Amelie

Amazon.com

Perhaps the most charming movie of all time, Amélie is certainly one of the top 10. The title character (the bashful and impish Audrey Tautou) is a single waitress who decides to help other lonely people fix their lives. Her widowed father yearns to travel but won't, so to inspire the old man she sends his garden gnome on a tour of the world; with whispered gossip, she brings together two cranky regulars at her café; she reverses the doorknobs and reprograms the speed dial of a grocer who's mean to his assistant. Gradually she realizes her own life needs fixing, and a chance meeting leads to her most elaborate stratagem of all. This is a deeply wonderful movie, an illuminating mix of magic and pragmatism. Fans of the director's previous films (Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children) will not be disappointed; newcomers will be delighted. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay, this magical comedy earned overwhelming acclaim nationwide! A painfully shy waitress working at a tiny Paris cafe, Amélie makes a surprising discovery and sees her life drastically changed for the better! From then on, Amélie dedicates herself to helping others find happiness ... in the most delightfully unexpected way! But will she have the courage to do for herself what she has done for others?

Customer Reviews:

Cookie-cutter Chick Flick.......2007-09-06

If this was a US movie it would have been lost among the other chick flicks but because its French we are supposed to act like its above the rest. I thought they tried too hard to make Amelie likable so it ended up making her really annoying. The love story was totally Hollywood style pipe dream take on love but based on two freaks finding each other, both of whom I couldn't care less about.

On the other hand, the supporting characters were interesting and provided some funny scenes so I'm giving it two stars for that. But otherwise this was rubbish.

Great Movie-- Feel Good!!!.......2007-09-01

A very enjoyable movie, for adults. You actually like it more, every single time you watch it!!!! Just wonderful.

Romantic Feast for the Senses & The Soul.......2007-08-28

I have found this film -- a film that I can watch multiple times and I frequently come up with excuses to put this DVD in to be transported into Amelie's world. The film begins introducing Amelie as an inventive little girl, whose isolation is due to a simple misunderstanding by her parents. Her doctor father thinks she has a heart condition because her little heart beats faster during the only time she has physical contact with him through his stethoscope.

Amelie's world has intense colors and the beautiful sights of Paris where she enjoys simple pleasures.

She dips her hands into a bag of beans for the guilty tactile pleasure of it.

The sound of cracking the crust of her brulee delights her.

She wants to be loved, but is shy and retreats into her own little world.

A random event propels her to find and help a stranger, which leads her to become somewhat of a superhero of kindness to those in need and impish retribution to the mean. This is cleverly woven with a series of urban myths reenacted as in the traveling gnome. Her journey takes her from helping strangers, neighbors, co-workers, friends, family, and ultimately herself. Her actions in a way set free those she helps whether it is allowing them to get out and travel, feel better against a verbal insults, have some closure in the face of lost love, or find your soulmate.

Yes. Audrey Tautou is an adorable actress and is a perfect fit for the character of Amelie. Yet, I have seen her in other films being equally charming, but the films fall flat for me. What makes this film is the collection of quirky characters, the amazing cinematography, the clever writing, and the attention to details.

I often recommend this film as a great date movie because it does turn into a charming, quirky, funny, ultimately romantic experience for Amelie without being too sweet or too sappy. There a things for both men and women to appreciate.

I love this movie.. .......2007-08-25

I watched this a few years ago, and have rented it quite a few times as well.. I finally decided to just order it. I am very happy I did.. this movie never loses it's charm..

Amelie.......2007-08-09

Sent it to me right away after it was the wrong item the first time! Thanks for excellent service.

Average customer rating:

Curtsies to the Dame!!!
not a review of the dvd
EXCELLENT COLLECTION OF A GREAT DAME!
Not quite what I expected
Bravissima Judi!

The Judi Dench Collection
Starring: Judi Dench , Margery Mason , Michael Bryant , Maurice Denham , and Pinkie Johnstone
Director: Christopher Morahan , Anthony Page , and Richard Eyre
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
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ASIN: B000LV6OK8
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

To call The Judi Dench Collection a treasure trove is indubitably cliché, but that's so much classier than "Dench-a-Palooza." Essential for fans of the great Dame, theatre buffs, and drama students, this eight-disc set is an embarrassment of riches, with nine BBC productions of classic and original plays, plus three radio plays and excerpts from televised interviews, one of which features her moving rendition of "Send in the Clowns" from A Little Night Music, for which she won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical (is there nothing she can't do?). They etch an indelible portrait of an artist with a compelling presence and staggering range. Judi Dench is one of those actors who rarely seem to make a false move, handling wrenching drama, madcap farce, and witty comedy with equal aplomb. John Hopkins' Talking to a Stranger (1966) is a British television benchmark that is mentioned in the same breath as Dennis Potter's masterpieces. Dench won her first BAFTA (the British equivalent of the Oscar) for her role as a damaged sibling in a dysfunctional family. Dench stars as Anya in Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, a 1962 production translated by, and starring, John Gielgud and, as Madame Ranesvky, Peggy Ashcroft. Ashcroft is a hard act to follow, but Dench pulls it off in a 1981 production in which she assumes the role of the irresponsible aristocrat.

