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30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harold and Kumar Rule, March 16, 2005
I just got through watching this movie and I have to say that "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" is one of the greatest films ever made. You read that right. There have been other reviews on this site comparing "Harold and Kumar" to Cheech and Chong films, "American Pie", etc. All those people miss the point. Yes, this movie is about young people and, yes, this movie is about stoners, but, strictly speaking, those things are incidental. "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" is a classic and this movie is a classic because this movie "gets it"; it "gets it" like no other movie in the history of filmdom has ever gotten it. From the moment these two brilliant potheads see an advertisment on TV for White Castle they are on a quest, a quest for burgers. They go through a series of escapades involving racist cops, stolen marijuana, jailbreaks, junkyard freaks, Doogie Howser stealing Harold's car and so on and so on, each episode more insane than the last and everything screamingly funny. And through it all they persevere because they're on a quest. You see, "Harold and Kumar" is unique in the history of film because it understands that the point of cruising ... is cruising itself!!!! In what other country in the world can you hop onto an Interstate and then, 45 minutes later, you can buy these cheap little burgers with the little onions on them, 6 for $2.99 plus fries and a soda? Only in America!!! That's what the American Dream is all about: White Castle Burgers!!!! The point of the journey ... is the journey itself. There is so much sage wisdom in this movie: that "the universe has a tendency to balance itself out" (not unlike the Hindu principle of Karmic realignment?), that what a man wants is that feeling of satisfaction when he gets what he most desires (said by Harold while observing their two Jewish friends fulfilling their own quest at Hot Dog Heaven) or Kumar's observation that their parents came to this country because they were poor and oppressed ... and hungry. I'm not Asian, and I couldn't care less if Harold is Korean and Kumar is Indian; personally, I found Harold and Kumar to be two of the most quintessentially American characters I've ever encountered in a movie. And that's the genius of this film: this movie realizes that being an American isn't about race or ethnicity: being an American is a state of mind. I truly believe "Harold an Kumar Go to White Castle" will go down as one of the classics of cinema. And, no, I was not stoned when I wrote this.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't analyze this movie., February 16, 2005
Who writes these reviews??? This film is not meant for analysis, or introspection, or cultural relevence. Here is the "bottom line". Did you think Cheech and Chong were funny? If you said "NO", then get on with your life! You have no reason to see this film. If you said "YES", then get yourself a copy of this wraunchy, in-your-face, dube-smokin', road trippin', fart rippin', juvenile-giant of a comedy! Sure it's an all-out sell, for the White Castle franchise, but let me ask you: How many of you were ever stoned, and wanted Whities Sliders??? This movie made my 60 year old mom laugh! For those of you who are too young, or too disconnected, to know about Cheech and Chong, let me put it plain, and simple. Did you ever party like a maniac, and find yourself REALLY hungy, horny, and completely lost? If you've been there, then this film is for you, and ME. My actual rating is 4.5 stars. Yep. It was that depraved. ENJOY!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie, even better DVD menus, April 8, 2005
Although I liked the movie (enough to buy the DVD), I was not expecting the hilarity of the menu screens. In case it hasn't been mentioned much already, there was actually new content filmed for the DVD menus, specifically the Main menu and the Special Features menu. The Main DVD menu, has Harold and Kumar sitting in the car, driving. The sequence appears to repeat every minute or so, but in fact, the first 10 or so sequences are not repeats! They even end up arguing over why the DVD watcher hasn't picked any menu choices yet, and that it's not that hard to do. Very funny stuff, and an excellent addition to the movie.
The second menu, the Special Features menu, has Harold and Kumar in the car after going over the embankment. The car won't start, and Kumar keeps trying it, and trying it, for probably up to 10 minutes or so. All throughout it, he's talking and trying to get Harold to respond. They eventually try to get some sleep, in the car.
All in all, very funny stuff... Enjoy the movie, but don't forget to sit through those two menus! They are one of the most interesting and innovative ideas I've seen on a DVD in some time.
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