Customer Reviews

Popeye

5 star:		(125)
4 star:		(46)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

I will go mad if I hear one more critic say that Popeye is a mess, or one more person laugh and look at me strange when I bring up this movie. This movie is a work of art. The songs are works of art. Shelley Duvall's Olive Oil is a work of art. The lines Robin Williams mumbles so you have to watch the movie ten times to hear them are a work of art. The set is, the plot is. Did I say the music is? You're going to tell me that Shelley Duval dancing about oddly on the deck singing he needs me, he needs me, isn't just absolutely perfect!? And that whole Fooey, fooey scene! I'm gonna do one of those twist up my arm punches to the next person that says this movie was a travesty for Williams or show boating by Altman or anything else! AUGHHHHH! thanks for listening.

I really do not know how this film flopped in the Box Office:

Just like every reviewer (not weird critics) who wrote here, I believe this is an extraordinary movie.

One of the critics wrote that it is boring? I really really really cannot see if the guy is talking about this movie or another. If you wanna see for yourself just skim the other reviews:

This is a movie that has been watched tens and hundreds of times by those who own it. Boring? I do not know of any other movie that can withstand repeated viewing like this one, nor that has been so reported by its most positive reviewers.

Our whole family has watched this film for hundreds of times, other reviewers also mention similar numbers.

Why?

1- The script is unbelievable: Popeye (Williams) is blabbering all the time (as well as other chartacters): Somebody is always saying something, and each time we watch the movie again, we find new jokes, and in good style.

We know those who produced the film did not rip-us off. Many movies that made much better at the box office cannot stand to be viewed twice.

2- The characters are a real Popeye movie come to life: Every one is the real cartoon come to life, the way you have them stored in your imagination. This is a delight not available in any similar movie.

3- Any person seeking to see a Popeye movie is not interested in the issues discussed by the critics... come on guys, are they reviewing Gone With The Wind?

This is a perfect Popeye movie; and if that's what you want you will see it at least 10 times... guaranteed.

Too bad about the reviews; I even saw an interview with Robin Williams and let me tell you, when this film was mentioned he was really "embarrassed". We love his style and comedy in his other movies but we do not agree with him timid attitude: We believe this is one of his best films.

For Robin Williams first movie, he chose the Iconic character of Popeye The Sailor to portray. I rememer the hooflaw surrounding this flick when I was a kid (I was like 10 when this came out) and the success of Mork & Mindy had put Williams in the spotlight. The only problem was that Popeye is not as Iconic a character as the people who made this movie thought. He isn't Superman. He isn't Batman. He isn't Mickey Mouse. Popeye the cartoon character, though classic and kid-pleasing, just wasn't that popular with the chidren and the fact that they made it into a musical probably didn't help much either. Though the film was mildly-successful, it never hit as hard as people expected. The good thing, however, is that Robert Altman (M*A*S*H, Short Cuts) directed, so Popeye as a whole is visually masterful. The actors were perfect for their parts. Shelley Duvall's Olive Oyl is without a doubt one of the best acting casts in history! Bluto comes to life as does Wimpy and Popeye's wayward Pappy (Ray Walston). All in all the shining star is, of course, Williams. Here he proved that he wasn't just a stand-up comedian turned actor, here he proves that he wasn't just a catch-phrase spewing flash-in-the-pan sensation (Na-Nu Na-Nu!). He shows a depth of character and a sense of timing that actually brings the one-eyed Sailor Man to life. Filled with grumbling, clever, obiviously improvised quips, Williams becomes Popeye to an alarming degree.

The story line is simple, Popeye rows into the harbor of Sweethaven looking for his long lost Pappy and is immediately hailed as a stranger and an outcast by the over-the-top weirdos that inhabit the sleepy little seaside villiage. Taxes in Sweethaven have been imposed on everything by the unseen Commodore, using Captain Bluto as his enforcer. The Oyl family is spared these crushing taxes because daughter Olive is getting engaged to the overbearing tyrant Bluto. But Olive despairs and plans to run away on the night of their engagement party. Popeye, who as been renting a room from the Oyls, runs into the departing Olive on the docks. After coming to some kind of understanding that life isn't always what we expected, Olive's wicker carryall is replaced with one contining a clairvoyant baby. As the two return to the scene of the destroyed engagement party, Bluto sees Olive and Popeye and Sweatpea and goes beserk! Cartoon-style fighting ensues.

Overall, the movie will entertain you and your kids. It will probably never be one of your all time favorites, at least I hope not, but it is clever and witty and just fun to watch. Nonsensical in many ways, Popeye let's us forget about being serious for a while and enjoy the simple pleasures of fantasy movie-making.

Dig it!

Quite possibly the most misunderstood movie of the 20th century! Even it's lead actor Robin Williams and director Robert Altman don't speak fondly of this picture. Well, shame on them all! They should be busk right in the mush! This movie hands down, is the very best adaptation of a cartoon to film that has EVER been made. No other movie has EVER been so perfectly cast!! The costume designs by Scott Bushnell are superb! And I could go on and on about the set!! I really felt as if I was transported directly into Sweethaven. I have never seen a film so brilliantly executed. Has an incredible soundtrack and a beautifully written script. It's rather interesting that Altman doesn't like the flick, simply because of the obvious care taken to deliver a product so true and respectful to the original cartoon series. To this day I think there should be a sequel made with the Sea-Hag and the Goons. But nothing seems to account for good taste. Its a shame to think that the film transfer to DVD for this movie will probably be poor considering nobody will invest there time or money into something they believe is a waste. I have loved this movie since I was ten, and I love it just as much 21 years later. Man, has it been that long? I've seen this movie well over thirteen times, and it deserves praise. I am proud to have it in my collection. No movie like it has come since. And I doubt one ever will!

