VHS : Boogie Nights [1998]

Rating: - oh dear!
I can't understand why this is such a highly rated film!! There is nothing good about it except mindless violence, drug taking and stupid sexual innuendos. Fair enough this film is based on the porn industry so I would be a bit confused if there was no sex in it whatsoever but it's just the way it's shot and acted that seems so tacky. I apologize to people who have put this at the top of their hundred greatest films list but I really disliked it!

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Rating: - Oh What A Night!!
Ok before i start my review of this movie/DVD please note that the comments other people have made about the aspect ration being messed up are wrong! I found no problem what so ever with this disc and there was certainly no "oogie Nights" at the start!
Now onto the movie....
This film rightly deserves to be called a classic. Why? Becuase it's unique. There have been a few imitations (Wonderland is one) but non have ever come close to the sheer power and honesty of this movie. Many people see the porn industy as glamour and non stop partying. But as this movie proves there is much more to it. These people have lives and, just like you and i, they have problems. The film starts off charting the rise to fame of "Dirk Diggler" the new boy in the porn industry. And "rise" he does....but, when he falls, boy does he fall. And that is where this story really comes into it's own. The domino effect created by Dirk's downfall is one of the most gut-wrenching things you'll ever see. But it's not all doom and gloom. Boogie Nights has a sense of fun. It has a sense of what it was like to live amongst the most hedonistic of times...and that is a sheer joy to witness. All in all this movie is a must see. It's not only beautifully filmed but the acting is A+ Wahlberg is astounding as Diggler as are co-stars Heather Graham and Julieann Moore. But for me the film is completely stolen by three people:
Burt Reynolds who gives the best performace he's ever done!
Phillip Seymore Hoffman as the twitchy Scotty J
And Willam H Macy as the much dumped on Little Bill.
All in all it's s stellar cast and a phenominal movie!

As for the DVD there is one thing that irked me: Why a two disc set for such a poor set of extras?
Disc one has nothing more than a couple of commentaries. The first of which is a brilliant and insightful one by director P.T. Anderson.
The second one is rather boring as it features the cast and the director drunk and simply praising each other for the full 2 1/2 hours!
Disc two has a 10 deleted scenes, Talent profiles (of both the actors and their characters), The john C Reilly files (nothing more than three clips of his improvisations during the shooting of the movie), A music Video of a song that wasn't in the film and....that's it!! No trailers,no "Making Of", nothing.
In a way i'm sort of glad that it is a two disc set though because the film is presented in a much better bitrate and look amazing....but...i doubt it would have suffered much had the extras been moved onto the first disc.

So....if you want my advice....buy this movie...and buy it now!
Peace Out Baby!

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Rating: - One of the best films of the 90s (if not ever made)
Suprised to see more people hadnt given this film 5 stars (although evreyone is most certanly entitled to their own opinion) this movie shows you the dark side of the porn industry, this film is dark disturbing, funny, realistic and a film i truly belive diserves no less than 5 stars and for this price on amazon you realy cant go rong, truly one of the most entertaining films ever made.

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Rating: - Main theme...sex!
Okay the main plot of this film is a genrously endowed man rises and falls then rises (no jokes please) in the porn industry under the tutorship of Burt Reynolds and Julianne Moore. This is a very much 'if you like that sort of thing' movie. I've seen it several times and the beginning of Dirk Diggler's downfall still catches me by surprise. It seems to me to be a case of too much, too young. Rumor has it that Leonardo DiCaprio was offered the role. DiCaprio declined but suggested Mark Whalberg instead and it was probably a good thing he did! Whalberg fits the shoes of Dirk Diggler perfectly it is difficult after you've seen it to imagine anybody else playing him so perfectly. But do rent it first it is always wise to do that!

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Rating: - Some great moments
Never taken seriously because of its rubbish title and tiresome subject matter, this riches-to-rags story has great performances from all involved, some highly intelligent sub-plots, and keeps you riveted despite its rambling structure and two hour running time. Extra points for having both the scariest drug dealer scene and funniest music recording scene in any film ever.