The Grand Budapest Hotel [Criterion Collection] [DVD] [2014]

In a fictional Republic of Zubrowka a clever concierge works schemes to achieve dreams. Many a-list actors add long or brief period piece performances to tell a comedic romantic tail laced in layers of intrigue and suspense. We can have a few drinks and enjoy the slapstick chic or notice details that intertwine over time to reveal what and who and why and how things got so crazy.

This is one of the best films I have ever seen. The cinematography is simpy beautiful, and the characters are so amazing and intriguing that they will carry you along this amazing journey. And the comedy aspect!! This film is truly funny when it has to be funny. If you enjoy great stories, terrific performances, and incredibly funny moments, then you need to watch this film.

This was my birthday gift from you. Thanks -- great way to spend my special day with my special friend!

This movie has excellent acting and directing. It's fast moving with authentic on-site filming. It begins in 1932 and shows the beginnings of socialistic expansion into Eastern Europe. It is a gradual take-over with some final scenes showing tanks and storm troopers. An intertwined story traces the history of the Grand Budapest Hotel with it's key "Lobby Boy" called Zero. His entire family had been shot near Tibet and he fled to Budapest. The people in this area are now coming under persecution and eventual take-over or extermination. Another story is about a longtime wealthy vacationer or guest and her relationship to the hotel's conceriege, M. Gustave. She ends up being poisoned by her son but leaves everything to M. Gustave in a special will only executed upon her murder instead of natural death. As M. Gustave is executed he leaves everything to Zero who takes over and continues the hotel as before although the numbers of guest are much lower. I strongly recommend this film for it's acting, directing, and rare truthful historical plot. It is very relevant for today's times that undergo a "peaceful" process called "change" or "progress".

Great price, it was wonderful. Then the film itself is gorgeous so you have to see it in the best presentation available, and while we wait for 4k to become affordable Blu-ray is the way to go. So what is going on with this edition? It’s have subtitles in French and also and very importantly in Spanish. Then you can download it to your computer, not so sure how this work if your computer does not have a blu –ray drive but it’s a great selling point. The transfer’s looks great at least until 4k gets to be the standard. But the film itself, the most important thing is really, really great. It’s one of the best American films of the last decade. Buy it. Even if you have not seen it before and if you have it’s a film worth a repeated look.

A highly unique film with outstanding art direction, costume design, and cinematography. This is the kind of film I love, one that you can not categorize but falls somewhere between the cracks of traditional description. Just start watching and allow yourself to be carried along. If it works for you, congratulations. If not, you probably need a superhero blockbuster.

A very unique and hilarious film! Ralph Fiennes will make you laugh and cry. He’s that good!

Wes Anderson is one of the most unique, creative, beautiful voices in art today. Each one of his films is full of absolute wonder, humanity, brilliant comedy, and quiet tragedy. The Grand Budapest Hotel is no exception to that, as Anderson creates a world stranger and (on the surface) less grounded in reality than most of his other works. But with unabashedly slapstick action scenes, absurdly perfect chase scenes, and a sense of humor that never denies itself, he tells a very human story about the passing of time, a certain kind of mentality, and the world that goes with it. His reverence for specificity, history, characters, and the flaws of people allow for the audience to stare in wonder at the absolutely stunning visuals while also being given a story that lands up timeless and distinctly of Wes Anderson. His uniqueness and perfectionistic tendencies give his films a life full of wondrous magic and theatricality that is stunning. This film is full of love (in more than one way), beauty, and hilarious and heartbreaking moments. It's also heartwarming and romantic, as his films tend to be.