Customer Reviews

An Officer and a Gentleman (Widescreen)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Even though we had a mail strike I still got the movie in a decent span of time. Thank you so much. The DVD is in great store new shape. Thanks again:)

Richard Gere gives a very natural and fantastic performance as Zachary Mayo. Zachary goes through many challenges and tests of emotional and physical endurance on his way to becoming a naval officer via navy officer candidate school. He ends up becoming close friends with another fellow officer candidate named Sid Worley (well played by David Keith). Both Zach and Sid also meet and fall in love during their time in training. Zach's love interest Paula is played by Debra Winger. Sid's love interest Lynette is played by Lisa Blount. Louis Gossett Jr. plays a Marine Gunnery Sargeant by the name of Emil, who is a drill instructor tasked with shaping the officer candidates into leaders. I felt an urge to watch the movie because I use to be in the navy, and I was curious to get an idea of what it might be like for a soon to be officer going through bootcamp compared to the process of an enlisted person through bootcamp (I honorably served in the enlisted ranks from June 2000 until May 2009). The movie itself only takes place in one location, but I did enjoy how the characters forged special friendships and implied the traveling adventures that were going to take place once they graduated from officer candidate school (I appreciate the travel and the many wonderful friends that I met while I was in the navy). The only caveat that I had with the movie was how some of the women were portrayed. The main female characters were beautiful but were depicted as women whose only chance at making something of themselves in life depended the long term plans of their male partners. In real life (in and outside of the military) many women have unlimited potential to achieve whatever they want regardless of their romantic status (it would have been nice if the movie would have portrayed the women as being poised for success regardless of what happens in their romantic lives). I understand that this movie was made in the early 80's before many more women became naval officers. I just wish that they would have showed a more personal romantic life of the one female officer candidate in the school as well as the men that were featured. I only say this because (over a month ago) I currently ran across an article in both airforce times and navy times that told how there is a high rate of military female veterans committing suicide, and one of the reasons cited was the fact that many of these veterans were not acknowledged for having done legitimate military service due to them being women, and as a result feelings of isolation resulted. I myself do not endorse or condone suicide because I appreciate being alive regardless of external circumstances that may appear, but I have empathy and compassion for those who do (whether military or civilian). Officer and a Gentleman is a fantastic movie, but it would be nice if more movies were featured that highlighted the personal lives of military female officers so that more members of the general public can see how both men and women make a positive contribution to our all volunteer military. Aside from my personal rant, I still highly recommend this movie as one to watch especially if you are open to seeing one of many ways of how a military person balances their personal and professional life in an interesting manner.

This 1982 romantic classic is a perfect remedy for Valentine's Day. This movie not only pleases the woman you love, but it's only enjoyable for the guys, too. I'm a man, so there I admit I liked the film. I'm not too keen on romantic movies, but if the story is about a man who trying "to be all he can be" and trying to get the girl, that's my ticket home.

This "chick flick" has a young Richard Gere playing a self seeking, ill-bred nobody who enlists in the Navy training corps under a strict and disciplined drill instructor(Louis Gossett, Jr. who gives a Oscar winning performance) who teaches him the fine line of courage, friendship and compassion toward his fellow man. And of course his hard work pays off by wooing the lovely Debra Winger where both of indulge into tendor passion.

This movie is oozing of sexiness and the commanding performances by Gere and Winger are all worth while. The film has enticing moments of drama, which are perceptive to the viewer. The timeless song UP WHERE WE BELONG may be kinda fruity to listen for a guy, but hey admit it! Some of you sing it in the shower I bet!

Anyway, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMEN should be a perfect gift or viwing on Valentine's Day.

I never really thought to watch this movie because it was considered to be "sappy" but watching it on cable, one can appreciate the romance portrayed in this movie. Gere plays a naval cadet training to be an officer who meets a factory woman played by Deborah Winger. His character is unemotional although he is love with the girl. His friend, however, is opposite of him. He was willing to love the woman who was Winger's friend in the movie, but she made it clear that love was the least thing she was looking for in a man and he met his own demise. Although this movie is over twenty years old, it is still a good movie to watch. Sometimes romance doesn't have to be about sex. It's about the emotion, the heart.

When I saw this movie as a young adult, I found it to be a very interesting, sweet, coming of age movie. The movie follows Richard Gere as "Zack Mayo" who joins the Navy and goes through Officer Candidate School. Along the way, he learns the meaning of friendship, discipline, and love.

The beginning has a very poignant episode of flashbacks going back to "Mayo's" childhood, his father's treatment of him, and his harsh upbringing. It is through this upbringing, that you begin to understand why "Mayo" acts the way he does through the first half of the movie.

The friendship between he and David Keith is a special one, one that tests its very meaning. Debra Winger does an excellent job of a local factory girl, looking to find someone special. Along comes the smooth talking, loner "Mayo" who is hell-bent on completing Officer Candidate School without anyone's help. Their chemistry is magical.

Louis Gossett Jr. is the senior drill instructor who tests "Mayo's" committment and perserverance. Gosstt Jr. is "Foley" who's job is to weed out those who don't belong and he does a phenomenal portrayal of that.

Some of my favorite scenes were with Gere and Winger at the "Tides Inn", Gere and Gosset Jr. in the blimp hanger, and the latter half of the film with Gere's changing of character.

This is an excellent movie for anyone who has ever hoped for a better life, a true challenge, and had people who cared for them.

This film, if not a classic already, will surely soon become one. I love it!! It not only has the military aspect, but also the chick flick appeal. Enjoy!!

