Customer Reviews

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover [Unrated, Letterbox Edition] [VHS]

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

One of the best films I have ever viewed. All aspects of this film are cautiously and intelligently thought out allowing it to shine. Characters, music, plot and artistic staging are brilliant. I truely love watching this film again and again. I have already seen it approximately 18-20 times and enjoy it more and more!

A sick man who happens to be a high-ranking Party Member favors a particular restaraunt and takes the food and service mighty seriously. As his wife strays, he becomes increasingly suspicious about everything in sight. Vile and disturbing, yet wickedly funny, this was one of the best films of the year internationally! WHAT A PIG!

"The Cook, the theif, His Wife & Her Lover". This one the strangest films I've ever, but one the best. Director Peter Greenaway has woven a shockingly spectacular masterpiece. This is true "intellegent" film, with it's metoforic themes that are always interesting. Although shocking, this manages to please! Not for all tastes. Peter Greenaway fans will probably say this is his best film. Originally Rated X, by the MPAA, but release uncensored theatrically with no MPAA rating. Available on video in NC-17 & R rated formats. MPAA Rating: NC-17 (graphic sexuality, violence, gore, torture, and strong vulgar language).

I don't have much to say except that the R version of this movie is a total disaster. I had seen this movie 4 times before I bought the R version. After that I don't see the movie any more. With too much unnecessary censorship you cannot even understand the situation with the R version.

I pride myself on having a black sense of humor, and when a friend whose taste I trust raved about "The Cook, The Thief, etc", I went along willingly. The opening segments were dark and scatalogical, and I thought I was in for a treat. Wrong-O! A pointless and perverse plot made me wish I'd gone to see something interesting, like "Our Friend, Mildew" or "The Wit and Wisdom of Attorney General John Mitchell". In a climactic finish to the film, when the writer & director could used suspense, and hinted at the finish, they instead smash the viewer over the head. Of the 5 people I saw this film with, only 2 were around at the end. My friend said afterwards, "I'm sorry you didn't like the movie." I replied, "I'm sorry you did." I'll put it this way, this is not nearly as much fun as "Killing Fields".

The Cook the Thief His Wife & Her Lover is typical Peter Greenaway. This film is explicit, cruel and the cinematography is wonderful. This film is a work of art. This film is not for all tastes, there are similarities to his other work of arts, such as The Pillow Book. Try to view the uncut version. PLEASE SEE MY OTHER REVIEWS.

I got this video for my wife's birthday, which is upcoming. I received it soon after I ordered it, which was very nice, but I haven't given it to her yet b/c her birthday hasn't happened, so I can't comment on the quality of the video, but apparently Amazon will not leave me alone until I review it, so here is my crappy ass review.

Not in Hollywood style, but who is looking for that, anyway? Please see this movie even once in your life!!! Enjoy.

Stylistically perfect and visually gorgeous, this is also one of the most unremittingly sadistic and gruesome movies ever made. If you can watch this one over and over, as the writer from Portland, Maine, confesses, you really do need to seek professional help. (But in the meantime, don't stop watching it -- that might be the only thing keeping you from doing something horrible.)

What most people seem to miss in this film is that the wife and her lover are not victims. They are every bit as guilty and boorish in their own way as the horrible thief is. Their escape from the thief's sinful self-indulgence is by way of luxurious stimulation, continuing to gorge on exquisitely metaphoric cuisine and screwing artfully. This is Greenaway's "Satyricon", a picture of the evils of hedonism, and certainly a class commentary. Brilliantly done, and only ever so slightly condemning all its characters. It's easy to mistake the wife's "Cannibal!" for a triumphant, well-won war cry, but it is a sardonic indictment of all the players. Everyone is at blame in the film, everyone equally guilty of indulging their appetites.