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Extras from The Holiday
First Look Featurettehigh bandwidth | Film Clip: "Sushi for Two"high bandwidth | Film Clip: "Oh Brother"high bandwidth |
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Beyond The Holiday on Amazon.com
On Blu-ray | CD Soundtrack | The Films of Nancy Meyers |
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The cinematic equivalent of a hot fudge sundae.,
By Miles D. Moore (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
83 of 100 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nancy Meyers' best film to date!,
By Alan Draven "Dark Fiction Author" (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Holiday (DVD)
Two women. Two failed relationships. Two houses. One great romantic comedy. The Holiday is the story of two women, Iris (Kate Winslet in a poignant performance) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz), who swap houses for two weeks thinking it will help them get over their relationship problems. Amanda will take Iris's house in a small cottage just outside of London, and Iris will stay at Amanda's house in L.A. They will both meet someone who will help them mend their heart.
Let's get one thing out of the way: Yes, this is a chick flick, but a damn fine one at that! I'm not much of a fan of the genre, nor of Nancy Meyers' films, but when I saw this in theatres with my girlfriend last December, I loved it. I thought the film would've lost some of its charm on second viewing, but it hasn't lost one bit of it. With a running time of 136 minutes, you'd think it would drag but it feels like a 90-minute film. The film has a few surprises and most of all, a great subplot around Arthur's (screen veteran Eli Wallach in a brilliant performance) character. The film goes back and forth between the two relationships, the one in the UK and the one in the US, which gives it a great rhythm. Nothing seems forced and it doesn't fall into the typical clichés of the genre. The dialogue is very well written, kudos to Meyers for that. The characters are interesting; Winslet (my favorite actress) shines in her role as Iris, the girl who falls for the wrong man. I usually avoid movies starring Cameron Diaz and/or Jack Black like the plague, but they were both really good in that one. Jude Law brought some class to his role. The supporting cast was very good (keep your eyes open for a cameo by a famous actor in the video store). Overall, The Holiday is a very enjoyable film and you don't have to love romantic comedies to enjoy it. It's closer to Something's Gotta Give than What Women Want, and it's much better this way. Check it out, you won't be sorry!
33 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The First Romantic Comedy Masterpiece of the 2000s,
By
This review is from: The Holiday (DVD)
I don't think this decade has had much success with romantic comedies, but trust me that with "The Holiday", the 2000s have never looked better. I consider this film to be one that extracts the finest performances from Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz EVER, and once you see it, you will know what I mean.
Kate Winslet has acted in many good movies ("Hideous Kinky", "Holy Smoke", "Iris") but its ironic that her most poignant and well-written role comes in "The Holiday". You probably know the story already - its about two women on two different continents who swap houses and lives after a chance meeting on the Internet - but the treatment and above all, the DIALOGUE, is what drives this romantic comedy to the heights of that most rare animal - a cinema classic. And thats what "The Holiday" is. I honestly think that a genuine, feel-good film such as this should be embraced by the Oscar group, instead of their focus on typical epic films such as "Babel" and "Gladiator". This is where the magic is. Cameron Diaz especially, has never found a better vehicle for her goofy charm (yes, this is even better - staggeringly better than "There's Something About Mary"). Jude Law, who has had his share of incredible dramatic performances in films such as "Wilde" and "Alfie", uses his effortless charm and natural screen presence to radiate such magnetism, that he is undeniably the most spot-on best romantic lead you would have seen for a while. Audiences I saw this with claimed that "The Holiday" was at least twice as better than "Pretty Woman". No comparison. The films I consider really good romantic comedies would be "Never Been Kissed", "A Life Less Ordinary" and "Theres Something About Mary". However, "The Holiday" is all that, but the amazing thing is that it has a heart of gold and does NOT rely upon slapstick humor to make the dialogue and situations work. Kate Winslets' character in fact, is one worth coming back to and studying, even from a film students' perspective. She infuses her role with so much wit and warmth, that we do not mind if this girl even ends up single in the movie - we just want her to find herself. The scene where she dumps her boyfriend after three years of emotional abuse is absolutely wondrous - the actress glows and gives off such electric spark that its impossible not to FEEL for this beautiful character. Jack Black, in a superb cinematic role as a Hollywood music industry biggie, is never meant to be taken seriously as a love interest for Kate, much as some would like