Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Three gr8 stories..., 15 Oct 2002
This is a movie split into 3 separate stories each linked by the titular Cat. The first story involves a man who wishes to quit smoking and is directed to a place to help him by his friend. They will go to any lengths to 'help' you quit including bringing in your wife for some shock therapy! The second and best story involves a perilous walk around the edge of a high rise building. The story is very bizarre but compelling viewing as the title character is attacked by Hitchcock style birds along the way making the perilous journey even more nerve jangling. The third story involves a small troll-like creature that lives in a young Drew Barrymore's wall and comes out when she is alone in the room. Surprisingly suspenseful, this 3rd is arguably the weakest but nonetheless is solid entertainment. Overall, the word here is bizarre, but then some King films, such as 'Thinner' do have a seriously bizarre edge to them and this is a valid inclusion in any King fan's repertoire. Well worth a purchase, 4 out of 5!
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12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cats are our best unknown friends, 12 Mar 2005
Three short films in one long film tied up by the perigrination of a cat looking for the girl who is going to adopt it as a pet. The cat will find the girl. The first adventure reveals the obsession of smoking in a society that considers that activity as a quasi-crime. Some people are ready to do anything to quit and the society is also ready to do anything to force the reluctant candidates to quitting to quit. The procedure is to punish the people the smoker loves to make him - in this film it is only men that are concerned, and we do have to question why - quit and stick to his decision. This reveals a society that has privatized such a mission and this mission becomes criminal in its own way, even if the ethical aim is to be considered. To torture innocent people may be effective but it is unethical in all possible ways. The second adventure has to do with betting among high life criminals : the rich who make their dough from all kinds of illegal activities, such as drugs. And what happens when the stake of the bet is the wife of one crook ? Criminal challenges, murder and vengeance. Breath taking and unbearable for people who suffer of vertigo. Funny too in the reversal of the situation from one vengeance to the next. The third story is more humane and dark at the same time. Cats are nice pets but here a mother has a fixation against such an animal and is ready to do anything to get rid of it. But cats are obstinate and children, here a girl, are also very powerfully determined to get their ways. The « Kobold » is absolutely charming in its evilness though I prefer the good « Kobolds » I have met so often in germanic traditions. But its end is definitely Dante-like. There must be a special hell for these vicious and obnoxious beings that only want to hurt and wound if not even kill poor little defenseless children. But cats are definitely not defenseless, far from it. Careful with children : to watch such a film might give them nightmares with many boogeymen in them. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A LITTLE FLAWED BUT ACCEPTABLE, 26 Oct 2007
The adventures of a runaway cat trying to find it's young owner, Amanda, (Drew Barrymore) link the three stories together.
The Good Stor(ies): Quitter's, Inc-At the request of friends and family, Richard Morrison, (James Woods) goes to Quitter's, Inc., a special group run by Dr. Donatti, (Alan King) that encourages people to quit smoking through violent force. Warned of severe consequences if caught smoking, grave consequences are in store for his family and loved ones. As he gets further along in his treatment, the harder it gets for him to keep his promise. This is one of the better stories. Every minute of this bizarre yet surprising story inspires an interesting paranoiac atmosphere, but it is exaggerated to an extent, where a spy hides in a dresser and awaits the moment when he will smoke, another fakes jogging in front of his house, and a few others, but it's the paranoia set in that make them work well. There is a single sequence where, at a party, hallucinates giant ambulatory cigarettes to the accompaniment of The Police's "Every Breath You Take, "a song so perfectly suited it could have virtually been written for the film, as faces become distorted and changed to the point that an extreme amount of joy is had through the goofy nature of their appearances. There's a particularly thrilling sequence of events that starts with Woods crumbling in his car while stuck in traffic, the whole time inciting those internal "Oh, no's," wondering if he's being spied on. The only part that doesn't work is why would an important firm offer its clientèle to torture, rape and kill, while risking getting caught? This aspect is not covered and it is a question not to be asked. It seems like a risky proposition. Otherwise, this was a good entry.
The General-Finding it's long-lost home, Amanda, (Drew Barrymore) is reunited with her runaway cat, much to her parents, Sally Ann, (Candy Clark) and Hugh, (James Naughton) disappointment. While sleeping with her cat, she is soon attacked by a strange troll and the cat leaps to her defense, but the resulting damage is blamed on the cat and is giving away. Racing back, it engages in an intense struggle with the creature for it's owner's life. This isn't that bad, and did have some really nice moments. The troll effects are well pulled-off. Looking realistic while also giving it a creepy appearance, it steals many of the best moments when it attacks it's victim while sitting on it's chest, a marvelous trick that comes off wonderfully. The climactic showdown is the natural highlight, as it's a nice, long dragged-out fight without getting repetitive or ridiculous, and the foregone conclusion is satisfying. The only thing that doesn't work in this is that the special don't always work. Most of the matte shots are obviously matte shots, as the halo around the objects is painfully apparent and no attempt is made to hide them. It's not enough to lower the rating, but it's still a distracting problem.
The Bad Stor(ies): The Ledge-After his affair has been discovered, John Norris, (Robert Hayes) is approached by Cressner, (Kenneth McMillan) and is offered a deal to save his life. If he can walk around the ledge surrounding his high-rise apartment building, he'll let him go with his wife. Reluctantly agreeing, he sets out on the quest, unaware of the traps he has set to knock him off before he reaches his goal. This does manage to provide the little bit of gore, as we get some bloody bird pecks, a severed head and some gunshots. This almost manages to work because of its simplicity and originality. The camera angles, for the most part, put in perspective the man and pit that wants to swallow him. It's a daunting enough task and he's tempted to fall because of the wind that attacks him and the pigeons who smash his ankle, but when the husband is going out of his way to make him fall by putting traps along his way by spraying him with a fire hose and popping out of nowhere with a loud horn, it's a little intense at times. However, this is ruined by the repetitive nature of the events. It's not that different from any section, as he goes out and then the guy pops up with a trap. After a while, it gets numbing and no matter how suspense it is, after the first few traps it's acceptable to miss this one with no harm done at all.
The Final Verdict: With a little more gore, this could've been a really great anthology series. As it is, it's a disappointment, with one great one, one so-so and one that was a little off. There's worse ones out there, but be sure all the other films are out first before delving into this one.
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