Customer Reviews

When Harry Met Sally (Decades Collection with CD)

5 star:		(209)
4 star:		(40)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Something has always bothered me about romantic comedies, i.e. you rarely actually get to see the couple fall in love, you know, actually witness the growth of the bond between them. They just fall in love, but you don't really get to be there. Except when you're watching 'When Harry Met Sally'. Rob Riener made a better film from a Nora Ephron script than she ever could. No offence to her, she's just a better writer than she is director. And Meg Ryan is so much better with Billy Crystal than Tom Hanks, although I have nothing but respect for Mr.Hanks. The thing is that its not just a genuinely and consistently funny movie, it's also terribly romantic. It spans about twleve years in the lives of both Harry and Sally, from their first meeting at college. They grow and change, they like and dislike each other, they become romantically involved and then they don't. The whole thing is very engrossing and witty but never seems far fetched or fantastical. I rate this movie as a contender for cinema's best romantic comedy. Enjoy the dialogue, the charm, the music, the drama and melodrama and give praise to Rob Riener and his magnificant team who made a wonderful film. The stars have not reunited since and it is possibly for the best as it would be an extremely difficult task to repeat this kind of quality. Chemistry and genuine emtion are hard to come by in this genre, enjoy it while you can. Its available on video and DVD and is rarely edited for T.V.

This review refers to the Special Edition DVD(MGM).......
A great romantic comedy that can be enjoyed by both men and women is a rare treat. This film is one of those rareties. Director Rob Reiner has us laughing at each other as well as ourselves in this story that lovingly highlights the inner workings of both sexes.

Harry and Sally(Billy Crystal/Meg Ryan) meet for the first time right after college graduation as they spend their first 18 hours together car pooling from Chicago to New York.They instantly fall for each other, BUT... neither one realizes that. Right away we see the difference of how men and women think, and how funny those differences can be. Upon reaching New York they part ways because theoretically "Men and women can't be just friends".

Over the years, they run into each other several times(destiny?),still not understanding the other's ways, but eventually become best friends, even trying to fix each other up, as they see each other through various relationships that didn't work out.Eventually they do begin to understand the other and feel themselves falling, but why ruin a good friendship with love and sex... right? How long will it take for these two to realize..."It Had To Be You"?

Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan have a magnificent on screen chemistry, and they'll have you laughing and rooting for them.
Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher are expert at playing the well meaning friends. There are some wonderful scenes of older couples being interviewed that will have you rolling. Rob Reiner does a brillant job of bringing us this everyday world of the gender gap.

You'll also love the soundtrack for this film. Lots of old standards, performed by Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and some really marvelous stuff by a very young Harry Connick Jr. Nora Ephron wrote the screenplay and was nominated for an Oscar for her outstanding work.

The DVD is great. It is in widescreen, Dolby stereo surround(2.0),the picture is beautiful with all the wonderful scenes of the changing seasons in New York, and the sound, including the music and the dialouge are pleasing. Some really nice Features are included, I very much enjoyed the "Making OF" Documentary with lots of commentary. You'll also find lots of deleted scenes that are fun to watch, you can have Reiner's commentary during the film, and There's a terrific Harry Connick Jr video. There are trailers, and French and Spanish subtitles.
"Viva La Differance!"......Laurie

When Harry Met Sally is the best romantic comedy ever. Meg Ryan is gorgeous and Billy Crystal is charming. It's about Harry, just a normal guy, who dates beautiful women, while developing a friendship with Sally. The chemistry between the two is what makes this movie. From a guy's viewpoint, you wonder if Harry can have his cake and eat it too- to sleep with many women while the one you truly love waits idly by. (Sally is much less promiscuous, and dates for different reasons) Unfortunately though, this rarely works in real life, but maybe it will in the movies... The music sounds great and the picture is up to the quality you'd expect from a DVD. The movie itself is in its original form with the deleted scenes included in a separate category with the extras. They are interesting, but Rob made the right choice to exclude them because the movie Is better without them. Other extras include trailers, interviews and a music video. All of which make it complete. This is a great movie to watch alone or with loved ones. It also has excellent replay value and therefore I recommend owning it. You won't be disappointed.

This is one of the few movies I can watch over and over and never tire of seeing it. It is so true to life about relaionships betwen men and women. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are the perfect actors to play Harry Burns and Sally Albright, the completely opposite and mismatched couple who are actually the perfect match for each other. Billy Crystal's unique humor shines through, and Meg Ryan is the only actress who could play Sally. Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher are great as Harry and Sally's best friends. The dialauge between Harry and Sally is wonderfull throughout the fillm. And the diner scene is one of the funniest I've ever seen in a movie. It all but steals the entire picture. This is ,hands-down, a modern romantic comedy classic that everyone should see.

As a rule I generally do not review films...if only because after attempting this before I find I'm totally inadequate! I know nothing of camera angles, dialogue or for that matter what to even look for in any given movie! I suspect I would have flunked out of Film 101! Obviously music reviews are my "forte" but since this film ranks as one of my absolute favorites than it's worthy of another attempt. Wish me luck!

Rob Reiner's "When Harry Met Sally" is for me,after Woody Allen's "Hanna and Her Sisters" and Bogart's "Casablanca" one of the films that I simply need to watch over and over.These three films have, for me,such an absolute "presence" about them that is difficult to explain. As for this film it is simply is the "standard" for which other romantic comedies should be judged! Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal have such real, honest chemistry between them (which is obviously imperative in a film such as this) that when on screen together they literally jump out at you. Plus, the supporting characters, especially Carrie Fisher, playing Sally's best friend,is a joy to watch...but than again, they all are! Including Bruno Kirby,as Harry's best friend. In fact the dialogue between Billy Crystal and Bruno Kirby at the Giant's football game ranks as one of the strongest scene's in the film....if not one of the most honest!

