Amazon.com

On the short list for the "world's toughest place to live" award, Southwest Africa's Namib Desert houses a wealth of intriguing creatures, featured in Jamie Uys's Animals are Beautiful People. As various beasts, bugs, fish, and fowl appear, a soft-spoken narrator pinpoints behaviors that mirror human ones, often inventing whimsical tales meant to inspire chuckles or sighs. A male wart hog, a "homely bachelor," lands a "wife" with a penchant for redecorating his burrow; austere maribou glower like disapproving undertakers; a billowy, nameless fish is called a dizzy blonde. Uys's respect for the harsh lifestyle these creatures endure clearly displays itself amid the comical sound effects and Fantasia-lite melodies that infuse the 90-minute show. The result: a richly informative, beautifully filmed lesson in the power of adaptation and the lush wildlife that inhabits the cradle of civilization. Six years after completing this project, Uys went on to create The Gods Must Be Crazy. (Ages 5 and older) --Liane Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (32)

a manipulated movie- while watching question what is natural
This movie was very beautiful and funny. The music was well coreographed also. My children and I enjoyed watching it. Never a dull moment. HOWEVER, upon follow up about the Marula fruit trees, we found that the 'intoxification' of the baboons and other animals was man-induced (see wildwatch.com). It is impossible for elephants and baboons to become intoxicated eating this fruit, though people harvest it for this purpose. There is evidence of other manipulation in the movie (the possible burning of a huge bird condominium). I abhore that people would abuse the animals in these or any other ways.

The real world
This is a great animal video, I have passed it around to my teachers at school and friends are standing in line, the narrator is the same talented guy that did " The Gods Must be Crazy", you will see some scenes from the movie you will remember, a real aborigene trying to fake out an ostrich. The animals all have a grand time getting drunk one day out of the year on fermented fruit, the elephants are knee walking, the giraffe can't hold his neck up and the monkeys are made of silly putty. The baby pelicans that have to do a death march is the low of the movie, nature is as cruel as beautiful, and you see it all here, two thumbs up.

Some staged scenes, but very entertaining
This "Documentary" was produced by the same guy who went on to do "The Gods Must be Crazy".

It is very funny in parts, but for parents who don't want their kids seeing baby birds dying by the hundreds, don't watch the last 15 minutes (I don't mind my kids seeing this, but I thought I'd throw in that caveat)

Like an earlier reviewer, I too thought that nest fire looked set up. There was just no reason for the camera to be focusing on that one drop that happened to start the fire.

Also, that same reviewer pointed out the "drunk scene" was man made, so I checked out the site he mentioned (wildwatch.com), and if you search around the plant section (some plant that start with an m, sorry I forget which).

Here is the relavent text:
"Due to its well-known alcoholic capacities, rumours abound as to the Marula's intoxicating effects on wild animals. While elephants and baboons both relish the fruit, the former would need to consume prodigious amounts of already fermenting fruit for it to have even the mildest impact, and since these huge animals drink up to 160 litres of water a day, there would anyway be a major diluting effect. Interestingly, examination of fresh elephant dung show that less than ten percent of Marula fruits are actually 'processed' in any way - most fruit passes through the digestive tract intact.

Observations on baboons suggest that they prefer fresh Marula fruit and because the pulp is digested and the seeds passed within a 24-hour period, fermentation is impossible. The infamous scene in a popular movie from the 1970s - Jamie Uys' 'Beautiful People', which depicted a troop of obviously drunken baboons in and under a Marula tree, was clearly man-induced and would today be outlawed in terms of animal cruelty."

When I first saw this video, (...) Watching it with the knowledge that it was set up, made it seem rather cruel.

Despite this, I still found this movie very entertaining on the whole.

the best kept secret
I grew up with this movie, and still it remains my absolute favorite. It brings nature close to home, and viewing it should be a requirement for all human beings. Jamie Uys shows that the life of a beetle is no less important than the life of lion, and every living thing has a place on this planet.

Because it has been released on DVD, I will one day be able to show this film to my children, and theirs after them. I recommend this timeless classic to anyone, any age, any time, any place.

