The Gods Must Be Crazy/The Gods Must Be Crazy II

I'd just like to comment on one element of this release: the dubbing. Not only is it poorly done, it is also ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY. Why did the publishers feel the need to dub English over English? In my humble opinion, they have ruined much of the more subtle humour that was originally carried by the speech inflections of the actors. Moreover, the dubbing is inconsistent; in particular, Mputi appears to have been over-voiced only partially. How else does one explain three voices when there are only two people in the scene?

I'm sorry, but I am most disappointed with this state of affairs.

I've watched these movies several times in several different groups, and parts of them ALWAYS get big belly-laughs.

The DVD transfers are quite adequate - High Definition Wide-Screen. I doubt these films could LOOK any better with the source material they had.

Several reviewers remarked about their annoyance on the accompanying documentary that translation is not offered for the comments of Kalahari Bushman star N!xau. I was initially upset too, then I thought - "hey, how about pushing the subtitle button on the remote" - abracadabra!!! N!xau's enlightening words suddenly came with English subtitles!

These films are little gems, and I'm always entertained watching them. Check it out - two films for the price of one!

Like Joe Camp's 1974 "Benji", Jamie Uys' "The Gods Must Be Crazy" is of the latter category. It's a very personal and different film with a whole lot of heart. If you are a fan of big-budget Hollywood movies, then the Gods Must be Crazy most likely will fall flat on your deaf ears. But if you are in the mood for something original and special, then watch the two films in this collection and see if you aren't delighted with the already growing cult audience that cherish these movies.

You won't find any Hollywood celebrities or car chase scenes or steamy erotic sex scenes. You won't find state-of-the-art special effects or computer animation wizardry here. You won't find a huge cast or any cinematic indulgence at all. What you will find however is a film like none you have ever seen before!

I won't go into what the two films in this set are about, or tell the plot. I will say however that this is an African product that is as warm and human as anything Francios Truffaut did for French cinema. Sure there are quirks and low-budget charms galore, but they somehow add flavor to this little masterpiece rather than take away from its legacy.

Whoever you are, audiences either love or hate the Gos Must be Crazy. My wish is for everyone to see the film and keep an open mind - let the film speak to you and don't get hung up on the many little idiosyncracies and imperfections in the production and remember that this is the sole effort of one man on an extremely limited budget. Instead, get into the story and embrace the little bushmen and laugh with N!xau and the other characters in this strange but charming little film.

If only Hollywood made films with this much originality and character as this.