james

(2012-04-26 09:30:19)

VERY FUNNY!

This movie is funny bill murry joins the army and meets friends there andjohn candy is soooooo funny in the movie when he fights all those girls inthe mud wrestling match and he started to whip the girls ass he didntcarehow hot they were anyways great movie!!!

(2012-04-26 06:47:04)

The Blu-Ray Is A Vast Improvement Over The Extended Cut DVD

This review is from: Stripes (Extended Cut) [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) Below is a review of this product: Stripes (Extended Cut) (BLU-RAY). Amazon may display this review on the page of another version of this product, for which this review may not apply. After reading this review, please click on the link so that you can be assured that the product this review applies to is the same one you thought it was for.--------------------------------------------------This review is specifically intended for all of those unfortunate souls who purchased the Stripes "Extended Cut" DVD. Chances are, if you own that DVD, you are royally annoyed by some of the poor choices Sony made in authoring that disc. Those of you who don't own that disc, let me give you a little insight into the problems with it...The disc claims to have the theatrical version of the film, in addition to the new extended version. That is a lie. The "Theatrical Version" presented on the disc is not that what was shown in the theaters back in 1981. It's simply the extended version with the added footage skipped over. A lot of DVD players will need to pause for a second or two at six spots while it skips ahead in the video to the spot after the added footage was placed. This is NOT "seamless branching", as evident by the fact that the pause creates a seam. There are many examples of DVDs that properly create multiple versions using seamless branching, such as the Alien Vs. Predator Unrated DVD. Stripes isn't one of them. Furthermore, portions of the movie get edited out when the player has to crudely jump over the added footage to create the supposed "Theatrical Version". That means that you're not seeing the real original theatrical version. Only the first Stripes DVD release from 1998 (cover shows the "I Want You" poster) contains the true theatrical version. It also contains the theatrical trailer (left off the Blu-ray), and the original mono audio track. That's as true to the original as you can get!Also, the extended version on the DVD has an annoying "added footage marker" at the start and end of the newly-added footage. This "start/end of bonus scene" text is provided via a subtitle stream, which Sony does not allow to be turned off, even though subtitle streams provide that functionality. Check out the aforementioned Alien Vs. Predator Unrated DVD for an example of how it's done right (again via subtitle, but one which the user can turn on and off).So with all that in mind, people who own Blu-ray players might be wondering if any of these problems were fixed in the new Blu-ray release of Stripes. The short answer is "YES". The "added footage marker" is not included at all, nor is there the false pretense of a "theatrical version" being included. You get the extended version of the film in 1080p (1.85:1 aspect ratio), along with the commentary track and the two-part hour-long "Stars & Stripes" documentary from the Extended Cut DVD.The only thing the Blu-ray leaves out is the theatrical trailer, though that can be found on numerous other DVDs, such as the Stripes DVD from 1998 (which contains the true theatrical version) and the Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II DVDs that were released in 1999 (the green slime cover DVDs released in 2005 don't contain any trailers). The Blu-ray also doesn't present the added footage in a separate "Deleted Scenes" section, but since they're now part of the film, they don't really need to be included separately, anyway.If you're a die-hard Stripes fan and MUST have both versions of the film, I suggest you pick up this Blu-ray and the original 1998 DVD release, and you'll have all versions and extras. Just avoid the Extended Cut DVD.

(2012-04-21 20:48:53)

A very funny bill murray vehicle .Bill is a real take charge guy ?!?

I found the movie to be very funny...Imagine a loser bill murray,finding himself in the military!!!as a take charge kind of guy...He commands some real odd balls ,on a mission too funny to explain...I got a real kick out of the movie...and i highly recommend it...This movie makes an excellent holiday gift...

TxMike

(2012-04-21 10:43:14)

Just one in a string of Murray/Ramis classic comedies.

