Product Details

• Actors: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Garner, Graham Greene, Alfred Molina
• Directors: Richard Donner
• Writers: Roy Huggins, William Goldman
• Producers: Richard Donner, Alexander B. Collett, Bruce Davey, Jim Van Wyck
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: June 1, 2004
• Run Time: 127 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0790731940
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,843 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Maverick (Snap Case Packaging)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

Inspired by the 1960s TV series that starred James Garner in the title role, this lightweight Western from 1994 proved to be a surprising box-office hit. Well, maybe not such a big surprise, since it's from the star and director of the Lethal Weapon movies, and operates with a similar combination of mainstream plotting and easygoing humor. Mel Gibson stars as card-playing gunslinger Brett Maverick, who meets up with wily gambler Annabelle Bransford (Jodie Foster) and a marshal named Zane Cooper (James Garner, trading his old role to Gibson) on his way to the World Series of poker in St. Louis. Maverick's trying to raise the $5,000 needed to join the high-stakes contest, but that's easier said than done due to a lot of unscrupulous competition and a twisting plot of tricks and deceptions. It's all played for laughs and action, so the movie never wears out its welcome, despite a running time that could've used a good trimming. It's also fun to see the rapport between Gibson and Garner, as if the present and former Mavericks were a kind of surrogate son and father, bonded by their mutual skill in charming and conning their way through tight spots. Director Richard Donner also pays tribute to old Westerns by casting veterans of the genre in cameo roles (including Bert Remsen, Dub Taylor, and Denver Pyle), and Gibson's Lethal Weapon costar Danny Glover pops in for a surprise appearance. None of this really adds up to much since the movie makes no pretense about taking itself seriously, but that's precisely why audiences found it so entertaining. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

THIS FUN-FILLED WESTERN ROMP ABOUT A CHARMING CON-MAN IS BASEDON THE CLASSIC TV SERIES. FEATURES SCENE ACCESS AND PRODUCTIONNOTES.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blu ray Disc is HUGE upgrade from DVD, May 31, 2011

By 

Henry J. Grimm "H. Grimm" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maverick [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

As of this writing (May 28, 2011), Best Buy exclusively sells the Blu-ray release of the 1994 western/comedy/action movie "Maverick"--and the BD is definitely a huge improvement over the DVD video and audio. If you own the DVD of this movie (and have watched it on a large-screen, HD TV), you know that the DVD transfer was simply awful--almost unwatchable due to the heavy grain and other video defects.

The upgrade to Blu-ray is definitely worth the additional purchase price (less than thirteen dollars at Best Buy). It's like watching a totally different movie. The BD video is sharp, skin tones are perfect, and the color saturation is rich (but still looks natural). I rate the video transfer as 8/10--a solid transfer, especially for an "older" film. The audio is equally impressive--almost like watching a new release.

The film itself is, of course, quite entertaining--wonderful cast (Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Colburn, James Garner, Graham Greene, and Alfred Molina), breath taking cinematography (filming took place at a number of scenic locations in the American West including Yosemite National Park, the Columbia River in Oregon, and the Arizona desert), a crazy plot (it's basically a comedy involving a big poker game aboard a fancy river boat--but there is plently of action), cameos by a number of country western singers (who perform a fantastic rendition of "Amazing Grace" as the ending credits roll) and a PG-13 rating, so the whole family can watch it.

This upgrade to Blu-ray is highly recommended!

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maverick - This is a hilarious film!, April 22, 2003

By 

K. Wyatt "ssintrepid" (Cape Girardeau, MO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Maverick (Snap Case Packaging) (DVD)

Maverick is a hilarious, enjoyable and fun film to watch and bears well over several viewings. Of course, how could this film have missed given its cast; Mel Gibson, James Garner, Jodie Foster, James Coburn and a whole slew of other stars to include an outrageously funny cameo by Danny Glover. The more interesting thing here is that James Garner played Brett Maverick when it was a television series many moons ago and he had turned down many film scripts for this one where he didn't even play the lead. Maverick is a big hit and all involved in making this fine western/comedy deserve all of the accolades they received for it!

The premise:

Bert, oops I mean Brett Maverick (Mel Gibson) is a card playing and fast drawing hustler who is on his way to good old St. Louis for a huge poker tournament. His main problem is that he's three thousand dollars short of the entry fee so he decides to stop in another town and play another round of poker in the hopes of picking up some of the three thousand he needs. This is where he meets Annabelle Branford played by the ever beautiful Jodie Foster. Mrs. Branford's beauty is matched only by her desire to pick up the money to enter the big poker game as well. Not too long afterwards we meet Zane Cooper (James Garner) who is a lawman of some fame and he just happens to be going the same way as Maverick and Mrs. Branford. What follows is most definitely one of the most hilarious westerns ever made. I would highly recommend this film to any and all fans of the stars and this genre.

Special Features:

Production notes: This particular DVD is "all" about the film itself as there is very little in the way of special features. The production notes are of course in text and somewhat interesting. {ssintrepid}

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ALL ROUND ENTERTAINMENT, April 25, 2004

By 

Shashank Tripathi (Gadabout) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Maverick (Snap Case Packaging) (DVD)

Mel Gibson's Maverick is somewhat goofy but charming, sly, and fairly humorous.

A number of excellent cameos provide some comic relief, especially Danny Glover near the beginning of the movie. The biggest surprise for me was Jodie Foster, who, in an impressively rare comedic role, thankfully discards her repetoire of facial tics for a much more natural performance here.

The plot is kept pretty simple until near the end -- and the end has a great twist, which I won't divulge. Suffice it to say that your time will be well spent.

Recommended rental for sure, but also consider buying this excellent DVD because this comedy does well with repeat viewing.