Ave Maria [VHS] |  | Director: Martin Brest
Actors: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bartha, Terry Camilleri, David Backus
Studio: Bel Canto Society
Category: Video
Buy New: $59.95
as of 9/2/2010 15:20 CDT details
New (3) Used (3) from $29.99
Rating:  215 reviews
Format: Black & White, Classical, HiFi Sound, NTSC
Languages: English (Subtitled), German (Original Language), Italian (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: VHS Tape
Discs: 1
Running Time: 121 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
UPC: 789984049235
EAN: 0789984049235
Theatrical Release Date: August 1, 2003
Release Date: November 17, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Many critics called Gigli one of the worst movies ever made, but their condemnation isn't entirely justified. The movie's got plenty of problems, such as inconsistent tone, gag-inducing dialogue, and a meandering plot that fails to generate momentum over 124 minutes. And yet, this character-based vehicle for Hollywood sweethearts Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez is not without its charms: To begin with, there's J-Lo, whose beauty and presence flourish despite her ill-conceived role as a lesbian contract killer. Critics were also wrong in saying Lopez lacks on-screen chemistry with her off-screen beau; there are moments when they click, but director Martin Brest's screenplay maintains sexual confusion right up to an ending that's a total cop-out. Affleck (who did the lesbian-love thing in Chasing Amy) plays another good-natured killer, and their joint kidnapping job (involving the mentally disabled brother of a federal prosecutor) is destined to fail for all the right reasons, even as this anti-romantic comedy (featuring scenery-chewing cameos by Christopher Walken and Al Pacino) fails for all the wrong ones. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 215
 The Jerk and The Tease August 15, 2010
Del Keyes (In the middle of the Sunshine)
Outside of being part of the Kevin Smith alumni, Ben Affleck has never been a funny guy. He's a good film-writer and had a couple of good dramatic roles, but he's not meant to be witty. Matter of fact, after watching "Surviving Christmas", his vain attempt at comedy infuriates me. Mainly, it has to do with his cocky attitude, the way he yells at people out of disgareement and such, not to mention how often he smug. His abrasive and controlling temperament has never been charming feature of his, and he following this same path in "Gigli".
Affleck plays the titular character, a button who was tasked by his loud superior to kidnap someone to keep a federal official quiet. The person he was ordered to sustain was a mentally-challenged man named Brian with Tourette Syndrome (very sensitive subject to follow, especially for a comedy). What Gigli didn't expect next was a house call from Jennifer Lopez, who plays Ricki the hitman; he tried to make a move on her, but she told him she's a lesbian (not this scenario again). Now both Gigli and Ricki has to work out their egotistical differences while they're waiting for orders as to what to do with Brian.
The former movie couple were not believable in their roles. It's hard to believe Ben Affleck as a street thug; he's a guy that yells and punches people, but he's no hitman. And Jennifer Lopez fails to portray herself as a lesbian contractor; she didn't act intimidating enough to view her as a criminal, and her spot-spoken tone didn't help her one bit. Her as a lesbian is an ironic joke, because while she proclaims to vacuum carpets with her mouth, she spends the majority of the film being promiscuous towards the thug with no subtlety; she even made a ridiculous vagina monologue while's she stretching her legs in front of him. That's like if a Hooters girl told a customer not to touch her, but then she puts chicken wings on her cleavage for him to grab with his hands. Their relationship is the most cop-out of cop-out couples, and they're the least of the film's problems.
I have a hard time seeing this as a comedy. It's billed as a romance-comedy, but where are the jokes? Is a mentally challenged person singing rap songs suppose to be funny? Is Gigli yelling at Brian and calling him rude names worth the giggles? Am I suppose to find humor in Ricki's ex-girlfriend who slit her wrists to try to get Ricki's attention? What's with Christopher Walken and bribing people with pies? Everyone's so serious with their roles that I can't figure out what I'm suppose to giggle. Not even a brief scene with Al Pacino, playing the only character that I find partially interesting, manage to put me in a good mood. All the characters were either conversing or doing monologues, but there's not a hint of humor in any of them; this isn't a smart comedy, the cast are just going along with with the script.
