Adaptation (Superbit Collection) | 
| Actors: Jim Beaver, Nicolas Cage, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, Gary Farmer
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.94
Buy Used: $1.70
You Save: $13.24 (89%)
New (66) Used (112) Collectible (5) from $1.70
Rating:  320 reviews
Sales Rank: 4324
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 99
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 114 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.5
MPN: D07601D
ISBN: 0767879805
UPC: 043396076013
EAN: 9780767879804
ASIN: B00005JLRE
Theatrical Release Date: January 10, 2003
Release Date: May 20, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Nicholas cage is a confused l.A. Screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy sexual frustration self-loathing and by the screenwriting ambitions of his free-loading twin brother (also played by cage). Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 10/23/2007 Starring: Nicholas Cage Chris Cooper Run time: 115 minutes Rating: R Director: Spike Jonze
Amazon.com
Twisty brilliance from screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze, the team who created Being John Malkovich. Nicolas Cage returns to form with a funny, sad, and sneaky performance as Charlie Kaufman, a self-loathing screenwriter who has been hired to adapt Susan Orlean's book The Orchid Thief into a screenplay. Frustrated and infatuated by Orlean's elegant but plotless book (which is largely a rumination on flowers), Kaufman begins to write a screenplay about himself trying to write a screenplay about The Orchid Thief, all the while hounded by his twin brother Donald (Cage again), who's cheerfully writing the kind of formulaic action movie that Kaufman finds repugnant. By its conclusion, Adaptation is the most artistically ambitious, most utterly cynical, and most uncategorizable movie ever to come out of Hollywood. Also starring Meryl Streep (as Susan Orlean), Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, and Brian Cox; superb performances throughout. --Bret Fetzer
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| Customer Reviews: Read 315 more reviews...
 Over-the-Top and Brilliant - One of a Kind Film May 24, 2009
John S. Gamble (San Diego, CA)
As a writer I would have loved to give this 5 stars, but it was just too much at times.
The script was slow, meandering, shocking, literary and character-driven. In other words impossible to make into a film.
Not so fast. The film was brilliant, engrossing, hysterical, fantastical and complex.
I came to this with fresh eyes, not having seen Being John Malkovich or knowing the work of director Spike Jonze.
Certainly the work on this film was conducted far aloft on a tightrope and they were performing without a net. It's easy to see why talent such as Meryl Streep would be attracted to the role of Susan Orlean, the erudite writer turned blood-thirsty maniac.
Nicholas Cage does his usual good work as twin brothers who couldn't be more different.
And the character of Charlie Kaufman, one of the twins, does finally experience his epiphany of change at the end, fulfilling Robert McKee's direct directive.
Too bad his road to redemption was full of pathetic self-loathing, loss, death and carnage. How's that for a happy ending?
What a jumble of satirical brilliance and good dirty fun.
Finally, I'd recommend Adaptation to anyone who loves indy films, good books and offbeat character pieces.
If you're the type of person who loves old-fashioned Hollywood shoot-em-ups, like Terminator movies, this film may not be for you.
Cheers.
 Worst Movie Ever May 23, 2009
Artistfire (California)
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
This movie was BY FAR the worst movie I have EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE, that is not an exaggeration. When I saw it, I went for free to the Sneak preview screening compliments of my local radio station, so I didn't actually waste any money on this atrocity (thank the gods). However, It was so utterly bad that I felt I had still been wronged for having wasted my TIME having gone. In addition, this movie has in fact ruined Nicholas Cage for me FOREVER, I cannot take him seriously anymore. The worst mistake he ever made was agreeing to make this movie. If I had a copy, I would not sell it, I would BURN IT!!!
 Thinker April 15, 2009
J. Moyers
"Adaptation.", on a superficial level, is a drama-comedy that is self-referential and existent in the vein of literature. At first assessment, one would suspect that Kaufman was not entirely true to the source material, as though he instead warped Orlean's work ("The Orchid Thief")as a footnote to his own. Deeper analysis indicates this couldn't be anymore wrong. "Adaptation." is about passion and about how a lack of it can make a person existentially miserable. I could make a substantial argument that the film is primarily concerned with passion at the expense of all else (which is a whole other level of irony, because isn't passion the pursuit of an end at the expense of all else?). Passion is also the central theme of "The Orchid Thief" and in this way they are bound. Just pay attention when you view this film, watch as Streep's character yearns for passion and syphons it off of the character of John Laroche (who follows his passions readily and without fear), and watch how Kaufman (the character) invests his passion in the character of Susan Orlean until the climax where he is forced to either accept it and the insecurities it is eternally bound to or to accept the bitter defeat of coming up short. Also, see if you can tell where the movie 'really' ends.
This movie is important, innovative, entertaining and meaningful. The acting is superb, the production is spot on. The agony of writing is adequately captured as well. You probably won't enjoy this if you are looking for simplicity and detest the idea of being engaged by a movie.
One of the greatest films ever created.
Adaptation is a Profound Thing February 1, 2009
Ghost (California)
I've only just seen this movie but I'm sure that I'll buy it. It's definetely more complex than you would think in the beginning, "Is he his twin or is he a dissociative identity disorder piece? Is this adapted from a fictional book or a nonfictional one? And why did I just see one of the twins lying on his back in 'that' room?" I've only seen it once but I'm sure I'll have the answers to all those by the 4th time around or so. I really like this movie, it had me on the edge of my seat booming with the Irish cackle and had me in tears of sorrow, but most importantly it's helped me to laugh at myself. I have no doubt that this movie is not for everyone, especially people who can't admit to themselves that they're at least a little insane, which believe it or not, you are if you are alive on this planet right now. Bottom line, cupcakes chop-choop and a pinkly-powdered peedle-pie, try this movie for something slightly different.
3.5 stars out of 4 January 11, 2009
One-Line Film Reviews (Ann Arbor)
The Bottom Line:
Adaptation is a movie that gets more and more witty and entertaining the more you think about it; while some of the reviewers on the site seem to indicate they found the movie too clever by half, you may rest assured that this movie is just clever enough.
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