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List Price: $39.98 | | Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Salesrank: 18114
Released: July 27, 2004 |
| Our Price: $9.99 |
| Used Price: $9.97 |
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MPAA Rating: NC-17
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Seduction, passion and power struggles unfold when the creators of Basic Instinct, director Paul Verhoeven (Starship Troopers) and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (Original Sin) blow the lid off the seemingly glamorous world of Las Vegas showdancing to create one of the most controversialand shockingfilms of all time. Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley) has what it takes to make it as a Las Vegas showgirlwhat she doesn't have is a way in. To survive, she accepts the only job available: lap dancing at a seedy club. And when she meets Cristal (Gina Gershon), Vegas'reigning showgirl, Nomi wants everything she hasincluding her boyfriend (Kyle MacLachlan). And as Nomi dives deeper into the world she so desperately desires, a rivalry between the two women heatsup. The battle for the spotlight becomes so fiercely competitive that it drives Nomi to desperate lengthsand devious heightsfor fame in Sin City.
Description of Showgirls (VIP Limited Edition):
When Goldie Hawn recommended Elizabeth Berkley for a small role in First Wives Club, she publicly stated that Berkley deserved the opportunity to redeem herself after starring in the ridiculous Showgirls. That says it all: this sleazy, stupid movie, which mixes soft pornography with the clichés of backstage dramas, is the kind of project an aspiring actress would have to put well behind her to keep a career going (though costar Gina Gershon certainly benefited from her, uh, exposure in the film). Berkley plays a drifter who hitches a ride to Las Vegas, becomes a lap dancer and then a performer, and discovers--gasp!--there's a whole world of sex and violence involved with these things. Gershon is probably the best element in the film, playing Berkley's bisexual rival for the big spotlight on stage. Joe Eszterhas was well overpaid for writing this howler, and director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct) should have known better than to take it seriously. --Tom Keogh
Showgirls (VIP Limited Edition) Reviews:
So bad that its good 
2008-11-29 - Showgirls was never going to win any Academy Awards and I give Elizabeth Berkley credit for overcoming this film and going on to do good work on CSI:Miami and in other movies.
But Showgirls is a scorching hot mess telling the story of Nomi Malone, a down-on-her-luck, ill-bred, poorly educated girl who dreams of being a professional dancer.
It's a hootchiefied Flash Dance, with Las Vegas as the setting. If breasts and bums are your thing, I highly recommend watching this movie with the sound off. If you like unintentional comedy, watch it with the sound on. Nomi's pronunciation of "Versace" will tear you up.
As far as the screenwriting goes, there were too many subplots. None of the characters were likable except for the chorus line instructor, who ironically starred in the Michael Douglas A Chorus Line years ago.
Showgirls is a five-star movie simply because it's so bad, it's actually good entertainment.
Not for everyone 
2008-10-07 - (written by Leigh's wife): I was very glad to see that this was the same version that I wanted; I originally had a VHS copy of the "unrated" version. Everything was as I remembered it.
I will admit that this movie is not for everyone. I'm hard put to say why I like it - but I do. It's erotic, it's compelling, it's interesting. While I will admit that this isn't exactly Academy Award material, I don't understand the distain and dislike that most people have shown for it.
DEFINITELY only for adults!
love this movie!
2008-09-21 - the most misunderstood movie of the 90s. I learn something new about it every time I see it. I love this movie!
Bring Showgirls to Blu-Ray
2008-08-30 - This is like my favorite stupidist awesome film ever. I will watch it, without interuption anytime I see it, I cannot pass it up! Even the Tv version is awesome! This neeeds to be on Blu-Ray, it's begging to be on Blu-Ray, I'm begging for it to be on Blu-ray! With all these extras of course, and maybe a new cast commenentary on cast memebers cellulite in HD, kidding! Most awesome cast ever, a new commentary would be nice
Saved by the Bell: What happened to Jesse when the others went to college
2008-08-05 - Ah, Showgirls, the best worst movie of all time. Oh, how I love it so.
Poor Jesse Spano (Elizabeth Berkley in the most masochistic role in cinema history), after being caught cheating on the SATs, her offer letters now nothing more than trash, she didn't get into the university of her dreams, she hit rock bottom; and when Slater dumped her for image purposes, her whole world crashed. Jealous of how Zack, Screech, Slater, and Kelly were hanging out in college, she sunk into a deep depression, changed her name to Nomi Malone, and thought about the next step. Out of nowhere, she began hooking, counting Mr. Belding as one of her first clients at Bayside. Realizing she wanted more in life, she soon gave up selling the goods and began hitch-hiking towards Las Vegas.
Soon after arriving in Vegas she befriends James Smith (Plummer), a club dancer with an apparently progressive form of hyperopia; that's the only way one can explain his appreciation for Nomi's dancing, giving him about as much talent-scouting credibility as Tom Cruise has in the field of psychiatry. Other than dancing all they have in common is that down on her luck Nomi would probably snatch a watch, and James would, well, you get the point.
Unfortunately for Nomi - fortunately for all others - she finds work as a grungy stripper to pay the bills. In her initial, on-screen strip-club appearance, she meets up with Zack Carey (MacLachlan) and Cristal Connors (Gershon). Naturally, she gets bitterly nostalgic, thinks of her old buddy Zack Morris, and attempts to inflict a severe case of Peyronie's disease with a violent, non-erotic lap dance given to Zack Carey. Cristal and Zack can't help but to notice Nomi, and in a matter of no time she's in the "Goddess" show where Cristal is the star.
To advance, Nomi's plan is three-fold: First, she has sex with Zack in a pool, no doubt taking out her past academic failures while thinking of Zack Morris while writhing around in what is widely regarded as the best gran mal seizure ever captured on film. Second, she overacts to the extent of torture, causing others physical discomfort while displaying less range than Coolio showed in "Leprechaun in the Hood". Third, and most important, she plans on teaching Cristal about compound leg fractures. Pretty solid plans if you ask me. Will she get the lead role? Will she succeed in Vegas? Will she chuck it all and enroll at the local community college?
It's failed soft-core porn, laughably bad, deplorable acting and detestable dialogue, the pinnacle of unintentional comedy. There is no way a sane person involved with this production can actually think it's good. Saturated with enough nudity to warrant the dreaded NC-17 - and Berkley IS gorgeous, especially when nude - it's perfect for the target audience. I love it!
