| The Natural [Region 2] |  | Director: Barry Levinson
Actors: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Wilford Brimley
Category: DVD
Buy New: $29.89
New (3) from $29.89
Rating:  159 reviews
Sales Rank: 212769
Format: Pal
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Dubbed), German (Dubbed), Italian (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Running Time: 134 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5035822806436
ASIN: B00005956M
Theatrical Release Date: May 11, 1984
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com essential video
From the sun-dappled heartland, a young man (Robert Redford, in soft lighting) emerges as maybe the best baseball player anybody's ever seen. On his way to the majors, he is cut down by an enigmatic black widow (Barbara Hershey) and vanishes for many years. When he reemerges, a silent mystery, he lands a spot with the New York team and begins tearing up the league--he's still the natural. Fans of the Bernard Malamud novel will be dismayed at the pure mythical hokum of this film, but baseball fanatics have been known to watch and rewatch this one; after all, it's constructed as a kind of shrine to the national pastime. Barry Levinson (Rain Man) directs the movie with an unabashed devotion to the game, although the film could use more of the realities of chewing tobacco and pine tar. Redford is fine, and Kim Basinger and Oscar-nominated Glenn Close are effective as the women in his life. The crowning touch is the soaring, extraordinary music by Randy Newman, the singer-songwriter turned orchestral composer. --Robert Horton
Amazon.com
Director Barry Levinson mentions in his video introduction the 1984 movie was rushed to theaters and this 2007 DVD is more the film he originally intended. This "director's cut" adds about 15 minutes of footage and deletes 5. It tightens the first third of the film, yet any fan of the lyrical prologue set in perfect synchronization with Randy Newman's score will be disappointed. Now the beginning is told in flashback as the elder Hobbs returns home. (It's also confusing to keep track of which Hobbs story you are watching when they are both on a train.) The changes do not improve the story or character; it simply packs in more information before Hobbs enters the Knight's dugout. After that, there are a few new scenes and many extensions, most involving Memo (Kim Basinger) and Red (Richard Farnsworth). None of the additions are exceptional. One could hope there is an Easter egg with the remastered original edition. What is on the second disc are above-average featurettes with interviews from most of the major talent. The best little ditties includes Newman's playful "lyrics" to his theme music and Levinson's divulgence that he is the radio play-by-play man. There's a good discussion on adapting (and changing) the novel, the allegorical myths, and the real-life inspirations including a heart-felt segment on Eddie Waitkus, a baseball player who was shot by an obsessed fan. A 5.1 Dolby soundtrack is now available and compliments an excellent video upgrade. --Doug Thomas
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| Customer Reviews: Read 154 more reviews...
 A classic for the ages July 4, 2009
Joker (Michigan)
When I first saw The Natural, I knew I was watching a classic or future classic. Robert Redford gives a great performance as both a 19 year old and a 35 year old Roy Hobbs. While he does look a lot older than 19 during the early part of the movie, it is passable. The "middle aged rookie" 16 years later is just 35. I always laugh when I see and hear his manager say, "Fellow, you don't start playing ball at your age, you RETIRE." Like the guy is so old! He's only 35. Oh well.
The entire cast gives great performances. I especially enjoyed the performances by Barbara Hershey, Kim Basinger, and Glenn Close.
Set in 1939, this is a story of a former star baseball pitcher who meets a wacko woman on a train to Chicago in 1923 who attempts to take his life. His injury sidetracks him for 16 years, then he comes back with a vengeance after he had basically disappeared. When he returns to the game at age 35, he's basically written off immediately by his new team, the New York Knights. He not only wows his doubters, but he becomes the biggest star in the game for less than one season. The very injury that sidetracked him 16 years earlier comes back to sideline him once again near the end of the season when the Knights are in the thick of a pennant race. It is at this time that his past association with the woman who tried to kill him 16 years earlier is starting to be revealed. It makes no difference, because after he leaves the hospital he hits a dramatic pennant-clinching home run.