Harold Ramis absolutely cannot strike a pose without a glint in his eyeand a rye smile on his face. He is just filled with "funny". We owe himGhostbusters, Caddyshack, Groundhog Day, and this movie, "Stripes."Take ordinary human conditions, and turn them into somethinginteresting and funny.Bill Murray is John Winger and Harold Ramis is Russell Ziskey, a coupleof slackers trying to keep gainful employment and make ends meet. Inthe one day that begins this movie, Winger quits his cabbie job,abandoning a stuffy lady on the bridge, gets his car repossessed, andhas his girlfriend leave him. At the shoe shine shop, watching an"Uncle Sam Wants You" TV spot, he convinces his buddy Ziskey that theywould do better by enlisting in the Army. After all, free food and freeclothes! Warren Oates is in fine form as drill Sgt. Hulka. P.J. Solesas Stella Hansen and Sean Young as Louise Cooper, both MPs on base,serve as the love interests of the two men. John Candy is one of theraw recruits, 'Ox' Oxberger, while John Larroquette is good as theneurotic and useless Capt. Stillman.I watched it with Emily, a recent high school graduate who is enrollingat West Point this summer, as her introduction to basic training in theArmy! SPOILERS: Hulka gets injured by a wayward projectile, and the guys haveto train themselves the final night before the graduation review. Theyare unpolished, but disciplined, and so impress the general that theyare sent to Italy on special assignment. Winger and Ziskey, as usual,get everyone in a bind, in an unauthorized venture into Communist Czekterritory, but Winger and Ziskey also come to the rescue.

(2012-04-07 21:39:00)

Lighten up, Francis...

I'm a bit perplexed by the reviews criticizing this movie because of its unrealistic depiction of the Army. Do these same people complain that "Animal House" doesn't accurately display college life or that "Vacation" isn't what a family trip across the country is really like? (Hey, I live in St. Louis and could easily take exception to the outright offensive inaccuracies in "Vacation", but I still love the movie!) This is a comedy, folks. It's not "Saving Private Ryan" or "Band of Brothers", and it never claims or tries to be. It uses exaggeration and absurdities to make us laugh. It isn't striving for realism, although to its credit, I have heard plenty of people say that this is the best movie they've ever seen at giving you the feel for what its like going into the service, and that their own drill instructor was identical to Sgt Hulka.The first half of this movie is just about the funniest comedy ever made. Bill Murray and Harold Ramis are the perfect slobs with shiftless lives who try to maintain what's left of their dignity by enlisting in the Army. Their chemistry is wonderful and they truly are believable as out-of-shape but likable losers. Virtually every line and every character is memorable (Psycho, Ox, Cruiser, that lady in the cab, John Laroquette, and of course Russell and Winger), and this has to be the most quotable movie in history. No, John Candy would not have spoken to a superior officer that way when he gets off the bus (or at least not have gotten away with it), but that's what's so funny about it! And speaking of Sgt. Hulka, Warren Oates should have been given an Oscar nomination for this role. He's the high point of the movie for me, and his intense, over the top performance reminds me of Robert Shaw in "Jaws"- some actors are so good that they can chew scenery and get away with it. So for the first half of the movie, there's not an unfunny moment. Maybe basic training isn't like this, but the scenes are so well-done that a generation of adolescent guys has grown up thinking that it is and have no doubt gone into the military with this movie in the back of their minds.The second half of the movie sort of devolves into a bearable but not great action movie, with its contrived plot about the stolen military RV and the rescue mission across the Czech border. Still, the same characters are present and continue to sustain the movie until the end. Great music, too- I don't think this has ever been issued as a soundtrack but it contains one of the most memorable themes ever written for a movie. The DVD itself is passable- no extras, somewhat grainy video, unspectacular sound. But we surived watching it over and over again on basic cable with plenty of edits and subpar picture quality, so I can't complain too much. I suppose someday it will be given a "Special Edition" with a commentary and a retrospective from the stars, but the movie stands on its own without anything fancy.

(2012-04-07 04:33:11)

