Hercules in New York
|
List Price: Our Price: $2.18 You Save: $7.80 (78%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $1.83 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Hercules in New York
Movie Review: Cult Classic Cheese!!!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Cmon! Just look at the DVD cover! If that alone doesnt make you laugh then nothing will!Movie Review: So bad it's hilarious
Summary: 4 Stars
Let's get one thing straight. This is an ultra low budget movie with all of the trappings that come from that. It's Arnold Schwarzenegger's first movie appearance and it shows. So why does it get such a nice rating from me? Because the movie is so much fun to watch! I'll be the first to admit this movie isn't for everyone, but for those of you who enjoy a little camp now and then will truly get a kick out of Hercules in New York.
Lets start with the dubbing. Oh, the wonderful dubbing. Arnold has been dubbed out of the movie and replaced by a voice that reminds me of a radio or TV personality. The new voice is completely out of character with the way Schwarzenegger looks. It's great camp value. I had the pleasure of checking out the included undubbed version with true Arnold dialog. Trust me, it's good they dubbed him (I am 'hur-koo-leeeeze'). Either dub you listen to will be very funny by the way. The "theatrical" version for it's too-perfect voice casting and the unedited version for Arnold stumbling over the lines with little or no actual acting.
Suprisingly enough some of the actual acting is quite good. I particularly liked Michael Lipton as Pluto, Arnold Stang as 'Pretzie' and Ernest Graves as Zeus. Schwarzenegger, bless his heart, just isn't up to par on this movie. It's perfectly understandable as he just made the move from his body building career so he hasn't had the experience yet. Besides that's fun to watch too.
There's plenty more camp value where that came from. Sound effects can be out of place like when you hear car tires burning rubber while driving in the grass. Props are funny with things like Zeus' thunderbolts made from industrial galvanized steel rods. And wait until you see the fight scene with the escaped bear. Sure they keep mixing up the names of greek gods with their roman counterparts. Sure stuff like serious cinematography and lighting were thrown out the window, but as unforgivable those aspects are for many mythology and movie buffs I just can't help finish this movie with a smile on my face.
One final thing to mention is the music. The opening credit score is extremely cheesy, but when you actually get to the movie you are treated with some authentic greek music. I mean the kind of music they play at traditional parties with mandolins and lutes. It's really fun to listen while you see Arnold romp around tossing people or things all over the place. Hats off to John Balamos for the music.
In case you haven't noticed I love Hercules in New York because it was done bad, but with LOTS of style. If you're not into campy movies then you probably won't enjoy it. If you're a Schwarzenegger fan with a sense of humor go rent it. For everybody else it really depends on how forgiving you will be for all of the low-budget fallacies. I say check it out just for the experience alone. Just make sure you get the version with both the dubbed and the original Arnold dialog and get the best bang for your buck.
Movie Review: "What Is It, Pretzy?"
Summary: 4 Stars
I've always been a big fan of Arnold, and this movie really lets him shine. One highlight (of many in the film) is the confusing/embarrassing scene where Arnold misunderstands being invited over by the Professor & his daughter for "tea" (beatnik-era term for marijuana). And then there's the sordid scene where a booze-addled Arnold confesses what he saw in the hotel room that he shares with Hercules. This scene alone whisks the movie out of the kiddie genre it seems to be lumped into and takes it to another level completely. Yes, as Pretzy, Arnold Stang delivers in spades.
And then there's Arnold Schwarzenegger. His English wasn't very good at the time this was made, but this ain't Shakespeare he's reciting, either. Even at this early point in his career, it's obvious the man had the makings of an actor or politician.
The fact that this movie was made in 1970, long after the peplum craze was over gives it added appeal for me. Also, the character of Hercules in this movie as a big, strong lummox instead of a noble hero was truer to Greek mythology than most movies portray him and makes it my favorite of the genre. The scene where he has a mini-tantrum after losing the weight lifting competition, stamping his feet and giving a good Herman Munster "darn, darn, darn!" impersonation is a fine example. Although you can listen to Arnold's original audio, I prefer the dubbed Dad-voiced audio option myself.
Other favorite scenes: Hercules falling outside an airplane window & waving at an old lady passenger on the plane, and the scene in Times Square where Hercules takes off his shirt & makes his pecs move up and down for the Professor's daughter.
Movie Review: hilarious arnie in his funniest movie
Summary: 4 Stars
Who would have thought that before all those great action movies and "I'll be back"'s, Arnold S. had already appeared in a cult classic?? I recently watched this movie and have enjoyed it very much, never knowing how cheesy and campy a movie can be?First, THE reason this movie is brought back on DVD is not for its qualities. It's just to see Arnie in his first movie where he pulls off a really great BAD performance. Both versions of the movie are great (on TV, i saw the dubbed version which was funny to see a great Austrian guy with the voice of an English professor with no knowledge of putting intonation in his voice), but i prefer the one with Arnie's almost ridiculous accent. The story itself is also bad-to-the-bone : Hercules is bored on Olympus and wants to go on a vacation in New York, but Zeus doesn't like this as it would confuse the humans. Hercules, however, pursues and gets dropped in the sea where a boat picks him up and brings him to New York. When he arrives, his vacation begins...
The whole movie is worthwhile just because of the cheesy acting of our Arnie. With the role of Hercules played by an unknown actor, the movie would have gone into obscurity from the moment it hit the theaters, but Arnie stays the main reason to watch this. Highlight is the fight against a grizzly bear who fights as a human and also lays for death on the ground as a human (his arms spread!!!)
Searchig a serious film about Greek mythology?? Keep away. Looking for a "so bad it becomes good" movie, you are in heaven with this little cult gem.
Movie Review: Good DVD transfer of an ARNOLD "classic"
Summary: 4 Stars
The image quality of this DVD is surprisingly good! I was shocked to see that a company actually put great effort into the DVD transfer of this low-budget film. A pleasant surprise. As for the audio, you have 5 options: the original theatrical version with Arnold's voice dubbed in by a wonderfully wooden actor, a version with Arnold's real voice, and the Spanish, French and German versions of the film. The version with Arnold's real voice is a pleasure since the film has never been released this way. However, some of the sound recording is woefully bad and difficult to hear. Arnold's accent doesn't help either. The "dubbed" version is a lot of fun. It is obvious that the voice does not belong to Arnold and it sounds so much like the voices in the dubbed Italian Hercules flicks. It's really amusing! As for the film itself, this is a low-budget production with a real good sense of humor. You just can't beat the scenes of Arnold fighting a bear in Central Park or Arnold driving a chariot up Broadway! An instant classic! My only complaint with this disc is the lack of extras. The only thing included are 2 trailers. This is a must have for any Arnold fan!