If you haven't seen this movie, I definitely recommend it. It's a true classic that takes place in 1939 -- the tail end of the depression and at the dawn of World War II. The movie has a 1939 feel to it. If you like a dramatic movie with a good story where the underdog (Roy Hobbs) and his underdog team prevails, definitely see this.
25 Years Of Pleasure June 22, 2009
James Pertierra (Cohoes, NY USA)
To say that I am a fan of this movie would be an understatement. I was in Buffalo while they were filming it, but had no clue about the book as, even as a hard core baseball fan and baseball book fan, I had never read it.
I did read it after I saw the movie when it came out in 1984 and I am glad that the ending of the book was changed. The overall tone of the movie would not lead you to believe that Roy Hobbs would do nothing less than what he did in the movie.
I have watched all different versions of this movie over the past quarter century and have watched in at least 40 times over the years and I love the movie more and more each time I see it.
There are only a couple things I would quibble about and, believe it or not they are all in the game AFTER Glen Close stands up. If you listen to the commentary by the play by play broadcaster in the game (Levinson forced into extra duty), the Knights are playing in Chicago but are batting in the bottom of the inning for each home run.
Totally minor and insignificant in the total package.
The Director's cut with a the added scenes and reconstructed opening sequence is wonderful. I love both versions, but the new version makes so much sense and fills in a few gaps.
I know that the reviews of the movie were mixed, but, like It's A Wonderful Life, "The Natural" has gotten better and better with age.
One final word, in my opionion, Randy Newman's score is the best movie score to grace a film. The Natural without Newman would be un-natural.
Jim Pertierra
6/21/2009
'FANTASY BASEBALL AT IT'S BEST!!!!" June 12, 2009
Dan Celli,X,DJ. (SAN FRANCISCO,CA)
When Batboy Bobby Savoy played by George Wilkosz shakes his head with a satisfying grin after Roy Hobbs
hit's it into the stands from the batting cage with his first smash at the ball, you know things are looking up.
Of course there will be some roadblocks along the way. But Hobb's will triumph in the end.
The cranky manager,Wilford Brimley is a hoot! Great acting all the way down to the smallest part.
Kim Basinger's character play's a beautiful book cover,but with in the book are pages of deceit and selfishness.
Glenn Close's character has substance and true love;"You know,I believe we have 2 lives;the life we learn with and the life we live with after that." When a boy becomes a man he recognizes which woman
has lasting value.
There is lot's of baseball action here in this feel good lump in the throat fantasy baseball movie epic masterpiece.
Great theme & soundtrack music by Randy Newman and directing by Barry levinson ("Diner","Avalon" etc.)
+lot's of extra's! Batter up,beat!!!!
 A baseball classic May 25, 2009
Alaric Raid
Hollywood unfortunately doesn't make many good baseball movies. This is one of the few good ones. A great story of redemtion and a comeback done with morals, despite past mistakes. My original got damaged, so I bought the directors cut. A mistake, I didn't like all the cut scenes in the beginning, it takes away from the movie and the plot gets lost. So I had to get this one. This version adds to the characters depth. You get to follow not only secondary characters, but how Roy Hobbs is cocky at a young age and makes mistakes. It is a tail of how someone takes their talent for granted and doesn't realize it until its almost too late. Get the original version, rent the director's cut just to see the added scenes.
one of the best movies ever... May 16, 2009
Wesley Rowland (Oregon, USA)
I have watched this movie at least 25 times!
The acting is superb, the story is AWESOME, and the time frame in history is perfect for a story like this...
Roy Hobbs is a Hero not only to people in the movie, but a hero to real people not in the movie.
He is my hero!!!
Everything he stands for, believes in and his drive/determination are unmatched.
Not just a great sports movie, but a great movie overall...
This movie will pick you up and make you believe in yourself...
Every little boys dreams come true with Hobbs & Wonderboy...
I hope they put this movie on bluray disc and add some more special features.
Thanks for reading my review...
P.S. For the serious Fan of this movie, I know where you can get a Knights Replica Jacket, just like the one in the movie.
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