Malena

Amazon.com

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. Malèna begins as an enraptured depiction of Renato's adolescent mind--the way he stares, hypnotized, at Malèna's garters pressing through the material of her tight skirt, or his frustrated rebellion against the indignity of wearing short pants--but soon transforms into a portrait of small-town prejudice. Malèna's looks spark lust and envy in the townspeople; when her husband dies in combat, the gossip only intensifies, to the point that Malèna is dragged into court to defend herself against accusations of adultery. When the women of the town refuse to sell her edible food at the market, Malèna has little choice but to become what she's been unjustly accused of being. At the end, a twist of fate turns this tale of longing and jealousy into a heartbreaking love story. Monica Bellucci exudes the can't-help-it eroticism that makes Malèna such a lightning rod for everyone's desires; she's like a more zaftig Isabelle Adjani. The movie seems to wander at times, but the ending has a powerful emotional impact. From the director of Cinema Paradiso. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The latest triumph from Giuseppe Tornatore, the writer and director of the Academy Award(R)-winning CINEMA PARADISO, MALENA is an utterly unforgettable story of a boy's journey into manhood amid the chaos and intolerance of World War II. In a sleepy Italian village, the most beautiful woman in town, Malena (Monica Bellucci), becomes the subject of increasingly malicious gossip among the lustful townsmen and their jealous wives. But only her most ardent admirer, young Renato Amoroso (Giuseppe Sulfaro), will learn the untold true story of the mysterious and elusive Malena! In a captivating motion picture nominated for two Academy Awards, the eventual struggles and hardships that Malena must bravely endure serve to inspire Renato to new heights of compassion, courage, and independence!

Customer Reviews:

A story of war, social conformity, love and life - through the eyes of a boy.......2007-07-17

Like many of Tornatorre's movies, this too is a story told through the eyes of a boy. Set in Italy around WWII, the story weaves significant themes, such as the courage to stand out, fear, conformity, fidelity, as well as the seemingly omnipresent autobiographical Tornatorre ideas - a boy coming of age, his infatuation with the most beautiful woman in town, the early experiences in life with death, war society, peace.

The movie is richly narrated, not only visually (through the strong performance of Monica Bellucci, among others), but also through the beautiful music of Enio Morricone.

While the movie will be interesting to those looking for a purely historic picture of Italy during WWII, people looking for an emotionally moving artistic experience.

The two Oscar nominations - for cinematograpy and musical score - are richly deserved.

Inferior to the "Malena Uncut" version.......2007-07-12

It was obvious that scenes were missing in a most annoying way. Fortunately I persisted searching here on Amazon, and only when I entered "Malena Uncut" I was able to find the true uncut Special Edition import version from Korea in a really beautiful luxury boxed set of 2 disks, and Monica Bellucci nude from the waist up on the cover. Not sure what's wrong with Amazon's "search" but it leaves out that gem, which is at this Amazon link: Malena Uncut Special Edition 2 DVD Set [Import]

Malena.......2007-06-13

Loved it. Romantic, beautiful and She is gorgeous too.

Exellent film pity about the DVD.......2007-05-06

I wont go into the stupidity of cutting scenes out of this first rate film too many people have already mentioned it. If companies think that veiwers are too stupid to make up their own minds on what they want to watch then they realy shouldnt bother producing films. Sad to say, when Americans complain about their films being cut they need to take a look at the idiots who clasify films in the UK (Average age 80) Must be great them sitting through hours of 'explicit scenes' only to cut them for us the masses. I can only assume they think we dont have the ability to watch a film and make up our own minds we need others to do that for us.

Anyway on with the film. Monica Bellucci is an exellent actress and in this film she plays a woman who pursued by almsot every man in her small town while her husband is away fighting in the war finaly gives up when she believes that her husband has died. First falling for the well to do in the town then sleeping with what it would seem half the German army based in the town. The horror of the reprisal against her at the end of the war and the final happy (to some extent) ending.

great film, if you can find the uncut version get it. Film editors need to put a stop to this we are grown adults let us decide what we want to watch.

