Customer Reviews

The Gods Must Be Crazy [VHS]

5 star:		(132)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While the Kalahari Desert looks like a paradise, it's the most treacherous desert in the world, where there is no water for nine of the twelve months of the year. Much of the first twenty or so minutes is spent documentary-style, contrasting the lifestyles between the "pretty, dainty, small, and graceful" Bushmen and "civilized" man. They've adapted to their environment. There's no sense of ownership--what's there to own?--and wood is the hardest thing there. There's also no crime, punishment, violence, laws, police, judges, rules, or bosses. It sounds like a utopia. Compare that with "civilized man", who adapts his environment to suit him, builds power lines to run his labour-saving devices and didn't know where to stop. More improvements mean more complications, which is why all of us are sentenced to twelve years at school to survive in this complex habitat.

So when a Coke bottle tossed from an airplane is found by Xi, a Bushmen, it disrupts their concept of the gods giving them good and useful things, as clearly, there wasn't enough of those given them. Xi, played by real Bushmen (N!xau) sets out to get rid of the bottle.

In Botswana, there's biologist Andrew Steyn who's assigned to pick up Kate Thompson, a reporter who's tired of the rat race in Pretoria and decides to become a teacher in Botswana. Comedic disaster results in two forms. One is Steyn's becoming a complete bumbler around beautiful women, and the blonde Kate is quite a looker. The other involves his driving a land rover, dubbed by his African friend Mpudi as the anti-christ, as there's nothing but trouble with this vehicle. Mpudi's cursing at the rover is funny. Needless to say, calamity results on her first day with him.

And a band of armed terrorists led by the bearded Sam Boja make their way from the republic of Burani (fictional, of course) down to Botswana. The seriousness is lightened by two of his members, who when they aren't shooting their automatics, are busy playing cards.

Some comedic moments involve repeated lines. Steyn's chosen one is "Ai yai yai!" at some predicament. However, a lot of comedy involves people out of their element, i.e. Steyn with women, Kate in the wild, and of course Xi far away from the Kalahari and his simple ways--or a real laugh, see him trying to drive the anti-christ.

I would say this is a one-of-a-kind film, but there was a sequel that followed four years later. Jamie Uys, who produced and directed the film, has a small cameo in the beginning as the reverend who asks Steyn to go pick up Ms. Thompson. The fastly-run film harkens to the old silent slapstick comedies.

So remember, Monday morning at 8:00 AM, when everyone has to look busy, think of the pit we dug ourselves in, and think how simple those bushmen have it, take a page from Steyn and say "Ai yai yai!" because the gods, i.e. us people, must be crazy.

The Gods Must Be Crazy DVD

The Gods Must Be Crazy is a delightfully funny movie. It is about an African bushman who discovers an empty Coca Cola bottle that has been thrown from an airplane and the Bushman believes that anything that comes from the sky must be from the Gods. He has no idea what it is or what its purpose is. He eventually starts calling it "the evil thing" when his family wants to use it for themselves and squabbles develop. There are several side stories, as well. This makes you wonder how much "civilization "has improved our lives.

All in all a funny movie. Recommended for the entire Family.

Gunner March, 2008


P.S. Must have been sponsored by Pepsi

Not only is this movie hilarious, it is an excellent illustration of why it is SO IMPORTANT to always be ready and willing to delay, or even suspend judgement, especially when viewing something that seems strange or unusual. That it is so easy to misinterpret what we see, and act from our assessments in ways that stifle, injure, even crush, what is (or might be) beautiful, innocent, joyful. The story centers on a Kalahari bushman who is on a journey to the edge of the earth where he hopes to return an item that he believes belongs to the Gods. The sweetness, gentleness, and innocence of this bushman acts as a litmus test of the current state of 'civilized' humankind -- a test that is failed by all but those who possess the kind of heart and spirit that tends to not fit well into society.

We see in this simple man the simple pleasure that we all seek. A reminder of what we were taught to forget. A reminder of how little real life exists in modern life, and how much is missing from the structres that exist in that life.

For those willing to look, the reward surpasses all the fame and riches of the world.

I was crushed when I saw that this movie is out of print -- BRING IT BACK, the world needs it!!!

The Gods Must Be Crazy is one of the funniest movies of all time. It is so utterly unlike other movies: for one thing, it takes humor to the African bush, but this isn't slap-stick fare. It's a story of perseverance and dedication on a journey to the end of the world -- along with all the strange and funny things that happen in everyday life. In Africa.

This is definitely a must-see for everyone, any age, any time.

Hilariously funny and poignant - I saw this film years ago in Greece with sub-titles and laughed until I cried. A film with three story lines beautifully interwoven to create a unique view of the excentricities of life in Africa. A Kalahari Bushmans journey to the end of the world, a naive teachers introduction to bush life and love and "gorilla" warfare all meet leaving one loving Africa for ALL she has to offer. Every time I have watched this film I have discovered more hidden layers. I'd love more. My children need this - PLEASE RE RELEASE IT!

I saw this movie about 10 years ago on HBO. We taped it butwatched it so much the tape broke. Now I want to buy it for my videocollection but to my dismay, no one has it. Even the internet says it's out of print. For the life of me I don't see why some enterprising person in the movie business has not re-released this film. They would make my day and a lot of money. Most of the films released today have little to no social value and are certainly not films you want your kids or grandkids to see. PLEASE BRING THIS MOVIE BACK!!!

This was the funniest movie I've ever seen. I rented it years ago and still tell people to get their hands on it if they can - the scenes with the demon-possesed land river while the girl-shy scientist is on his way to pick up the new teacher are the most original slapstick I've ever seen! I laughed until tears ran down my face! A wonderful film!

Please could you urgently contact the owner studio to reprint this video. Truly amazing.

This is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. I am searching for a copy of it and have been unable to locate one, as it is no longer in print. If anyone has one that is in good condition that they would like to sell at a reasonable price, please contact me. Thank you.

We were devastated to find that this movie is no longer being distrubuted! Can anything be done to bring it back? It is a classic of all that is funny, much of what is good, and most of what is true about human fraility. It is timeless. We saw it with our children and now it is time to share it with the grand-children. Its message transends generations, and a good belly laugh is medicine for our increasingly stressful lives. We can all learn something from the little bushman. PLEASE BRING BACK THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY MOVIE.