Customer Reviews

War of the Roses [VHS]

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

How do you hold on to someone who want stay and how do you get reed of someone who want leave?

Oliver and Barbara (Douglas and Turner) meet at the auction. With instant chemistry between the two they are soon married. Typical American family - perfect house, 2 children, work-slave husband and bored wife. As time goes by, Barbara realizes that she no longer likes Oliver and asks for a divorce. Unfortunately for her Oliver is still crazy about her, but agrees to give her the divorce. And as we all though this would be just another civilized split, all hell breaks loose. Barbara wants to keep the house that she found and decorated, but Oliver (who paid for it) will not give it up either. And after an advice from his lawyer (DeVito) he moves back into the house. While Barbara is determined to get Oliver to leave and Oliver is trying to rekindle the romance, there civilized coexistence quickly becomes very interesting.

Believe it or not I have not given much of the movie away. Yes, you now know what the basic story is, but to watch it is a completely different. Three of the return after two successful movies and deliver performances that's unmatched by anything else in there carriers. This film is one of the darkest comedies you'll ever watch. And I believe that everyone should watch it at least once. It'll make you think twice about a lot of things in life. Absolutely brilliant. An ending that will stay with you for a long time.

And when a person making $400.00/hr wants to tell you a story for free, you should listen to it.

I have heard of this movie before but I had no idea what kind of a ride I was about to be taken on and let me tell you this flick is crazy! Here you have a man and a woman who have a good marriage and suddenly it goes kablam! They are like the ham and cheese cafeteria sandwich cut in half and placed with their backs to each other; the angry lovers on opposite sides of the bed...

Watching Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner slowly descended to a discord in their relationship, more her than him, is a never ending guillotine of a ride. The trials and tabulations in the movie are a parody on a bad marriage gone funny with opposite sides playing a Civil War witch each other, as neither one wants to move out of the "gorgeous" house they have made together.

Yes this movie is about a house and two stubborn people who play nasty tricks ala' Home Alone on each other with no mercy, often drawing some major laughs out of anyone who watches it.Also I need to give props to the climactic ending which is quite shocking and makes you think about this black comedy longer then you though possible as this story is quite intricate and has some great and funny outcomes, its not some empty comedy that gives you headache at the end or makes you angry about missing two hours of your life. This film is smart, funny, has the husband and wife ruin each others house parties, cars, jobs, friends and behave as if they are above all laws and just when you think they will patch it up some crazy event interrupts them with a mound of consequences growing like a hungry volcano. And the you watch it erupt! Enjoy.

It'd be a little redundant at this point out this film is a black comedy. That'd be like stating that Scream is a horror movie. But what exactly makes War of the Roses so funny yet so bleak? In my opinion it's the same type of entertainment one gets from listening to really nasty juicy gossip. Like when your tech-ed teacher tells you why it's bad to get your hair or fingers too close to the sanding machines.

The film is narrated by DeVito, a lawyer retelling a tale he lived through when dealing with a once happily married couple... an especially materialistic married couple! So the entire movie switches from 'past' to 'present,' focusing mostly on the story of the soon to be unhappy lovers. After their so-called civil divorce, they are both determined to keep the dream house they both contributed to, and Oliver, the once husband, is determined to keep his former wife, Barbara, who can't stand him to the point of making them both miserable! From here, the story just gets crueler and more bizarre...

So if you're the type of person who likes to listen to stories where terrible things happen to ordinary and fallible people, if you watch car races to see a crash, or you laugh during the news, chances are you'll enjoy this movie, and other black comedies for that matter. If you like stories with resolve or warmth, or if you're an animal lover, you best stay clear of this unrelenting comedy classic.

So why four stars? Well, perhaps I just recognize that there are some people who will find this movie hysterical, and some who will just plain not find it funny at all.

This the darkest of all the dark comedies I have ever seen. There are moments of lightness but they come all too seldom and the story of increasing bitterness and pettiness comes to the fore.

The Roses fell in love in college, married and seemed to have the perfect life. He was an ivy league lawyer and she was the "perfect housewife". They both have their problems. He takes her too much for granted and she is a materialistic snob. Still, they seem to be so much in love that they can overcome their personal foibles. It doesn't work out that way.

After he is rushed to the hospital with an apparent heart attack, she is too busy with her career to even pick him up when he is discharged. Later that night, she tells him that she wants a divorce. From there, the vindictiveness and sniping continue to escalate as both descend into an orgy of mutual contempt and hatred.

There are times when it is possible to feel sorry for both of the characters. More often, both seem to be too contemptible to pity. Each is more concerned with the destruction of the other and "winning" than in any possible healing. There are some differences. He genuinely loves her and she genuinely hates him. This is carried right through to the bitter, and I do mean BITTER, end.

It's hard to call this entertaining. It is frightening, though, to see how far hatred can take a person. Anyone contemplating a divorce should see this film. Anyone contemplating a particularly nasty divorce should see it daily.

