Tempest

John Cassavetes & Gena Rowlands are an amazing married team that always take their movies to the highest level . . .especially in this Paul Mazursky written, produced & directed film that he updated and it's a charmer. It has a very young Susan Sarandon & Molly Ringwald (her 1st movie) which these two make it come alive. Raul Julia (the late GREAT actor) was a gem and his character made me laugh so hard. This a simple off-beat movie that feeds the mind. It simply is genius! It arrived on time and was in perfect playing condition. I consider this one of the best movies in my collection . . .so amazingly good!

Cute Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes rom com set in Greece.It reminded me of Herman Wouk's "Don't Stop The Carnival".A must see for Molly Ringwald's debut and Raul Julia beforeThe Addams Family.

In the early 80's I read a glowing review of this film in Rolling Stone Magazine. Since it promised Susan Sarandon (who I only new as Janet Weiss from Rocky Horror) in a bathing suit, it made the must see list. I saw it with a date in a Gainesville, Fla movie house that actually served beer by the pitcher. The second pitcher was empty just about the same time the goats began flying overhead in time to Liza Minelli's rendition of "New York, New York", and I realized I was watching something special.Flash forward 20 odd years. I'm middle-aged myself, I've read Shakespear's The Tempest a half dozen times and have seen it on stage and in the theatre in numerous renditions, and Susan Sarandon, Molly Ringwold, and Raul Julia are now household names. The movie is out on DVD and I have watched it three times in the past three nights.Even without the beer, I can honestly say this is a great, though overlooked movie. The acting is first rate. The production is wonderful. And the Script is VERY smart.I think you need some familiarity with The Bard's version of The Tempest to really appreciate this movie. Sheakespeare wrote of and in a time of witches and faries and spirits. To make this movie work, the screenwriter (Mazurski) had to translate these creatures and characters into modern-day creations. The "Monster" Calaban, becomes Raul Julia's Calabano, a modern day "monster" who lusts after little girls, but settles for livestock. Prospero the Magician is transformed into a middle aged architect who in his crazziness believes he can control the weather and perhaps can. The King himself becomes the CEO of a Company and his court is transformed into an entourage of a lawyer, a doctor, and a stand-up comedian.. Ariel the Fairy, is Aretha, Susan Sarandon's character, a middleeastern night club singer from New Jersey who, like Ariel in the original, loves and hates and is imprisoned by and fails to consumate her love with Prospero.The action swings back and forth between a greek island and the Island of Manhattan. This is the 1980s. New York is not very pretty. The World Trade Center is front and center. Atlantic City is under construction. Against this backdrop, the Actors act and sing and dance and have a good time.Read The Tempest and then see this movie.I can picture Sheakespeare smiling while watching this version of his play.

I first saw this film as an early teenager and it left an indelible impression. It’s not flawless by any means, but I found it’s escapist nature really captivating. If you ever wondered what it would feel like to leave the hustle and bustle of a major city, leave your wife and your life (somewhat) behind and escape to a remote Greek island, then this may be worth a watch for you.It’s a strange film at times, but it’s characters are memorable and the scenery itself will immerse and leave you questioning whether a civilized, urban lifestyle is the way to live. Either way, I think you’ll have fun watching this long lost, forgotten film.

I just purchased this video today after many years of recalling memorable scenes from it. To me it's about a man with a greek surname who abandons his meaningless life as an NYC Architect to explore himself, taking his trepidacious(?) daughter with him to a small Greek island.The story has dual timelines which eventually meet at the present day. This was a new experience for me when first seeing this movie.Some of the many memorable scenes are:John Cassavetes looking up at the baloons falling during the New Years Day party and making the decision to get the hell out of there.The Greek captain of the ship taking them to their island calling out the names of the dozens of Greek islands.Raoul Julia dancing around with an octopus on his head.Also Raoul admitting that he wants to sleep with Cassavetes daughter saying 'She wants the Bonnie Johnnie inside of her'. Cassavetes fights him and probably considers killing him but stops.Cassavetes' wife happens to be floating near the island as an entouragee of a Greek tycoon ala Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis. Cassavetes conjures a storm with his reading glasses saying "Come on, show me the magic."To me this is the pinnacle of Cassavetes journey to find himself, fancies himself a god, and makes the magic happen only to regret his actions but assist in rescuing the party.This movie is definitely on my list of the best movies ever.

I really enjoyed this.

I think I commented on this one before - Great Movie and already one of those hidden classics.

Amazing movie. Such a pity that it has taken so long to have it available.Great story, great characters, great place ... This really stands out.Also a must see if you are in the mood for something new and different, a refreshing break.

I first saw this when I was in my twenties. A few decades later, seeing it again the story resonates on new levels of a middle age couple dealing with the loss of youth and youth wanting to be free of the constraints of childhood. Great story, humorous and meaningful. Highly recommend.