This movie is among my surprise favorites - I saw it when I hadn't seen many/any foreign films, but Tampopo motivated me to broaden my horizons. I saw it again on this DVD after having first caught it on VHS a few years ago, and am please the actual movie is still lovely and great fun.

DVD itself: Quality is reasonable. No special bells and whistles with DVD, but this is a movie that most people are just grateful to even FIND on DVD. I believe Netflix does not carry it for some reason. I was very excited when I saw it available here. Colors appear suitable and the many shots of food look fine. (Food often looks strange in films to me, but it looks all right here, so the quality of the image is more than acceptable.) If you are a blu-ray fiend and insist that you see every last hair, then no, the quality isn't like that, but I like the way it looks.

movie itself: basic, basic plot: Woman goes on journey to make the greatest noodles EVER in Japan. On a larger level, movie is about the delight and seduction of food, and an interesting look at the appreciation of "little" things that Japanese culture takes pride in. Nothing will go over your head, and it's just such a good time. Watch it with someone you like after eating something you like.

If you have children (I do not have children, and if you want to show this to kids, they're lucky): Some nudity, but nothing creepy or sexually explicit - I'd say for kids over 13, and kids who can understand why people would be obsessed with making noodles. Someone gets shot, but it's almost funny because it's over the top and it's not endorsing violence or anything. It's really about the journey and the effort you throw in that makes something wonderful, which I think is a good lesson for all ages.

I had read about Tampopo and became instantly intrigued so I set out to watch in hope it was as interesting as I had built it up to be in my head from the brief synopsis. While watching this movie I quickly realized it was quite different than anything I had seen.
This movie is hysterical from beginning to end it is genius how such a simple story line can be done so well I cannot imagine it being done any better. This is the movie that really spawned my love and interest in Japanese films. I recommend this movie to everyone.

excelent movie loved it.first saw it in 1985 in nyc.wanted to add it to my collection of great movies.

If I had to choose ONE film to take it with me to a desert island, this would be the one. Since the first time I saw it, in a little cinema in Paris, I have enjoyed as much every single time I had the occasion to see it again. The film is perfuct, funny, touching, intelligent - I would just wish that the technical quality of the picture would be better. Then I would not only see the film; I would eat it as well.

One of my all-time favorite movies, which manages to satirize EVERYTHING without bitterness or cruelty. Especially Westerns, and Gourmets, and Gangsters, and Bushido, and. . . . . . it's really really FUNNY.