Empire Records | | Cast : | Anthony LaPaglia, Debi Mazar | | Director : | Allan Moyle | | Studio : | Warner Home Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | October 20, 1995 | | DVD Released Date : | June 01, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 06, 2005 | | Summary | Itis all about the music. | Content
 | It took me forever to get a chance to see this movie. Hearing what so many people had to say about it I was hoping it was truly going to live up to its hype. Empire Records is truly a fun extremely down to Earth teen comedy. This was probably the last of the true comedies that really gave it's audience a true life look at a bunch of kids just trying to have a good time during their supposed last day of work. `Empire Records' is a blend of `Dazed and Confused' and `Clerks' and is a great watch from start to finish filled with crazy antics and mindless philosophical conversation. The cast is truly one for the record books. This is the only movie I probably will ever enjoy with Renee Zelweger in it...and its quite strange seeing her play the role of a labeled slut. Liv Tyler has an excellent breakthrough performance and of course we all know where she went. The best cast member by far is the highly recognizeable face of Ethan Embry. Every scene he in, is flat out comic genius, it is a darn shame he can't get signed on to other successful projects because he really does have talent. I guess you can blame corporate Hollywood for that.
What makes this movie truly memorable is the soundtrack. `Empire Records could not have come out at a more perfect time. It was the final year of the early 90s grunge era. With music from bands like Sponge, Gin Blossoms and The Cranberries, like the bands the movie has become a cult classic for those who know that music is the best way to stick it to the man.
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| Rating | | | Date | April 24, 2005 | | Summary | Odd | Content
| This movie is very weird and sort of hard to follow. It would be 3 1/2 stars. It`s freaky. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 14, 2005 | | Summary | Hard to believe, but surprisingly enjoyable | Content
| This farce, directed by Allan Moyle (Pump Up the Volume), boasts a solid cast of then young and hungry actors that are dynamite throughout the film, even though it's script is horribly inept. Empire Records focuses around the exploits of the employees of a local independent record store managed by Joe (Anthony LaPaglia), whose business is on the brink of being bought out by a music store chain, and the situation becomes worse off when his prodigal son and employee (Rory Cochrane) gambles away the store's bank deposit. In the midst of all this, a pop music celebrity (Maxwell Caulfield) pays the store a visit, which naturally, results in more chaos, and not to mention late teenage pining, whining, and moshing to Gwar. The script is lame, but the cast (which also includes Liv Tyler, Renee Zelwegger, Ethan Embry, Debi Mazar, and Robin Tunney) is electric throughout the film, and they save it from mediocrity. This "remixed" edition of Empire Records features additional scenes integrated back into the film, which surprisingly add a bit of character development and some laughs. I don't know what's more surprising: that this film is ten years old, or that it's actually enjoyable. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 12, 2005 | | Summary | Really bad just... ugh... so bad. | Content
| This movie wants you to like it so bad, and heck, so did I! If I'm going to devote my time to a movie for an hour and 45 minutes, then of course I'm hoping for it to be good. Alas, the Lord did not damn my eyes before the play button was pushed, and I was forced to watch this cliché-ridden, horribly acted, melodramatic, implausible defecation onto the tastes of young people everywhere.
It starts promisingly enough - it's set in a record store! Hey, I love music, so this movie must be awesome! It's not even a chain so that must mean that the owner is super cool and they'll be playing some great tunes. Again, built up to be let down: this is no High Fidelity. The teens are obviously just punching in hours at a lax workplace for minimum wage. The music is just rotten, don't kid yourself, it's rotten.
But wait a second, aren't movies supposed to be primarily focused with plot and character? Yes, of course! How could I be so shallow? I suppose you've recognized the pattern by now, and are undeniably anticipating the next butchering. Problem: the kids can't act. Problem: the characters are one dimensional, and worst of all annoying. Rory Cochrane's awesome embodiment of the happy-go-lucky stoner in Dazed and Confused proves to be just a caricature of someone I can love, rather than an emotional sadsack who seems to have a big bad rain cloud over his head. The rest of the characters in no particular order: spaz, slut, loverboy, confused girl, depressed kid, and troublemaker. The razor-thin plot involves a loss of necessary funds (which the owner amazingly forgives in the span of 15 minutes) and the quick fund raiser that saves the business, which unfortunatley involves MORE BAD MUSIC.
It's movies like Empire Records that are really lowering the bar for quality perception among teenagers. They go to the theater, see how cool these kids are made out to be, and accept it as fact. They're cool, their music's cool, their attitudes are cool, no questions asked. This isn't an issue of whether this movie is an Oscar contender, it's an issue of this being a really really bad movie. I've never made a formal list, but I've always mentioned whenever I hear the name brought up that this is the worst movie I've ever seen. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 03, 2005 | | Summary | The 90's in a Box | Content
| Okay, so if you're looking for an Oscar caliber 'they'll never take our freedom' 90's movie...just find something else, 'cause it aint here.
BUT, my friends, if you are looking to re-live that era of chunky shoes and plaid miniskirts and we call the 90's, then this is the flick for you. I personally love this film because it reminds me of my early teens and it's a fun cheap thrill. If nothing else, it's an encyclopedic recap of mid 90's fashion and pop culture attitudes. Better than clipping your toe nails on a saturday night. |
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