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Funny Games (2008) | 
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| Actors: Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Michael Pitt
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $27.98
Buy Used: $7.02
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Rating:  100 reviews
Sales Rank: 9597
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 111 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: WARD026359D
UPC: 085391176299
EAN: 0085391176299
ASIN: B00187FPC2
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: June 10, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 06/10/2008 Run time: 112 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com
Michael Haneke is a modern master, which his spellbinding films Cache and The Piano Teacher proved to an international audience. When it came time for a Hollywood remake of his ultra-disturbing 1997 picture Funny Games, who better than Haneke himself to helm the new version? And indeed, the second Funny Games bears the impeccable sense of control and technique that the Austrian version had: it is a horrifyingly precise account of a family terrorized by two psychopathic young thugs at a vacation home. For anyone who's already seen the '97 film, this new one--a nearly shot-by-shot transcription of the original--will seem superfluous, no matter how impressive the performances of Naomi Watts and Tim Roth are. (Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet are suitably creepy as their menacers, too.) For newbies, the movie might be as infuriating and thought-provoking as Haneke intends it to be. That's because Funny Games is an intellectual game itself, a direct rebuke to the audience that gobbles up gratuitous violence and cynical manipulation. Haneke sets up our expectations, and then refuses to provide the conventional catharsis… or the conventional anything. All of this was pretty bracing in the first go-round, but feels like gamesmanship in the remake. Even if you dig what Haneke's up to, this is a brutal movie-watching experience. --Robert Horton
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| Customer Reviews: Read 95 more reviews...
 Pointless if well made November 30, 2008
Andres C. Salama (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
A well made but generally pointless shot-by-shot remake of the 1997 Austrian movie "Funny Games", by its director, Michael Haneke. A wealthy family living in a posh house next to a lake is assaulted, brutalized and eventually killed by two seemingly polite young men. The movie's theme is not really about violence - there is nothing here that explains violence or tells you why the human race is so prone to violent behavior - this would require an explanation based in great part in evolutionary psychology and a post 1968 cultural Marxist like Haneke wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole. It's about how Haneke can manipulate the audience and how he can get away in approving the violence of the young men. Of course, if the brutalized family instead of rich was working class or poor, Haneke couldn't conceive of making such a movie: despite his smugness, Haneke can't escape his run of the mill Marxist thinking. That aside, Funny Games is generally well made, and if Haneke meant to shock the audience, he is pretty successful in doing that.
The only shock here is this film's smothering self-righteousness. November 30, 2008
Andre Magadan (Minneapolis)
After watching Funny Games, I cannot comprehend the reasons for which people are upset and appalled. During my viewing, I kept hoping this movie would live up to its visceral reputation, but it was stuffy, stolid, and moved much too slow. I understand Haneke wants to manipulate the audience into feeling guilty as active participants in senseless torture, but with this film as the catalyst for such emotion? Really? Am I supposed to feel bad for these exceedingly pretentious people? The family is obnoxious--especially the impotent father and emotionally overwrought mother. I wanted them to suffer the second they began guessing opera singers and classical composers in their luxury vehicle. There were many opportunities where escape was possible, even easy, seeing as the captors were skinny, initially weaponless, prep school boys. Their entry into the home was even less comprehendible. Who the hell puts up with that from a complete stranger? I would have been too cheap to even give out my eggs, anyway. In all, I felt absolutely no sympathy for the family--and at least hoped their torture would be acerbic and compelling. Instead, I was subjected to the most genteel, accommodating, and BORING torture/murder ever. Their games could have been more inventive too. Far worse things could have happened to that family, and do happen to people every day in the news. The only shock is how self-righteous Michael Haneke is with this material. I'll admit it, I enjoy violence in cinema--but I don't feel bad about it, and the director's attempt to change that failed.
 finally... November 24, 2008
Michael Christensen (Norfolk, VA)
***SPOILER ALERT***
I am not the typical movie-goer who searches for the cheap thrill, always wanting to simply be entertained while mindlessly waiting for the usual happy ending. If you are that type of person, dont see this film.
This is a remake of the 1997 thriller of the same name. Tim Roth, Naomi Watts, and Michael Pitt take the lead this time around, and do this with style. Michael Maneke's films aren't very familiar to me, but the directing of Funny Games makes me a believer and has inspired me to get his entire catalogue. For the typical movie-goer this movie will not only receive maybe 3 stars or less, it will also annoy them to the point of constantly using the fast forward button. This is because the suspence in this movie is not found in any moments of action or dialogue, but rather in the scenes inbetween. Those scenes will seem drawn out and boring to the average viewer. To others who enjoy cinematography, it is a show of brilliance.
Michael Pitt stole the show in this one. After seeing Pitt perform small roles in other films such as Finding Forrester and Bully (another great film), Michael Pitt comes out as a true lead role caliber actor. His control when breaking the 4th wall during his sick and twisted games can rival some top billeted performers (John Cusak being one in High Fidelity). His control makes the role of a psychopath believable, making the film overall a possible future cult classic.
The ending is what gives the movie the final exclamation with a twist delivered by Haneke simply to aggitate the audience. I will save this brief moment in the movie for those who have yet to see it. There are certain spoilers which should never be given away.
While this was a low budget film (I believe more of the film's budget went to pay Roth and Watts' salaries), it delivers a quality of film making not regularly seen in today's saturated market of action adventure and teen slashers. This movie is definitely one for the movie enthusiast, and not necessarily for those who rent movies for a typical all nighter. 4 stars for quality of work by the director and actors.
FINALLY... a movie made for the sake of good cinema, and not for the sake of making the quick dollar.
Senseless violence November 22, 2008
everyday man
Two young thugs take a family captive and torture them physically and emotionally for their own amusement. There is nothing more to this movie than that.
 negative stars were not avaliable....... November 12, 2008
M. Chadwick (Atlanta Ga)
Words cannot describe how horrible this movie was. I mean my god it was down right awful it sucked and it was the worst of all times, with no plot and the villians acting like they are talking to you. SUCKED !!! Do not waste your time........!!!
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