Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5006 in DVD
• Released on: 1999-11-16
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 82 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The title of The Castle refers to a ramshackle suburban tract house so close to an airport that planes fly mere yards above the roof. Worse than that, it's built on a toxic landfill and right beside humming high-power lines. But to patriarch Darryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton) and his dim-witted but cheerful brood, it's home. Darryl has devoted himself to constantly improving it with modifications such as a false chimney that, as he brags to a man sent to estimate the value of the property, makes the house look more picturesque. When the owners of the airport serve Darryl notice that his home is being compulsorily purchased, Darryl hires a small-time lawyer and pursues his case all the way to the Australian Supreme Court.

This Australian box-office smash has something of the same buoyant spirit as The Full Monty. Its relationship with its characters resembles the farcical intimacy of classic sitcoms such as Fawlty Towers, in which crazed behaviour is balanced by the genuine warmth of the whole cast. Caton in particular is a sweet, engaging presence; Darryl Kerrigan is a fool, but a fool with dignity, and he carries you through the movie. --Bret Fetzer, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews

Wonderful heartwarming
I can watch this film over and over and still enjoy it just as much as the first time. It was a delight. Loved every character. Great humour, honest wit and charm from start to end.

"It's the vibe of the thing."
The Castle is an absolute delight from start to finish, a good-natured, open-hearted no-budget Australian comedy shot in 11 days that really works, not least because you really love the characters. They may live in a less than des res at the end of a runway and have worse taste than trailer trash, but they're truly happy with their lot and each other so you find yourself laughing with them as much as at them as they fight a compulsory purchase order on their `castle' with the aid of their lawyer who can't even get his photocopier to work properly, let alone interpret law beyond `the vibe.' It breaks a lot of the rules of construction, relying heavily on narration and repetition, but it really works. Easily the most joyously likeable film I've seen in ages.

The NTSC DVD is the US version of the film, but unlike most Miramax acquisitions, the changes are very minor - no missing scenes for once, merely a couple of minor dialogue changes from Strine phrases that might leave US viewers scratching their heads.

How's the serenity?
I've introduced this movie to Norwegians, English, Germans and many others. It's a bloody ripper! Even just thinking about it now (and I haven't watched it for over a month) I start to giggle.
It's stereotypical, cliched and so honest it's almost scary!
if there was an option for 12 out of 5 I'd award it 15!

p.s.
I've been to Bonnie Doon and it's just like in the movie!!!