The Curse of the Jade Scorpion [Blu-ray]

I went all these years avoiding this film because I remember when it was released it got 'trashed' by the critics and the public as well. This film is FUNNY, clever and a genuine surprise. I love the look of this film, his Asian Cinematographer (I can't recall his name, Zhaing..something) does splendid work here, beautifully lit, and Santo Loqasto's art-direction is gorgeous, evocative 1940 New York. The film is full of memorable one-liners, you'll have a good time with this film, even though Allen himself thinks very little of this film.

So lovely young Elizabeth Barkley and beautiful Helen Hunt fall for homely Woody Allen's nebish /wizard character. Hmmmm. Nope-not in a million years.

Not the best Woody Allen movie, but still a lot of fun. Amazing production design and cinematography, and as always great comedic dialogue. Sadly Woody Allen’s films haven’t all made it to Blu-ray, especially in the US. This one I had to order internationally, and it looks great. Hoping to see more make it to HD like “Sweet & Lowdown” which seems to have disappeared entirely from release.

I feel cheated... all these years I never bothered with this film over all the negativity surrounding it - including Woody Allen himself, who considers it his worst film. However, I genuinely found this story hilarious, and the chemistry of the cast was perfect for my taste. As a comic farce, I found it fast-paced and quirky with lots of zippy one-liners, and contrary to all the critics who hate this film, I was genuinely entertained with its flashes of original brilliance. Allen once said he felt like he let the cast down by putting himself in the lead, but how could anyone else play it? He's perfect. The pace of the movie reminded me of Allen's much older (and better) outings. Even the '40's soundtrack with some great snippets of his favorite ragtime throughout is very tastefully executed. I watched this on Netflix for free, but have since purchased it as a movie I want in my collection. I cheerfully recommend you give it a chance!

Delivered 5 days earlier than expected. Product case condition was excellent and the non Blu Ray DVD was too. Played without issue in my Magnavox DVD player. This Dvd would not play in a friend's Sony non-Blu Ray DVD player. Never could determine why. Recommend buying from this seller.

`The Curse of the Jade Scorpion' is a standard Woody Allen comedy homage / satire of an historical dramatic / film genre, in the same way that `Shadows and Fog' was a take-off on 1930s German expressionism and `A Mid-Summer's Night Sex Comedy' was a takeoff on Shakespeare's `A Mid-Summer's Night Dream'. The movie is also `standard' Woody in that many of Allen's stock company of actors and production team are working on the film, including Wallace Shawn and David Ogden Stiers. The lead actors Dan Aykroyd, Helen Hunt, and Charlize Theron are all working with Allen for the first time, but as Aykroyd says in the notes, not for want of trying. The stock quote from actors in an Allen film when they talk about getting the call to work with Woody is that they never have to be asked twice.The movie parodies a 1940's whodunit that would have been a perfect vehicle for Humphrey Bogart in the Allen role of insurance investigator and Lauren Bacall in the roll of daughter of a wealthy burglary victim, played in this movie by Charlize Theron. Both castings are the basis of two of the more prominent humorous situations. Seeing nebbish Woody playing a role typically performed by Bogart or James Cagney or John Garfield or Edgar G. Robinson is the biggest running gag of the film. One evocation of this gag is when Allen finds himself entering an erotic encounter with the very luscious Theron. The reason the encounter is not consummated is part of the underlying story line, so I cannot say much more without giving away the heart of the movie. The joke is in how this circumstance can detour Allen from bedding Theron. Aside from this episode, Theron's appearance in the movie is poorly used. The only excuse may be that this appearance was still a good two years before Theron's Academy Award for `Monster', so she was not even at the same level of star power as costars Aykroyd and Hunt.Aykroyd and Hunt, especially Hunt, are at the heart of the story line. Aykroyd is the boss at the insurance company at which Allen's character has worked as the head loss investigator for many years. Allen's character has been very successful at this job, largely through a talented intuition and a network of informers. Hunt is a newly hired efficiency expert charged with improving the profitability of the company. In this role, she immediately clashes with Allen's old time testosterone stereotype who views Hunt in much the same light as he sees the luscious office girls. This clash, leading to Hunt's hiring an outside detective agency to investigate two very similar burglaries, is the main foreground action, sharing the stage with the love affair between Hunt and Aykroyd.One thing I always like about Allen films is that once you buy into his basic premise or setting for the movie, his presentation of human nature is generally quite accurate, contrary to implausible behavior in many other comedies, not to mention plainly impossible premises based on miracle changes in age or body switching. In this film, Allen's character is quite competent at his job and his colleagues stand by him even when evidence connecting him to the burglaries mounts, gathered by the outside agency. We are dealing with stereotypes here, but they are realistic stereotypes.As always, Allen has a roster of stars behind the camera as well as in front of it. One of his greatest strengths seems be in building a strong team that historically always brings his films in on schedule and within budget, with a critical if not a popularly successful movie. Allen's studios have probably gotten into the habit of expecting him to create movies produced for 20 million and netting 25 million. Money in the bank, for sure.As Allen movies go, this is not his best comedy, and it is certainly not his worst. It has a happy ending with none of the angst of `Manhattan' and none of the pathos of `The Purple Rose of Cairo'. It is the kind of movie that can be enjoyed by people who are not confirmed Woodman fans. Up to this point, DVDs of Allen films generally do not have a lot of special features. All the usual subtitle, trailer, and biographic extras are there, but nothing else. I really have no problem with this, as I would much rather see Allen spend his time on his next movie rather than spicing up the extras on a good movie which can stand on its own very well, thank you.Recommended to anyone who likes intelligent comedies. Especially recommended to Woody Allen fans.

What can one say about Woody Allen Films other that Hilarious!! Great Dialog, great characters, great scenery!!! The Blind Man character who looks at the bill put in his cup is to die for!!! One of the many films from a Great Artist who actually touches everyone with his humor. Enjoy!!!

Saw it in the theater, loved it. Perfect copy. Sealed in original factory packaging. GREAT Price. Movie is out-of-print.

Like his character Gill Pender in Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen has a vein of nostalgia running through his core which comes out to terrific effect in his period films. The Nineteen Twenties and Thirties are Allen's golden ages and they are presented once again in The Curse of The Jade Scorpion. The plot is a homage to early American talkies and involves detectives, robberies, magicians, hypnotism, wise cracks and as always with Allen's films, dames. The latter are exquisitely represented through the fantastic Helen Hunt as Allen/Briggs' nemesis and love interest, and the sumptuous Charlize Theron as the femme fatale and fantasy woman, which Allen often likes to include in his films. Add to this potent mixture the usual highly complimentary music score, and you have a film which is entertaining, beautifully shot and, if you are a Woody Allen fan, another example of why he is one of the best directors ever to get behind a camera (and pen a script and act as well)

Mediocre for Woody.

great film and music

Marvellous dialogue

This offering from an older Woody Allen is set in the 1940s, about the adventures of an ageing insurance investigator and his clashes with with a new bright female executive in the company he works for. Not many film plots involve hypnosis, and this makes for an unusual and interesting story with romance thrown in. All in all, a most enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. Highly recommended.