American version probably fine.......2007-04-13

I purchased the imported uncut version, however that too is lightly censored. I read some reviews saying the cut version was basically crap compared to the original version. Well I haven't seen the cut version, but I don't think the 13 minutes that was cut from the film will be missed by most individuals. The story is about a 12 year old boy's infatuation and sexual fantasies of Malena. The scenes that were cut I would probably guess were scenes where he was fantasizing about her. Where he and she are in (at times) intimate positions. Its not like a Misses Robinson where the young boy is of age, this is a 12 year old. So I can see where Americans could find this objectionable or not really something they need to see to get a complete picture of the story. The only thing really censored in this movie is when the camera pans down to the "southern" regions of women, and a tinted blob covers the "offensive" area. Well personally I found it more disturbing when the whore was licking Renalto's chest. Overall I enjoyed the movie, but just wanted to point out the differences so someone else could make an informed decision on which version they want to buy.

Malena Uncut Special Edition 2 DVD Set [Import]

Average customer rating:

Cool Movie
Beautiful, Sensual, Resonant
Whats up with Miramax???
Exquisite film-making. Buy it now!
MISLEADING 'UNCUT' VERSION - IT'S CENSORED!

Malena Uncut Special Edition 2 DVD Set [Import]

Manufacturer: Spectrum DVD
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ASIN: B0007W6GUO

Product Description

Original Korean import version in a fantastic 2 disc boxset -- In Italian With English Subtitles. Disc 2 Is In Italian With No Subtitle Options ----- Features: Life & Dream Of Giuseppe Tornatore (52 Mins) # 4 Making of Featurettes (40 Mins)# Backstage Featurette (12 Mins) # Interviews with Giuseppe Tornatore & Ennio Morricone # Interview with Tornatore # In Studio Featurette with composer Ennio Morricone # Production Sketches # Production Notes # Trailers # Radio Spots # Deleted scenes added back in

Customer Reviews:

Cool Movie.......2007-09-08

Monica Belluci is an awesome actress. She knows how to be subtle and act without talking. She's one of the most beautiful women in the world too. The story is very artsy and sometimes cheesy. One of the greatest scenes of courage that I've ever seen is at the end of this story. It might be too artsy fartsy for my taste, but waiting for the next scene with Ms Bellucci made up for all the scenes that were too "cinematic".

I also got a sense that this story has many levels. One of them was about how experience teaches and sometime how people are aware of other sides of a story simply because they were lucky enough to notice more than others. I also think at some level, the writer wanted to convey his feelings about mass psycology and Italian "nationalism"

Beautiful, Sensual, Resonant.......2007-05-25

This film must be seen in its uncut version to appreciate its beauty. MALENA is a delicious film, like a rare peach that deserves to be tasted fully and completely. The heart and soul of the film is Monica Bellucci. Her sublime beauty combined with her truly amazing acting gifts make this movie irresistible. If you're not in love with Malena by the end of the film, I would be surprised.

The movie is actually a simple tale of a young boy's first sexual and romantic longings when he sees Malena for the first time in his small Italian town. All the other boys line up along the streets to make cat-calls at her as she passes, but he falls in love with her. He then begins watching her obsessively, dreaming of her, and longing for her as he watches her life go from that of lonely WWII widow with no money to the town pariah.

Essentially, the film is a study of unrequited love, of social malevolance directed toward the beautiful/the different/the enigmatic, and, finally, of forgiveness and evolution.

Whats up with Miramax???.......2006-12-21

Warning: Spoilers Ahead...
I just watched the short version of this I found at a rental store. Then I went on line with an image search and got a better idea of what has been cut out of the short version. I am totally fed up with censorship in the USA dictating what is OK for viewing. It seems 95% of the SENSUOUS BEAUTY of a nude female SHOULD NOT BE SEEN in the US, but Miramax has NO PROBLEM keeping the scene where Malena is stripped of her clothes and nearly beaten to death by a mob of angry wives. That scene seems to be complete in the censored Mirimax version.

In the tradition of slasher films, it is fine if a female is nude as long as it is in the context of being stabbed, raped and beaten to death. But to be sensual, sexual, or just plain beautiful...well only perverts watch that kind of stuff. Maybe if the televised Victoria's Secret Fashion Show brought chainsaws to the runway, the network would not get any complaints!

