Alfie DVD

Advantages: watch a womanizer wo'in women
Disadvantages: less meaningful than the last

...Alfie, one of the screen's most memorable womanizers has come back in a modestly entertaining remake of the memorable 1966 film that made Michael Caine a star. The new "Alfie" stars Jude Law as the British playboy, but this time he's chasing women in the post-feminist era in a glossy, pastel-colored, picture-perfect Manhattan. He is a limo driver who seduces a large selection of the women he comes across while flirting while still in a stable relationship with a single mother named Julie played by Marisa Tomei. In the original more darker and cynical the film depicted its cockney cad in London shadows, as an insensitive opportunist, a player caught up by his own sexual disirers. The character ultimately got entangled in the issue of back-alley abortion. In an obvious change to modern times, today's "Alfie" is merely the central figure... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Jude Law's effortless updating of the old classic
Disadvantages: Are there too many 'brit flicks' released at the moment?

...My first reaction to the idea of a remake of the old Michael Caine classic was trepidation. Not that the original was my favourite film but Caine's portrayal was undoubtedly strong - how was Jude Law planning to match it? Thankfully for Jude's career the 2004 version was a joy to watch. The story of Alfie, our classic British cad and story teller, is brought right up to date by a series of sharp suits and an even sharper wit. This haunting jaunt through Alfie's life and loves, set amidst the action of New York, actually does make you stop and consider all the good things about life whilst you wince (and you do wince when Alfie has trouble with "Big Ben") at the challenges he faces to find peae of mind. Incidentally, my husband tells me that the female cast of the film make the ticket price tremendous value!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: jude law's performance, less offensive than the original
Disadvantages: not quite as controversial as the original

...Alfie Well-dressed self-confessed fashion-whore Alfie, slips on a Gucci shirt, ties his lace-up Pradas and splashes on expensive cologne. He’s light on his feet and light on commitment. A natural charmer, a London-born scoundrel; living in Manhattan where all woman are available and conveyor-belt perfect. Alfie’s as happy as a puppy with two tails and more romantic relationships than most men can remember. He’s Mr Full Service, a limo-driver and a love-machine. And although audiences could have easily felt that Alfie was all too familiar, Jude Law takes ownership of the role infusing his character with real life and verve. It’s a performance made even more impressive not only by Law’s feature-length deliverance of first-person, straight to the camera, stream of consciousness narration but by the fact that he appears in virtually every... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful