Editorial Review

Giuseppe Tornatore's beautiful 1988 film about a little boy's love affair with the movies deservedly won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film and a Special Jury Prize at Cannes. Philippe Noiret plays a grizzled old projectionist who takes pride in his presentation of screen dreams for a town still recovering from World War II. When a child (Jacques Perrin) demonstrates fascination not only for movies but also for the process of showing them to an audience, a lifelong friendship is struck. This isn't just one of those films for people who are already in love with the cinema. But if you are one of those folks, the emotional resonance between the action in Tornatore's world and the images on Noiret's screen will seem all the greater--and the finale all the more powerful. Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (248)

Both cuts
The new special edition of Cinema Paradiso, coming this november, features both cuts of the film. The theatrical one and the director's cut. So buy it immediately!

en la paradiso of the genre
I first saw Cinema Paradiso on a small screen (24?") T.V. in the shortened original VHS for theatre distribution version. O.K. A number of years later, I was fortunate enough to see the Director's Cut on the big screen.Before or since, I never have shed tears like that in the theatre.Not only for the sadness... but for the sublimity.
Don't buy this version! You must get the director's cut!
I'm giving one star not for the film but for this version only. The director's cut has more than 50 mins additional footage which is vital to the story and was cut to make the film more acceptable to cinema audiences. With these additional scenes, this is an excellent 5-star movie but otherwise, viewers will be unsatisfied. The main bone of contention is that the Elena relationship is not properly resolved in the shorter version so you'll be left wondering how it all turned out. Take my advice, pay a little more and get the full-length version. You won't regret it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - Italian    2. Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle]    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (7)

A beautiful story.
A film that celebrates life but asks questions about what is best in life, and whether we all make the right decisions. The movie centers on an absolutely wonderful performance by a 70 -odd Marcello Mastroiani, in a role that allows him the full gamut of emotions, from great joy to terrible sadness.
Stanno Tutti Bene
Matteo is a sexagenarian widow who lives by himself in Sicily. He rarely hears from his five children who moved away to find jobs and settle in the mainland. They now live in various parts of Italy: Napoli, Torino, Roma...
The bitter warning!

Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - Italian    2. Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle]    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

Giuseppe Tornatore's beautiful 1988 film about a little boy's love affair with the movies deservedly won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film and a Special Jury Prize at Cannes. Philippe Noiret plays a grizzled old projectionist who takes pride in his presentation of screen dreams for a town still recovering from World War II. When a child (Jacques Perrin) demonstrates fascination not only for movies but also for the process of showing them to an audience, a lifelong friendship is struck. This isn't just one of those films for people who are already in love with the cinema. But if you are one of those folks, the emotional resonance between the action in Tornatore's world and the images on Noiret's screen will seem all the greater--and the finale all the more powerful. Read more

Features

• Color
• Original recording remastered
• Subtitled
• NTSC

Reviews (248)

Both cuts
The new special edition of Cinema Paradiso, coming this november, features both cuts of the film. The theatrical one and the director's cut. So buy it immediately!

en la paradiso of the genre
I first saw Cinema Paradiso on a small screen (24?") T.V. in the shortened original VHS for theatre distribution version. O.K. A number of years later, I was fortunate enough to see the Director's Cut on the big screen.Before or since, I never have shed tears like that in the theatre.Not only for the sadness... but for the sublimity.
Don't buy this version! You must get the director's cut!
I'm giving one star not for the film but for this version only. The director's cut has more than 50 mins additional footage which is vital to the story and was cut to make the film more acceptable to cinema audiences. With these additional scenes, this is an excellent 5-star movie but otherwise, viewers will be unsatisfied. The main bone of contention is that the Elena relationship is not properly resolved in the shorter version so you'll be left wondering how it all turned out. Take my advice, pay a little more and get the full-length version. You won't regret it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - Italian    2. Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle]    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (104)

A memorable fable for adults, beautifully made
How did this terrific movie slip under the radar?
The Legend of 1900
Fresh off popping a boring movie out of the player, I popped in this one. The premise is that a boy was born on a ship in 1900 and never set foot on land, truly a man without a country. The recreations of those olden days were simply a pleasure to behold. As in, the sets and the clothes. Tim Roth is talented, watchable and likeable. A brief appearance by Clarence Williams III is definitely a highlight of this film. Many years after THE MOD SQUAD, it's nice to see him having a bit of a career renaissance with a different generation of viewers.
The Legend Of 1900
A very strange story.It was an excellent movie.The music was simply great.I will be purchasing the sound track for sure.The ending(while a surprise)was rather sad.All-in-all,just a great movie. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

When 12-year-old Renato, riding through his small Italian town on his new bicycle, sees the voluptuous Malèna, little does he know he's launching on an infatuation that will carry him through the tumultuous days of World War II. Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (98)

Beautiful but misunderstood movie
I first watched this movie in a class dedicated to film music. While the music is haunting and wonderful (Ennio Morricone, you can't go wrong). This movie is more than simply a tale about a boy lusting after a beautiful woman.
A Prefect Film
Isolated and beautiful, Malèna soon becomes the object of every male's sexual fantasy and the scorn of every local woman, all of whom seemingly exist only to spread rumors about Malèna's sexual habits. Each time she walks through the piazza, Malèna is met with lecherous stares and catcalls from the men, and stony glares and hand-covered whispers by the women. Malèna must prove in court that she is not guilty of indecent behavior, or face two years in prison.Malèna, dwells in a nostalgia for the past, and for the coming of age of a single young male protagonist.Renato and Malèna represent traditional Italian social and gender relations, as well as the political and cultural effects.

about the movie malena...........
This DVD film/movie is sold in Singapore videoshops and I grabbed a copy and watched...hee hee...the story is about how the beauty of a woman affected the boy's interest in her wjich later led to sex. This film is talking about the situation during the facist government's time, hitler or third wright which talk about how this beautiful woman selling her body to different man whom are married and after American's win and the war eneded, malena was being pulled out of the street anf get bitten badly by the wife of these man whom slept with her resulting her to run away to a different place. She finally came back with her husband (whom thought to be dead) and those people whom have beaten her before, treat her nicely this round and still says that she is still beautiful afterall. This story is recommended to those whom are interested in this genre of DVD film/movie.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Foreign Film - Italian    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (41)

Not as novel a subject as it seems to be
This film touches upon a topic that is better depicted in "Lulu on the bridge" with Mira Sorvino and Harvey Keitel. I say better because the anguish of the central character in that film is juxtoposed more effectively against the desire for life and love.
I only found it average
I saw this movie b/c I've been watching a few of Polanski's films and thought i'd see him act.The movie starts a bit slow, the dialogue is decent, but i found a lot of the quotes about his literature dull and vague (and the story about the genius vagrant quite over the top).Depardieu gives a good performance.Honestly, i didn't get the ending until reading
in a class by itself--seeking DVD!!
This psychological excursion neither taxed my patience nor disappointed my desire for resolution.There is a narrative thread, but very broken and evasive.The two leads box cinematically in their portrayals of two men seeking or evading the truth in a murder--but the real story lies in what is learned, by the characteres and the audience, about life, love, art, faith, and compassion.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - French   

Editorial Review

Giuseppe Tornatore's beautiful 1988 film about a little boy's love affair with the movies deservedly won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film and a Special Jury Prize at Cannes. Philippe Noiret plays a grizzled old projectionist who takes pride in his presentation of screen dreams for a town still recovering from World War II. When a child (Jacques Perrin) demonstrates fascination not only for movies but also for the process of showing them to an audience, a lifelong friendship is struck. This isn't just one of those films for people who are already in love with the cinema. But if you are one of those folks, the emotional resonance between the action in Tornatore's world and the images on Noiret's screen will seem all the greater--and the finale all the more powerful. Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (248)

Both cuts
The new special edition of Cinema Paradiso, coming this november, features both cuts of the film. The theatrical one and the director's cut. So buy it immediately!

en la paradiso of the genre
I first saw Cinema Paradiso on a small screen (24?") T.V. in the shortened original VHS for theatre distribution version. O.K. A number of years later, I was fortunate enough to see the Director's Cut on the big screen.Before or since, I never have shed tears like that in the theatre.Not only for the sadness... but for the sublimity.
Don't buy this version! You must get the director's cut!
I'm giving one star not for the film but for this version only. The director's cut has more than 50 mins additional footage which is vital to the story and was cut to make the film more acceptable to cinema audiences. With these additional scenes, this is an excellent 5-star movie but otherwise, viewers will be unsatisfied. The main bone of contention is that the Elena relationship is not properly resolved in the shorter version so you'll be left wondering how it all turned out. Take my advice, pay a little more and get the full-length version. You won't regret it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - Italian    2. Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle]    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• Dolby
• NTSC

Reviews (10)

did we even see the whole movie?
I LOVE tornatore, I liked this film. i think anyone who loves seeing italy and italian culture should add a star too. that being said, i wonder, how much of this film did we see? the box does, as a reviewer pointed out, feature aruby-lipped woman that just does not sell this movie for what it is. but what gets me, is there are three pictures on the back, and two of them arent in the film! WARNING: This is not a charming film.
No, this is not a chic little euro-comedy like the picture on the front cover might suggest, or a charming new bent on "The Music Man" as implied by the plot outlined on the dvd box. In fact, it isn't funny or romantic at all. Sobering portrait of 1940s Sicily
It didn't surprise me that few Americans appreciated this film.Unless you know something about Sicily or have traveled there, you might not appreciate the full scope of this film, which is understandable -- but still, it is a fantastic and highly original movie that stands easily on its own merits.Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Foreign Film - Italian    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

When 12-year-old Renato, riding through his small Italian town on his new bicycle, sees the voluptuous Malèna, little does he know he's launching on an infatuation that will carry him through the tumultuous days of World War II. Read more

Features

• Color
• Original recording reissued
• NTSC

Reviews (98)

Beautiful but misunderstood movie
I first watched this movie in a class dedicated to film music. While the music is haunting and wonderful (Ennio Morricone, you can't go wrong). This movie is more than simply a tale about a boy lusting after a beautiful woman.
A Prefect Film
Isolated and beautiful, Malèna soon becomes the object of every male's sexual fantasy and the scorn of every local woman, all of whom seemingly exist only to spread rumors about Malèna's sexual habits. Each time she walks through the piazza, Malèna is met with lecherous stares and catcalls from the men, and stony glares and hand-covered whispers by the women. Malèna must prove in court that she is not guilty of indecent behavior, or face two years in prison.Malèna, dwells in a nostalgia for the past, and for the coming of age of a single young male protagonist.Renato and Malèna represent traditional Italian social and gender relations, as well as the political and cultural effects.

about the movie malena...........
This DVD film/movie is sold in Singapore videoshops and I grabbed a copy and watched...hee hee...the story is about how the beauty of a woman affected the boy's interest in her wjich later led to sex. This film is talking about the situation during the facist government's time, hitler or third wright which talk about how this beautiful woman selling her body to different man whom are married and after American's win and the war eneded, malena was being pulled out of the street anf get bitten badly by the wife of these man whom slept with her resulting her to run away to a different place. She finally came back with her husband (whom thought to be dead) and those people whom have beaten her before, treat her nicely this round and still says that she is still beautiful afterall. This story is recommended to those whom are interested in this genre of DVD film/movie.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Foreign Film - Italian    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

When 12-year-old Renato, riding through his small Italian town on his new bicycle, sees the voluptuous Malèna, little does he know he's launching on an infatuation that will carry him through the tumultuous days of World War II. Read more

Features

• NTSC

Reviews (98)

Beautiful but misunderstood movie
I first watched this movie in a class dedicated to film music. While the music is haunting and wonderful (Ennio Morricone, you can't go wrong). This movie is more than simply a tale about a boy lusting after a beautiful woman.
A Prefect Film
Isolated and beautiful, Malèna soon becomes the object of every male's sexual fantasy and the scorn of every local woman, all of whom seemingly exist only to spread rumors about Malèna's sexual habits. Each time she walks through the piazza, Malèna is met with lecherous stares and catcalls from the men, and stony glares and hand-covered whispers by the women. Malèna must prove in court that she is not guilty of indecent behavior, or face two years in prison.Malèna, dwells in a nostalgia for the past, and for the coming of age of a single young male protagonist.Renato and Malèna represent traditional Italian social and gender relations, as well as the political and cultural effects.

about the movie malena...........
This DVD film/movie is sold in Singapore videoshops and I grabbed a copy and watched...hee hee...the story is about how the beauty of a woman affected the boy's interest in her wjich later led to sex. This film is talking about the situation during the facist government's time, hitler or third wright which talk about how this beautiful woman selling her body to different man whom are married and after American's win and the war eneded, malena was being pulled out of the street anf get bitten badly by the wife of these man whom slept with her resulting her to run away to a different place. She finally came back with her husband (whom thought to be dead) and those people whom have beaten her before, treat her nicely this round and still says that she is still beautiful afterall. This story is recommended to those whom are interested in this genre of DVD film/movie.
Read more