One of Murray's Best

In one of his funniest comedies, Bill Murray takes on the U.S. Army, and without question, with guys like this on the front lines, we can all sleep a little easier at night. "Stripes," directed by Ivan Reitman, is the story of John Winger (Murray), who in one day loses his girl, his job, his car and his apartment. So what's a guy to do after that, but join the Army? But he doesn't go alone, oh no-- he also talks his best friend, Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis) into joining with him. And just like that they find themselves at boot camp, face to face with one of the most formidable Drill Instructors every to grace the silver screen, Sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates), and surrounded by as motley a group of raw recruits as anyone could imagine. Among them, there's Dewey Oxburger (John Candy), known as "Ox," who plans to emerge from boot camp a "lean, mean fighting machine"; and "Cruiser (John Diehl)," who joined up to beat the draft (Hulka: "Son, there isn't a draft, anymore." Cruiser: "There was one?"); and Francis Soyer (George Jenesky), known as "Psycho" ("Call me Francis, and I'll kill you. Touch my stuff, and I'll kill you. Touch me...and I'll kill you." Hulka: "Lighten up, Francis...").The pressure is on for Hulka and his men, when Colonel Glass (Lance LeGault) informs Captain Stillman (John Larroquette) that the "General" is looking for a squad of crack new recruits to man a special project, and Hulka's boys have been chosen. The project involves a secret weapon, an "urban assault" vehicle, that is to be unveiled on their base in Germany shortly. But first, Hulka has to get his troops through basic, which will be a minor miracle in itself, even though Winger goes "Out on a limb," and offers to be their leader. And things proceed just as badly as you would expect, not only on the obstacle course, but off, when Winger and Ziskey get mixed up with a couple of female M.Ps., Stella (P.J. Soles) and Louise (Sean Young), and Ox gets coerced (by Winger, of course) into taking part in a female mud-wrestling event at a local night spot. Along the way, Reitman sets up the situations for some serious laughs, and keeps it all on track with a good pace and excellent timing. Murray is terrific as Winger, with a performance that puts a generous helping of "dry" in the expression "dry humor." He plays it all so straight, so serious, from his quips and one liners (watching a TV promo for the Army, "This looks pretty good--"), to his full blown inspirational speech to the troops on the night before their final test at basic training ("We're all very different people. We're not Spartans, we're not Watusi, we're Americans, with a capital `A.' That means our forefathers were thrown out of every decent country in the world--"), that it makes it all the more hilarious. He never tries to be "funny," or fish for laughs, which is really what makes this movie work so well. Murray is perhaps the best in the business at playing this kind of humor and putting it across (Ben Stiller would be a close second). Harold Ramis and John Candy also make invaluable contributions that make this one fly. Watch Ramis, reacting to what Candy is saying as "Ox," as explains why he joined the Army; it makes what Ox is saying twice as funny. And Ox, talking about what a "shy guy" he is, and how "You may have noticed, I have this weight problem--" And Oates, as well, gives a singular performance that makes Hulka a real person, beyond the typical stereotype of the hard-nosed D.I. His portrayal, taken out of context, is one that would stand up even in more serious fare, like Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket."The supporting cast includes Judge Reinhold (Elmo), John Voldstad (Stillman's Aide), Roberta Leighton (Anita), Antone Pagan (Hector), Fran Ryan (Dowager in Cab), Dave Thomas (M.C.) and William Lucking (Recruiter). From beginning to end, "Stripes" is a fun-filled laugh riot that's filled with memorable scenes and a plethora of lines you'll be quoting forever. This is one you can watch over and over again, with a bunch of characters you're never going to forget. Winger and Ziskey, Ox, Psycho, Cruiser. These are the guys who Demi Moore, as Galloway in "A Few Good Men," could have been talking about when, in response to the question of why she likes these guys so much, replies, "Because they stand on a wall, and they say nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch..." It kind of makes you think. Or, as Cruiser might say, "Yeah... About what?"

mOVIemAN56

(2012-03-31 08:14:20)

Bill Murray Wants You for the Army

Bill Murray, well John Winger in the Army, what could be stranger. Wellthe bunch that are in his battalion give it a run. John Winger (BillMurray) is a low-life. Afer losing his girlfriend, his job and his car,John and his best friend Russell (Harold Ramis) decide to join the armyfor a bit of fun.While in boot camp, the battalion(John Candy and Judge Rienhold just toname a few) come under hard drill from Sgt. Hulka (Warren Oates) andend up having to train themselves after a freak accident. Training endswith one of most hilarious scenes in the film of the battalion 'Do WahDiddy Diddy' at graduation and being sent to Italy for it to guard anew-armored Urban Transport.Bill Murray and Harold Ramis unite before their success in theGhostbuster films and are hilarious as the low-life cadets. The film isa favorite among military cadets but among 'civilians' to. Thebattalion brings in a lot of humor from the murderous Francis to theanger-driven Dewey Oxburger (John Candy). The plot is thin but it ismade up for in the comedy.Stripes. Starring: Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, John Candy, Warren Oates,Judge Reinhold, P.J. Soles, and Roberta Leighton.3 1/2 out of 5 Stars.

(2012-03-30 22:20:00)

S trip (Unrated Extended Cut)

I real enjoyed it a great movie. I have watch it about 20 times and i have laughed all the way though. An excellent movie

(2012-03-22 01:04:59)

Stripes - Order

This review is from: Stripes (Unrated Extended Cut) (DVD) Received this item promptly in perfect condition. Crazy Bill Murray is a hoot and the extended cut added a little more humor.

(2012-03-21 15:02:22)

Not exactly the special edition we were hoping for, but...

If you grew up during the 1980s, chances are you saw or heard of "Stripes." It's one of the pioneers of the bad taste genre -- a bunch of social misfits with bad attitudes take back the power. It started with post-Vietnam films such as "M*A*S*H" and extended into "Animal House" and, by 1981, "Stripes."Now the film will be coming out on a Special Extended Edition next month (June 7th according to Amazon). The special features are:-- Available subtitles: English, French -- Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1) -- Features 18 extra minutes, including 6 never-before-seen deleted scenes-- Hour-long documentary-- Interviews with Bill Murray and the cast-- Mastered in high definitionIt's worth noting that the interviews with Bill Murray and the cast are part of the documentary, which means the only special features for this disc are:1. A new transfer2. An hour-long documentaryFor those of us who enjoy this film and have been waiting on the Special Edition for quite some time (it's been rumored for as far back as two years! I actually held off buying the previous disc because I was waiting for an SE), the features here might be rather disappointing.I expected something like this:DISC ONE1. Commentary by Harold Ramis and Ivan Reitman2. Commentary by Bill Murray (he hasn't spoken to Ramis since the filming of "Groundhog Day," so a commentary together is highly unlikely)3. New anamorphic widescreen transfer4. New DD5.1 Surround and DTS 5.1 Surround audio tracks.5. Teaser trailer6. Theatrical trailer7. Talent files8. Photo galleryDISC TWO1. An hour-long documentary2. Separate reel of new interviews3. Goofs/outtakes4. Screen tests5. John Candy retrospective documentary6. Original "Making-of" featuretteThat was more of what I was expecting from something two years in the making (and perhaps even longer!).My main worries about this new DVD are:1. The special features are dire2. It looks like a typical double-dip rip-off3. The new artwork is atrociousI liked the old artwork better.That said, I am happy at least that the film is coming out on a new DVD and I will purchase it. I'm not obsessed with this film by any means, and in fact I think it loses a lot of steam in the final act once they leave boot camp, and after that it turns into a pretty tiresome action-adventure movie with no laughs until the very end.But the first 3/4 of "Stripes" is very funny stuff in the typical underdog-film-style. I was at least hoping for a commentary by Ramis or Reitman on the new DVD, but oh well.

stinkyj

(2012-03-19 13:38:52)

that's a fact jack!

Murray at his best.Warren Oates as his drill sergeant is funny indeed. John Candy almost steals the show in themud wrestling ring. Best army comedy movie ever!

(2012-03-19 07:32:21)

Is it just me, or can Bill Murray not act?

Bill Murray just seems to float through movies and look like he's not even trying to put forth any effort. Every droll line he performs is as dry and without emotion as the last. This movie is no different than 99% of his movies. The "Yeah, uh-huh, OK." formula.While his sidekick and Jon Candy save the film, it's centered around Bill Murray who once again seems not to even care a movie is being made.

yankeesvtbmw

(2012-03-12 12:34:52)

A Classic!

Stripes is one of those movies you can watch over and over and overagain.It is a comedy classic. I was about 12 or 13 when I first watched it andhad a blast repeating the film's dialogue with friends. The scene whereallthe guys are in the room telling each other the reasons why they joinedthearmy is magnificent. Bill Murray is incredible in this movie, as isHaroldRamis. They are supported nicely by John Candy, Judge Reinhold, WarrenOates and Conrad Dunn. I would love for a film maker to try to make anupdated version of sorts...I think some have tried with Pauly Shore's "Inthe Army Now" and other such flops, that simply, do not come close to"Stripes." And...please...I hope a commemorative DVD with rareinterviewsand deleted scenes, etc. hits the market. Stripes is military humor atitsbest!!!

(2012-03-11 23:02:19)

hilarious!!!

Stripes is Bill Murray's best beside's Ghostbusters,He is in top notch here,Ramis fits in well.John Candy is great as Dewey Oxburger. The film is rated ''R'' for the nudity and some language.So kids should not see it.

Aaron1375

(2012-03-06 13:57:11)

My personal favorite military comedy movie.

This movie is a very funny comedy starring a rather great cast. BillMurray is the headliner and Ramis is also rather good too. Backing themup are an assortment of goof balls including the late John Candy in oneof his better roles. The story, guy is having a bad go of it at the joband his social life. So what does he decide to do? Well he joins thearmy of course and even manages to convince a friend of his to joinhim. Well the army is not quite what either of them expect as theyseemed to be in a set of the worst recruits ever...not that they areany better and a bunch of funny scenes ensue including the introductionscene where you learn some of the guys motivations for entering thearmy including weight loss and one guy who figured he would beeventually drafted anyway even when there is no more draft. Plenty ofgreat training, a bar scene involving a mud wrestling arena and aheroic rescue. Of course, the movie is at its funniest during thetraining scenes and their adjustments to army life. The last part ofthe film seems kind of stuck on to extend the movie a bit longer. Notthat it is bad, just not up to the first two thirds of the film.

hfan77

(2012-03-05 15:30:28)

A Very Funny Military Comedy

Poor John. In one day he lost his job, girlfriend, car and apartment sohe starts over with his friend Russell and joins the Army. When both ofthem enlist, the hijinks begin and it actually turns out to be a veryfunny military comedy, thanks to Bill Murray, in his first movie sincehe left Saturday Night Live. My favorite Murray scene was he wasmarching with the platoon and he started singing "Do Wah Diddy Diddy".It was so funny.The other scene I remember well was the mud wrestling bar. It wasdirty, hilarious fun.In addition to Murray, several cast members from Second City Televisionalso appear. Harold Ramis as Russell and John Candy as fellow platoonmember Ox. Also appearing in small roles were Dave Thomas and JoeFlaherty.Warren Oates also adds a lot to the movie as the no-nonsense Sgt.Hulka. If you have not seen Stripes yet, rent it. And that's a fact,Jack.

(2012-03-04 13:30:01)

Bill's in the army now!

John Winger(Bill Murray) quits driving taxicabs and enlists in the army with his teacher roommate(Harold Ramis). They experience the typical army life,filled with commanders,guns and best of all,pretty girls. The late John Candy gives great moral support as one of the soldiers. The then-little-known Sean Young is one of the girls whom the guys meet while in the army. One of Murray's most memorable post-Saturday Night Live films. Murray and Ramis later filmed the two GHOSTBUSTERS movies and Ramis directed 1993's GROUNDHOG DAY,starring Murray and Andie MacDowell.

(2012-03-03 22:35:50)

AND THATS THE FACT....JACK!!!!

This is one of the best movies i ever see Bill Murray and Harold Ramis work togather in. Its a CLASSIC. One of the best Army comedys ever. I saw this movies for the first time in 1996 and i loved it. I watch this movie all the time. It gut a great cast Bill Murray, Harold Raims, John Candy, and P.j. Soles. I recomend this movie if you are having a really bad day and you need to have a good laugh.

Bolesroor

(2012-02-27 04:24:05)

Tell Me Again Why This Is Funny?

Bill Murray plays an obnoxious slob and Harold Ramis plays an obnoxiousJewish slob. Since these two "buddies" are merely comic actors in amajor motion picture, they decide it will be fun to join the Army inorder to annoy their fellow cadets, infuriate their commandingofficers, and generally do whatever it takes to wring laughs out apremise that can't possibly fail.Except, of course, the premise fails. Not for one moment do we believethese two are in the Army, since the smarmy grins never fall from theirfaces. Could they be more aware they're makin' pretend in a Hollywoodmovie? And the humorless drill instructors and sitcom-ensemblesupporting cast only serve to underscore the stacked deck from whichdirector Ivan Reitman is dealing. He would later direct the brilliantMurray and tolerable Ramis to perfection in "Ghostbusters," but for nowhe's just killing time.Less a satire of Army life than an elitist, semitic mockery of anyonedumb enough to JOIN the Army, I could not get over my immediate dislikeof the two main characters to laugh at anything that happens here- andI LOVE Bill Murray. Much like the brilliant "Animal House" the movieruns long, and takes an odd detour as the gang steals a mobile assaultvehicle and single-handedly... storms an enemy compound? Wins the war?I forgot because I had stopped caring about these characters long ago.Released fresh on the heels of the far-superior "Private Benjamin,""Stripes" has advertised itself for years as a comedy classic in spiteof the fact that no human seems to agree. This was a learningexperience for those involved... all would go on to greater things...you will too.GRADE: C-

HB

(2012-02-26 17:47:34)

That's The Fact Jack

Murray hits homerun again and supporting cast is outstanding with Harold Ramis, Judge Reinhold, John Larroquette and John Candy. Puts Murray over the top as #1 comedy actor of 1980's.