Kids Love It
I used to show this movie to the children I worked with in the hospital. We all loved it. The kids couldn't take their eyes off of it and the staff were just as enthralled. This movie is spectacular and wonderfully good fun. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

You've heard of laughing til you cry? That's this movie!
I missed "The Gods Must be Crazy," and only stumbled onto
Gods II. But it was one of the happiest stumbles of my life (and I'm now 77!). We've had this film 6 or 7 years, and I still crack up when I watch it. The director, as well as the actors, are top-grade. The low-key delivery of the dialogue no matter how drastic the crisis, the animals performing like pros (which they may be but it doesn't show), the touches of prattfall humor ( falling through the hole in the plane, leaping up tree trunks in a single bound)--all really tickle our sense(s) of humor. When we're not laughing out loud, we're smiling. And the only word for the two kids is marvelous! The thought of those two poachers drinking their wagonload of water after the two children have played in it--and probably done what all small children do when in swimming--is a real grin. This is not to say that there isn't an undercurrent of some serious concerns running through the film, but they're not obtrusive. This was made as a comedy, and the makers succeeded beautifully.

Brilliant Film. Why can't we buy it in England???
The Gods Must Be Crazy II was shown several years ago on our old 'Cable' station, now taken over by 'Sky'.
We laughed at this film from start to finish. It is the sort of film you can watch over and over again, and laugh at the story every time you watch it.
We are very disappointed as we cannot buy this film in England, we have spent months and months trying shops and internet sites and still we are unable to purchase this brilliant film.
Maybe someone will read this message and be able to help us by advising were we can purchase not only this film but also The Gods Must Be Crazy.
Come on - someone out there must realise that we in England would like to be able to purchase these titles and I'm sure when they are available to us they will be snapped up quickly.
Why not make them available on DVD. I would certainly purchase
both films on Video and DVD.

Funny if you like farsical whimsical humour
I can imagine a lot of people may not make it past the first ten minutes of this movie. It views like a 1970s nature movie crossed with a farscial Harold Lloyd comedy. But somehow if you can stick with it and the cornyness of the effects (lots of strings, speeded up footage and fake animals) you may get hooked enough to want to find out what happen. Ultimately it has some basic childish appeal even for adults, I'm sure that young children may delight in it and be all the better for it. Certainly I think it would be better for them than Batman or some "comic" movie. Adults may have to find their inner child to really enjoy this movie.

It's out on DVD now!!!
For all those who love the "Gods Must be Crazy" I & II movies, the long wait is over! They've finally been re-released - and this time on DVD! Both films are together on a single DVD at a great price - and you can get them right here, at Amazon.com.

The Gods Must Be Crazy 1 & 2
It is hard to decide which of these hilarious episodes is the funniest. Like all of the truly classic movies, they can be watched over and over again. They are true entertainment for any age. Both of them can be enjoyed by the entire family.
There is little doubt they would be among the best selling movies of all time if they had been made by mainstream hollywood. Blockbuster will be hard pressed to keep them on the shelves if they become available on DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Three separate story lines set in Africa eventually come together in this 1980 film by Jamie Uys. (The film wasn't released in the U.S., where it became a huge hit, until 1984.) Story one involves a bushman whose discovery of a Coke bottle causes consternation among his tribe, story two concerns an awkward romance between a clumsy scientist and a sweet schoolteacher, and the third plot involves a group of terrorists on the run. Slapstick, satire, romance, violence--it's all here in a somewhat bumpy but entertaining movie. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Materialism vs. the simple life of the Bushmen
I found this movie to be a satire on our modern way of life in comparison to the life lived by the bushmen of the Kalahari. I think the filmmaker really believes, at least to some extent, that there are definite advantages to living in a non-modern society. It was quite intersesting how a simple coke bottle came and torchered the lives of these people on the Kalahari. I would like to express that through all they did to the bottle it should have broken. It did not, however, and it soon caused strife to come among them. Interestingly enough, my initial reaction, was to write that certainly they had strife among themselves of this nature before. A reassessment causes me to say that I don't know, I have never lived in a non materialistic society. To me everything can go back to the theme of the unhappiness possessions bring. The white man had a jeep, but we saw how much hassle the jeep was trying to pick up the lady. If she just walked things would have been simpler. Guns were available to civilization and because of that, a group was able to take a large number of childen hostage. That could not happen in the Bushmen society. It also seemed like everytime the white man tried to impress the woman, it was material things that he tipped over or tripped over. Maybe without those possesions he could have been more impressive to the schoolteacher. Who has the right to say which civilization is truly more advanced. It all depends on your perception of advancement.

An excellent family film with a positive story line.
I saw this movie about 10 years ago on HBO. We taped it butwatched it so much the tape broke. Now I want to buy it for my videocollection but to my dismay, no one has it. Even the internet says it's out of print. For the life of me I don't see why some enterprising person in the movie business has not re-released this film. They would make my day and a lot of money. Most of the films released today have little to no social value and are certainly not films you want your kids or grandkids to see. PLEASE BRING THIS MOVIE BACK!!!