Georges Feydeau's Keep an Eye on Amelie (1973) is a carefree hour in which Dench stars as a coquette who agrees to marry a confirmed bachelor (Patrick Cargill) so he can inherit a million francs. This production is paired on disc 4 with writer Michael Frayn's (Noises Off!) award-winning comedy Make and Break, which unfolds at a trade fair in Frankfort and stars Dench as a devoted secretary to a work-consumed boss. Two powerful dramas comprise disc 8, Going Gently, for which Dench earned another BAFTA as a hospice nurse to two adversarial patients, and Can You Hear Me Thinking?(1990), starring Dench and her late husband Michael Williams (A Fine Romance) as parents whose lives are shattered when their teenage son develops schizophrenia. Ibsen's still potent Ghosts (1981) boasts a stellar ensemble, including Kenneth Branagh as doomed son Oswald and Michael Gambon as Pastor Manders, with Dench as Mrs. Alving, whose respected late husband led a dark, secret life. Anything but, Absolute Hell (1991) is a lost-souls black comedy starring Dench as Christine, the proprietor of a bohemian nightclub in post-World War II London. The cast includes her future Notes on a Scandal costar, Bill Nighy, as a washed-up writer. Stardom in the States came late to Dench. This collection allows her audience to catch-up with these mostly towering performances that established her as one of the premier actors of our time. --Donald Liebenson

Description

Dame Judi Dench is one of the most celebrated stars of stage and screen. She is the winner of an Academy Award(R), two Golden Globes, an unprecedented seven Olivier Awards, and numerous BAFTAs. At the BBC, she has appeared in a dazzling range of material from sitcoms to Shakespeare. This collection contains ten star-studded BBC productions spanning four decades and ranging from the Feydeau farce Keep an Eye on Amelie to Ibsen's Ghosts with Kenneth Branagh, Michael Gambon and Natasha Richardson and Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard with John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft and Ian Holm. And tucked away among the bonus features is a 1996 interview in which she sings "Send in the Clowns" from her Olivier-winning performance of A Little Night Music, just one of the many gems in this glorious testament to one of the greatest performers of our time.

DVD Features:
Featurette:Judi Dench: My Favorite Things (1985, RT: 30 min) BBC profile of Judi Dench in which she discusses her passions
Interviews:Judi Dench talks to Richard Eyre (2002, RT 59 min)
Other:Three Radio Plays With Great Pleasure (1991, RT: 44 min) Are You Still Awake?(1994, RT: 15 min) Amy's View (2000, RT: 123 min)

Customer Reviews:

Curtsies to the Dame!!!.......2007-08-09

Dame Judi is a remarkable woman, and these DVDs are a remarkable collection of the work that made her famous! Long live Dame Judi!!!!

not a review of the dvd.......2007-07-11

I want to comment on the review by "the scribe". Talk about pretentious!!! I don't know whether I think the item is worth the money or not because I've not seen it and haven't decided whether I'll buy it or not. But this person is obviously caught up in self importance. He/she could have said what he/she said in two or three sentences and that would have been more effective.

Also, I'm wondering if the dvd has any footage of Judi Dench playing the role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret??? I have a tape of an interview of Judi Dench from the Southbank t.v. show from years ago. It's very good and I really don't care about seeing more of "A Little Night Music" or even "The Cherry Orchard." I'd like to see more interviews and see info. from her early days. And more about Michael Williams.

J Wiley

EXCELLENT COLLECTION OF A GREAT DAME!.......2007-07-03

This is an excellent collection of Judi Dench's fine work for BBC Television. It spans her career from the early sixties to the nineties.
You will also get some very nice extras to enjoy.
This is a "must" for every fan of this great actress!

Not quite what I expected.......2007-06-19

I don't need to express how much I like Judi Dench. It would be excessive, and too sickeningly precious.

Although I thought Judi Dench deserved the Oscar for "Notes on a Scandal," (and other past films) this television and radio retrospective is one I could have lived without. It has nothing that remotely comes close to the quality of Ms. Dench's film work.

As for this interminable boxed set of Ms. Dench's dalliances into television and radio, I was never so disappointed. Indeed, to be subjected to two productions of Chekhov's "Cherry Orchard" is enough to free my point of any ambiguity. Simply put, two "Cherry Orchard's" are two too many. Where's my razor blade?

"Talking to a Stranger" was rather more than I could take. Can you say, manic?

The only reason to buy this collection would be for "Make or Break" with a marvelous supporting cast including the great Robert Hardy, (The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Elizabeth R, Edward the King, Middlemarch, Bramwell, and Harry Potter). Then there is, "Absolute Hell" with Bill Nighy, (The Lost Prince, The Pirates of the Caribbean II and III), Francesca Annis, (Cleopatra, Lillie, Edward the King, and Under the Cherry Moon) and another equally well rounded ensemble as "Make or Break." Both TV movies are wonderful.

The poetry readings are a nice touch. They are readings before an audience from several well versed poets. Each poem is read by Mr. Michael Williams and Ms. Judi Dench. Michael Williams (Elizabeth R, and Educating Rita) is Ms. Dench's late husband. He also co-starred with her in "Can You Hear Me Thinking?" in this collection. Despite the fact Williams and Dench are both in it don't expect too much viewing this 'illness-of-the-week-movie.' Its teleplay is short on facts and made with typical stiff British upper-lip for its subject matter. There is one exception. Michael Williams plays his role of father with greater depth of character then Judi Dench does playing mother. It remains to mention, Michael Williams played a minor role in the film "Tea with Mussolini." Sadly, the husband-wife team of the smash-hit sitcom, "A Fine Romance" (1981-1984) had no extensive scenes together in the film. Mr. Williams (a gifted actor by reason of his own ability) died of lung cancer shortly after his final TV film "The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns" on January 11, 2001 at Hampstead, London, England.