to think so. Their sad tale is of two people in two different bad relationships finding a friend again - I loved how the end of this movie did not strive to hurriedly bring two people together - rather, it allows space for the characters to breathe and live their emotions, which is why its so easy to take this film seriously, and which is why you MUST watch it. Finally a film worth buying! I have waited so long for a movie of such depth, grace and respect for the art of film-making. There are so many amazing scenes here - Kate in her quaint cottage trying to commit suicide (a poignant moment filled with humor and grief all at the same time), Kate waking up in the lap of luxury in Los Angeles, the initial meeting between Cameron and Jude and their wondrous chemistry, the moment where they realize they are in love with each other, the moment where Cameron meets Jude's kids, and her ultimate realization that her selfish, unloving persona has been undone by this mans' love - and the scene where she leaves it all behind to run back to the person she loves the most. There are SO many such moments during this movie. Consider this a return to form for Hollywood in general. I would especially like to thank the makers of "The Holiday". I don't know if any of them read Amazon reviews, but as a critic of film, I find it so hard to like so many of the "serious" films out there today. Most of them are made to win Oscars, and then there are those tailormade to win Academy Awards. Either way, they're made to win something. And then you have the disposable comedies of the "Scary Movie" variety. But a film such as this makes me realize that the glory days of the 1950s and 60s of Hollywood still exist. I must also state here that I only saw this film because I saw that it starred Kate Winslet. This is one actress that has never let me down throughout her amazing career - and to find that she gave her best ever performance in this film made me all the more happier. She takes a beaten down, funnily written character and transforms her into a woman of great intelligence and feeling - this is NOT Bridget Jones' Diary! Which is why its obvious why these stars signed up for a movie such as this. On the face of it, "The Holiday" is a two-story arc that converges into one in the end - about the love lives of two very different women. But it is so much more than that - in fact, it is a meditation on love and hope in this day and age. If my praise seems extravagant, all I can say is, buy this. Do not rent it, buy it. It is the pinnacle of working excellence for all three major stars - Jude, Kate and Cameron, and it is by far the best romantic comedy of the 2000s by a long shot. Also, I find it hard to believe that anything more amazing than this would be released anytime this year. Highly Recommended. Five Stars. Hollywood finally redeems itself and gets it right.
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1.0 out of 5 stars
should have listen to the 26 one star reviews instead of the 197 five star reviews
I sometimes enjoy watching silly romantic comedies but it was not the case with this movie, it was actually bad and embarrassing to watch. Great cast, awful writing
Published 25 days ago by M. Matteo
3.0 out of 5 stars
It was alright, not great
It was a good movie to watch once but not to watch again. It was too long and at times kind of boring. The kind of movie I would like to rent but not own it.
Published 26 days ago by TERESITA
5.0 out of 5 stars
WONDERFUL MOVIE :)
I just finished watching this movie yesterday. I thought it was Excellent. When I saw the coming attractions on TV I didn't really want to see it but the other day I was at the...
Published 1 month ago by BABY
5.0 out of 5 stars
Light-hearted
It's a chick flick. It's "cute". Nobody gets hurt. For once, it's a movie that ends well. Just enjoy it.
Published 2 months ago by Cayenne's mom
3.0 out of 5 stars
A serviceable diversion but far from a `treat'...
The film, as a whole, works marginally well; enough to validate seeing it and enjoying it but not enough to really constitute adoring it.
Published 2 months ago by Andrew Ellington
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic romantic comedy to be enjoyed during the holidays
My wife and I love this movie. It is fun and upbeat throughout. It leaves you happy at the end. The acting is well done and the actors are fairly believable and enjoyable to...
Published 2 months ago by jml
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Holiday
At first glance this film seemed to be your typical chick flick with a distinctly 'Bridget Jones' feel about it.
Published 3 months ago by Spider Monkey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cute Movie
This movie is really cute. A typical romantic comedy with an obvious ending but the plot is uplifting.
Published 4 months ago by VanessaM
5.0 out of 5 stars
Holiday
I've watched this movie many times. Who would not want to switch residences with someone else in another country to get away from their surroundings for a while?
Published 4 months ago by D. Gagnon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Cast and onscreen chemistry
This movie flowed very well, and with such big names all competing for the spotlight it was very well balanced.
Published 4 months ago by Kelly Louise
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