This film is fun. When I was younger, I used to catch this one summer on HBO when they were playing it continuously. But, somehow although I fought hard not to like it and to say that it was rubbish, I could not.

It was and is a fun film. I love the songs. In fact, not since 'Mary Poppins' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' have little ditties from a movie stayed in my mind by using one of the songs.

Just the other day, I was watching 'Punch-Drunk Love' (another film recommended), and to my surprise it was not just I who had remembered the little songs when I was younger. P. T. Anderson has given tribute to this fun movie in his film as well. Robert Altman has made better pictures ('The Player' and 'MASH') but who is comparing? He made this for fun (or perhaps some extra cash), but who cares? It is a fun film. Enjoy.

It hurts to read bad reviews of such a great movie, but what hurts the most is when you see members of the production show shame at the mention of it. It really makes you lose a little more faith in mankind. I'm amazed to hear that Altman is ashamed of this. I looked up his other movies here on Amazon and found that I had never seen, nor had any desire to see any of his other work. It seems to me that Popeye was his one good piece of work, though as I said, I haven't seen the others. As for Robin, this is probably his best piece of work, and anyway, if he's going to be ashamed of some of his films, I can think of others that he SHOULD be ashamed of. This one, along with the two Aladdin movies, he should hail as his greatest work! Anyway, enough ranting, let me get on with the praise! In a movie based on a cartoon, old TV show, comic, or any other previously established piece of work, casting is all important. That's where this movie delivers the strongest! This is PERFECT casting! Nothing more needs to be said about that. And wow, how about Popeye's arms? How'd they do that? Perfect! All the costumes and sets were beautifully done and so true to the cartoons! The lines were endless and wonderful! The songs may have been strange, but thad does not mean they were bad! They were GREAT! They were extremely weird, but GREAT! They're part of what makes the movie so good! Everything about it was absolutely perfect. I heard someone, I think it was Altman, say that one of the big "flaws" was the ending. That they ran out of money and didn't get to put on the huge, spectacular finale that was planned on, so they ended up just painting Bluto yellow and having him swim off scared. Well, all I can say is, it may have been spectacular if they had done more with the ending, but it certainly didn't hurt the movie. It was magnificent! Definitely one of my most beloved videos, and I have hundreds! I hope it is released on DVD soon, though I'm sure it will have next to zero extras if it ever is. I only hope they realize what a cult following this film has! Oh, and before I go, I want to call attention to one actor, Bill Irwin who plays Ham Gravy, the Old Boyfriend, who was wonderful as always. He's this vaudevillian style comedian/clown that always shows up in these bit parts in various movies and practically steals the show! He was great in this movie too as the nervous, goofy Ham.

We think this is a great movie;

- Good clean fun.
- Excellent casting and make-up bring the comic strip Characters to life.
- Funny Dialogue.
- Some lovely songs.
- The little town is amazing.
- There are so many great character parts.
- Robin Williams make a credible Popeye.
- Really funny visual comedy.

My ONLY complaint - I didn't think the Bluto character was very well done...

I grew up watching this movie so maybe I am a little biased, but I love it. I love it. I love it. I can't say it enough. I laugh every time I see it. I really feel that no one could play Popeye better then one of the greatest comedians of all time, Robin Williams. He showed us with his performance just what Popeye was made of. Then there is Shelly Duval as Olive Oil. She looks like she just walked right out of the cartoon and onto our TV and movie screens. Every character is done to perfection and this is such a great movie that it does break my heart whenever I hear it critisied. I know you will love it to if you just give it a chance. And don't just watch it once. Watch it a few times and allow the greatness of it's comedy to sink in. I feel like if you don't see the great sence of humor in it then maybe you dont have one.

Finally! "Popye" on DVD in letterbox format! If only there were extras extras extras -- hours of them. Lots of lesser films get the special DVD treatment, so why not this one? Robert Altman's Popeye is simply one of the most delightful films I've ever seen. But for full enjoyment, you have to keep your eyes and ears open. There's even more taking place in the background nooks and crannies of "Popeye" than there is up front. And all of it is a clever, inventive, respectful homage to a comic strip/cartoon character that has never received his much deserved place of honor alongside Mickey, Bugs and Daffy. And the music is wonderful. It's what grabbed my attention one day when I still mistakenly trusted the critics who panned this film. I was channel surfing and I heard Olive Oyl singing "He Needs Me," and I was hooked. And then there's Popeye singing a glorious, heartbreaking lullaby to Swee'pea. And then there's Olive singing about Bluto's greatest asset ("He's Large"), accompanied by some ladies who sing impeccably, beautifully, hilariously off-key. "Everything is Food." "Sweet, Sweethaven." All the music is wonderful, and when you add it to everything else, Robert Altman's "Popeye" is a jewel. See this movie. ("The Rock: It's a hard place.")

Altman's "Popeye" is one of the most under-rated films ever. A superb cast bring to life the humanity of Segar's characters, rather than the violence of Fleischer's animations. Shelley Duvall, though, just about steals the show with her magnificent Olive Oil, although Harry Nilsson's wacky songs - particularly "Everything is Food" - and Wolf Kroeger's amazingly dilapidated Sweethaven rival the brilliant actors for inspiration. This film is just too good to be left to kids. Thank you to everyone involved.