Popeye
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Movie Reviews of Popeye
Movie Review: A Forgotten Classic (DVD Review)
Summary: 5 Stars
I was 9 when this movie came out and it rocked my world. I grew up in San Diego watching LA station KTLA's Popeye show every Sunday morning, so I was primed for this. It suprises me how much I still love it today. The casting is flawless (Except for the Bluto part, I thought he was still the head guard from Midnight Express instead of Bluto) and the songs...well what can I say, it just proves yet again what a genius Harry Nilsson was (RIP). I still catch myself singing some these tunes every once in a while.Robin Williams is the only actor in history that could have pulled off the role of Popeye. His comic genius is now a known fact now but back in 1980 this movie proved he could do more than just Mork from Ork. Shelley Duvall, same thing, no one else could have done the Olive Oyle role any better. Had they decided to set the movie in the real world it may not have worked out, however, by creating a mythical island town like Sweethaven, it allowed the movie to feel like you were being transported to a wierd, trippy world where no one is completely normal.
I agree with a previous review that this movie suffered from a bad marketing strategy. It really straddles the fence between being a movie for adults or kids. This is probably why it stands the test of time so well. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie, it was just released on DVD and the print quality is outstanding. Not many extras but beggars can't be choosers.
Movie Review: As good as it gets.
Summary: 5 Stars
E.C. Segar, the creator of Thimble Theater and Popeye, is inarguably one of the greatest cartoonists of all times. His ability to weave crazily compelling stories around a cast of the bizarre and comical was as amazing as his perception of human nature. His art was second-to-none in it's simple and unique expressiveness. He's up there with Herriman and above McCay. Maybe Kurtzman and Cole deserve to be mentioned in the same breath. Maybe. Well, Jules Feiffer did Segar great justice in penning this film, and Altman did the world a favor in creating the world so compellingly, as did the miraculous cast. It is a tribute to the world's best comic strip and to the early, fun Fleischer cartoons. William's first starring role and still one of his finest. The only thing this movie is missing is the Sea Hag. I absolutely loved this movie as a kid, when I knew none of this info (though I'd read and adored a fair amount of the original comic strip), and I love it just as much today. I've been checking regularly for this release on DVD, just like I did with The Hustler, and I'm just as happy to have this classic in widescreen. Get it for your kids, get it for yourself. Suspend adult cynicism at the door and you won't regret it. The film critics who panned it when it was released were braindead and drove Altman to Europe. Lucky for Altman, but unlucky for American film fans.Movie Review: I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a DVD today
Summary: 5 Stars
Finally! "Popye" on DVD in letterbox format! If only there were extras extras extras -- hours of them. Lots of lesser films get the special DVD treatment, so why not this one? Robert Altman's Popeye is simply one of the most delightful films I've ever seen. But for full enjoyment, you have to keep your eyes and ears open. There's even more taking place in the background nooks and crannies of "Popeye" than there is up front. And all of it is a clever, inventive, respectful homage to a comic strip/cartoon character that has never received his much deserved place of honor alongside Mickey, Bugs and Daffy. And the music is wonderful. It's what grabbed my attention one day when I still mistakenly trusted the critics who panned this film. I was channel surfing and I heard Olive Oyl singing "He Needs Me," and I was hooked. And then there's Popeye singing a glorious, heartbreaking lullaby to Swee'pea. And then there's Olive singing about Bluto's greatest asset ("He's Large"), accompanied by some ladies who sing impeccably, beautifully, hilariously off-key. "Everything is Food." "Sweet, Sweethaven." All the music is wonderful, and when you add it to everything else, Robert Altman's "Popeye" is a jewel. See this movie. ("The Rock: It's a hard place.")Movie Review: Great underrated comedy!
Summary: 5 Stars
A squinty-eyed big armed sailor named Popeye (Robin Williams) arrives in a seaside town called Sweet Haven for a home and in search of his long lost Pappy (Ray Waltson). There he meets a hamburger addicted man named Wimpy (Pauly Dooley) and a skinny woman named Olive Oyle (Shelly Devuall) who is the fiancee to town bully Bluto (Paul L. Smith), she falls for Popeye's charm and they also adapt a baby boy named SweetPea. Bluto wants to take his revenge on the town since Olive dumped Bluto as Popeye has many adventures especially in trying to find his father and stopping Bluto.
Very entertaining and underrated live-action musical adaptation of the beloved comic strip character from director Robert Altman. Robin Williams and Shelly Devuall were perfect in the roles they were meant to play, i think this movie is faithful to some of the classic cartoons and comic strips. It does have a handful of nice musical tunes by Harry Nielsen especially "I'm Mean" and has a great playful sense of fun thanks to the excellent performance of Willaims as Popeye and the direction of Robert Altman.
This DVD contains no extras at all and not even a trailer but does have a good widescreen transfer.
Movie Review: Brilliant But Not Your Normal Kids' Musical
Summary: 5 Stars
Robert Altman subverts, twists, plays, and ultimately redeems the Hollywood kids' musical with this unfairly criticized but brilliant rendering of the Popeye story. Let's start with the camera, which during large-scale musical numbers is focused on small details, the shoes, the eyes, the hair, but never pans wide. Frustrating, but after a while you see he is taking a very large, very open tale and reducing it to its humanity, its humor, its love of life. Robin Williams never gave a better performance, helped as he is by superb casting of Shelley Duval and the colorful and sweet characters who inhabit Sweethaven. The set design is highly imaginative and spares no expense, pleasing the eye and the aesthete. No review should fail to mention Harry Nilsson's soundtrack, sadly unavailable on cd. Harry outdid himself, writing the soundtrack Randy Newman has spent the last 25 years trying to replicate. Every song is a classic, beautifully arranged and orchestrated by Van Dyke Parks, and works exceedingly well in the film.
This one is a keeper, but you have to be open to the small charms and subtle wit that eventually will have you continuing to come back to this delightful and seductive film.