Goodbye, Columbus
|
Our Price: $77.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $64.99 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Goodbye, Columbus
Movie Review: If it's summer, I must be watching Goodbye, Columbus...
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the movie that came out in my early teens that I most identify with summer. Who among my friends didn't want to be Ali MacGraw? A wonderful home, with all the clothes any young woman could want, a college education to die for, and a boyfriend that was so grown up and so perfect? Alas, Brenda (Ali) had to find a reason to break up with Neil (Richard Benjamin), whether it was because he wasn't ambitious enough, or enough of a butt kisser to her uptight parents, or whatever...anyway, the summer weeks they spent together were the ultimate fantasy of a lot of us that were teens in the late 60's. The soundtrack by the Association is so fitting...I love it! My favorite scene is the wedding of Brenda's brother Ron, because a couple of years later, I attended a Greek Orthodox wedding that was so similar to this movie's Jewish wedding. Dancing and food and just wonderful! I have watched this many times on TV, and was so happy it finally came out on DVD.Movie Review: Great social commentary
Summary: 4 Stars
I first saw this movie on HBO around 1990 and immediately took to it. It provides great insight into Jewish social sensibilities in Greater New York during the 1950s. The 2 principal actors, Richard Benjamin and Ali MacGraw, are well-suited for their respective roles. In the midst of a July-September romance, Neil and Brenda expose various prejudices, while trying to conform to expectations placed on them by their parents and by society. We all know that a rich Daddy's princess from Briarcliff Manor wouldn't really develop a serious romance with a poor boy from the Bronx, but it is still interesting to see her go through the motions. When the academic year returns, Brenda finds a convenient way to drop Neil without saying so much. This leaves her free to go back to Radcliffe to continue pursuing her MRS. degree.Movie Review: "R" rated original has been trimmed for a "PG" DVD
Summary: 3 Stars
The original "R" rated version is 5 stars-trimmed DVD 3 stars.
A splendid film for a lot of reasons. The Phillip Roth novel from which the film was adapted supplies unusually good dialogue for the script and an excellent structure on which the director can hang visual and audio elements that meaningfully support the story. Check out how well the musical score shifts to support the mood of each scene. Then there is an excellent cast.
The title is a reference to the brother, a basketball player at Ohio State in Columbus, who frequently listens to an OSU sports commentary that signs off with "Goodbye Columbus". And the song lyrics "Hello life, goodbye Columbus" relate to leaving the protection of home/school to face the world.
Although "Goodbye Columbus" is usually thought of as the "The Graduate" with a different ending, it is much more like "Adam at 6AM". The three films were made at the very end of the 1960's, all had a searching young man as their main character, and all revolved around a new romantic relationship. But in "Goodbye Columbus" and "Adam" the tension is not between different generations but between different backgrounds and values. In both the young man eventually realizes that these differences cannot be overcome and both films go out with shots of him leaving.
The soundtrack album featuring "The Association" (and incidental music composed by Charles Fox) was probably the kiss of death for that group's credibility whatever their musical merits. While cool to be part of an outside film like "Easy Rider", it was uncool to be associated with a Hollywood product like "Goodbye Columbus". This was the summer of Woodstock and by then "The Association" had pretty much lost their audience. In addition to the title song they contributed "It's Gotta Be Real" and "So Kind To Me."
It's two most famous scenes have held up very well: the montage of Ali MacGraw swimming during the title sequence and the comical wedding guests "pig-out" at the buffet table.
The cinematography is first-rate and while the widescreen DVD showcases this, the original theatrical release has been trimmed of its most explicit material. The DVD version is only 101 minutes long. Entire sequences have been deleted including the critical first sex sequence where birth control methods are discussed (foreshadowing) and the sequence with the rationale for his moving in with the family for two weeks. Also missing is all the vaguely graphic elements dealing with her initial refusal to have sex. If you are a first time viewer watching the DVD version, and find puzzling narrative gaps in the story, or incomplete motivational explanations, the trimming is the reason.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
Movie Review: Argghhh, an EDITED dvd version of Goodbye Colulmbus
Summary: 3 Stars
I loved this film when I first saw it. I must admit to being a fan of Richard Benjamin. I waited and waited for the film to be released on dvd and when it became available, I immediately ordered one. Imagine my HORROR when upon the initial viewing I realized that the studio had released an EDITED version on dvd!! I have never heard of such a thing. All of MacGraw's nude scenes have been severly cut to allow a PG rating as opposed to the original release which had an R rating. I absolutely HATE censorship. I don't care whether the cuts are of sex, violence or simply to shorten a film. I want to see a film as the director wished it to be seen. Is the movie still good? Yes, of course...but this release will always be tainted by the cuts the studio made to attain a wider audience. Shame, shame.Movie Review: Queen For A Day
Summary: 3 Stars
I think that I have only seen this movie twice in my entire lifetime and I
could barely remember any of it. So I rented the dvd and I must say that I
really enjoyed it. Some of the neighborhoods looked familiar(I've lived in
the Bronx for over thirty years)and I would love to know where in the Bronx it was filmed because I love that library!
The ending of this film has always left me a bit puzzled; but I would love to have had "Brenda's" carefree life for just one day. Seeing this movie really took me back, and I actually found it strange not to see a single cell phone. I hope I passed the audition. Peace.