Judi Dench's portrayal of an actress in the radio play, "Amy's View," is that of another abhorrent virago to utterly despise. If one likes that sort of thing - or simply worships everything Dench - one can engage in uproarious Bacchanalian festivities. Perhaps that was the point. However, an actress playing an actress behind the scenes is rather a bore these days. Dench plays at being a selfish, temperamental, helpless character always in need. She's never happy with what shes got - no, not even with her own daughter. Yet, she's perfectly content living with a swindler - or so she tries to convince herself. Her character exists in a world of her own making and without any redeeming qualities. Compassion, love, and forgiveness do not exist in her narrow view of life off stage. Hence, the feeling that accompanies an experience of a thespian being indulgent exists in large quantities as one listens.

There is also a ghastly aggrandized installment called, "Ghosts" by Ibsen, starring Natasha Richardson (Patty Hearst, and Widows Peak) and the brilliant Kenneth Branagh (Chariots of Fire [uncredited], Henry V, Dead Again, Peter's Friends, Much Ado about Nothing, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Othello, The Proposition, William Shakespeare's Hamlet, The Theory of Flight, Conspiracy, and Shackleton). Unfortunately, "Ghosts" is a production cooked too long and anything but edible! It is a presentation to the mind in the form of an idea or image of life, which is, in fact, less than anything based in reality. Allow it to be stated, though, it is understood one person's idea of art (whatever the exact definition of art might be these days) can be another person's Grimm's fairytale!

The early interviews with Ms. Dench are charming. Yet, one might wonder about her later interviews before sinking their hard earned pennies into this collection. After all, not all of us live the life of a 'Superstar.' I shall say but this - they are a bit pretentious. One fellow 'board-walker' (acting as interviewer) is befitting those inclined to social exclusiveness, who rebuffs criticism of those considered inferior. His posturing is similar to W.S. Maugham's character 'Mr. Warburton' in Maugham's short story "The Outstation." That interview alone caused me to reevaluate how I view Ms. Dench (the actor) from such a distance. Often distance opens the mind to clarify the difference between falsity and truthfulness. Although I admit I like Ms. Dench's work I do not think I'd care to know her or meet her on the street. No star can sum up the life of anyone on a chance encounter. I've met, worked with (and been around) enough of them to know - ma'am.

Nonetheless, yes Ms. Dench, we know too well how difficult it is to do the work you do. Believe me 'Joe Public' (as you call us) really does understand. Work is work for all of us!

Ms. Dench singing "Send in the Clowns" was brilliant - the TV host sycophantic. At this price, two TV movies, a poetry reading, a song (and a partridge in a pear tree!) from the entire lot, aren't worth it for this Judi Dench fan falling out with the celebrated Dench charm.

With the lack of more recent readings for the BBC such as "Pangbourne," this box set is more like "mother's little helper," - about 40 milligrams forced for several days!

Who knows, I may watch again one snowy night and change my mind - but I doubt it - it doesn't snow where I live!

I don't expect too many positive ratings for this review either. Don't bother please.

Now I feel as if I got my money back - oh how delicious!

Bravissima Judi!.......2007-05-20

Proof that Ms. Dench is one of our finest actresses today. An important set to own and cherish! And as "icing to the cake" her superb rendition of "Send in the Clowns" is included.

Amélie (Original French Version with English Subtitles)

Average customer rating:

five stars for amelie
See a Dentist After
A good movie, but not necessarily a great movie.
WOW....
Ponderous cartoonish antics performed by infantile imp

Amélie (Original French Version with English Subtitles)

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ASIN: B0002MG9SI

Product Description

(Original French Version with English and Spanish Subtitles) A painfully shy waitress working at a tiny Paris café, Amélie makes a surprising discovery and sees her life drastically changed for the better! From then on, Amélie dedicates herself to helping others find happiness... in the most delightfully unexpected ways! But will she have the courage to do for herself what she has done for others?

Customer Reviews:

five stars for amelie.......2007-09-08

on the front it had a gold sticker that said "recommended movie"
i rented amelie under the suggestion of a friend and was a little skeptic of the front photo that was badly taken of a very pale girl.

1 amelie is not that pale
2 the narration and the acting were great fun
3 i just really loved the plot and ending

amelie is not meant to be a gushy drama but romantic in its own way.
its not supposed to be a comedy but funny in some places anyway.

so, after watching it twice the same day i bought it the next.
here is five stars to amelie.

See a Dentist After.......2007-04-19

Last things first, this DVD had its subtitles prepared by a "closed-captioning" institute - you know, for the hearing-impaired? If the hearing-impaired could hear the discrepancy between the spoken French and the English subtitles, they would scream. And since there is ALOT of dialogue and narration in this film, there is ALOT of subtitling.

Otherwise the film is harmless (perhaps too harmless) fun. Poor Audrey Tautou was compared (only because she had the same prenom) to Audrey Hepburn. While not equalling her in looks, Mlle Tautou is at least a better actress. The sepia-stained cinematography of Paris is, however, glorious. And the film has something conspicuously lacking lately - genuine charm (in moments).

Overall, my advice is to learn French and turn OFF the subtitles. Since the star-rating system limits me to choosing between "I Liked it" or "I Liked It Alot", I went for the former. I DID like it!

