I’m confused. I was absolutely certain this was going to be the worst film I’d seen all year. The reviews, the trailers, the fact that Jackie Chan is capable of getting right up my nose all suggested as much…
So, even if this overlong and slightly unbalanced effort is no work of exquisite ... Read review
The 2004 version ofAround the World in 80 Daysis an entertaining hodge-podge of adventure, ... more
comedy, and scenery from across the globe. Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan,24 Hour Party People), an obsessively precise inventor, bets that he can circumnavigate the...
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An eccentric London inventor, Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan), has come up with the secrets to ... more
flight, electricity, and even in-line skates, but the establishment has dismissed him as a crackpot.Desperate to be taken seriously, Fogg makes an outlandish bet...
The 2004 version ofAround the World in 80 Daysis an entertaining hodge-podge of adventure, ... more
comedy, and scenery from across the globe. Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan,24 Hour Party People), an obsessively precise inventor, bets that he can circumnavigate the...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Multi-skilled Chinese thief Lau Xing (Jackie Chan) has stolen a valuable jade Buddha. In ... more
order to evade detection from the authorities he adopts the name Passepartout and enters the service of Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan) an English gentleman obsessed ...
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With £25,000 in his pocket from the sale of his flat, Conor Woodman travels ... more
across four continents, trading in all kinds of products with the aim of doubling his money.Economist Conor Woodman was a high-flying City trader, now he has decided to test his negotiating skills, charm and eye for a bargain against some of the world’s oldest and fiercest, trading cultures. Conor has sold his house to finance the trip across four continents and 13 countries, trading in any kind of product – animal, mineral and vegetable – with the aim of doubling his money.Whether trading teak or tea, surfboards or seafood, Conor tries to make money in every market he encounters along his route. Buying and selling on his wits and instincts and going head to head with the sharpest operators in the world. But can London’s financial bear pit prepare him for a horde of vodka-fuelled horse traders on the plains of central Asia? And, does an intricate knowledge of corporate finance help when haggling with Chinese officials on the Mekong River?With surprises and tension all the way to the end, will Conor blow his £25,000 or can he succeed in doubling his cash?
Dan Cruickshank's worldwide quest for mankind's greatest achievements.Architectural ... more
historian Dan Cruickshank embarks on a five-month, 34-country world tour visiting his selection of the eighty greatest buildings, artworks and other man-made treasures that define human civilization. This energetic global treasure hunt takes in the Parthenon, Machu Picchu, King Tut's burial mask, a samurai sword and even a Volkswagen Beetle with ventures as far afield as Easter Island, the Mud City of Chan Chan, space age Shanghai and the temple of Borobodur in Java.In revealing the stories behind the treasures, Dan comes face to face with the legacies of great ancient civilisations, learning something of human aspiration, about the secrets of life and death, and ultimately about himself.
Based on Jules Verne's classic about 19th century aristocrat Phileas Fogg's bet that he ... more
can circumnavigate the earth in a mere 80 days - and vows to leave that very night, taking only some necessary cash in a carpet bag and his newly-hired manservant, Jean Passepartout. Can it be mere coincidence that 55,000 English pounds is missing from the Bank of England? The Bank's directors don't think so, and have private detective Mr. Fix to bring in the most likely suspect: a man leaving the country with an unusually large quantity of money.
Monty Don takes you through 10 extraordinary journeys to see the world through 80 of its ... more
most inspiring gardens.From the floating gardens of the Amazon and the tropical planting traditions of Thailand to the colonial garden cultures in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, follow Monty as he visits the stone gardens of China and Japan, an Indian sculpture garden made only from recycled waste and the private retreats of great contemporary designers.Everywhere he goes, Monty learns about history and culture through people who are as much in love with gardens as he is, on this journey to discover 80 of the world's most fascinating and beautiful gardens.
Around the World in 80 Days is the seemingly impossible bet made by Phileas Fogg to his ... more
fellow members of the London Reform club.But - is Fogg the daredevil adventurer he appears or is he the mysterious robber of the bank of England who is using the bet to make his escape?Inspector Fix thinks he knows and relentlessly pursues Fogg from country to country with a warrant for his arrest - a warrant he can only use on British soil.The Urbane and worldly Fogg accompanied by his trusty servant passepartout, races the clock around the globe, encountering dangers and pitfalls amidst the beauty and spectacle of diverse countries around the world.A daring rescue of a beautiful woman from a cult of murderous fanatics, an Indian attack, physical danger, a collapsing bridge and make Around the World in Eighty Days the most exciting and best-known Jules Verne classic.
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Advantages: sweet and gently engaging Disadvantages: chan's delivery and bremner's continued employment
...when he’ll start throwing people around again.
