Wanted: The Harder They Come
06-03-00 | 09:58 AM
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From: "Sitting on a beach, earning 20%"
I had not heard of this until Criterion anounced it. After it was anounced I looked into it and it sounds like it is really cool. I am a fan of Jamaican music, and Jimmy Cliff and Toots are awsome. I would be interested in any bodies input on this film.
06-03-00 | 12:55 PM
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From: I was here but I disappear
The Harder They Come is a very cool movie. It offers a unique style since there wasn't much of a film industry in Jamaica in the 70's. The film is very raw and has a definite hand-made quality to it. It is dark and moves at a crazy pace. This is at odds with how incredibly sophisticated and beautiful the music is, since, of course, there was one hell of a music industry in Jamaica.
The story involves a country ne'er-do-well (Jimmy Cliff) coming to the big city after the death of a relative. He wants to become a singing star but doesn't really want to work too hard. He gets in trouble for all sorts of stuff and kills a cop. He also eventually cuts the title song which, along with Many Rivers To Cross, also by Cliff and on the soundtrack here, is one of the most perfect pop songs ever recorded. All hell breaks out. The story is a bit hard to follow and doesn't always make sense but it's the energy of the thing that defines it and it is a great ride.
I never say the Criterion LD of this, just a crummy vhs, so I'm anxiously awaiting the dvd release.
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The story involves a country ne'er-do-well (Jimmy Cliff) coming to the big city after the death of a relative. He wants to become a singing star but doesn't really want to work too hard. He gets in trouble for all sorts of stuff and kills a cop. He also eventually cuts the title song which, along with Many Rivers To Cross, also by Cliff and on the soundtrack here, is one of the most perfect pop songs ever recorded. All hell breaks out. The story is a bit hard to follow and doesn't always make sense but it's the energy of the thing that defines it and it is a great ride.
I never say the Criterion LD of this, just a crummy vhs, so I'm anxiously awaiting the dvd release.
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06-03-00 | 10:55 PM
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From: Mars
I have the Criterion LD(which might be out of print by now, I guess) and unfortunately, it's pretty bare, with no extra features that I know of. Hopefully they will put together something more special for the DVD.
06-04-00 | 02:52 AM
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quote:<HR>I have the Criterion LD(which might be out of print by now, I guess)
and unfortunately, it's pretty bare, with no extra features that I know
of. Hopefully they will put together something more special for the
DVD.<HR>
SPECIAL FEATURES
Widescreen digital transfer, supervised by
writer-director Perry Henzell
Audio commentary by Perry Henzell and
starJimmy Cliff
Exclusive video interview with Island Records
founder Chris Blackwell
Illustrated bio-discographies on the film’s
contributing musicians
English subtitles for the deaf and hearing
impaired
10-31-00 | 10:18 AM
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From: I was here but I disappear
Shipped! Thanks buy.com!
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10-31-00 | 01:39 PM
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From: Olympia, WA
Watched the Criterion DVD last night & it's image is much, much better than my old VHS tapes. Tonight I'm gonna listen to the commentary track & I hear it's really good. cheers, Tony Block
10-31-00 | 03:44 PM
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From: Lakewood,OH,USA
I saw this one when I was in college and have always remembered it fondly. Great soundtrack (if you don't know Toots and the Maytals, get into them now!), good story. I got my copy today and will treasure it. (Note- those of you who might have seen the recent Third World Cop, now out on dvd, and hestitate about harder they come because of it's amateurishness,there is no comparison)