Exquisite film-making. Buy it now!.......2006-05-19

Like another reveiewer, I purchased this after purchasing the U.S. Miramax version. I have to agree with most of the reveiwers that the uncut version is vastly superior in every way. Without the complete scenes in which Renato is seen slwoly falling completely for Malena, the film is merely a beautifully shot film, with a lovely actress and a great soundtrack. Uncut, it becomes an insightful look into the passions that drive us, both as young adolescents and adults, for better(Renato)or for worse (Malena). Lastly, I don't know what version the one reviewer had who commented about the pelvic region being blocked out. My copy had no such censoring.

This film uncut is magnificent!

MISLEADING 'UNCUT' VERSION - IT'S CENSORED!.......2005-10-10

With deleted scenes put back in, this is a 5-star movie. However, this 'Import, Uncut' version is CENSORED in a way that ruins the overall movie. Large, black blotches are used to block out pelvic anatomy without clothing, which now seems typical censorship for all these (Korean?) imports. If you don't think intimate scenes should be covered over with 'black spot' editing, and you're an adult that can handle seeing a naked body - send a message. Don't waste your money.

Average customer rating:

Electra
"The death of a king is never simple"
Cacoyanis one of the giants directors in any age
those who live greatly ......
Powerful drama

Electra
Starring: Irene Papas , Yannis Fertis , Aleka Katselli , Notis Peryalis , and Manos Katrakis
Director: Michael Cacoyannis
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B00005UJY8
Release Date: 2002-03-05

Description

From "one of the world's most talented filmmakers" (Los Angeles Times) comes this riveting, OscarÂ(r)-nominated* retelling of Euripides' searing classic. Written, produced and directedby Michael Cacoyannis (Stella, Zorba the Greek), and starring legendary Greek beauty Irene Papas (The Trojan Women), Electra is "majestic and awesome" (The New York Times)"a truly powerful and visually impressive picture" (Boxoffice). Desolationand despair reign supreme in the kingdom of Mycenae: The great Agamemnon has been brutally murdered; his son, Orestes, has fled to an unknown land; and his daughter Electra has been imprisoned withinthe very walls of the castle she once loved so well. All hope seems lost until the sacred oracle speaks and replaces Electra's broken spirit with an unquenchable desire for justiceand bloody vengeance! *1962: Foreign Language Film

Customer Reviews:

Electra.......2005-08-11

Bitterness in ancient Greece. If you go for Greek tragedy you'll enjoy this. Agamemnon returns home to Mycenae, is murdered by his wife and her lover, and his daughter Elektra schemes revenge. The real Mycenae stands in for itself and the acting is top-notch. Regarding this DVD: beware of using the dubbed English track - the voices don't always say what they should at certain points. Also, the great Irene Papas' powerful voice is "girlie-fied" by whoever dubbed her. Stick to the original Greek track and access the English subtitles instead. The film is in 16:9 format but is not anamorphic. This is not a problem due to the excellent b & w transfer, and no serious graininess is introduced when it is vertically expanded to fit your widescreen TV screen. Recommended.

"The death of a king is never simple".......2004-08-04

I came to view this film the long way around. I have watched the Richard Straus Opera "Elektra" in which there are people of the same name but different spelling than the film. In the play Elektra the eldest daughter is upset because her mother Klytämnestra and her mother's lover Aegisth killed her father the king, Agamemnon. She calls on her father's spirit, and vows vengeance. Her younger sister Chrysothemis tries to talk her out of it. Her mother comes to here drugged and sleepless asking Elektra what can be done to make amends so her nightmares will end. Elektra tells her that the blood of an impure woman must be shed. Later Elektra is told that her brother, Orest is dead so she tells her sister that she must help kill the mother and lover. Orest turns up alive and is coaxed into killing first Klytämnestra and then Aegisth. So much emotional hate and joy is released that Elektra dances until she falls dead.

Then there are several translations of the play by Sophocles 410 BC.

Now we come to the interpretation for this 1962 film play directed by Michael Cacoyannis of "Zorba the Greek" fame. The film takes 113 minutes; Approximately 15 minutes of dialog, 30 minutes of mime to cut out the bulk of the dialog from the play, and the rest filler of people milling around. I do not mean to sound trite but be prepared for long moments where we have to listen to an off key string instrument or a bunch of horns th keep us focused of where the action should be. There is a moving song and a chorus that speaks out now and them. The set is the Greek landscape with a few structures. It is shot in black and white. This is saved by exceptional acting.

