hou-3 I find it hard to believe this awful movie followed Blood Simple. In that film every scene is brilliantly written, acted and shot. In this film, by contrast, virtually every scene misfires. The relationship between Cage and Hunter is implausible and Cage's silly hair quickly becomes irritating. The kidnapping and everything that follows is gauche and mediocre. The Big Lebowski and Barton Fink are among my favourite movies so it's not as if I don't enjoy the Coen brothers' sense of humour. Indeed, the problem is the absence of anything genuinely funny. But then the Coens are nothing if not inconsistent, witness Burn after Reading and Hail Caesar.

Floated2 Raising Arizona has been hailed as a classic comedy film by the Coen Brothers, for in part of their comedic deliver and tone. The film has a different and older feel about it, in which the comedy is for a required taste. Raising Arizona isn't as funny as it has been claimed, with a bizarre and unrealistic plot. Overall the film doesn't deliver in what it has been praised upon and at most points is lacking in substance and overall not too enjoyable or engaging. The acting and visuals are solid but not feeling the hype the film has received.

dissident320 I'm not a die-hard Coen brothers fan but I've watched and enjoyed the majority of their movies. This being one of their early ones, it was neat to finally watch it. From the start, it's apparent that they're going for a much more slapstick and visual humour than their later comedies like 'The Big Lebowski or 'Intolerable Cruelty'. Nicolas Cage is surprisingly restrained in this early role playing a lower than average intelligence 'repeat offender' robber. For me, I found John Goodman to be the highlight of this movie. Not only does he get some of the best visual gags, it feels like he knows how goofy the movie is and is just having fun with the role. But really, the visuals are the highlight of this movie. Barry Sonnenfeld was the cinematographer (Who would go on to direct) has plenty of fantastic tracking shots and cameras attached to motorcycles that really helps the movie stay exciting and fun throughout. The humour has aged quite well, the only thing I noticed is that it had a rather cute ending compared to a lot of their later comedies. Still definitely worth a watch, even without Nic going 'Full-Cage'.

Josh Larson This might be the best movie the Coen Brothers have done, and they have done some great ones. This is definitely Nick Cage's best movie, and he has done some really bad ones, this is not one of them. The Coen Brothers walk the line of humor and darkness so brilliantly. This might be the darkest story they have told, but is probably one of the lighter comedies they have done. In reality this is a story of a child kidnapping by a pathetic ex-con who can't do anything right, but in typical Coen Brother's fashion, it feels absolutely light hearted.