A good movie, but not necessarily a great movie........2007-02-06

I'd have to say that those who think this is the greatest French movie can't be getting out much. It has none of the power of "Manon des Sources," none of the dramatic flair of "Chocolat" and very little of the poignancy of "Ponette." It is, however, a very well constructed film, and one which it has been fun to watch several times.

To those unfamiliar with French culture, some of the vignettes may miss their targets. The French obsession with collecting odd things, with bicycle racing, with sending postcards from every place they visit, their willingness to be demonstrably affectionate in public, all get lampooned mercilessly. The characters are largely stereotypes; what more can one expect in a movie with so many important characters - there isn't the time to develop each one adequately, so they remain necessarily two dimensional. But it is this two dimensionality of the characters that gives the film its surreal touch that drags the viewer forward from scene to scene, wondering what can possibly happen next.

As comedies go, it lacks the gross slapstick of a de Funes film, and this is very much to its credit. The subtlety of the emotional torture Amélie applies to Collignon the greengrocer is far more entertaining than any pie-in-the-face schtick would have been. Even the running garden gnome joke fails to pall, because it is carefully not overworked. Still, if I had to designate a "funniest french movie ever", it probably wouldn't be this one - I'd more likely go for the James Bond style "Une Chance Sur Deux" which managed a better balance of types of humor, with a wider range.

All in all, Amélie is a good movie, but not necessarily a great one. It's one that is worth plopping down the money to rent, or even to buy the DVD, but I would have been disappointed if I'd paid good money to see it in a theatre - there is nothing in the movie that could take advantage of a large screen and theatre surround sound, and nothing in it that warrants parting with $15 or $20 to see it just once, with antisocial louts making comments and crunching popcorn just behind you.

WOW.... .......2007-01-18

I bought this movie without review, without suggestion from anyone I knew and all I can say is wow... It is a bit of a fairy tale story so try not to look for very much reality but to me it is just perfect - it suspends reality, tells a beautiful story, and the story is timeless - it could have happened 100 yrs ago or yesterday.

It's not for everyone but it is for me.

Ponderous cartoonish antics performed by infantile imp.......2006-08-14

At what specific age should my pubescent development have been stopped short for me to adequately enjoy this film? Can it be that I, as an adult, am meant to be charmed by the hijinks of a moron who interferes with any lives she has suddenly taken it into her pea brain to manipulate? Are we meant to hope that our lives were as storybook-colorful as those in the film who fall prey to her nearly terrifying in its ignorance meddling? The asinine antics this baby-talking idiot performs, such as with the grocer whom she so easily edges toward insanity, are hijacked from the world of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. And her own preposterous ploys to arrange it so that she is left all but sucking her thumb and pining for her--we suspect--slightly less retarded would-be beau while he emotionally snaps his fingers at just missing her and is left holding something that gives the time for their next annoyingly cute and predictably unconsummating rendezvous are ponderous, so ponderous. And yet apparently such drivel will never fail to captivate the herd.

Average customer rating:

Forgive them Francis
Must see.
A Valiant Effort, but it misses the mark.
disappointing...
Very high quality, exciting, and inspirational film

St. Francis
Starring: Raoul Bova , Gianmarco Tognazzi , Amélie Daure , Claudio Gioè , and Paolo Briguglia
Director: Michele Soavi
Manufacturer: Noshame
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ASIN: B000F48D8M
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Description

Raoul Bova (UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN) stars as Francesco Bernardone, the son of a cloth merchant in 12th Century Italy whose humility, piety and charitable works would see him canonized as the beloved St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals. A change of pace for thriller filmmaker Michele Soavi (CEMETERY MAN, UNO BIANCA), ST. FRANCIS retells the popular story of Francis' youth as a soldier for Pope Innocent III who one day heard the voice of God and chose to forsake a life of material wealth to devote himself to God and all living things. Filmed in the very locations where history was made, ST. FRANCIS also stars Erica Blanc (aka Erika Blanc of THE DEVIL'S NIGHTMARE) and David Brandon (GOOD MORNING, BABYLON).

Customer Reviews:

Forgive them Francis.......2007-05-24

This film is misleading in the extreme:

If you mistakenly believe Francis was animated by rebellious types who chafed at the Catholic Church's claim to interpret scripture, then buy this DVD.

If you mistakenly believe Francis would disrobe in front of a town, then walk on his hands fully in the buff, then buy this DVD.

If you mistakenly believe Francis went through his short life befuddled, confused, then, silly, buy this DVD.

If you don't know that Francis was certain, hopeful, musical, joyful, all suffering, and an obedient son of the Church, then this DVD will confuse you.

If you believe that Francis would appear before his supreme Pontiff, covered in pig dung, then, silly, buy this DVD. But, do you really believe the pope would hug a fellow covered in this stuff?

If you believe that a hippy-like, stern-faced Clare would scream at and strike out at her father, then, cloudy one, buy this DVD. Moreover, if you can believe that Clare waved good-bye with a tinkel bell to the corpse of Francis from her cloistered cell, well, you would believe anything.

One thing rings true - this movie is like hell. It uses a few facts to cloud thinking with much smoke and mirrors. The authors and makers of the movie were true to themselves when they suggested the film's worth lay in a pile of pig dung.

El Povorello, they were bound to defame you, as they did our Lord, Jesus Christ. I know that you would forgive them. But, to the uninformed, and unaware, beware. This movie is a wasteland of disinformation.

Must see........2007-01-10

I have seen all the movies that are made about our beloved Saint, but this is the best. This was even better than "brother sun and sister moon". Well done. Except a few minor points, the story follows the life of Saint Francis. This is a must see, for those who love Francis.