There is a touching scene where Agamemmnon retunes to great his wife and children. Then we watch as Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus net in Agamemmnon for the kill. Orestes gets led out to a foreign land and Electra is under house arrest until she grows up. She cuts off her hair in protest and is married off to an innocuous peasant. Will she ever get revenge? And is Orestes even alive? What ho, strangers approach.

This is a tale of "...A family so noble and so damned at the same time."

To get a different take on the story you can read "Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life" by Thomas Moore, where he tells the story a little different in depicting the role of becoming a mother.

The media itself is a DVD with options of Greek: Mono, English: Mono or French: mono. Then the option also of English, French and Spanish Language Subtitles. The singing is done in Greek only but you can use English subtitles to tell what they are singing. There are no pamphlets with this package.

Cacoyanis one of the giants directors in any age.......2004-05-27

Irene Papas as Elektra gives probably her finest perfomance ever. Cacoyanis made an exceptional translating process with this drama from Euripides.
The fundamental atmosphere of the female chorus and all the haunting drama hidden about the revenge to make justice is told
brilliantly.
Cacoyanis shows us why he was blessed by the Gods .
Acquire this superb masterpiece.

those who live greatly .............2003-12-08

must greatly suffer - something along that line - but that quote belongs to the Sophocles version - this one's a little more method - although slightly too emotional [but then - there goes ther movie and the performances!] Always bearing in mind that these great works were written as rituals - not as .... entertainment. [This version is slightly too close to the kitchen sink - smatters of that great Juliette Greco vehicle "The Crack in the Mirror"].

BUT for what this version is worth IRENE PAPAS is spectacular as the misbegotten daughter seeking revenge - choreography of the chorus is superb as is the bleak, bleak cinematography.

Perfect and no doubt authentically researched costume design.

Powerful drama.......2003-09-16

Interesting that this 1962 film's director, Michael Cacoyannis, also directed Zorba the Greek and that the latter film also starred Irene Papas who plays the title character in Electra. It easily demonstrates Cacoyannis' artistry as a director, for in this film, he does a masterful job of interpreting the Euripides drama.

Filmed naturalistically in Greek settings, Electra does not disappoint. The great hero and king Agamemmnon is brutally murdered near the beginning of the story by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. Electra and her brother Orestes, children of the royal couple, are both thrown out of their palatial home--Orestes is exiled, and Electra forced to marry a commoner and live in a hovel.

The term "Electra Complex" refers to a daughter's unnatural love for her father and while this is not overtly portrayed here, the hints are certainly in place. Even when her mother tells Electra of the king's infidelities the daughter defends him, citing the queen's own as proof of the latter's treachery.

Electra and Orestes take revenge on the couple who have killed their father--not without great remorse.

Cacoyannis' skill is demonstrated in his choice to film this work in black and white, accentuating the starkness of the tale, which contains numerous stretches of silence, an effective Greek chorus of village women (all clothed similarly in black), and an equally effective score by the great Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis who also composed the music for Zorba the Greek. The story is pure drama--the emotional elements are laid bare in the stripped to the bone dialogue that wastes no words.

The cinematography as well emphasizes the basic elements of earth and sky; black and white has seldom been used as well in a drama as it is here. Earth is the land of man where we live and die; sky is the land of the gods to whom we appeal for everything we want that we don't have. And whether or not we get what we want--who can say?

Product Description

Monica Bellucci (MALENA, IRREVERSIBLE) stars in LA RIFFA - her first starring role. Upon the death of her husband in an auto accident, Francesca (Monica Bellucci) undergoes a major economic change for the worse. She is forced to work to support her young son. Her affluent friends mostly try to take advantage of her situation. Her great beauty is an asset but also a problem since it attracts a sizable number of lecherous males and perverts with designs on her body. We follow her through a series of affairs and misadventures until the affairs of her late husband are concluded...

Malena Special Edition, Uncut [2 DVD Set , IMPORT , ALL REGIONS]

Average customer rating:

A Masterpiece of a movie!