Ewen Bremner, on the other hand, IS the worst thing I’ve seen, by a long way. I just can’t stand him (and his grim reminder of Welcome to the Jungle didn’t help)… I found the cattarh-ridden wailing of his delivery and the entire existence of his character, a low-rent, charmless corrupt cop fall guy intensely irritating and totally unnecessary. Had he been judiciously excised from the script, ... ...(a long set piece based around the Statue of Liberty is stylish but drags, and the Prince Hapi sequence could certainly have been sped up a notch) and a long build up to the inevitable denouement mean that there is some fidgeting to be had…
Having said that…
I was entirely in two minds about the casting of Steve Coogan. Having heard that he was very ineffectual at the kind-hearted, repressed eccentric because his metier ... more
I’m confused. I was absolutely certain this was going to be the worst film I’d seen all year. The reviews, the trailers, the fact that Jackie Chan is capable of getting right up my nose all suggested as much…
So, even if this overlong and slightly unbalanced effort is no work of exquisite genius, how has it turned out to be one of the prettier, sweeter and yes, even funnier movies I’ve seen since January?!
TECHNICALITIES:
Phileas Fogg STEVE COOGAN Lau Xian/ Passepartout JACKIE CHAN Monique Laroche CECILE DE FRANCE Kelvin JIM BROADBENT Cpt. EWEN BREMNER
With cameos from the likes of ARNOLD SCHWARTZENEGGER, OWEN & LUKE WILSON, MACY GRAY and… well, let’s leave some mystery, no? You can discover the rest on your own.
Directed by FRANK CORACI (The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy)
Quick disclaimer: I know nothing of Jules Verne. But, given the hokey Kung Fu action that came along, I’m thinking “inspired by” is a good way to describe this.
Phileas Fogg, visionary inventor and local crackpot who has visions of men flying as effortlessly as birds, finds himself party to a bet that requires him to prove that it is possible to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days in order to win scientific credence (and the directorship of the Royal Academy of Science). If he loses, his life’s work is forfeit and he can no longer claim to be an inventor. Just as well he has his new valet, “Passepartout”, by his side to help… except… well, Passepartout has a little secret. Perhaps if he forgets to mention that his name is really Lau Xian and he broke into the Bank of England to retrieve a priceless object of huge political and personal significance to Fogg, everything will be alright…
Let’s start with what isn’t any good about this film and get it out of the way so that I can try to put into words what I found to be astonishingly good…
First of all, Jackie Chan is rubbish at dialogue… His athleticism, stunt choreography and daftly good-natured mugging are all as natural as ever; he is a born physical actor, and if that’s what you like about him then he delivers that in spades as well. But he is unable to pitch and modulate his delivery with any variety, with the result that every line sounds pretty much the same, and some of the wittier one-liners are lost in the occasionally garbled monotone… Now, it's been suggested to me that this may be a language barrier, problem, and maybe it is (although I didn't find his accent a problem to decipher, merely his mumbled delivery, and he's been making English language films for a while). As such, and since he was very obviously deeply involved in this film as actor, executive producer and choreographer, it’s a mystery why he didn’t suggest a little script revision. He’s not the worst thing I’ve seen, by a long shot, but he’s just that bit below par, and you long for the moments when he’ll start throwing people around again.
Ewen Bremner, on the other hand, IS the worst thing I’ve seen, by a long way. I just can’t stand him (and his grim reminder of Welcome to the Jungle didn’t help)… I found the cattarh-ridden wailing of his delivery and the entire existence of his character, a low-rent, charmless corrupt cop fall guy intensely irritating and totally unnecessary. Had he been judiciously excised from the script, it would have rendered my next criticism obsolete.
That is, namely, that this film feels just a little bit too long… one too many set pieces (a long set piece based around the Statue of Liberty is stylish but drags, and the Prince Hapi sequence could certainly have been sped up a notch) and a long build up to the inevitable denouement mean that there is some fidgeting to be had…
Having said that…
I was entirely in two minds about the casting of Steve Coogan. Having heard that he was very ineffectual at the kind-hearted, repressed eccentric because his metier lay in the snide and the small-minded (such as his grotesque creation of comic genius, Alan Partridge), I was pleasantly surprised by a sweet and touching performance. He carries off the foppish, Hugh Grant-style characterisation with his own bombastic flourishes whilst maintaining a reliably safe distance from schmaltz. The odd sad moments in the story, the romantic subplot which picks up pace gently and revels in it’s predictability, all are handled delicately, and with a light and humorous hand. He is never mawkish, and has a real sense of the ensemble cast, staking his claim but sharing the limelight generously with the visually flash Chan and delicately luminous de France.
De France was another shocker for me, given that her ditsy French girl in search of adventure could easily have been an irritating pouting wench. Instead she goes for Tatou-style wide eyes and easy open grace, lending a warmth and attraction to her pleasantly silly character. She has genuine chemistry with Coogan, and the fact that the love story seems to happen on very natural grounds makes that particular subplot fun and sweet.
