The Magic Christian
|
Our Price: $49.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $45.00 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Magic Christian
Movie Review: Mocking Greed and Arrogance
Summary: 4 Stars
I don't put much significance on the social commentary of movies, but I enjoy this picture's insulting of human greed and pride. And, it is hilarious while doing it. It doesn't even take itself seriously. I think it is very funny while targeting some of Humanity's worst characteristics.Movie Review: Come and Get It!
Summary: 3 Stars
Sir Guy Grand is a pompous billionaire who, while strolling through St. James' Park, adopts a homeless young man as his own new son. With his protegee in tow, Sir Guy proceeds to tour the town; confirming his belief that everyone in London(and the world) is beholden only to the all-mighty British quid. Things really go bonkers when the pair joins the maiden voyage of a new luxury liner. The party becomes a riot. 1969's "The Magic Christian" is a zany, riotous romp released at the end of the turbulent, psychedelic 60's. Dated it is. Starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr(as his son), "The Magic Christian" is a pre-Monty Python extravaganza featuring some funny skits, cameo bits by celebrities, and a series of long, boring episodes with Sir Guy(Sellers) lost in total self-absorption. Among the guest stars are Laurence Harvey(in a strip-tease), John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Raquel Welch, Christopher Lee as Dracula, Roman Polanski, John Cleese and Yul Brynner in drag. The real glistening gem of "The Magic Christian" is the vibrant music by Badfinger and Thunderclap Newman. With songs written by Paul McCartney(and sung by his brother), Badfinger was once considered heir to the Beatles. Their meteoric success capitalized on British hard-rock and lilting gentle lyrics. But after 2 band members committed suicide, they quickly disappeared. As chronicled so expertly by Roger Lewis' "Life and Death of Peter Sellers" in 1994, the British actor/superstar was an amazing whirl of selfish, vain psychosis. Hidden behind wigs and make-up, Sellers had no real personality of his own, his psyche melting into his many odd roles with unsettling ease. Peter Sellers' temper tantrums destroyed marriages, wives, children, and fellow actors. Just 2 years before "The Magic Christian", Sellers had quit the set of "Casino Royale" during production. The real failure of "Casino Royale" is the fact that it's hero, James Bond, completely disappears half-way through the film. 2 years later, nervous "Magic Christian" producers wanted to avoid another calamity, and allowed Sellers to tinker with the screenplay and take over direction. In 2 sequences, Sellers acts with his back to the camera. "The Magic Christian" is a curious mish-mash of adroit British humor, shaky hand-held photography, and cut-and-paste story-telling. This new DVD is a bare-bones, but lovely full-screen transfer. How could a big-budget comedy with the premiere performer of it's day, 2 of the Beatles(and singing by a third) go wrong? It's well worth your time to find out why. Just once.Movie Review: Great Cameos (esp. by Chris Lee, Raquel Welch); So-So Film.
Summary: 3 Stars
I've always enjoyed watching this film but I really don't know why. For a comedy it isn't really all that funny (especially considering John Cleese and Graham Chapman of "MONTY PYTHON" contributed some bits to the screenplay). I guess it has a lot to do with the "guest stars" that pop up now and then, like director Roman Polanski, Lawrence Harvey, Spike Milligan, Yul Brynner, Richard Attenborough and (best of all) British horror legend CHRISTOPHER LEE and the beautiful RAQUEL WELCH. Lee is a vampire (what else?) on board the "ship" The Magic Christian near the end. He looks very elegant stalking the corridors, his long black cape billowing about him as goes. And Rocky (er, Miss Welch) is the Priestess of the Whip, in charge of the top-less female galley slaves rowing in the engine room. Dressed in her Amazon garb, she is breath-taking to behold! Confronted by a male passenger who demands to know what is going on, she flicks her whip at him, he rips his shirt open and kneels before her and begs her to do that again. These two cameos are very brief, but they are the best parts of this rather meandering and dull comedy. The DVD is a bare bones disc. No notes, no trailer. No extras to speak of. But on the back of the box it lists the "SPECIAL FEATURES" as the full screen version, the interactive menus, scene access and then states that these SPECIAL FEATURES are "NOT RATED". Not Rated? There are no special features to rate! Otherwise, the digitally remastered picture is nice and the film sounds good. Oh yeah, and the songs are very good (Paul McCartney's "COME AND GET IT" and Badfinger's "CARRY ON" heard under the main titles). So, I can't really recommend this DVD, unless you like Mr. Lee or Miss Welch (as I do) and must see every movie they make. Anyone else, stay clear.Movie Review: The "Magic" For This DVD Is Almost There...
Summary: 3 Stars
The picture quality of this dvd is full-bodied and sharp in comparison to earlier video releases where the tone was cloudy and muddy and a little too yellow. The picture is full frame which is sad but we can't expect Criterion treatment all the time! There's not too much wear, except early in the film where speckles and edge enhancements make guest appearances from time to time but having seen this film in theaters, on video and even network TV, I must say it's the best that may ever be presented.The only annoying aspect is the so called "Dolby Digital 2.0"
you might as well just say "enhanced mono" the highs are slightly muffled and the lows are hollow and the songs are left without their Badfinger punch.
But at least listenable and good to see this wonderful Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers satirical comedy available in at least a half way decent format. No extras not even a theatical trailer, but again this isn't Criterion, whereby if it was we may have been lucky to have gotten a running commentary by Mr. Starr or at least a brief video introduction.
Most recent reviews state this film is rather dated, however the nucleus of the film still rings true today, if not more so, that everyone has their price.... and the price tag on this DVD is at least worth every pence!
Movie Review: Post-psychedelic, anti-establishment, Sellers/Starr rough gem
Summary: 3 Stars
I saw this film once before, and thought it was in Black & White. It was filmed, for fans of the two stars, on the tail end of Sellers' swinging 60s films like "The Party" & "The Bobo", and in between Ringo's work on The Beatles' landmark "White Album" and the film/album/lawsuit "Let It Be". Essentially, Sellers and adopted sidekick Starr go about usurping stiff British affluence by using their unequalled wealth to be rude and piss people off, stating that "some people will do ANYTHING for money". A haphazard script and direction notwithstanding, this is an interesting art/statement film. Noteworthy are separate scenes featuring John Cleese and Graham Chapman (of Monty Python fame) is excellent bits about mangling a Rembrandt at Sotheby's and bribing the Oxford Crew team to crash into and fight with the Cambridge Crew team -- during their race.
I give it a 3 because the DVD offers no subtitles or alternate languages; a commentary from Ringo, Cleese, or even the director might've been nice as well. It's really a no-frills package of a rare film. But it's worth a price of less than $12.00, I'd say.