Overall, "Gigli" is a cruel, mean-spirited movie which has all the similiar problems with mean-spirited humor akin to "Duplex". It's an exercise in keeping one's composure, dealing with unlikable and hostile characters. The director of "Beverly Hills Cop" lost his luster on this one.
An the worst feature film goes to....... December 31, 2009
Lucy (Florida)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am very disappointed in Jennifer. This is NOT her best work! The movie seems to be terrible. I don't plan to watch this film again anytime soon. Her movie Maid in Manhattan was the best. I don't know what convince Jennifer to star in such a cheesy film! I recommend anyone not to see this terrible film. It's just downright bad. Everyone doesn't like this film either. And I don't blame them!
 Not THAT bad November 27, 2009
C. Duchesne (Quebec, Canada)
Well, sometimes I like to watch movies that most people hate to know what is so bad about them... You know what? I actually think that it's VERY underrated! Sure, it's not very good and I guess that the acting is bad (who cares?), but it's nowhere near as bad as it's made out to be! It has some fairly funny bits. I really don't understand why it's so hated (because the hate some people have for it is pretty damn extreme)... It's just another silly romantic comedy. It isn't worse than all of the others.
Oh well, my guess is that they hate it only because it's the "cool" thing to do. Hell, I bet that some of them liked it, but they're too afraid to say what they really think.
the worst film ever? Please! October 13, 2009
Naked Pootie-Poot
Some people have said that this is the worst movie ever made. If you have not seen any of the following films, I advise that you do before making that judgement; Love Me if You Dare, 8 Crazy Nights, Be Kind Rewind, the Wedding Singer - hell, this film is better than Juno or Four Weddings and Funeral (both of which are completely overrated bombs.) The problem with this film is not so much the premise, but the fact that the premise is lead nowhere (the movie ends with Gigli and Ricki sending the prosecutor the thumb of a dead person and fail in their attempt to pass it off as Brian's, so they leave Brian on the beach for his brother to rescue and they drive off east down the 10.) I would describe the movie as slow-paced and a little boring in parts. I did not like Ricki's character (though Lopez did a better job of acting lesbian than I had anticipated, but as a [...] fetishist I completely disagree with the character that the [...] looks like a toe) and I did not see a purpose for her to be in the story (Gigli did everything - up until sending the severed thumb - according to plan, I thought.) I did not care for Gigli to fall in love with a lesbian - a much more beautiful story would have been that Gigli kidnapped Brian and watched him without any company, and that Gigli saw that Brian did not need to be in an adult care facility,(Brian was my favorite character and I felt deeply for him because I felt that he did not need to be there - he was not that low functioning) so Gigli helped Brian find a mate who had the patience to supervise him and Brian find work in a sheltered workshop.
 Not as bad as they say... August 19, 2009
R. Gawlitta (Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA)
Martin Brest is an established, Oscar-nominated director ("Scent of a Woman"). His research here, however, might've been better realized. Bennifer was the going thing, so there was a germ of a cute story. Just because Ben was such a rotten schmuck in "Chasing Amy", perhaps Mr. Brest thought he should give a Lesbian a chance. Redemption? Not quite. J-Lo simply wasn't a convincing Lesbian. Keep it simple. Whatever chemistry was there was OK, but what kept me interested was the simple, complete and non-parodied performance of Justin Bartha, perfect. (Reminiscent of Leo di Caprio in "Gilbert Grape").Mr. Bartha was the best part of the fine "National Treasure" films, and his natural simplicity of character makes him endearing. He's a talent waiting to be discovered. "Gigli" didn't stink as bad as the rap would have it; it's just that the originality wasn't there...less than we expected from the talented Mr. Brest.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 215
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