Malena Special Edition, Uncut [2 DVD Set , IMPORT , ALL REGIONS]
Starring: Monica Bellucci
Manufacturer: South Korea
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

Malena , Director's Cut

ASIN: B000U351GU

Product Description

Customer Reviews:

A Masterpiece of a movie!.......2007-07-25

Anyone who wants to watch this classic needs to see the original version which is far more complete,sexier and funnier too! Its a lovely movie by the creators of cinema paradiso and works as a racy 'Summer of 42'.A must for anyone who loves coming-of age dramas with the added bonus of the gorgeous monica bellucci uncensored!!

Average customer rating:

Beautifully weaved Masterpiece
All About My Mother
Hard to get one's head around this one
Not Almodovar's Best
another touching grand opus from a great director who continues to get better

All About My Mother
Starring: Eloy Azorín , Carmen Balagué (II) , Yael Barnatán , Toni Cantó , and Penélope Cruz
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: 0767847105
Release Date: 2000-07-11

Amazon.com

After her son is killed in an accident, Manuela (Cecilia Roth) leaves Madrid for her old haunts in Barcelona. She reconnects with an old friend, a pre-op transsexual prostitute named La Agrado (Antonia San Juan), who introduces her to Rosa (Penélope Cruz), a young nun who turns out to be pregnant. Meanwhile, Manuela becomes a personal assistant for Huma Rojo (Marisa Paredes), an actress currently playing Blanche DuBois in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire. All About My Mother traces the delicate web of friendship and loss that binds these women together. The movie is dedicated to the actresses of the world, so it's not surprising that all the performances are superb. Roth in particular anchors All About My Mother with compassion and generosity. But fans of writer-director Pedro Almodóvar needn't fret--as always, Almodóvar's work undermines conventional notions of sexual identity and embraces all human possibilities with bright colors and melodramatic plotting. However, All About My Mother approaches its twists and turns with a broader emotional scope than most of Almodóvar's work; even the more extravagant aspects of the story are presented quietly, to allow the sadness of life to be as present as the irrepressible vitality of the characters. Almodóvar embraces pettiness, jealousy, and grief as much as kindness, courage, and outrageousness, and the movie is the richer for it. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Beautifully weaved Masterpiece.......2007-07-26

Almodovar's "All About My Mother" is perhaps the most beautifully written and acted film I have ever seen. In typical Almodovar fashion, the film is full of symbolism, vibrant colors, inter-connected story lines, and an ending that brings the entire film full circle without being cliche.

After her son dies in a tragic accident in Madrid, Manuela embarks on a personal hegira to Barcelona, where she not only takes a group of misfits under her generous wing, but she finds herself along the way. Full of masterfully detailed relationships, honesty, and love, the film is genuinely moving. Not one to leave sorrow or mystery behind, Almodovar blends the mystery of the human condition with a concoction of humor and compassion brilliantly.

This is truly a pinnacle in a career full of cinematic highs.

All About My Mother.......2007-07-11

A splendidly absorbing, character-driven drama with lots of twists and turns, Almodóvar's "Mother" is an homage to female actresses and anyone with a maternal instinct. With his trademark visual flair and empathy for fringe feminine types--hookers, transvestites, druggies, and distraught single women in particular--Almodóvar spins an engaging, melodramatic story with heavy allusions to "All About Eve" and "A Streetcar Named Desire." Roth, Paredes, Cruz, and San Juan give marvelously spirited performances, all of which helped the movie win an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. Why not let Almodóvar "Mother" you?

Hard to get one's head around this one.......2007-02-27

At times, this was an emotionally exhausting film, containing so much grief & loss that it was difficult to watch, and by extension, difficult to review. It wanders amazingly far afield from what at first appears to be a movie about a mother/son relationship, but Almodovar manages to keep the movie from completely losing its coherence.

This is probably one of those movies where the sometimes bizarre content can overwhelm a viewer. Repeated viewings no doubt would reveal some nuggets that were missed the first time through. One could certainly do worse than watching this a second or third time, that's for sure.

If nothing else, watch the movie for the riveting performance of Cecelia Roth as Manuela. Prior to seeing this, I was unfamiliar with her work, but now hope to seek out some of her other movies.