A Valiant Effort, but it misses the mark........2007-01-03

Michele Soavi enjoys international cult-status as the maker of avant-garde horror films, and as such, his fans will not be disappointed with "Saint Francis." The first half of this movie's cup overflows with sinister characters, protracted violence, on-camera torture, and endless journeys through frightening dwellings and landscapes.

That said, he made an admirable attempt to depict a "muscular" Christianity and present Francis's life without pastel colors. It had to be done and he did it. But, while this film is an artistically lush period piece and is conceptually intriguing, the realization is disappointing. The plot is somewhat muddled, the script doesn't justify its three and one-half hour length, and the characters are unremittingly stern---whereas, the hallmark of St. Francis was joy. (According to witnesses, he bore his year in prison "with cheerfulness and good temper." A better interpretation of the saint's troubadour-like personality is the father's character in the Italian film "Life is Beautiful.")

Additionally, Soavi's portrayal of Francis' relationship with the Catholic Church is slightly skewed and incomplete.

Saint Francis was a reformer, not a rebel.

In Soavi's interpretation, Saint Francis appears as a precursor to Luther; that is, Christianity should be "sola scriptura." Add to that '"sola" nature' and '"sola"poverty' and you have the plot of this film in a nutshell. The Franciscan ideal does contain the Gospels, nature, and poverty, but it contains much more; obedience being high on the list. Saint Francis' faith was never at odds with the faith of the Catholic Church.

Furthermore, belief that the Church did not allow men and women to read the Gospels in their native language is an erroneous belief, but it is widespread and one need not be anti-Catholic to hold it. This theme in the movie's plot is historically inaccurate. (What the Church guarded against were "Gospels" written in the vernacular that contained error. For those who are interested, Mario Derksen (Catholic Insight) in his essay, "Did the Catholic Church Try to Keep the Bible From the Laity?" uses modern and historical sources to argue that the Church was concerned with mis-translations, not translations.)

For many good reasons Michele Soavi's film will (or, will not) resonate with viewers, but for an accurate picture of Saint Francis and Saint Clare one would do well to get a good biography. (G.K.Chesterton's "Saint Francis of Assisi," is a start.)

disappointing..........2006-12-04

I looked forward to watching this movie, but was disappointed. Overall it is well made, but the representation of St. Francis was at best disappointing. I realize St. Francis's life was not a bed of roses, but there was almost no joy *AT ALL* in his life, according to this movie. Far too much crying for his character lines.

Also, it was troubling to have St. Francis represented as someone almost bordering on disobedience to the Pope when he requests approval for his order. It is one thing to speak freely but they carried it too far for the saint who "rebuilt Christ's church."

Very high quality, exciting, and inspirational film.......2006-07-28

It is often difficult to find high quality religious films, but this is one. The action scenes are very good, the acting is extremely good, the visuals are amazing, the costumes are very good, and of course, the story is inspirational as it is the story of St. Francis. Plus, the audio actually matches the film, which is not always the case with religious films. All in all, this movie is very entertaining, whether or not you are a person of faith. This film is also good for history buffs, or anyone who likes period films. Read the USCCB's (which rated the film A-II) review for info on dramatic license used in the film.

Average customer rating:

delightfull entertainment
Very entertaining!
Good show, but not the best of Cirque
Good Show
Excellent!!!

Cirque du Soleil - Nouvelle Experience
Starring: Irina Arnaoutova , Zdzislaw Pelka , Bogdan Zajac , Bruce Bilodeau , and Christophe Lelarge
Director: Franco Dragone
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B00005OOQ5
Release Date: 2001-10-30

Amazon.com

New experience indeed. Cirque du Soleil's Nouvelle Experience is another video compilation of acrobatic feats and inspired clowning. For example, four women on a suspended platform twist and contort their bodies until you'd swear their spines were made of rubber. Then lithe, muscular men and women launch themselves off of a teeter-totter so they can spin in all directions in mid-air; or they do the splits while walking on a tightrope; or they spin and balance umbrellas with their feet. Plus the stilt-walkers, the trapeze artists, the guy balancing on a giant ball--it goes on and on, all of it precise and impressive. A high point of this particular compilation is David Shiner's ingenious clown routine, in which he wordlessly convinces random audience members to be the actors in a silent movie. It's really, really funny. There's just not much else to be said about it. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The brilliant artistry of Cirque du Soleil has transformed the circus into an exciting, novel performance experience. Nouvelle Experience celebrates the magic of their innovative techniques and the genius of one of the most visionary groups of artists in the world. Included in the show that toured for 19 months in 1990-1991, performing to over 1.3 million people: Contortion, Korean Plank, Solo Trapeze, Tightrope, Aerial Straps, Acrobatics, Trampoline and Balancing on Chairs. 1991, 85 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

delightfull entertainment.......2007-01-04

Sweet, artful and inspirational fun for the entire family. The children return to watch it again and again, delighted by what the body and mind, in league with artful creative imagination, is capable of doing.

Very entertaining!.......2006-03-23

The clown routine had me laughing until it hurt! The rest is just amazing. You will really enjoy it.

Good show, but not the best of Cirque.......2005-04-15

This is some of the early work of Cirque du Soleil, which for a diehard fan may hold them enraptured for the entire show. But for most people, I think this will prove to be a pale comparison to some, most, or all of the newer shows such as Quidam or Dralion. But if you want to see how it all started, be sure to check out Nouvelle Experience, which was filmed in 1990-1991 and was one of the earliest Cirque shows, and is one which is no longer running.

