North By Northwest DVD

Advantages: endless
Disadvantages: nahhhh

...1,283rd time). That film is North By Northwest. And yet every year I would somehow manage to tune in 45 minutes after the start of the film and in my Allen-esque way, refuse to watch the rest (it's incomprehensible by then anyway). A hangover, a DVD and a year later, and having seen and loved it, this year... I tuned in right on time. :) Hitchcock's suspense/romantic comedy/drama is a film deserving of its classic masterpiece status. A case of mistaken ...
...enforced drunkenness, cropdusting, mysterious ice queens and Mount Rushmore. The mastermind behind the plot is the shadowy Van Damm (James Mason with his eerie sidekick Leonard portrayed creepily by Martin Landau) and the Hitchcock blonde is the elusive Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint). (I'm behaving myself, so I won't quote "Rattlesnakes" here). Arguably Cary Grant's finest hour, this is one of his most natural, charming and cool performances - think ... Read review

Advantages: Great story, direction, screenplay, very entertaining
Disadvantages: Not as original or thought-provoking as some of Hitchcock's others

North By Northwest is, at number 23 on the IMDB's greatest films list, one of Alfred Hitchcock's most enduringly popular movies. Made in 1959, it stars Cary Grant as a suave advertising exec fleeing from the police after being caught in the middle of a CIA undercover operation, even though Grant was about 55 years old when it was made! He plays Roger Thornhill, an average kind of guy, albeit with a very well paid job and his own personal secretary. ...
...shake a stick at. North by Northwest may not be such an original, thought-provoking film as some of Hitchcock's other classics, like Vertigo or Rear Window, but it sure is entertaining! Boasting some of cinema's most memorable action scenes, such as the fantastic corn-field plane attack and the thrilling shootout atop Mount Rushmore, plus plenty of twists and turns as I already mentioned, this film is one of the most ceaselessly gripping and enjoyable ... Read review

Advantages: A perfect piece of film making
Disadvantages: none

...his journey that takes him North by Northwest is about to prove him very, very, wrong. Hitchcock directs as a man at one with his material, for the opposite effect try and sit through the leaden 'Topaz' or 'Torn Curtain'. His creativity and visual flair is apparent in every single scene. His handling of the comedy, romance, suspense and action shows what a master of the silver screen he was, at eae with any material and a superb technician. His ...
...we are treated to a mix of glass paintings, studio sets recreating locations, false perspectives, back projection, there wasn't a single element of film making that he couldn't utilise to enhance his movies. The man knew film making inside out, and a four picture run of 'Vertigo', 'North by Northwest', 'Pyscho' and 'The Birds' cemented his already lofty status as a master behind the camera. Hitch is aided no end by the script and screenplay of Ernest ... Read review

Advantages: Read the title
Disadvantages: Don't be silly!

...on the big screen. North By Northwest epitomises this notion. It lifts you out of yourself and throws you up on to the screen. There is no moral to this story, no message; it is just pure entertainment. Alfred Hitchcock (and please tell me you knew that he was the director of this film) is known as the "Master of Suspense", and it is into this category that the film must fall. However, it is also a comedy, a romance, a spy movie, and a thriller. ...
...back when action meant more than violence. Roger O. Thornhill (when asked, he says the O stands for "Nothing") is a busy advertising executive. He is handsome, suave and sophisticated, which is probably why Cary Grant plays him. While meeting some business sponsors over drinks in the lobby of the Plaza Hotel, New York, Thornhill unwittingly becomes the victim of mistaken identity and is escorted outside and into a waiting limousine by a couple of ... Read review

Advantages: Cary Grant and decent soundtrack
Disadvantages: Long, drawn out, boring, over-rated.

In my opinion, this film is highly over-rated. Yes, my Ciao name is carygrant, and yes, I LOVE Cary Grant. But if he weren't in this film, I wouldn't watch it again. As it is, I have watched it zillions of times because Cary Grant looks absolutely georgeous in it. And that includes twice on the big screen. Each time I see it I TRY to like it more, but it just hasn't grown on me. So why am I not a huge fan of this film? Is it because I don't like ...
...of The Town, Penny Serenade, Suspicion (until *that* last scene), None But The Lonely Heart etc. Is it because I don't like Hitchcock films? No. I thoroughly enjoy the rest of the films that Hitchcock made with Cary - Notorious, Suspicion and To Catch a Thief....and many other Hitchcock films also rate highly with me (Psycho, Rear Window and Dial M for Murder to name my favourites). So what is it? This film bores me. It is average and nothing more ... Read review

Advantages: good mtv spoof, music video
Disadvantages: dull movie, too many 'Tom is great' featurettes

...a lot on what must be things that can be displayed in fine detail. One thing that's driven across again though is that Tom Cruise is great-everyone loves him on the set and he's great. Yeah thanks for that now what about the stunts ? The Metallica music video for 'I Disappear' is also included and featreus the band in some action segements such as driving cars at high speed, a take on 'North By Northwest' and Lars Ulrich jumping out of a building. It's a great track and a great video. It's one of the reasons I have the dvd. Next up is an alterantive titles sequence that runs for anout 45 seconds and is very pointless. There isn't much difference between this and the final titles. Still it's nice to have a look I suppose. The real gem on this dvd is an MTV spoof called 'Mission Improbable'. This was done for the MTV Movie Awards... Read review

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Advantages: One of Hitchcock's best
Disadvantages: Minor plot holes

...along with several other Hitchcock classics such as North by Northwest, Marnie, Dial M for Murder and Rear Window. I have been a Hitchcock fan for decades now and Vertigo is definitely one of his more successful ventures. The film was mostly filmed on location in San Francisco, one of its more memorable scenes is when Madeline jumps into Fort Point, San Francisco Bay only for Scottie to save her. The Mission San Juan Bautista where Madeline jumps to her death was a real one but had to have special effects when being filmed as the tower had been torn down due to dilapidation must to Hitchcock's displeasure! James Stewart has always been someone I've admired as an actor, never more so than in this film though. To me, he took the part of Scottie and made it his own. I can't imagine anyone else doing the role justice as he did. He really... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful