Modern Times (Two-Disc Special Edition) [DVD]

***I have a few spoilers included****You know, these are hard times we live in. The world appears to be caving in, crumpling under the weight of worries: war in the Middle East going on and on, uncomfortable changes in weather patters, corruption in politics. The news can really get you down and in a funk. The answer, the antidote: watch Charlie Chaplin. I kid you not. I've seen this film before and each time it just reaches into my heart and tickles me till I'm alive with laughter. Chaplin was a truly gifted comic master with almost no peer except for the much beloved Keaton. "Modern Times" is such a masterpiece and it came at a critical junction in film history. When it was made in 1936, films had already added live speech (Jolson spoke a bit in 1927 in "The Jazz Singer" and talkies were in full swing by the early 30's. Chaplin surely knew that the days of purely silent films was at an end. He rose to the occasion by creating one of the most famous dramatic and comedic masterpieces in all of cinematic history.While speaking per se is not what you notice in "Modern Times", the few speaking parts are funny and used with great effect. What we do notice is Chaplin's unmistakable and incredible physical humor. We see how he falls over, how he moves his feet, how he kicks things with deft accuracy with those oversize shoes. We see him run and skid on the floor. These are hilarious and typical Chaplin moves. In one scene he just goes over the top in what must be one of the most sensational moments. He puts on roller skates and suddenly starts skating around like he has been doing this all his life, showing remarkable ability. Then he puts on a blind fold and shows off, all the while skating within mere inches of a sharp drop to the floor below. The effect makes you gasp out loud each time he comes close to falling over. This is Chaplin at his pinnacle.There are many books written about this film and all one can do is to encourage others to take out, buy it, rent it....just watch and enjoy. Here is a really great film, written, directed and scored by Charlie Chaplin. A must own for the serious fan.

Modern Times is probably one of the most recognized silent films of all time. Funny thing is, its not really a silent film. It has many of the major elements of the silent film era, but this movie was released in 1936, several years after talkies were invented. Sure, its in black and white, the characters don't talk to each other, and Charlie Chaplin reprises his most famous character, "The Little Tramp", for the third and final time, but there are small sound parts. This was Chaplin's way of poking fun at talking pictures.To the casual observer, this could be just a funny little story about an average guy (Chaplin), whose heart is in the right place, yet he doesn't seem to catch a break no matter where he goes or how hard he tries, and a young orphan girl (Paulette Goddard) who steals a loaf of bread and the little tramps heart all at the same time. But there is a dark side to this film, and if it wasn't for Chaplin's genius in physical comedy and satire, the film could have ended up too bleak to really be entertaining.The movie is about two people who are trying make it in a world where all the odds seemed to be stacked against them. The music, written by Chaplin is very poignant. Here we hear the song, "Smile". As it is playing, you begin to hear the lyrics in your head. ("Smile though your heart is aching; Smile even though its breaking;) In spite of all the grey shaded areas, "Modern Times" is a story of hope; hope that can beat down despair. It is a genuine classic that deserves its position in film history.

I have to confess, I had never seen a Charlie Chaplin film before I took a chance and purchased Modern Times on DVD. Why this film, you ask? I remembered it from a biography I saw of Chaplin on television. I was instantly impressed once I inserted it into my DVD player. The more I watch this cute little movie, the funnier it becomes.The DVD is 1.33:1 (standard) and is in black and white. The picture is good enough for a 30's film. Oddly, the picture is "cropped" within a black square as if the screen were zoomed-out slightly. Chaplin wrote the score, being that this film is predominately "silent" (the characters raarely talk, although some do at times). There are title cards used intermittantly throughout as well. The music is very good, and confirms my opinion of Chaplin as a very multifaceted man of many talents.It was a risky purchase that proved to be a wise-buy. You can be sure I will buy more Chaplin films in the future! Shame on the television networks and cable for not making me (and probably many others like me) more aware of this 20th Century icon.

Charlie Chaplin invented many of the modern techniques used in comedy today. When you see this, think Stephen Colbert. I think, after seeing this, he draws a lot of his inspiration from this great character. This film was written at the time when "talkies", or films with dialogue, were first being released. Using no on-screen dialogue (the only audible dialogue is through intercoms of radios), Chaplin makes a statement about the new wave of Talkies. Chaplin vowed that his character, "Tramp" (the main character in this film), would never speak a word in a film. The rise of talkies made it clear it was time to retire this character, so he saw this movie as the perfect opportunity to do so. Get ready to roll on the floor, laughing. Get ready for one of the most emotionally complex comedies ever made. Enjoy!

Truly incredible what was able to be accomplished in such an old film

I have known this film since childhood and viewed it in the cinema, quite a few times. The first time I saw it was in Nakuru, Kenya East Africa in the Odeon Cinema and I literally fell off my seat laughing.. My sides ached with laughter. I thought when I saw it after many years on the DVD that I purchased from you that my reaction would be different, but no Charlie Chaplin always comes up trumps. I also viewed it with a friend and we both let out screams of laughter. This is because "The Little Man" was and still is the greatest comic actor in time and the world, an actor full of talent in many different areas.This was the last time he was to play "the Little Man", so the film has a poignancy that is special and has social comments on the way people dealt with poverty. Charlie Chaplin's films usually had serious social comments on society and politics and did it in a way that has and always will get its' audiences in stitches. Cynthia Allen McLaglen

I thought I knew Chaplin, from the clips and secondhand references everybody has seen, but I've only recently started watching his films properly. If you're not already familiar with them, they are certainly worth exploring. Modern Times is very, very funny, but it's much more than that -- the satire seems as topical today as it ever was, especially with our own recession beginning to really bite. So, instead of watching more formulaic pap on the TV channels tonight, get hold of this and stick it in your DVD player instead. After that, you can try Chaplin in  Charlie Chaplin - Monsieur Verdoux [DVD] [1947 ] Charlie Chaplin - Monsieur Verdoux [DVD] [1947

I hadn't seen any of Chaplin's output for years - certainly nothing after about 1925, so approached this with a bit of trepidation. While not being laugh-out-loud funny it was amusing and poignant - with more "depth" than I thought Chaplin was capable of. Even though there's no 5 stars, I can wholeheartedly recommend.

A classic comedy full of the usual Chaplin combination of humour and pathos. An incisive comment on social conditions of the time that could easily transpose to today. The film is accompanied by wonderful soundtrack composed by Charlie. A great classic and a must for fans.

Chaplin was a genius and this film is arguably his finest. The nose powder scene is hysterical.