One act which will make you laugh is the clown who gets people from the audience and will just have you laughing. This is one of the best clown acts I have seen in any Cirque show and is almost worth the cost of the DVD itself, though admittedly I am a diehard Cirque fan.

I am giving this 4 stars (probably deserves 5 because of the acts) but simply because I have seen so many outstanding out-of-this-world performances by Cirque, I must drop this down one star.

Good Show.......2004-10-23

You have to remember that this was not filmed for DVD. This show was filmed for VHS and was released first on VHS in 1991. So that's why it looks kind of dark and has not that many angles. The show is excellent. An earlier review mentioned there being a "high bar" act in this show, but there isn't. This DVD is great to have because this show is no longer performed live. All of the music from the great CD is in this live recording. I had seen "Nouvelle Experience" live, three times and this is the best version of it.

Excellent!!!.......2003-07-26

Music, artists, lightning, sequence, etc., etc. Everything is superb.

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WORTH A LOOK, BUT . . .
subtitles
One of the Very Best
Not your grandfather's Parsifal, but give it a chance.
Did Nothing For Me!

Wagner - Parsifal
Starring: Armin Jordan , Robert Lloyd , Martin Sperr , Michael Kutter , and Bettina Stiller
Director: Hans-Jürgen Syberberg
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305131112
Release Date: 1999-03-30

Amazon.com

Parsifal, Wagner's story of alienation and longed-for redemption through the enlightenment that compassion alone confers, distills a lifetime of the composer's deepest obsessions through the medieval Grail legend. It also evokes reactions that are especially intense even for Wagnerians. The sense of simultaneous attraction-repulsion first experienced by Nietzsche generates some of the creative tension in this controversial 1982 film by Hans-Jürgen Syberberg, a member of Germany's postwar "neues Kino" generation of directors.

"Syberberg's Parsifal" is exactly that: it is not to be approached as a video presentation of an opera but as a full-scale film in its own right. The director's concern with the claims of the romantic and "irrational" in Germany's cultural heritage, demonized as an aftermath of the Third Reich, is here at its apex. An astonishingly intricate profusion of imagery saturates the film--as props, cluttering objects, costumes, part of the set, or visuals projected onto the background--with the resonance of a long, disturbing dream. Striking visuals from the opera's own symbolic world are set alongside a veritable parade of iconography from Europe's cultural history, while the action of the opera is seen to take place within and around an enormous replica of Wagner's death mask as backdrop. Conceptually the intention is to counter Wagner's "narcotic" spell with Brechtian distance or with a Walter Benjamin-like slant on the artifacts of culture.

For all of the radicalism of his imagery, Syberberg hews surprisingly close to more traditional acting styles here, drawing on a "presentational" approach of gesture, the stylization of early film, and intimate reaction shots. The music was actually recorded separately as a soundtrack, to which the actors (mostly a separate cast) lip-synch their performances. Conductor Armin Jordan--a sensitive but never self-indulgent Wagnerian--also actually performs the role of Amfortas, and the distinguished actress Edith Clever is a special asset for her mesmerizing, expressive Kundry, making the role into the opera's psychological epicenter. At the point of the resisted kiss in Act II, in a Jungian split, Parsifal becomes portrayed by a woman (still mouthing the mellifluous tenor exclamations of Reiner Goldberg). Syberberg wallows in contradictory currents and obscure symbolism that sometimes reinforces what he seems to want to take apart. Yet he has also succeeded in locating the work somewhere in a unique space between fetishized ritual and purely aesthetic experience. The DVD transfer is somewhat grainy in resolution, while the soundtrack has a noticeable persistent hiss. Jordin's relatively fleet pacing allows for much texture and offers a fine enough performance, though not a top choice on musical terms alone. --Thomas May

Description

This masterful interpretation of German and Christian mythology was Wagner's last opera. Presented on a two-disc set, this performance--musically, a masterwork--resonates with the most profound beliefs of the German "Weltanschauung." Director Hans-Jurgen Syberberg has stamped his own controversial and unmistakable style on the film. Parsifal is a medieval symbol of purity and innocence. Here, the search for the Holy Grail and the king's powerful, sacred spear leads, through a single kiss, to the knowledge and grace of redemption. The actors perform to a recording made expressly for this film, featuring singers Reiner Goldberg, Wolfgang Schone, Hans Tschammer, Yvonne Minton and the Prague Philharmonic Choir, with Armin Jordan conducting the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. 255 minutes.

Amfortas: Armin Jordan (sung by Wolfgang Schöne)
Titurel: Martin Sperr (sung by Hans Tschammer)
Gurnemanz: Robert Lloyd
Parsifal 1: Michael Kutter
Parsifal 2: Karen Krick (sung by Reiner Goldberg)
Klingsor: Aage Haugland
Kundry: Edith Clever (sung by Yvonne Minton)

Customer Reviews:

WORTH A LOOK, BUT . . . .......2007-06-14

I recently watched--and liked--a Tristan und Isolde conducted by Armin Jordan on DVD, so I was excited about watching this Parsifal when I saw that Jordan not only conducted but played Amfortas. In general, I'm not a big fan of these film versions of operas, but I like Ingmar Bergman's The Magic Flute and was recently very pleased with Julie Taymor's stunning Oedipus Rex, so I decided to give this Parsifal a try.