Chan is of course in his element when things and/or people are being destroyed stylishly and energetically around him. What more is there to say on this?
But the two real surprises didn’t come from character or acting… but from script and design.
The script first. Peppered with anarchically bonkers one-liners and dutifully daft asides, the dialogue is far wittier than the shoddily edited trailer would have you believe. There are moments when it’s far too predictable (“it’s just a minor setback… another minor setback… ok, it’s a major setback…”) but on the whole, including the quote I used in the title, the lines are, if not Shrek-sharp, still admirably witty. This is gentle, almost nostalgic humour… My friend Seamus pegged it as reminiscent of Ealing comedy deft daftness. Cue lots of jokes about wearing women’s clothes and getting the girls. There’s not a lot of biting satire here, although there are raised eyebrows to be found, and some of the enthusiastic silliness rubs off after a while. I was particularly taken with Jim Broadbent (as usual, endlessly entertaining and professional) and his “royal backside” speech…
Now the visuals. I had not foreseen that the director of The Wedding Singer could have such visual flair and such a developed sense of the childlike magical. The travelling scenes are interspersed with sparkling toy-towns, a camera sweeping, surrounded by twinkling stars, through multicoloured impressions of the famous cities… London… Paris… Istanbul… and now and again there is bumbling lettering tumbling across the screen to inform us of the next stop and the days into the journey. Yes, it’s twee, yes it’s precious, but in such a glorious childish way that it is much easier to be swept up in the prettiness of it (extremely reminiscent to me of PJ Hogan’s Peter Pan) than to feel in any way bogged down in Disney cutesomeness (and I say this as a Disney fan). The light deft touch, the sweeping camera angles during the fight scenes and the all-round sense of a bunch of people having a really good time seems to permeate the direction, and the whole spirit of the film.
In addition the costume is stylishly and funkily rendered, with corsets, beautiful tailoring, some acceptably feral nail-claw-things and a general depth of decadent detail.
Whilst the score is unmemorable, it is at least not execrable, and as a whole, taking aside those few irksome additions that let down the whole, this is an eminently watchable screwball family comedy with a very low general irritation factor (I’m inclined to start adding a GIF rating to every comedy I watch…!).
So, forewarned that there is little depth but generous humour here, go forth and watch… I dare you.
As for the rating, well, I think a nice, middle of the road 3 stars (although if you could tack on an extra half for effort, I’d be grateful). After all, to coin a dmc-ism if he’ll forgive me, let’s not go mad here. It’s not THAT great.
Advantages: Jackie Chan fight sequences, silly fun Disadvantages: REALLY silly, a plot you could fish with, and a travesty to literature
...he's a gentleman) to travel around the world in eighty days has made several appearances on screen. Does anyone else remember the cartoon version where Phileas was a lion? Ahem. Last seen on the big screen, and starring David Niven, in the 1950s, Disney have attempted a slightly updated version. This time, the focus shifts from Fogg to his would-be valet, Passepartout - and all of a sudden this becomes a Jackie Chan movie.
I went into the cinema ... ...that a man could travel around the world - oh, you know the rest! - becomes just the opportunity Lao Xing needs to get back home, and he quickly manoeuvres Fogg into taking up the challenge.
In much the same way as Lao Xing's opportunity, the 80 Days story is used as a useful device to further the Jade Buddha plotline, and ultimately to show off more of Chan's martial arts skills. Hey - I ain't complaining, but be warned! I thoroughly enjoyed the ...
Calypte 21.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Around The World In 80 Days (DVD)
Advantages: Some funny moments, its entertaining, range of actors used (both English & American) Disadvantages: Slightly slow in parts, a bit cheesy/predictable
...Fogg and Passepartout is chased around the world by the English government. Of course there's a valid reason why Chan's character stole this Buddha, as often is the case in these type of movies he stars in, it turns out that the Buddha figurine had originally been stolen from his hometown in China and if it isn't returned to its rightful home, then it will face a bleak future. hence his reason to join Fogg, so he can return it when they reach China. ... ...is a French artist called Monique (Played by Cecile de France), who they find in Paris, who decides to join them for the adventure and to be inspired to paint more semi amateur impressionist paintings (they find her at an art exhibition, though she's no professional and is only employed for menial work).
This film features more of the usual Chan comedy martial arts scenes, it is pretty amusing in points and is generally quite diverting. It isn't ...
IzzyS 24.09.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Around The World In 80 Days (DVD)
Advantages: Quite funny, good family film Disadvantages: lacks something for more mature viewers
...the recent chance to see Around The World In 80 Days seemed like one I shouldn’t pass up. Of course I was still open-minded, regardless of the cast as it still had the potential to be awful.
