Les 1001 nuits

Unless of course you are a hardcore Catherine Zeta-Jones fan and you would like to see her youthful body covered (in descreetly placed) sea shells, or sailing through a storm in a wet shirt, or just like staring at her cleavage which is on display for most of the film.

The fantasy-like element of the film doesn't really come together as it tries to blend a number of themes into one. The result is a poorly dubbed film with actors who look like they would rather be somewhere else, except for Catherine herself.

An ancient King marries a different woman each night and then has her put to death the next morning. His latest wife/potential victim is the beautiful Scheherazade but she comes up with a way to prevent her death. She tells a story to the King each night, causing him to keep her alive to hear the remainder of the story. When she runs out of stories she relies on a genie in a lamp to help her escape.

Not your usual Arabian Nights / 1,001 Nights. There's very little emphasis on the actual 1,001 nights of stories and more on Scheherazade's various escapes from the clutches of the King, largely with the help of a genie in a lamp. To further detour the plot from the legendary tale, the genie lives in the 20th century and is summoned via his TV which he then uses to enter the scene!

As you can see, it's pretty clumsy and haphazard, plot-wise, but it is goodish fun. There's an impishness and non-seriousness about proceedings that propels the film forward and ensures that it's never dull.

This is helped by Catherine Zeta-Jones playing Scheherazade. 20 years old and appearing in her first film, she is quite enchanting.

A whiz rendition of this favorite story. Look out to see your childish memories of a picturesque fairy story come bang up to date with our adult life experiences. The story criss-crosses between medieval Baghdad and 20th century London, with numerous cross-cultural gags lighting the way. I watched this in the company of people from both parts of the world, and all of us found the film a riot, once the slow beginning picked up pace. We all recommend this highly for anyone.

I enjoyed this movie very much. It was a neat collection of all of the Arabian Nights tales. It was not the best quality but still enjoyable.

Being a Catherine Zeta-Jones fan I enjoyed her role. It was her first movie and I thought she acted very well. Considering the movie had kind of a childish story it was still very mature.

Overall ok film.

Part 1 is amusing, though seems a tad long, along the way - but hold on! Watch out and keep pace with this comedy as it crescendoes hilariously all the way to the end. Though part 11 also takes quite a while to see - it makes it well worth any waiting in the end.

Enjoy the light look and feel, but keep your eyes and ears peeled and ready for highly entertaining spot on laugh lines bouncing off the international cast of comedians, all ready to play a line from their own neck of the woods and backgrounds.

Especially recommended for anyone with some personal knowledge of people with excellent English manners, or those with lively Arabic temperaments and sense of time and place: be ready to hold on to your belly as you laugh!