Unfortunately, I didn't particularly care for Jordan's conducting this time. It's almost as plodding as the film. A very important moment for me both in the story and in the music is when Parsifal kills the swan. Herbert von Karajan endows this event with great significance in his recording, infusing it with thrilling energy as the music suddenly rises into a great flurry. Not here. Things get suddenly louder, but no burst of energy, no sense that something--a great force (i.e., Parsifal himself)--has suddenly erupted onto the scene. (The director, Syberberg, handled it even worse, offering only a pretentious shot of Kundry as she writhes stupidly on the ground in fallen leaves.) Once both conductor and director got this important sequence wrong, I knew I wouldn't like the rest of the film, and in fact I didn't . . . until the last hour.

The film begins with almost ten minutes of rolling credits. Nothing happens--or rather the same thing happens over and over: we look at strewn photos on a table. Mist rolls over them. Then, after the endless credits, the overture starts and it's actually the best part of the film, all done with puppets quite beautifully.

The first two acts are utterly lifeless, completely devoid of energy, lacking the excitement and immediacy of a live performance. Everything's utterly static--even when people do nothing but walk it looks irredeemably stilted. The extras--especially the kids--look terribly self-conscious. The lip-synching is so obvious that it practically ruins the movie as soon as the first person (Gurnemanz, of course) opens his mouth. Moreover, the director assigns actors to voice parts that are utterly unsuited, resulting in one mis-match after another. For instance, if I remember correctly, the Knights and Squires with Gurnemanz in the opening scene are sung by women but played by little boys.

There are two Parsifals in this film. The first, a very thin, androgynous young man, can't lip-sync to save his life. Neither does he get the facial expressions right. In short, he looks like he has no idea what he's doing in the film, poor boy. The second Parsifal is a beautiful young woman who looks more like Joan of Arc than Parsifal. She does a much better job of lip-synching to the male voice than the actual male does (and she's a much better actor, too), but she doesn't replace the first Parsifal until almost three hours into the film. The first boy-Parsifal comes back near the end and joins the girl-Parsifal and they simultaneously lip-sync a bit (one voice, two actors). Then the director actually does something clever. There's a shot of the boy and girl coming together as if they were no longer the same person but two friends--or lovers--meeting. (Think Jungian individuation: anima/animus.)

After sludging through the first two interminable acts, I amazingly found myself sucked in by the last. I don't know if it's that I was so thoroughly numbed by the first two, but act three was strangely hypnotic. While still static in the manner of a tableau vivant, it really becomes beautiful and manages to capture a properly pious, reverent tone. It actually felt like a bit of a miracle that I liked it since by then I figured nothing could've redeemed the film for me, much less made me glad that I watched it--but there you have it: I was glad. Still, how can I give it more than two stars when most of it is so horribly tedious?

To make matters worse, Image Entertainment has done a very shabby job with this DVD release. There are only English subtitles and you can't turn them off. (Maybe they are part of the original film and can't be taken off?) They are white and very hard to read. You get white on white more than once. And the translation is horrible.

In short, while I cannot really recommend this Parsifal, if you happen to come across it, make sure you either sit through to the end or skip the first two acts and watch the last. But if you don't like the last act, you probably shouldn't bother with the first two. In any case, there are live stagings of Parsifal on DVD that I would absolutely recommend over this film.

subtitles.......2006-11-09

There are no subtitles recorded but there is an English close captions which has subtitles.

One of the Very Best.......2005-09-01

Hans Jurgen Syberberg's "Parsifal" is, quite simply, one of the greatest opera films ever made - worthy of being ranked alongside Losey's "Don Giovanni" and Bergman's "Magic Flute". I shall not spoil it for those who haven't seen it by detailing the dazzling feats of invention - and, yes, wit - that distinguish this production. Just take it from me - you will not be disappointed!

Not your grandfather's Parsifal, but give it a chance........2004-11-20

To begin with, I'm glad I bought it. Many of the negative judgments in the following reviews are no more than the insults one hurls at whatever is unfamiliar--and certainly this DVD presents a great deal that is unfamiliar. People need to keep in mind, however, that this is NOT a film of a stage production of Parsifal. It could be called "opera with commentary," perhaps, commentary based on hundreds of years of relevant western history. That is not literally what Wagner wrote, no, but contains much to reflect on, combined with a decent performance of an important music drama.

I am not going to claim that I comprehended all the symbolism; maybe eventually, but not now. Some of the weirdness is really pretty easy to place though: phallic statues in Act II don't require a lot of explanation, for example, and neither, I think do the countless references to Germany's Nazi past or to the imprint of Wagner's own life on European (and our) culture. The rest, I'll work on.

The film has faults, certainly. The subtitles are truly terrible, not because they read like bad sixteenth-century texts (which they do), but because the spelling, grammar, and syntax are simply sloppy. That shouldn't have happened, but they are intelligible.

I also agree with the reviewers who criticized the pace, both musical and dramatic. The "dreamlike" quality of the first act seemed at first more zomboid than dramatic. But truthfully I don't know how Parsifal could be played (in filmed close-ups) as conversational interaction among ordinary people. The "opera" itself doesn't seem to me to lend itself to sitcom techniques.

I was also somewhat displeased that almost everything happened in very narrow physical space. I saw mountain defiles aplenty but not much of anything in the way of the open meadow called for. Maybe the constraint is deliberate, but I think of Parsifal as bigger, somehow.

