1941

this film is class, sooooo funny. why cant i rent it?

Forget everything you've ever read by a critic when it comes to 1941. Most of them were waiting for Steven Spielberg to have a drop in fortune after Close Encounters and ET and many chose to shape this as the 'Spielberg Failure'. In fact, it is one of the most frenetic and well choreographed manic comedies of all time and features a cast that can only be matched by the likes of 'It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World for star inclusion. After all, how many comedies can you name that feature the likes of Christopher Lee and Toshiro Mifune alongside comedy icons such as Dan Aykroid & John Belushi. From the initial scene, a brilliant jab at Jaws and featuring the first victim of the shark, to the manic finale off the Californian coast and fairground mistaken by the Japanese sub crew for Hollywood, the movie is jammed with comedic gems and injokes (Probably why most snooty critics dismissed the film upon release) Plus, another major point the film has in its favour is the fantastic score by the prolific John Williams. This is a true classic and should be watched in full widescreen and not the pan and scan version usually shown in television. I have been fortunate enough to see the Region 1 release and here's hoping we eventually get the same contents. A five star feast of fun.

Whenever I see the reviews of this film from so-called critics I just find them overly critical of what is a good and very funny film. No it was never going to win any awards but when you want to relax with a good comedy then this fits the bill. There are loads of big name stars deliering very funny performances in a farcical telling of how LA goes into a panic meltdown at the prospect of a Japanese invasion being imminent.

I believe this film has always been underrated. It may not have the greatest plot, but it is better than most. Spielberg turns his hand to a wacky comedy of which there are many of today.

Mr Spielberg applies his fantastic eye and fast paced story telling to an all star ensemble cast to create a great romp, set against the backdrop of the Second World War.