Don't let this be YOU!

Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas star in this movie with a chemistry greater than either of their previous films together, namely Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile. Their shared screen time is filled with a frenzied mixture of passion, anger, lust, devotion, and resentment, a relationship that, however abstract and unrealistic it is skewed in this movie, reflects what's left of a lot of relationships once the lust leaves the marriage, or once a couple finally spends some time together (i.e. after the kids have left the nest).

It has been a long standing joke that once the kids go to college or leave the nest, many spouses find themselves wondering: "Who the hell did I marry?" Things that were never noticed now are found nagging; a sensitive husband suddenly becomes controlling; a neat homemaker suddenly becomes obsessively compulsive; a mother, now that her duties are cut, becomes anxious to get out of the house. This is exactly what this movie relates, from the Roses' passionate meeting, to their years of "struggle" as Douglas' character builds his career to support his growing family, to their subsequent wealth and success, and finally a lull is reached when they are wealthy and suceessful, yet they have nowhere seemingly left to go.

One of the things that a lot of viewers seemingly miss while watching the movie is the greater picture- the Rose's marriage was one built on attraction and lust. While that has been enough to sustain many marriages, this is not the case here. After the lust leaves the marriage the couple begins to notice every irritating thing the other half does, which is what happens in a lot of marriages. The difference here is that their personalities, both being uncompromising, ambitious, and, yes, more than a tad sadistic, cause Turner's and Douglas' characters to take things past the point where any realisic (i.e. amiable) seperation is possible.

Perhaps it is just me, but if anything I find this movie to affirm marriage, as long as it takes place out of mutual love and respect, not just lust. Sure this movie delivers plenty of shock power and may leave you with a feeling of bitterness, but overall this, as Devito's character (a lawyer and the narrator) mentions, is a "cautionary tale." Keep that in mind and you will find yourself wriggling in your seat with laughter and shock from the onscreen antics as Douglas and Turner terrorize each other onscreen.

After previously having nothing but on screen affection for each other in the classics, Romancing The Stone and The Jewel Of The Nile, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner play the married couple from hell in this darkly humorous black comedy. A compelling movie from beginning to end with its fast, furious dialogue, great performances all round and shocks along the way, especially towards the end of the film. Top marks must go to Kathleen Turner who gives her character an edge of realism. The cast also includes Danny Devito who plays the bickering Roses' divorce lawyer. Nothing short of a comic masterpiece! Highly recommended!

This is possibly one of my best movies of all time.The fact that a wonderful marriage started out with a huge family house and nice cars always meant that disaster at some point in the marriage would strike.Michael Douglas is at his very best in this film and when his wife one day turns round to him and says " Everytime i see your face i want to smash your face in" he has more than a battle on his hands to keep his estate. Danny Devito also plays a part as his wisdom is needed as a lawyer to sort out the messed up situation. This film is very gripping and the humour of the film is tremendous. A must see and buy film straight away, it will under no cicumstances dissappoint you unless you are currently filing for a divorce!

I don't usually hand out 5 stars to any film but War of the Roses deservedly wins it hands down. It's completely bizrare, morbid at the best of times (the subject matter is indeed going to turn some completly off) yet it crackles with such dark humour one feels as though they are laughing at something they should'nt be. Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito are both superb but when onscreen with Kathleen Turner, she chews up the scenery, making her totally beleivable as a woman after 20 years of marriage totally hell bent on getting her dues in the preceeding divorce. Lets face it the divorce potrayed onscreen may be way over the top and sometimes incredibly disturbing to a point but when in the company of such incredible actors it works sickenly well. Not a film for the faint of heart or those seeking a laugh a minute good time which predictably puts a smile on your dial at the end.

It`s a delight to see Michael Douglas,Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito for the third time (all 3 started before in ROMANCING THE STONE and THE JEWEL OF THE NILE) in this winning black comedy about a marriage that disintergrates at high speed.To elaborate,the plot consists of Oliver and Barbara Rose(Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner)a couple determined to make the best out of life.They marry,have kids and buy a nice home.After some time,little arguments begin to turn into BIG trouble.They both agree on a divorce.But there`s just a little problem.BOTH of them want their luxurious house!The fights are farfetched and Oliver and Barbara are very stubborn and will stop at nothing to win the house.Grabs your attention from start to finish.surprising .Danny DeVito is perfect as the lawyer who defends Oliver during the battle.As a director,DeVito is simply terrific.He did an amazing job with THE WAR OF THE ROSES.Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner deliver excellent performances as well.Good job!Simply a winner!

The War of the Roses

This DVD should be required viewing for all people intending to get married, and for all people intending to get divorced. Danny DeVito gives incredibly sound advice, (as the lawyer) in this story. If it's possible to laugh at other's misfortune, this film makes it possible.