I was more concerned that the music dragged: Wagner's immensely long, arching continuity seemed missing much of the time. This is a musical work, after all, not a symbolist play with musical eruptions. I cannot, however, put my finger on any particular point when the musical dimension was inadequate, so perhaps I'm wrong. It's hard to notice everything at once in this very complex production.

I was not much bothered with the lip-sync problem, and I liked most of what came out, never mind from whom. The actors do match the roles, and with Wagner productions that's not often entirely the case (Show me a lithe, red-headed vixen who can sing Isolde!) I cannot explain the two Parsifals any more than anybody else seems able to do, but I was happy with both of them.

I expect to play this DVD many times. It is not for the stubbornly conventional, but many viewers will find they have become deeply involved, unexpectedly.

Did Nothing For Me!.......2004-02-24

OK. I recently purchased Syberberg's Parsifal, and to be frank, I really WANTED to like it. I had read previous reviews which ranged from all the way from glowing to dreadful. So, keeping an open mind to new experiences, I took the plunge. I have now watched it twice, and have come to realize that the discs would be better used as coasters or small frisbees! Rather than spending the money to take the plunge, I should have bought a plunger to flush this over-hyped piece of drivel down the drain.

The Nazi allusions, the boy-woman Parsifal, the lack of even an attempt at the "spear trick", the Marx, Wagner, et al busts, the giant Wagner death mask set --- geez, it is as if Syberberg was either on some heavy duty medication, or had recently OD'ed on the writings of Freud and Jung.

I won't even go into the horrendously bad (and often badly spelled) subtitles, nor the miserable timing of the lip-syncing.

The one positive for me was Kundry. This was the only performance that exuded depth and passion. This was my reason for giving it even one star.

Description

Grab your passport and experience Miramax's BEST OF WORLD CINEMA I, featuring the internationally acclaimed films AMÉLIE, CINEMA PARADISO, MALENA, and FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE -- all in widescreen format! AMÉLIE: Nominated for five 2001 Academy Awards(R), including Best Original Screenplay, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Cinematography. Special 2-disc set. CINEMA PARADISO: THE NEW VERSION: Winner of the 1989 Academy Award(R) for Best Foreign Language Film and winner of the Grand Prize Jury Award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. MALENA: Nominated for two 2000 Academy Awards® including Best Cinematography and Best Score. FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE: Nominated for two 1993 Academy Awards(R), including Best Foreign Language Film and Best Cinematography, Golden Globe® winner for Best Foreign Film, and Palme D'Or (Best Film) winner at the prestigious Cannes Film festival. CLICK ON LINKS BELOW FOR INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT DETAILS.

Customer Reviews:

Exotic world movies.......2004-07-24

French, Chinese, and Italian -- three different countries, cultures, and worldviews. Two tragedies, a romantic comedy, and a character drama. This is the "Best of World Cinema Volume 1," collecting four of the best and most beautiful non-American films together.

"Amelie" makes life a little better for everyone. The entrancing, whimsical story centers on the sweet-natured, shy Amelie (Audrey Tautou) who finds a little box of treasures in her apartment, and returns it to its owner, now an old man. She changes the man's life, and decides to continue doing good for others via benevolent meddling. But then when she encounters her soulmate, will Amelie summon the courage to help herself as she's helped others?

"Malèna" is the heart and soul of this lush, riveting film. The sensual Malèna (Monica Belucci) moves into a small Sicilian town in the 1940s, and immediately captures the adoration of all the men, and the disgust of all the women. Preteen Renato (Giuseppe Sulfaro) begins to develop pure, worshipful feelings for Malèna, but as he grows toward manhood, he sees that not all her beauty is on the outside.

"Farewell My Concubine" gives a breathtaking look at Chinese history and culture. A prostitute manages to get her young son Cheng Dieyi (Leslie Cheung), into the world of the Peking Opera, and falls in love with his costar Duan Xiaolou (Fengyi Zhang). But Duan takes a beautiful courtesan as his wife, and thus begins Dieyi's fall from grace.

"Cinema Paradiso: the New Version" is the expanded version of the classic film, a film about film. A famed film director returns to his old hometown and reminisces about his life, and the path that set him towards cinematic fame. As a boy (Marco Leonardi), he befriended a blinded projectionist (Philippe Noiret) -- but did the old man give him fame and glory at the cost of his love?

"The Best of World Cinema" covers different cultures, characters, and ways of directing. And they deal with each topic in their own ways -- fate, love, jealousy, hate and gossip. Is it depressing? In a majestic, melancholy way, some of the films are depressing, although the gorgeous "Amelie" will uplift you if you watch it last.

The acting in these films is almost uniformly superb, from Belucci's silent temptress to Leslie Cheung's tragic young singer to Tautou's elfin sweetheart. And the direction ranges as well -- "Farewell" is starker and grittier, "Amelie" is fantastical and wink-nudge sweetness, and "Malèna"'s warm sensuality.

Four beautiful movies. Four magnificent stories. And four modern classics of the cinema, each a work of art in its own way. Highly, immensely recommended.

Miramax Inspired Romance Collection (Amelie/Like Water for Chocolate/Il Postino/Chocolat)

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Hours of European Classics
...The ULTIMATE collectors pack...
Amelie
Eclectic collection of "Inspired Romance"

Miramax Inspired Romance Collection (Amelie/Like Water for Chocolate/Il Postino/Chocolat)
Starring: Juliette Binoche , Alfred Molina , Carrie-Anne Moss , Judi Dench , and Antonio Gil-Martinez
Director: Lasse Hallström , Alfonso Arau , and Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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