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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Brand: CAGE,NICOLAS EAN: 9786305499121 Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC ISBN: 6305499128 Label: 20th Century Fox Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Number Of Items: 1 Picture Format: Letterbox Publisher: 20th Century Fox Region Code: 1 Release Date: August 03, 1999 Running Time: 94 minutes Sales Rank: 2155 Studio: 20th Century Fox Theatrical Release Date: March 13, 1987
Product Description: An ex-con and his wife set out to kidnap a baby when they find they can't have or adopt one of their own. Genre: Feature Film-Comedy Rating: PG13 Release Date: 1-FEB-2005 Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com essential video: Blood Simple made it clear that the cinematically precocious Coen brothers (writer-director Joel and writer-producer Ethan) were gifted filmmakers to watch out for. But it was the outrageously farcical Raising Arizona that announced the Coens' darkly comedic audacity to the world. It wasn't widely seen when released in 1987, but its modest audience was vocally supportive, and this hyperactive comedy has since developed a large and loyal following. It's the story of "Ed" (for Edwina, played by Holly Hunter), a policewoman who falls in love with "Hi" (for H.I. McDonnough, played by Nicolas Cage) while she's taking his mug shots. She's infertile and he's a habitual robber of convenience stores, and their folksy marital bliss depends on settling down with a rug rat. Unable to conceive, they kidnap one of the newsworthy quintuplets born to an unpainted-furniture huckster named Nathan Arizona (Trey Wilson), who quickly hires a Harley-riding mercenary (Randall "Tex" Cobb) to track the baby's whereabouts. What follows is a full-throttle comedy that defies description, fueled by the Coens' lyrical redneck dialogue, the manic camerawork of future director Barry Sonnenfeld, and some of the most inventively comedic chase scenes ever filmed. Some will dismiss the comedy for being recklessly over-the-top; others will love it for its clever mix of slapstick action, surreal fantasy, and homespun family values. One thing's for sure--this is a Coen movie from start to finish, and that makes it undeniably unique. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Best movie ever
I am a fan of all the Coen brothers' movies, but Raising Arizona is my favorite of them all. It's a gem, and I bought it for all my senior advisees (I'm a high school teacher) as their graduation present. "Okay, then."
Rating: - comedy at its craziest
this Coen brothers classic is in my opinion their best movie. The film takes a serious subject-the kidnapping of an infant-and makes it funny with bizarre characters that are often unlikable and writing that is pure Capra.
Rating: - wild and cartoonish fun, but why so few extras on DVD?
If you are in the mood for loud, wild, outlandish and downright cartoonish fun, then this is the film for you. Quite a departure from an earlier offering, Blood Simple. Raising Arizona shows the other side of the Coen brothers: their penchant for wacky comedy, satirical pokes at American society, their expert casting skills, and some truly hilarious lines.
Don't expect profundity; that is not the purpose of the film. If you want something deeper, go for No Country for Old Men. Otherwise, ... Read More
Rating: - A non-stop romp!
For the past 5 years I have seen this movie in bargain bins, picked it up, looked at the price (usually 5 or 6 bucks) and tossed it down, thinking I'm sure there is something more worth my while in the bin. Well, As I moved on chronologically to the second movie in the wonderfully priced Coen Brothers Gift Set (Fargo / Miller's Crossing / Barton Fink / Raising Arizona / Blood Simple) I was surprised to see that this was actually a movie of my childhood. In fact, I never realized that this fun movie was actually ... Read More
Rating: - Funny Movie!
Raising Arizona was my first introduction to Nicholas Cage and I've been a fan of his ever since. This movie is hilarious to me and one I can watch over again. And I'm not a huge fan of re-watching movies. This is a fairly family-friendly movie that even young teens should enjoy.