When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

[toodeepuntilnow]

Originally Posted by -jonny-

There is no "best of all time." But there are many better than WHMS.

The first to spring to mind are Groundhog Day, The 40 Year Old Virgin and Annie Hall... but given some thought, I'm sure most of us could come up with a pretty long list...

WHMS is my favorite and I have a guilty pleasure love of the "genre."

Also, I've never thought of the films you mentioned as romantic comedies. Nonetheless, Groundhog Day is great but doesn't compare to WHMS.

/.02

[Strevlac]

Best of all-time? Eh, I don't know. I think it's definitely one of the best movies and probably funniest of that year, though. It probably should have been nominated for best pic (or was it?)

[-jonny-]

Originally Posted by toodeepuntilnow

WHMS is my favorite and I have a guilty pleasure love of the "genre."

Also, I've never thought of the films you mentioned as romantic comedies. Nonetheless, Groundhog Day is great but doesn't compare to WHMS.

/.02

Groundhog Day is a much better film than WHMS.

[jmaravig]

No offense to anyone but groundhog day sucked.

[NYorker]

Comparing Groundhog Day to WHMS is like apples & oranges...both are great movies.

[Geode]

Originally Posted by NYorker

Comparing Groundhog Day to WHMS is like apples & oranges...both are great movies.

Yes, you make a good point. I'm not sure about pigeon-holing or force-fitting films into a category and then selecting a "best" from the result.

In some ways I find these two films do have more in common than some other comdies in that they both have a character who starts out being very self-centered and obnoxious and grows and matures before our eyes through time. There is a depth or seriousness that is lacking in most comedies. However, I don't think of "Groundhog Day" as a "romantic comedy".....

They are both superb films. "When Harry Met Sally..." us amongst the best romantic comedies but it clearly has competition in the top drawer category. I think "Notting Hill" is of similar quality. Many people think "Breakfast at Tiffany's" tops all of these. I am not in agreement but, so it goes.

[goodluckchuck]

I don't think WHMS is the best ever, but it was the one that set the pace for the rush of romantic comedies that came out in the 90s, and it probably is one of the best in substance. Many romantic comedies that came out after did not have the story line that this or Sleepless In Seattle had. To me those are true core romantic comedies.

I like Breakfast at Tiffany's, but I don't think it is anything like the type of movie that WHMS is. Back in time they did not do romantic comedies the way WHMS set the tone. Maybe I am just too young.

[Geode]

Originally Posted by goodluckchuck

I don't think WHMS is the best ever, but it was the one that set the pace for the rush of romantic comedies that came out in the 90s, and it probably is one of the best in substance. Many romantic comedies that came out after did not have the story line that this or Sleepless In Seattle had. To me those are true core romantic comedies.

I like Breakfast at Tiffany's, but I don't think it is anything like the type of movie that WHMS is. Back in time they did not do romantic comedies the way WHMS set the tone. Maybe I am just too young.

I agree that the style or tone of romantic comedies tends to change in different eras even if one was to just follow Audrey Hepburn films. "Roman Holiday" and "Sabrina" from the 50's are not of the same ilk as "Breakfast at Tiffany's"...

....Rock Hudson and Doris Day films have yet a different feel with the comedy coming off a different viewpoint towards relationships (bedroom farce).

[horizonline]

Originally Posted by goodluckchuck

I don't think WHMS is the best ever, but it was the one that set the pace for the rush of romantic comedies that came out in the 90s, and it probably is one of the best in substance. Many romantic comedies that came out after did not have the story line that this or Sleepless In Seattle had. To me those are true core romantic comedies.

I like Breakfast at Tiffany's, but I don't think it is anything like the type of movie that WHMS is. Back in time they did not do romantic comedies the way WHMS set the tone. Maybe I am just too young.

This reminds me why I have an opinion of nearly all of these inside each films dedicated thread, and why I have not seen more than a few of them.

[arcadeforest]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

Have you seriously never seen this??!? Easily the best romantic comedy of all time, and just one of the best comedies of all time. And what's more, it's just as good the 100th time as it is the 1st. Definitely check it out!

I have to agree, great movie all the way around regardless of a movie category.

[Mr. Cinema]

While browsing Target, I noticed this was now part of their $5 BD selections. FYI

[Archedamian]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

While browsing Target, I noticed this was now part of their $5 BD selections. FYI

Picked this up at Target today for $4. I had forgotten how great this film is.

[deto]

Just ordered from Amazon...

[tinpanalley]

After having finally gotten a flat screen TV for the first time and doing a proper calibration, I've been looking into getting some of my favourite films on BluRay. I'm surprised to see that there isn't a BluRay of When Harry Met Sally in its original 2.0 sound mix. I can't stand it when studios create alternate mixes of films just to sell them or to make them somehow more appealing. If the film was only Dolby 2.0 then that's all the DVD/BluRay should be. I don't care of the 5.1 isn't used so much or if it's only present in the music or if you can just make your receiver do 2 channel stereo. I want a studio mastered 2.0 mix.
So, does anyone happen to know if there's anyway to get a bluray of the film but with the original 2.0 sound mix?

[manicsounds]

Nope, the blu-ray is the same disc worldwide.

[tinpanalley]

Originally Posted by Geode

Many people think "Breakfast at Tiffany's" tops all of these. I am not in agreement but, so it goes.

Well, Breakfast At Tiffany's isn't a romantic comedy. Not in the truest film definition. And the novel certainly isn't. People see two people kissing at the end of a film and think that automatically makes it a romantic comedy or drama. Not the case.

[Dylan34]

WHMS is a good little rom-com. I remember seeing when it came out back when I was 10 in 1989, my mother had rented it. I thought it was funny, but then again I like Billy Crystal so people that don't care for him may not enjoy this film. The blu-ray presentation is well above average. The picture quality for a 1989 film is stellar!! Grain structure is in tact, colors are nice and bold vs the DVD, and detail is fabulous. Again, blows away it's DVD counterpart! Anyone who enjoys this film, get the blu-ray edition. Highly recommended!!!

[tinpanalley]

I'd totally buy this BluRay if there was an original 2.0 mix on it. I can't stand fake 5.1 mixes.

[geekesmind]

never seen this movie got it at target as a blind buy hope its worth it.

[AaronY]

Man this movie was great. Little before my time so maybe that's why I never heard too much about it but seemed like a precursor to Seinfeld in many ways too.