Also, kudo's should go to the cinematography which, showing New York, in all four seasons,especially fall, is visually stunning. An absolutely beautiful film to watch! The dialogue is extremely funny, not too clever(thank-you), and above all,at times, insightful in what it has to say about relationships and how we go about this sometimes horrible ritual called dating.I know of no other movie that can make me laugh so hard at one moment and shake my head with wonder as one of the characters state something so honest,real and emotionally true that I almost cry. I may be overstating my case here but if so, than oh so slightly!

In the end, a film that I care for deeply because I care so much for the characters and one that I never tire of watching. Adding to the mix a wonderful soundtrack by Harry Connick and you have the perfect valentine.One of those few films where everything simply feels right.Ummm....now if only my dates would go so well!

This is nothing more than the original release of the DVD of the classic film repackaged to include a compilation of music from the decade in which it was released. The worst thing is that none of the music on the CD has anything to do with the movie itself. I'm not even sure that any of the songs were released around the time that the movie was in theaters. Had it been the actual soundtrack of the film included we might've had something to get mildly excited over. There's also a 'time capsule' booklet with events that happened during the 80's. There are much better ways of learning 80's history than with a 16 page leaflet.

Skip this product entirely, and instead try the 'Collector's Edition.' It is far superior with remastered 5.1 audio sound, exceptional audio commentary and a number of featurettes on the making of the film. The only thing better would be to see a remastered version on Blu-Ray (hint, hint Sony!).

This is a film that gets better with each viewing. It is a film about the long-term relationship between prissy Meg Ryan and wiseguy Billy Crystal from when they meet in college on a ride home to when they meet years later in New York. Most of the movie is set in New York and shows how they get to know each other first as (platonic) friends, then as lovers, and finally (and briefly) as marrieds. It is a great film because you really get to understand the relationship between the two. It is great fun to see each comment on the other's relationships in that it gives a lot of insight into how men and women think and view each other. The movie has some great dialog that sticks with you over repeat viewings. One of my favorite things about the movie are the short interviews you see with older couples who talk about how they met and married -- it provides a funny and touching backdrop to the movie. The sountrack is great with alot of Harry Connick,Jr singing and playing old standards. DVD format should be great for this movie, in that it will let you go to favorite scenes. A definite buy here.

Okay. I'm gettin' real peeved. Yet another MGM release under false pretenses. First of all, let me say that this is a very good movie...that's why I bought the DVD. But then, as I have before with many other MGM DVDs, I was greatly disappointed. This is another full-screen version with the black bars added to give the illusion of widescreen...Why does the studio continue to do this? My thinking is that it's a whole lot cheaper to digitally impose black bars on the screen rather than dig up the original widescreen transfer. Just take the more common full-screen edition, add black bars, and sell it to the public as widescreen...[they] won't know the difference.
They're ripping you off, people.

This is the romantic comedy by which all other romantic comedies are now judged. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan have undeniable chemistry and top notch timing. And surprisingly so do Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher who really have great moments that add fun to the film. This movie knows no one knows how to present Manhattan better than Woody Allen and heavily borrows from his traditions. Including the choice of pop romantic standards. As in Annie Hall, "It Had to be You" is the musical centerpiece for an inevitable coupling. The dialog is snappy and rhythmic with an ear for New York sensibility. And also knows how to show off New Yorks favorite trendy hangouts at their very best. Even Billy Crystal is a little nebbish. Still this film is an original and its style has been mimicked countless times by other films in hopes of capturing a little of its magic. Still none quite tops this. The cherry on the cake was the wonderful choice to interupt passing seasons of Harry and Sally's relationship with old couple telling stories of their first meeting. The way they talk over and take over each others stories is charming and authentic and forces smiles of recognition. When Harry Met Sally is a lighthearted and very very funny film that never gets tiresome no matter how many times it is viewed. It is a classic.

The DVD contains some 7 minutes of additional deleted footage. In this case it is pretty apparent why it was deleted. Watch at your own risk. Rob Reiner's audio commentary seems to have been delivered at gunpoint. Don't look for a lot of joyful anecdotes or insights into where he came up with all these great ideas. The commentary track is pretty slow paced and dry. The "Making of" documentary is quite a bit more fun and insightful so the extras are not a total wash. The sound and image quality are both bright and lush so the most important part of the disc, the film, is as enjoyable as it can possibly be. When Harry Met Sally has a lot of fun with men and women trying to figure each other out and makes us laugh a lot and even cry just a little in the process.

For me, this movie rates number one among romantic comedies. I have watched it dozens of times and each time I laugh and cry as if it is my first time watching it. The story is so endearing.. How a man and woman meet and dislike each other, mature and "find" each other again only to end a great friendship and finally realize they love each other and marry. I don't feel that Billy Crystal or Meg Ryan have been able to equal their performances in this movie with any other film. They have great chemistry and through the entire film, you hope that someday they will realize how they feel for one another. Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher are equally entertaining. Whenever someone asked me what my favorite Romantic Comedy is, my answer is always When Harry Met Sally.... If there were a "Hall of Fame" for movie genres, this movie would be it. If you want a good laugh (and cry) this movie is it.