The film is based, very loosely, on a novel by the great Jules Verne, incredibly loosely I may add. Coogan takes the lead role as Phileas Fogg, a crazy inventor with a number of inventions. A chance meeting with Passepartout (Chan) sees Fogg meet the perfect ... ...his side Fogg takes off around the world to prove its possible with the Director of the Academy’s chair as his ultimate goal.
It’s a premise for a film that does actually work. Of course this is a remake and not having seen the original or read Verne’s novel. This is a comedy for all the family but I imagine that with the amount of martial arts involved it’s quite removed from the original concept. As a comedy it works in the same way as Rush Hour ...
Andy.mack 04.05.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Around The World In 80 Days (DVD)
Advantages: You won't see many films like this; a guilty pleasure Disadvantages: You won't see many films like this
Phileas Fogg is a Victorian aristo with a penchant for inventing things and living to a tight schedule so he can get the maximum out of his life. So he surprises himself when he takes up the dastardly Lord Kelvin’s challenge to circumnavigate the world in eighty days. If he fails, he agrees never to invent anything again. Accompanying him is his trusty valet Passepartout, who has stolen a sacred Buddha statue that he must return to his village in ... ...of the warlord Fang. Those of you expecting a boys’ own adventure filled with exotic locations and feats of derring-do as found in Jules Verne’s original novel are going to be sorely disappointed by this film. Attention focuses on Passepartout’s quest rather than Phileas Fogg’s daring attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Instead of being a disciplined, well-educated, worldly, entrepreneurial aristocrat, Fogg is now portrayed as a naďve, bumbling ...
afy9mab 27.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Around The World In 80 Days (DVD)
Advantages: Slightley more watchable than one might expect, Coogan is quite funny Disadvantages: stupid plot, generally sensless, Chan is getting too old
...he were to make it around the World in 80 days he would be the new minister of science, but if he were to fail, he would forfeit his house and all his inventions. To tighten things up a bit the police are constantly after them for the know that Ling stole from the bank of England, and to make things doubly exciting(detect sarcasm) Phileas is not aware that the reason Chan is embarking on the quest is to return the sacred Jade Buddha which he stole ... ...derranged scientist (how could he do this?)
Enter the female lead French Artiste played by Cécile De France who encounters Coogan's brilliant wit and falls head over heals on love and comes on the quest to see the World.
So thats the plot really, as I said not a strong one, just one to keep the flow going, so the films is going to need a hell of a lot more than that plot alone to make it through the tough criticism of audiencs.
*CHARACTERS/ACTING*
...
bluezest 24.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Around The World In 80 Days (DVD)
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Product reference: BBC # bbcdvd2214 ...
Advantages: Great Film Entertainment packed with stars from a bygone age Disadvantages: It is not a short film!
Awards
Excerts From Playhouse 90`s Around The Worldin 90 Minutes which was a star filled Extravaganza commemorating the films One Year Anniversary
Newsreels of the Los Angeles Premiere and Opening in Spain
Mike Todds Around The |Worldin80Days Almanac
considering the price you can now pick this DVD up for which is around 8.99 this is a real bargin ...
Based on the classic novel by Jules Verne the story tells of Passepartout who accompanies an English gentleman on a daring mission around the world using a variety of means of transportation. Fogg has a wager with his London club that he can get round the world in eighty days.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS, ABBEY HOME MEDIA; ARVATO SERVICES
Release date
22/11/2004
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
EDV 9235
Barcode
5017239192357
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo English
DVD Description
In this raucous Disney adaptation of Jules Verne's classic adventure novel AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, Steve Coogan plays Phileas Fogg, a quirky inventor at the turn of the 20th century. After suffering rejection by England's Royal Academy of Science, Fogg strives to prove his scientific worth by accepting a challenge to circumnavigate the globe in a mere 80 days. Fogg, his cohort Passepartout (Jackie Chan), and his new love Monique (Cecile de France), find trouble and excitement as they make their way from Turkey to Morocco to the United States, and ultimately Fogg discovers that scientific validation is not all he needs for a successful life. Jackie Chan shines in his role as Passepartout, who masquerades as Fogg's valet in an attempt to escape authorities after he robs the Bank of England. As he evades his enemies and keeps Fogg in the dark about his true background, Chan provides stellar comedic action and performs daring stunts. Celebrity cameos punctuate the film, with Arnold Schwarzenegger playing a polygamous Turkish ruler (filmed before the start of his campaign for California governor) and Owen and Luke Wilson playing the hilariously squabbling Wright Brothers. In addition to the lavish sets and nonstop action, this version of the classic remains true to the idea that one should hold on to dreams, no matter how improbable or outlandish.
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