I can't believe there's only one review
This is a classic film. It will not make you roll on the floor in laughter, but it will make you smile & admire this man's desire to rid his tribe of this evil thing.

A buried treasure, a family gem
*Finally,* this film has been released on DVD. I was beginning to wonder if it ever would be. This was an international hit, and it's PG, very nearly a G (it's fine for ten year-olds; younger is OK too but they wouldn't get as much out of it). A perfect example of the kind of film that can only be made by a filmmaker on a mission who is not beholden to investors. Run, do not walk, to acquire this movie. It's wholesome and hilarious and exciting, a real pleaser for a ten year-old or a ninety year-old or anyone in between. When you see it, you'll wonder how you never heard of it before. It's a great movie to play to people who don't know what you're showing them, because its beginning makes it look like an old nature documentary. People will be thinking, "Whoa, what am I getting myself into here?" A few minutes later, they'll be riveted to their seats. Ten stars!

A little amusing.
'The Gods Must be Crazy' is an amusing film about a Coke bottle that causes havoc among a group of tribesmen. It is suppoed to be a satire about industralized socitey. Check it out if it comes on T.V. someday. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

a manipulated movie- while watching question what is natural
This movie was very beautiful and funny. The music was well coreographed also. My children and I enjoyed watching it. Never a dull moment. HOWEVER, upon follow up about the Marula fruit trees, we found that the 'intoxification' of the baboons and other animals was man-induced (see wildwatch.com). It is impossible for elephants and baboons to become intoxicated eating this fruit, though people harvest it for this purpose. There is evidence of other manipulation in the movie (the possible burning of a huge bird condominium). I abhore that people would abuse the animals in these or any other ways.

The real world
This is a great animal video, I have passed it around to my teachers at school and friends are standing in line, the narrator is the same talented guy that did " The Gods Must be Crazy", you will see some scenes from the movie you will remember, a real aborigene trying to fake out an ostrich. The animals all have a grand time getting drunk one day out of the year on fermented fruit, the elephants are knee walking, the giraffe can't hold his neck up and the monkeys are made of silly putty. The baby pelicans that have to do a death march is the low of the movie, nature is as cruel as beautiful, and you see it all here, two thumbs up.

Some staged scenes, but very entertaining
This "Documentary" was produced by the same guy who went on to do "The Gods Must be Crazy".

It is very funny in parts, but for parents who don't want their kids seeing baby birds dying by the hundreds, don't watch the last 15 minutes (I don't mind my kids seeing this, but I thought I'd throw in that caveat)

Like an earlier reviewer, I too thought that nest fire looked set up. There was just no reason for the camera to be focusing on that one drop that happened to start the fire.

Also, that same reviewer pointed out the "drunk scene" was man made, so I checked out the site he mentioned (wildwatch.com), and if you search around the plant section (some plant that start with an m, sorry I forget which).

Here is the relavent text:
"Due to its well-known alcoholic capacities, rumours abound as to the Marula's intoxicating effects on wild animals. While elephants and baboons both relish the fruit, the former would need to consume prodigious amounts of already fermenting fruit for it to have even the mildest impact, and since these huge animals drink up to 160 litres of water a day, there would anyway be a major diluting effect. Interestingly, examination of fresh elephant dung show that less than ten percent of Marula fruits are actually 'processed' in any way - most fruit passes through the digestive tract intact.

Observations on baboons suggest that they prefer fresh Marula fruit and because the pulp is digested and the seeds passed within a 24-hour period, fermentation is impossible. The infamous scene in a popular movie from the 1970s - Jamie Uys' 'Beautiful People', which depicted a troop of obviously drunken baboons in and under a Marula tree, was clearly man-induced and would today be outlawed in terms of animal cruelty."

When I first saw this video, (...) Watching it with the knowledge that it was set up, made it seem rather cruel.

Despite this, I still found this movie very entertaining on the whole.

the best kept secret
I grew up with this movie, and still it remains my absolute favorite. It brings nature close to home, and viewing it should be a requirement for all human beings. Jamie Uys shows that the life of a beetle is no less important than the life of lion, and every living thing has a place on this planet.

Because it has been released on DVD, I will one day be able to show this film to my children, and theirs after them. I recommend this timeless classic to anyone, any age, any time, any place.

Kids Love It
I used to show this movie to the children I worked with in the hospital. We all loved it. The kids couldn't take their eyes off of it and the staff were just as enthralled. This movie is spectacular and wonderfully good fun. ... Read more