Raising Arizona
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
or
Get up to a $1.70 Amazon gift card

Raising Arizona (1987)

Nicolas Cage (Actor), Holly Hunter (Actor), Ethan Coen (Director), Joel Coen (Director) | Rated: PG-13 | Format: DVD
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (194 customer reviews) |

Available from these sellers.


Watch Instantly with Rent Buy
Raising Arizona   $2.99 $9.99

Other Formats & Versions

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Blu-ray 1-Disc Version $17.93   -- --
DVD 1-Disc Version $12.99   -- --
  1-Disc Version --   -- --

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

› Explore similar items

Product Details

  • Actors: Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson, John Goodman, William Forsythe
  • Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
  • Writers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
  • Producers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Deborah Reinisch, James Jacks
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
  • Studio: 20th Century Fox
  • DVD Release Date: August 3, 1999
  • Run Time: 94 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (194 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 6305499128
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,122 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

  • Learn more about "Raising Arizona" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Blood Simple made it clear that the cinematically precocious Coen brothers (writer-director Joel and writer-producer Ethan) were gifted filmmakers to watch out for. But it was the outrageously farcical Raising Arizona that announced the Coens' darkly comedic audacity to the world. It wasn't widely seen when released in 1987, but its modest audience was vocally supportive, and this hyperactive comedy has since developed a large and loyal following. It's the story of "Ed" (for Edwina, played by Holly Hunter), a policewoman who falls in love with "Hi" (for H.I. McDonnough, played by Nicolas Cage) while she's taking his mug shots. She's infertile and he's a habitual robber of convenience stores, and their folksy marital bliss depends on settling down with a rug rat. Unable to conceive, they kidnap one of the newsworthy quintuplets born to an unpainted-furniture huckster named Nathan Arizona (Trey Wilson), who quickly hires a Harley-riding mercenary (Randall "Tex" Cobb) to track the baby's whereabouts. What follows is a full-throttle comedy that defies description, fueled by the Coens' lyrical redneck dialogue, the manic camerawork of future director Barry Sonnenfeld, and some of the most inventively comedic chase scenes ever filmed. Some will dismiss the comedy for being recklessly over-the-top; others will love it for its clever mix of slapstick action, surreal fantasy, and homespun family values. One thing's for sure--this is a Coen movie from start to finish, and that makes it undeniably unique. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

Vowing to go straight, a convenience store banditt (Nicolas Cage) proposes marriage to the police departments photographer (Holly Hunter). All is wedded bliss until they discover she's unable to get pregnant and are turned down by every adoption agency in town. It does not take long before they realize the only solution is to kidnap one of the town's celebrated quintuplets and hit the road!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 50 people found the following review helpful
More Than Meets the Eye November 30, 1998
Format:VHS Tape
This movie is much more than an outrageous and unique comedy. One reason for its cult following has been consistently missed by the critics: repeated viewings reveal surprising layers of meaning and an intricate web of symbolism.

At the heart of this film is the timeless debate known as "nature vs. nurture": are we more a product of our genes, or of our environment? How much of an effect does our upbringing have on our likelihood to turn out as either a law-abiding member of society (a society which in this movie is of dubious merit, as represented by Hi's job and his unctuous boss) or as a criminal deviant from its norms?

The symbolism in this film is rich and evocative--while always contributing to the comedy. Note how often the adult characters cry and carry on like infants. Note the way the escaped convicts are "born" into the outside world. Note the marriage of a convict and a police officer, and the difference in their families visible in the brief wedding shot. Note the juxtaposition of milk poured over cereal with the infant's feeding bottle, as Evelle observes, "Ya don't breast feed him, he'll hate you for it later. That's why we wound up in prison." And note the frequent use of phrases such as "that's natural," as opposed to "you're not being true to your nature" or "mother didn't love me." As Hi observes, "maybe it's my upbringing, maybe it's just that my genes got screwed up, I don't know."

The quasi-biblical, poetical and aphorism-laden language the characters use in the-state-adjacent-to-Utah is both touching and funny. Every word of the film is a finely polished gem. Ed's little plan is "the solution to all our problems, and the answer to all our prayers." Her infertile womb is a "rocky place where my seed can find no purchase." And as Hi later writes in a touching letter to his dearest Edwina, "I feel the thunder gathering even now...I cannot tarry...better I should go, send you money, and let you curse my name." On the other hand, the crotchety Arizona characters also have a remarkable literalness of expression. A packet of balloons does not blow up into funny shapes, not "unless round is funny." And as the old codger in the bank robbery points out, "If I freeze, I can't rightly drop, and if I drop, I'm gonna be in motion!"

Even the music in this film is perfectly executed, from the hilarious yodeling and whistling of the main theme to the way the chilling accompaniment of a nightmare is later revealed to be a haunting children's nursery song, and then mutates into an ethereal melody in the film's final scenes. The characters, despite their flaws, are all surprisingly sympathetic. And the film is tightly constructed, without a single unnecessary scene or moment. It ends with a bang, not a whimper, its final words resonating with significance and yet leaving one wanting more, like a swift exit after a great punch line.

