Wild Wild West (DVD, 1999)

Everything about WILD WILD WEST, the movie, is just plain bad: tacky special effects; clumsy direction; an embarrassing screenplay; plus a fine, bewildered cast wasted in totally unworkable roles. But as bad as everything else is, the base rot of WWW goes directly to its reworked premise. No matter how open minded one might be, or how much one prides oneself on being socially color blind, there is just no way to honestly accept replacing Robert Conrad, TV's James West, with Will Smith. The time and the place dictate that James West be a white male -- unless, the filmmakers acknowledge and embrace the incongruity and use it for a real purpose.

Yet, the filmmakers want it both ways: the audience is expected to be able to ignore Smith's skin color, while at the same time the entire plot is based on his confrontation with a white racist trying to reestablish Confederate power and seize control of the U.S. government. How can you respect or believe in a film or filmmakers that get all preachy about the evils of racism while all along dealing with the issue with absolutely no respect for historical honesty? It is not clear if having Smith play James West as a cocky, street smart, John Shaft-style character was intended to be a joke, social commentary or just absurd politically correct pandering to black audiences, but it is clear that it does not work. The most outrageously unbelievable thing about WILD WILD WEST is not the wildly improbable sci-fi inventions but that the Smith character actually makes it to the end of the film without being lynched. It's not that the anachronism of a cocksure 20th century black man confronting 19th century bigotry isn't workable, because that very time-warp racial comedy had already been done with much greater success in the Mel Brooks classic, BLAZING SADDLES. Unlike WWW, Brooks and company realized the sheer idiocy of the premise, yet used that to mock both the black and the white stereotypes with equal glee.

Where BLAZING SADDLES is an honest farce, WILD WILD WEST is dishonest and cowardly. All involved probably thought they were being pretty daring by flaunting convention and hiring Smith, but they did not hire Will Smith the African American, they hired Will Smith the action hero movie star. They built WILD WILD WEST around Smith's race, but only to exploit his contemporary Hollywood image, even to the point of letting him create and perform a totally inappropriate (and totally bad) rap song at the end. You can sense the film exploiting both Smith's star image and his race, while not wishing to risk challenging either. The film tries to reinvent "The Wild Wild West" TV show, but the changes are literally skin deep. To really explore and compare racism in America by blending the attitudes of two different American centuries would have been too wild wild of an idea for these timid timid filmmakers.

A comedy and satire starring Will Smith and Kevin Kline acting as early U S Marshalls trying to thwart the schemes of a disabled mechanical genious from destroying and selling the United States.

Cool sets and cool gadgets help this movie become quite entertaining, indeed. Very original and somewhat comedic. Although comedy and action are NOT one of my favorite fortes, I DO like this film. I like to watch the action scenes of the Western genre within this movie.

i have all of his other movies and i needed this one, so i knew ebay would have it. the movies show will smith in his famous funny light that takes me back to his fresh prince days,of which i have all seasons.

They deserve all full stars for being excellent sellers. Sorry about the stars it's a mistake from me, it never happened before I was probably distracted. Sorry again. Barbara

I'd been looking everywhere possible for this movie for the better part of a year. All of the sudden, I give eBay a shot and sure enough, this seller has it! I was pumped, it arrived quickly, and it's brand new. Needless to say, I was irritating everyone in the house with "Wicki Wicki Wild!" within a few business days. I'll return for more in due time :)

Movie arrived in impeccable time. Excellent Condition. A great movie from an awesome and efficient seller. thats all one could ask for.

i loved it cos when i got it was stil in its package and in great shape and i love the movie.it got to me in a good time

This Ebayer went above and beyond!! There was a slight problem in payment on his end. After it was taken care of he shipped it express and I revieved it even fasted then I was promised!!! Great Ebayer!! Hope to do business again with this Ebayer soon!!!!

Reasonable price. Easy Transaction. Shipped Fast Arrived fast. Great Product!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I watched this movie for the first time the other night and I liked it so much since then it has been on HBO I believe and I have watched it verytime since then its a funny movie with great actors anyone woulf love it

The dvd itself was really scratched and glitches while playing. I wouldn't of bought this if I would hav known the condition!

Well I love the older movies, and I like all the movies that Will Smith play in, he a good actor. The cost of the movie was great also was the shipping.

Great movie but a little far fetched (no one did there home work on the phyfic and mechanic of the special effech but entertaining-worth watching-

I loved the movie and getting it from half.com. I will continue getting my movies from this website it is so easy and fun.

Love that it arrived so swiftly and in perfect condition! I would recommend this saler to anyone! Product was also wrapped well and arrived quicker than i had expected!

It was a movie i had purchased on VHS back in 2000 when i was stationed over in the Middle East. Had let someone borrow it, never really got a chance to see it and it tranferred with the people I let borrow it. So having seen little bits & pieces of the moviue over time, I decided to purchase it on E-Bay, received like new condition to discounted price.

It's good in it's own right even thought a bit disapointing when compared to the series. Gordon lacks some of the warmth of the series but he's got his own since of humor that is fun. So don't copare it just enjoy it.

great movie, cause i like it, and i have it, will smith, haha, its great, i love it will smith kevin costnerd yeah their great actors