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Love Actually is one of my favorite films. I didn't say it was the best film ever made--it is simply one of my favorite ones. I have to say that it is better appreciated after viewing it several times. The multiple stories, jokes, great one-liners, embarrassed looks, complex character relationships, and small moments become clearer on a second or third viewing. After the first viewing, you are left a little dizzy, but smiling and warm, as Richard Curtis (writer and director) intended. But,it would be impossible to see this film once and catch all the jokes, glances, and small bits that make it a rich concoction that truly is more than fluff. Mr. Curtis did not practice restraint in his writing or direction. He was a baker who probably tired to put too much into one cake--but it is such a lovely too much. The plot lines can be viewed as a layer cake. The sweet chocolate icing on the cake is the tale of Colin, and ordinary English bloke, who flies off to Milwaukee to find the promised land of sexy American girls who have wild sex with any male with an English accent. His success is absurb, delightful, and a dream come true that even my feminist soul could not deny him. The cake has several layers. In one the posh prime minister (played by Hugh Grant with an expertise that leaves no fingerprints)and his lower class tea lady (Martina McCutheon) with an amazing fluency in profanity; a widowed step-father supporting an 11 year boy through the adventures and pains of first love; and love-betray writer who finds fall in love with his Portuguese maid with whom he has no shared spoken language. These sweet layers are balanced by the more bitter tales. One involves permanent damage of bored husband's betrayal played with devastating subtlety by Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson. Another is just a heartbreaking story about things not meant between two fragile people where the relationship appears to hold so much promise A couple of other plot lines provide the nuts and the fruit in the cake and everyone is connected through friendship, work, family, or the geography of a London neighborhood. Of course it is all too much, too sweet at times, too complicated, and too confusing. But, so is life and love and how much poorer we would all be without being reminded of that. So, lay your skepticism (although not your sense of humor)aside for a while and watch the stories go by. Then, later, pull out your DVD to watch again as Hugh Grant surrender his stiff upper lip to sing Good King Wenceslas to three little girls on Christmas Eve and dance down the steps at number 10 to Jump! Or see hear once more Emma Thompson's simple, resigned "Home" near the end to remind you how fragile all that silly happiness really is and that love sometimes takes the form of seeing things through. Love Actually is all the good parts in one Christmas candy box. Perhaps it is a bit overwhelming when first opened. But, you can it out again and the stories will always make you laugh, hurt, and smile. It is a funny, dear, and lovely film. I find it very silly to like it so very, very much. But, I am very glad I do.Read full review
Had seen this movie months prior to purchasing it. Remembered seeing it and how much I enjoyed it and decided to buy it. Was not disappointed. Came packaged well. Disc was not loose in case as I have found with several other discs. No damage to disc. Plays just fine.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
My daughter wanted this DVD for Christmas. She is a sophomore at the University of Washington. She loves Great Britian and says that this movie has all of the great British actors in it. She had the VHS version, but doesn't have a player at school to watch it on - only access to a DVD player so I checked out eBay and found this one in full frame. The gift definitely wasn't a surprise, but she loves it! Target had the same DVD for a comparable price (slightly less) but with the snow storms we are having here in Spokane, I didn't have to step out of my house to obtain it by buying on eBay. She actually did buy the DVD for herself at Target, but ended up gifting it to a friend and keeping the one I bought her on eBay.
A legendary film that looks at the reality of human frailties but shows that through love and adaptation, people can transcend their limitations and find real happiness and fulfillment. That intensely heavy and powerful message is here presented with humor, gentility and in an engaging way. It can bring tears and laughter all at once. How great is that!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
this is a sweet movie about the different types of love.... infatuation, loving someone so much that your even happy on the happiest day of their life when they marry someone else, love for a co-worker, child love, first loves, love that can only be bought, affairs, love at first sight, love that happens through language barriers while never being able to communicate a word, love for a country, love for a favorite song, even love for your son and what you will tolerate for his happiness, love for your mentally challenged relative who wont stop calling cuz he ONLY trusts you, homosexual love.... this movie draws a wonderful picture of the things people do for love, including going to another country and taking advantage of your english accent to pick up american girls, pick up a new interest to get noticed, picking up just enough of another language to make a fool of yourself but your still romantic, picking up the phone during your first date in forever with the person you wanted for 2yrs to help comfort your brother .... situations such as not knowing it was love until its gone and then what you will do to get it back .... lost loves ..... it has several different story lines going on all at once, so you wanna follow along carefully, or watch the movie again and it will be better the next time. this is a sweet movie, and its not a sappy movie.... this would be excellent to sit down with a guy to watch because it is a sweet movie .... its not a tear jerker either, just a nice romance movie. the best part about this movie is it doent use unrealalistic and overly cheasy ideas or storylines ..... its great!!! and thats what makes it also easy for a guy to watch.!!!Read full review
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