At the deepest core of this film lies a mystery wrapped in an enigma: who is the once-orphaned "motorcycle demon from hell," and what is his relation to Herbert I. McDonnough? The answer to this puzzle relates intimately to the "nature vs. nurture" theme. While I think I know the answer, I'll leave it for you to figure out, based on the clues ("show the tattoo!") liberally scattered throughout the film. "Okay then!"

Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
38 of 44 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
I've seen Raising Arizona far more times than I can count. It is, in my humble opinion, next to Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove the most original, inventive comedy ever made.

The dialogue is absolutely razor-sharp -- plenty of examples are certainly readily available in the reviews preceding this one -- and the camera work is wonderful, as well. I'd rank Raising Arizona a VERY close second to Miller's Crossing in a list of the Coen's best films. It is admittedly not as visually stylish as Miller's Crossing (then again, very few films ever made are), and the storyline is not as cohesive as Miller's Crossing, Fargo, or Barton Fink. However, the film is so full of verbal gems that it definitely ranks as the Coen's best dialogue writing effort. Cage and Hunter are wonderful, and John Goodman and William Forsythe are absolutely perfect as the Snopes brothers.

Admittedly, the DVD is nothing very special. All you really get is the more durable medium and a widescreen format. Some kind of "The Making of..." mini-documentary, or better yet, a commentary option with two or three of the actors, the director of photography, or ideally the Coens themselves would have been a priceless addition to the DVD.

Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first saw this movie on a date, and my date didn't like it...and not coincidentally, there was no second date! Now I'm married, and fortunately for him, my husband loves the movie (or at least he claims he does). Our entire family loves this movie, which is infinitely quotable--we can come up with quotes from it that suit a wide variety of situations. As my mom says (who typically thinks it's a waste of time to see a movie more than once), it is the kind of movie that just gets funnier with repeat viewings. It is absolutely hilarious, though as other reviewers have pointed out, you either love it or hate it...."Maybe it was Utah." Check it out, and who knows? Before long, you'll be quoting away!
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Raising Arizona
This movie was a part of my adult son's teen years. He remembers every word and loved it as one of his birthday presents this year!!! FUNNY!!!! Read more
Published 16 hours ago by Donna L. Wall
Very amusing but not entirely pleasant
The plot is exceptionally clever, lively, and witty, with lots of surprise twists. But unpleasantly there is the very likable Holly Hunter, who ties herself to a complete loser... Read more
Published 21 days ago by rwx
This DVD is NOT Widescreen 1.85:1 as claimed (it's 4:3 letterboxed)
This is my favorite movie of all time, but as so often is the case, the reviews here reflect the film, not the actual product.

DO NOT BUY THIS DVD. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jonas Bendsen
Never Leave a Man Behind
Nicholas Cage at his best.

More babies than they can handle, the biker of the apocalypse, jammies with Yodas, jail breaks, wife swapping, Huggies, hold ups, old timers,... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Martin L. Weinheimer
"Gimme that baby...
You know the rest of the line. "Raising Arizona" is ranked #31 on the AFI's "100 years, 100 laughs" list. Regardless of its position, it's a classic. Read more
Published 7 months ago by William Sommerwerck
A COMEDY BEYOND BELIEF
The lead-in line of "A Comedy Beyond Belief" is spot-on, and the laughs never stop. The movie has a great cast and wonderful extras, and it was Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter at... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Joseph H. Race
Raising Arizona DVD
DVD arrived in perfect condition on time. I really appreciate the prompt service in mailing this DVD to me. Thank you.
Published 8 months ago by Margie
Hope the blu ray edition is in the proper aspect.
Classic Coen Brothers and this was their second, and first comedic, film. My issue on the DVD I own is the forced letterbox when the film was shot in Panavision with a 1:85 aspect... Read more
Published 9 months ago by James R. PartainJr
DVD Extras!
Sorry to suck you all in with that title, but who wouldn't love some extras on a 25th anniversary disc? Read more
Published 10 months ago by David Almeleh
Whatever Happened To Nicolas Cage?...
RAISING ARIZONA is that "lightning in a bottle" film that comes along once in a lifetime (somehow, the Coen's have managed to recapture this magic several more times!). Read more
Published 11 months ago by Bindy Sue Frønkünschtein
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(54)
(38)
(22)
(14)
(11)
(8)
(7)
(5)
(5)
(3)
Agree with these tags?
See all 61 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
Better Version Raising Arizona DVD 2 Dec 18, 2006
What about a Raising Arizona: Special Addition 0 Jun 5, 2006
› See all 2 discussions...  
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
   


Look for Similar Items by Category

Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Movies & TV by subject:









i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...