isolation. Taken as a whole, much of it portrays a couple doing their very best to ruin each others lives with increasingly vindictive and cruel words and deeds.
The script, acting and direction are brilliant. Douglas and Turner couldn't have been better chosen as the once deeply in love couple who do their very best to torture each other and simply will not forgive and move on.
The ending is a shock, utterly appropriate and unforgettable.
The script, acting and direction are brilliant. Douglas and Turner couldn't have been better chosen as the once deeply in love couple who do their very best to torture each other and simply will not forgive and move on.
The ending is a shock, utterly appropriate and unforgettable.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By S. Smith
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas are always great together and I think they really do their best duo work together in this film in what is a dark comedy about how being materialistic is not always the best thing to be.
Told in reflection by Danny DeVito as a lawyer, he recalls the story which sent him back to his form chainsmoking self. Turner and Douglas meet and seem to have the perfect marriage for many years with two children growing up to leave the nest (cue Sean Astin (Samwise the Brave)). However over the years Douglas works all day and comes home to his perfect house made perfect by Turner. Deciding enough is enough she asks for a divorce in exchange for the house she built - a house that Douglas will not yeild as it was made with his money.
From there is decends into a battle of increasingly outlandish getbacks to make sure they secure the house including dog pate, cat killing, plate smashing and mousetrap setting. Each time the actions get more desperate.
I won't spoil the ending but its fantastic and I've watched this film so many times it never fails to make me laugh and I never know who to side with either which is great.
If you enjoy comedy, love films gone wrong or dark humour you'll love War Of The Roses
Told in reflection by Danny DeVito as a lawyer, he recalls the story which sent him back to his form chainsmoking self. Turner and Douglas meet and seem to have the perfect marriage for many years with two children growing up to leave the nest (cue Sean Astin (Samwise the Brave)). However over the years Douglas works all day and comes home to his perfect house made perfect by Turner. Deciding enough is enough she asks for a divorce in exchange for the house she built - a house that Douglas will not yeild as it was made with his money.
From there is decends into a battle of increasingly outlandish getbacks to make sure they secure the house including dog pate, cat killing, plate smashing and mousetrap setting. Each time the actions get more desperate.
I won't spoil the ending but its fantastic and I've watched this film so many times it never fails to make me laugh and I never know who to side with either which is great.
If you enjoy comedy, love films gone wrong or dark humour you'll love War Of The Roses
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By P. Copland
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I wanted to buy this film on blu-ray I looked for reviews to see if the picture was any good but there were none, so I thought I would write this to help any other would be purchasers. The picture on this disc is fine nothing wrong I could see although I do not have the DVD of the film to compare it to. All I can say is at this price (£8) you can't go wrong and its a very enjoyable film to, well worth it. Buy and enjoy.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 112 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shakespeare would,nt like it!
I love this film. I've watched it several times and it's a masterpiece at exemplifying the wars of the sexes.I think the girls win - just! Read more
Published 29 days ago by UserS
5.0 out of 5 stars
War of the Roses
I saw this film when it first came out and thought (and still think) it was great. Brilliant storyline which in my opinion was updated with more advanced special effects etc years... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs Julie Barnes
5.0 out of 5 stars
war of the roses .
rememebed having this on VHS , Had to have it to complete Romancing the stone and Jewel of the nile .
Published 5 months ago by mart
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely funny
A good old fashioned funny film that the whiole family can enjoy!! Great buy for fathers day or even yourself.
Published 11 months ago by Shirley Shirreffs
5.0 out of 5 stars
War of the Ropses DVD
Thank you for sending me this item so promptly. What a great film even if a little dated but still brilliant. Thanks so much for your courteous and prompt service.
Published 18 months ago by Mrs. S. Osswald
5.0 out of 5 stars
Film entertainment at its best
This cautionary tale is a dark comedy that should be in every movie collection. Poignant, timeless and ultimately a lesson to us all. The actors and production are superb. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Cannon Fodder
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Hillarious!!!
Ironically I bought this film just as i had separated from my husband. I have never in my life laughed as much. It was bang on with how i was feeling at the time. So so funny. Read more
Published on 15 April 2011 by Hayley 39
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
This is a truly brilliant film about a couple who spent years looking for the PERFECT house and even longer making it just right for them to live in when eventually their... Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2010 by Mr. S. Richardson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good film
I saw this film many years ago and when I first saw it, I thought it was that good, I bought it on video. Read more
Published on 5 July 2010 by Marianna
5.0 out of 5 stars
Multi faceted movie
This film is an amalgam of romance, comedy, thriller and a dash of weepie cos, through it all, he still loves her. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2010 by Fussy Bloke
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?
|
