The War of the Roses | | Cast : | Danny DeVito, Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner | | Director : | Danny DeVito | | Studio : | Twentieth Century Fox | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby, THX, Widescreen | | Released Date : | December 08, 1989 | | DVD Released Date : | September 06, 2005 | | Language : | French (Dubbed), English (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 08, 2005 | | Summary | Descent into Madness | Content
 | This the darkest of all the dark comedies I have ever seen. There are moments of lightness but they come all too seldom and the story of increasing bitterness and pettiness comes to the fore.
The Roses fell in love in college, married and seemed to have the perfect life. He was an ivy league lawyer and she was the "perfect housewife". They both have their problems. He takes her too much for granted and she is a materialistic snob. Still, they seem to be so much in love that they can overcome their personal foibles. It doesn't work out that way.
After he is rushed to the hospital with an apparent heart attack, she is too busy with her career to even pick him up when he is discharged. Later that night, she tells him that she wants a divorce. From there, the vindictiveness and sniping continue to escalate as both descend into an orgy of mutual contempt and hatred.
There are times when it is possible to feel sorry for both of the characters. More often, both seem to be too contemptible to pity. Each is more concerned with the destruction of the other and "winning" than in any possible healing. There are some differences. He genuinely loves her and she genuinely hates him. This is carried right through to the bitter, and I do mean BITTER, end.
It's hard to call this entertaining. It is frightening, though, to see how far hatred can take a person. Anyone contemplating a divorce should see this film. Anyone contemplating a particularly nasty divorce should see it daily.
Don't let this be YOU!
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| Rating | | | Date | January 06, 2005 | | Summary | A funny nightmare! | Content
| Employing all the possible charm , feminism and eroticism of Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas ` trademark expression as the troubled man , De Vito sketched a sparkling and bloody fable about a marriage who simply reached the point of no return.
Curious parable of slender significance in the most promissory decade in which the female liberation was in its peak , De Vito explores with admirable minuteness the most intimate details of the marriage , their disillusions , disappointments . There is a hidden homage to Divorce-Italian Style that old film of 1962 but with a major grade of sociological acidity .
The initial mockery is like the first movement of a Symphony : it would mean the Allegro Giocoso .
But through a well planed script the laughs diminish progressively , you and me know the things are out of control and now belong to the irrational lands composed among other ambassadors by notable names as the rage , fury , jealous , betray , fury.
The imminent tragedy spies on backstage . And that increasing tension will make of that film an admirable talent exercise and refined good taste .
To Kathleen Turner - one of the emblematic actress who joined talent and sensual attraction of the eighties- together with Theresa Russell, Debra Winger , Isabelle Adjani , Isabella Rosellini , Natasha Kinski, Kelly Le Brock and Gudrun Landgrebe , this film was an additional personal triumph if you sum Body heat , Peggy Sue got married and Crimes of Passion .
The handkerchief 's opening sequence is a classic !
This is the masterpiece of Danny de Vito.
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| Rating | | | Date | November 25, 2004 | | Summary | Love it or hate it, Appreciate it! | Content
| It'd be a little redundant at this point out this film is a black comedy. That'd be like stating that Scream is a horror movie. But what exactly makes War of the Roses so funny yet so bleak? In my opinion it's the same type of entertainment one gets from listening to really nasty juicy gossip. Like when your tech-ed teacher tells you why it's bad to get your hair or fingers too close to the sanding machines.
The film is narrated by DeVito, a lawyer retelling a tale he lived through when dealing with a once happily married couple... an especially materialistic married couple! So the entire movie switches from 'past' to 'present,' focusing mostly on the story of the soon to be unhappy lovers. After their so-called civil divorce, they are both determined to keep the dream house they both contributed to, and Oliver, the once husband, is determined to keep his former wife, Barbara, who can't stand him to the point of making them both miserable! From here, the story just gets crueler and more bizarre...
So if you're the type of person who likes to listen to stories where terrible things happen to ordinary and fallible people, if you watch car races to see a crash, or you laugh during the news, chances are you'll enjoy this movie, and other black comedies for that matter. If you like stories with resolve or warmth, or if you're an animal lover, you best stay clear of this unrelenting comedy classic.
So why four stars? Well, perhaps I just recognize that there are some people who will find this movie hysterical, and some who will just plain not find it funny at all. |
| Rating | | | Date | November 15, 2004 | | Summary | Savagely Funny Black Comedy | Content
| This is a black as it gets, folks. But if you let yourself go along for the ride, you will find it to be gleefully vicious. The cast all look like they had an absolute blast here trying to one up each other - just like their characters do. Turner is brilliantly funny - right to the last drop. Douglas matches her blow-for-blow and Devito seems to be having the time of his life telling this cautionary tale to perspective divorcees. HIghly recommended for those who like something a little darker. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 11, 2004 | | Summary | favorite 80's movie | Content
| This has to be my favorite 80's movie. This movie is about a couple who fight like mad over a divorce and take eachother captive in the house. They fight to the death and mess up everything is their paths. Very funny, sad and scary. This movie makes you never want to marry. |
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