Not Almodovar's Best.......2006-09-26

While the acting (especially that of Cecilia Roth and Penelope Cruz) is superb, I don't care much for this story at the point I should care most, the climax! As usual for his movies, the plot is highly improbable, and while that rarely bothers me, I'm growing tired of Almodovar's over-the-top characters -- the ridiculously eccentric gays, lesbians and transexuals, who he then wants to portray as the most admirable characters in the movie. (An effort to "normalize," "humanize" them, perhaps? Whatever. Go preach from the pulpit, I say.) What worked in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (clearly a screwball comedy), doesn't work here, where the tone is more somber, and the plot somewhat more believable.

Still, I'm looking forward to more from Almodovar. You never know where his stories are going until you've watched the whole movie. That said, I'm also starting to expect all the quirky weirdos, but I don't always look forward to encountering them.

another touching grand opus from a great director who continues to get better.......2006-08-03

almodovar glorifies women! remarkable in its refusal to patronize, and it has all the touches youve come to expect. i laughed, i cried ...

Average customer rating:

Boesmans - Julie
Starring: Malena Ernman , Garry Magee , Kerstin Avemo , Kazushi Ono , and Philippe Boesmans
Director: Luc Bondy
Manufacturer: Bel Air Classiques
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QGEWHU
Release Date: 2007-10-09

Average customer rating:

More than a nice love story...

Nueces Para el Amor
Starring: Ariadna Gil , Gastón Pauls , Gabriel Goity , Nancy Duplaa , and Nicolás Pauls
Director: Alberto Lecchi
Manufacturer: Allumination
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000G2YD32
Release Date: 2006-06-05

Customer Reviews:

More than a nice love story..........2007-05-20

"Nueces para el Amor" is no more and no less than the story of Alicia (Malena Solda) and Marcelo (Nicolas Pauls), a story that happens against the backdrop of Argentinian history. This excellent film is directed by Alberto Lecchi, and tells a touching story.

Alicia and Marcelo first met on a train in 1975, after the last concert of "Suis Generis" and just before the beginning of another dictatorship in Argentina. Their love story seemed impossible from the very beginning, as Alicia already had a boyfriend. Besides, Alicia and Marcelo were very different: she liked to read, to write, was politically active, and loved foreign movies, whereas he was just beginning to discover his place in the world. Despite that, they started a relationship that only ended because Alicia thought that her social work and political commitment didn't give her the right to be in love.

Their love story doesn't end there, though, because this couple will meet many more times, at different stages in their lives. They will be different, older, and maybe wiser. Unfortunately, there will always be something that doesn't allow Alicia (now played by Ariadna Gil) and Marcelo (now played by Gaston Pauls) to recognize that they are, after all, soulmates. But... will things change someday? And if so, why?

This film is more than a nice love story, as it somehow manages to weave together the story of a couple with that of a country, whilst allowing you to hear some great songs from Argentina that show what many people felt during the dark times of the Argentinian dictatorship. "Nueces para el amor" is an excellent film, that I think you will like, provided you speak Spanish. If you don't, just make sure you get hold of a dvd with subtitles in English.

Belen Alcat

Handel - Hercules / Shimell, DiDonato, Spence, Bohlin, Ernman, Kirkbride, Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Aix-en-Provence Opera

Average customer rating:

Great performance, hard to find.
One little addition to the other reviews
Expert Cast Lends Passion to a Relentlessly Dark Staging of Handel's Mythic Oratorio
DiDonato is Triumphant!
Damn, this is good!

Handel - Hercules / Shimell, DiDonato, Spence, Bohlin, Ernman, Kirkbride, Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Aix-en-Provence Opera
Starring: William Shimell , Joyce DiDonato , Malena Ernman , Ingela Bohlin , and Paris Opera
Director: William Christie
Manufacturer: Bel Air Classiques
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CR8RY2
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Customer Reviews:

Great performance, hard to find........2007-07-17

I'm not sure how many opera companies perform this great work, but
it is hard to find on DVD. I have the CD with Anne Soffie Von Otter & David Daniels, also a "5 star" perormance.

If you like any of Handel's Operas (I consifer this an Opera) you must give this a try. Just about every Aria & Chorus is a winner that will stay with you for a long time. I paricularily like: Lichas: "No Longer, fate, relentless frown"; Hyllus: Where congeal'd the northern streams; Chorus of Trachinians: O filial piety; and Iole: How blest the maid ordained to dwell. The staging is very well done and acting is superb!!

One little addition to the other reviews.......2007-06-26

I absolutey love reading the reviews that Amazon customers write. They often have a great influence on what I purchase.

I couldn't agree more with the glowing reviews already given for this DVD. Beautiful voices, terrific singing, great acting, good-looking cast, good directing, and a wonderful orchestra with an outstanding conductor.

The only reason I'm giving only four stars is that I thought prospective buyers might want to know about how the production itself LOOKS. The set is very spare which is not necessarily a great disadvantage, but the apparel of the cast and chorus is pretty much what you'd see out on the street. The production looks like a rehearsal. It sounds like it's wonderfully ready for very lucky audiences, but gee whiz!

However, I highly recommend this excellent DVD.

Expert Cast Lends Passion to a Relentlessly Dark Staging of Handel's Mythic Oratorio.......2007-01-14

Luc Bondy's decidedly Spartan approach to one of Handel's more intriguing and epic oratorios may disappoint some Baroque purists, but there is no stopping the dramatic resonance of the piece. "Hercules" examines the power of jealousy and its fatalistic ramifications using the last hours of the mythic hero's life as the central focus of the story. Wrapped in the composer's wondrous, mood-shifting music for well over three hours, the 2004 Festival International d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence production, recorded at Paris' Palais Garnier, is marked by an extremely theatrical sense of character-driven drama. TV director Vincent Bataillon captures this volatility fully on the 2006 two-disc DVD set and the performance itself benefits significantly from a solid cast lending their voices to some of the composer's most breathtaking arias. Despite its tepid London debut in 1744, the oratorio has understandably raised its standing among Baroque aficionados to become one of Handel's most respected works.

Baritone William Shimell plays the title role in a rather brutish monotone that sometimes overshadows his character's aching vulnerability, even though his singing is mainly superb. At certain moments, such as his big air in Act II, "Alcides' name in latest story", he reveals an innate ability to convey not only his character's imminent fate but also a strong heroic sense. Regardless of the title, the oratorio is dominated by Hercules' distraught wife Dejanira, and mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato runs with the opportunity with a feverish performance that takes advantage of her theatrical vibrancy and vocal agility. Her climactic scene of madness, showcased in the air, "Where shall I fly?", perfectly reflects DiDonato's total commitment to the role. As Hyllus, tenor Toby Spence is marginally less impressive in capturing his young character's callow feelings toward his father's young captive, Iole, but he still manages to conquer the most prominent of the virtuoso runs in his many arias with great dexterity. With unsullied purity, soprano Ingela Bohlin affectingly sings Iole, the object of Dejanira's jealousy, while in a trouser role, mezzo-soprano Malena Ernman is able to bring out a palpable masculinity in the smallish role of Lichas the Herald.

Another powerful asset to this production is the masterful baton of Baroque specialist William Christie, who vividly leads the period instrument orchestra of Les Arts Florissants. Yet, with the combined power of the performers and musicians, including a powerfully diverse chorale, the overall gray-toned darkness of the production becomes wearing over its marathon run. Even in the jubilation of the final chorus celebrating the marriage of Hyllus and Iole, there is a pervasive somber note sounded by the melancholy sets. Compared to Peter Sellars' legendary 1996 rethinking of Handel's "Theodora" (also on DVD) in a modern-day political setting, this staging does not take as many artistic risks in plumbing the emotional depths of this classic work. Granted, "Hercules" is not as powerful an oratorio, but I just wish Bondy trusted a little more variation in his vision. For all that, this is still a most worthwhile record of the composer's underappreciated work.

DiDonato is Triumphant!.......2006-10-25

Whether "Hercules" is opera or oratorio is truly academic. What matters most is that this is a top-shelf DVD that features spectacular performances. I highly recommend this DVD to lovers of opera, oratorio, or Baroque music in general.