... A son's battle with his own perception of his father and his expectations of himself. A man learning to trust and love. If don't expect anything more than that, you can enjoy this film easily.

The first time I watched an officer and a gentleman was when I was only 9 years old, thanks to a bored baby sitter.Me and the babysitter both fell in love with Richard Gere, his masculinity, his unhappy bad boy turned into a mature man theme, how he looks at Debra Winger, how his passion towards her turns into a supportive love...This is one of the best performances of Gere along with American jigolo. I always think he is a very good actor, not just handsome man. However, his gift is his charisma. His acting makes you believe that he is the most attractive man ever, and the woman he is in love with is the luckiest. He makes Debra Winger shine, just like he later did with Julia Roberts in Pretty Women. Not that Debra Winger is not great, she is very talented with the most radiant smile.The on screen chemistry between them is one that is hard to find nowadays.
The story is not only about love, it deals with the rough path to maturity, the extend to friendship and sacrifices you can make. It is very well written and well played with an excellent cast. I still cannot forget the part where Sid (Gere's best friend) loses it.And the song is major, makes the perfect finishing touch to final-ooh how I wish to be Paula in that scene

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN is, and always will be, one of the greatest films I've ever seen. Along with rave reviews, 2 Oscars, 9 Golden Globe nominations, landing #29 on the AFI's 100 Years, 100 Passions, and grossing $127 million dollars in the U.S. alone, it remains one of the greatest films of all time. The story is about Zack Mayo (Richard Gere in his best film role to date), a recent college graduate who wants to get away from his skirt-chasing father. His mother committed suicide when Zack was rather young, and ever since then he has lived with his father and therefore, has an attitude problem and has a difficult time trusting people. When he enrolls in the Navy where he meets his match, his drill instructor (played by Oscar winner Louis Gosset Jr.-I can't remember his character's name) who teaches him, maybe not in the most pleasant way, dicipline and that no man can survive alone. Like Morgan Freeman in THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, Zack knows how to get things, which lands him into trouble with his drill instructor but refused to D.O.R.-drop on request. His determination keeps him in school. At a party, he and his first real friend Sid (played by David Keith in his breakthrough and Golden Globe nominated role) meet two friends, Paula (played to her first of three Oscar nominations, Debra Winger) and Lynette (played by Lisa Blount, in her Golden Globe nominated role). While Sid and Lynette get right to it and sleep together on their first date, Zack and Paula take it slow, and true love blossoms. Paula teaches Zack that it is alright to love someone with all your heart. We learn that Lynette has had a series of hurtful relationships and she is ready to trap Sid into marrying her. When he falls for her trap, disastrous consequences follow. This beautiful film about life, loss, and love concludes with a gorgeous end scene.
When I first heard of AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, the title sounded like a thriller. I was so wrong. I later rented it years later, or just three short months ago. I was blown away by it and it quickly joined my top five list, along with LEGENDS OF THE FALL, MOULIN ROUGE!, SAY ANYTHING..., and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. I strongly agree with anyone who says that Richard Gere should have gotten an Oscar nomination for his role. Debra Winger earned herself a well-deserved Oscar nomination, but I honestly would have voted for Jessica Lange for FRANCES. She rather unfortunatly lost out to Meryl, but that year she won for her good-but-nothing-spectacular role in TOOTSIE. Anyway, Louis Gosse Jr. won an Oscar and the song "UP WHERE WE BELONG" won for Best Origonal Song. By the way, the last scene has been used as a spoof in many TV shows and movies. So far I've seen two-on a SIMPSONS episode and a FRIENDS episode in the second season. This lovely film will always remain untouched as a classic.

Richard Gere had done some brilliant work in earlier films, Report To The Commissioner (1975), Looking For Mr. Goodbar (1977), Yanks (1979) and American Gigolo (1980), just to name a few. But this film is probably the biggest breakthrough for Richard Gere. After An Officer And A Gentleman was released, Gere was offered more mature roles and he hasn't stopped working since. This film is everybody's favorite and the most watchable. How many times can you say you have watched this film? Everyone in the cast is perfect for the role they play. And I still believe that Richard Gere and Debra Winger had screen chemistry. What a brilliant cast! Richard Gere, Robert Loggia, Louis Gossett Jr, David Keith, Tony Plana, Lisa Blout, Lisa Eilbacher, David Caruso, Grace Zabriske and Victor French. I think congratulations should go to Tommy Petersen, who played "Young Zack", for making his role memorable too. I recall Lisa Eilbacher telling on a talk show that one deleted scene was her eating a bug as part of a survival test. This DVD unfortunatly does not contain any deleted scenes, but it does have a wonderful Audio Commentary by Director Taylor Hackford. If you have seen this film many times before, go ahead and turn on the Audio Commentary. A lot of tidbits and filmmaking secrets will be shared with you by Taylor Hackford. Debra Winger was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, Louis Gossett Jr. won the Academy Award for Supporting Actor, the end credits music, "Up Where We Belong" won the Academy Award while the original score by Jack Nitzsche was only nominated. The film itself was nominated for Writing--Screenplay written directly for the screen, and was nominated for Film Editing. 1982 was a good year for films, a lot of good quality films and it made a tough year for the Academy to choose and vote. Unfortunatly, An Officier And A Gentleman didn't even get a nomination for Best Picture and Best Director and Richard Gere was not nominated either. But you can buy this DVD and enjoy it anytime you want.