Before discussing the positives, of which there were many, I only have one bone to pick with this production. That issue is the scene where Hyllus, well sung by tenor Toby Spence, is preparing to leave his mother Dejanira to search for his father Hercules. Given the gravity and danger of the trek, Spence seemed somewhat casual about the whole thing. At one point, he pulled out a huge fold-out map, and was showing Dejanira where he would go by making his fingers walk over the map. It was also clear he had no idea where on the map he was pointing. In acting-speak, there was no intention in his movement. He was then aided in his packing for the journey by the chorus, who brought him a backpack, thermos, etc. The lack of gravity of the staging, combined with Spence's youthful looks, made the whole scene look like he was off to summer camp. In fact, the only character on stage who seemed to grasp the seriousness of this event was Dejanira.

None of the reviews I read gave enough credit to the fantastic musicians of Les Arts Florissants. Maybe I'm sensitive to this because I'm a violinist, but nonetheless, the playing is wonderful. I particularly enjoyed the prelude to Act III with its jagged rythms and beautiful violin solos.

The chorus is also top notch. The balance between the voices was perfect, and the chorus played their role as narrator and moral arbiter with surety.

The casting was brilliant, starting with Malena Ernman as Lichas. Ms. Ernman is blonde, buff, beautiful, and though billed as an alto, she is an honest-to-goodness contralto. Her low register will blow you away.

I loved Ingela Bohlin as Iole, the pretty young thing that Hercules brings back following his Act I triumph. Ms. Bohlin looks like a movie star, and has a gorgeous leggiero soprano voice to match. The weight of her voice was a perfect balance with the other women in the cast. Her acting was credible and honest.

William Shimell was a virile yet vulnerable Hercules. His full baritone was perfect for the heroic part. Toby Spence, despite the one scene, is a wonderful tenor and sings the difficult role of Hyllus with flair and confidence.

The star of the evening, as she most often is, was Joyce DiDonato as Dejanira. She showed it all. Her Act I arias (or are they airs?), where she is pining away for her absent husband will pull at your heart strings. Her rock solid technique allows her the option of ethereal, floating pianos and pianissimos. Her jealousy scene with Iole was creepy, and foreshadowed the madness to come. The mad scene in Act III was brilliant and risky. Other critics have said it, and it is true: Joyce DiDonato is a fearless singer. She is truly one of the greatest mezzos of our day. In addition to being a singer who can do it all, she commits to her character and choices, and gives the audience all she has.

Not only would I recommend you buy this DVD, I might recommend that you spend the extra money for quick shipping. I'm sure you will enjoy it, and I look forward to watching my copy many more times.

Damn, this is good!.......2006-08-18

I am completely knocked out by this DVD. There isn't much more I can cay about it - see the other reviews - except to say that if you're a fan of Baroque music and opera, you must have a look at this!

The cast is first rate and it would be hard to imagine better a better one. I have the old Gardiner / English Baroque Soloists / The Monteverdi Choir CD recording on ARCHIV, and whilst I enjoyed it, it never captivated me. I bought this DVD recording and expected to be entertained, but I am surprised how good this work is in the hands of William Christie and his Les Arts Florissants ensemble. The DVD is a revelation.

The cast is excellent, as I previously mentioned. William Shimell is a very manly and effective Hercules. Joyce Didonato is very beautiful as his wife Dejanira. She is also too sexy, in fact.
Toby Spence just knocks me out. He was superb as Calisis in Rameau's Les Boréades, and he is great as Hyllus in this recording. So young, so talented! I hate him! ;-))

The choir and orchestra are in top form.

This is a wonderful and moving work.

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Romance and Cigarettes

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Features:

Interactive Menus
Trailer

ASIN: B000G00H0W

Product Description

Romance and Cigarettes is a down-and-dirty musical love story set in the world of the working class. Nick (James Gandolfini) is an ironworker who builds and repairs bridges. He's married to Kitty (Susan Sarandon), a dressmaker, a strong and gentle woman with whom he has three daughters. He is carrying on a torrid affair with a redheaded woman named Tula (Kate Winslet). Nick is basically a good, hardworking man driven forward by will and blinded by his urges. Like Oedipus at Colonus, he is sent into exile and searches to find his way back through the damage he has done.

DVD:

DVD

DVD