Frida

Starring:Salma Hayek, MÃa Maestro, Amelia Zapata, Alejandro Usigli, Diego Luna, Alfred Molina, Lucia Bravo, Valeria Golino, Patricia Reyes SpÃndola, LolÃ³ Navarro, Roger Rees, FermÃn MartÃnez, Roberto Medina, Ashley Judd, Antonio Banderas, Lila Downs, Martha Claudia Moreno, Maria Ines Pintado, Aida LÃ³pez, Ivana Sejenovich
Director: Julie Taymor
Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Salma Hayek makes up for many bad movies with her fierce performance in this sumptuous film. Hayek plays the Mexican surrealist painter Frida Kahlo, whose tempestuous life with her unfaithful husband, muralist Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina), drives the story of Frida. Maverick director Julie Taymor (Titus, the Broadway stage production of The Lion King) pulls out a wealth of gorgeous visuals to capture everything from the horrific bus accident that damaged Kahlo's spine to her and Rivera's trip to New York City, where Rivera's political leanings ruptured a commission from the Rockefeller family. Though the script spends too much time telling us how great Frida's painting is (rather than trusting in the power of the images themselves), Taymor's dynamic energy and Kahlo's forceful personality give Frida genuine emotional impact. The superb cast includes Roger Rees, Valeria Golino, Ashley Judd, Geoffrey Rush, Antonio Banderas, and Edward Norton. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Nominated for six 2002 Academy Awards(R), including Salma Hayek for Best Actress, FRIDA is the triumphant motion picture about an exceptional woman who lived an unforgettable life! A product of humble beginnings, Frida Kahlo (Hayek) earns fame as a talented artist with a unique vision. And from her enduring relationship with her mentor and husband, Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina -- CHOCOLAT), to her scandalous affairs, Frida's uncompromising personality would inspire her greatest creations! Also starring Antonio Banderas (SPY KIDS), Ashley Judd (KISS THE GIRLS), Edward Norton (RED DRAGON), and Geoffrey Rush (QUILLS).

Customer Reviews:

have 2 watch it more than 1 time.......2007-07-04

I could not get into this movie at 1st,but the more i watched it i liked it more and more.if your a salma fan it's good.i expected there to be alot of naked scenes but there were only a few

PHENOMENAL!.......2007-05-30

salma hayek is BRILLIANT and julie taymor needs to make more films! absolutely stunningly gorgeous film with vibrant colors. the film may not be in spanish, but the culture is certainly made apparant through the visual aspects of this film. one of my all-time favorites! everyone must own this film! especially those who are fans of the artist herself - frida.

is her art as forgettable as this movie?.......2007-05-12

she painted alot of pictures, and she married a famous artist, and she had a mustache, and theres alot of nice music. the film is vastly less important than it thinks it is; i dont know enough about its subject to determine if thats fair ...

Whitewash.......2007-03-13

Frida is a cinematic whitewash of the real Frida Kahlo who was both physically beautiful and spiritually ugly. She was regarded by many of her fellow artists as being a "despicable cur." This movie presents a sanitized version of Kahlo's life and left out much of what was an oftentimes ugly personal life.

Frida Kahlo was a great artist and a horrible person. This movie fails to present the latter part of her personality and it suffers because of that deficiency.

Pretty Yet Pretty Unattractive.......2007-03-06

Frida is a visually attractive, yet over the top glamorization of egocentric, self-righteous artists that just click. Besides the fact that the film tries really hard to come off as artsy, Hayek's acting shows too much effort and the continuously very short sequences have a TV sit-com feel.

Hollywood loves taking stories like these and making lives that are degenerate look like sacrifices for noble causes be it art, politics or love. In the end Kahlo and Rivera were great artists and poor humanitarians, with a penchant for stupidity. From this movie you'd think that's a wonderful thing.

It must be hard to make movies about artists because there are so few that are that good. Pollock, Vincent And Theo, Basquiat, Lust For Life, Modigliani, Surviving Picasso all were enjoyable films in degrees; but they all focused on and romanticized some of the worst aspects of the artists' lives like egotism, womanizing, alcoholism, mental illness, and drug addiction, and rarely show the more vulnerable weakness's that was the cause of the problems. The characters in all those movies just end up seeming like two-dimensional modern cliches of what we expect from artists. Frida is yet another example of that but one of the poorer ones yet.

Average customer rating:

What Requiem for a Dream was for drugs, this is for depression
PROZAC NATION!!
Vincent Gallo as a chick.
A sensitive look at the world of mental illness
Lost Time

Prozac Nation
Starring: Christina Ricci , Jason Biggs , Anne Heche , Michelle Williams , and Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Director: Erik Skjoldbjærg
Manufacturer: Miramax Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Uncovered

ASIN: B00094ASC2
Release Date: 2005-07-05

Amazon.com

Fans of Christina Ricci will note that the saucer-eyed actress takes a big leap from deadpan-child and grumpy-ingenue roles with Prozac Nation, an adaptation of Elizabeth Wurtzel's bestselling book. Ricci puts her all into playing Lizzie, a self-absorbed Ivy League writer wannabe who alienates friends and family with her out-of-control mood swings and other chemical imbalances. Ricci is committed and convincing, but nothing she does ameliorates Lizzie's exasperating personality; spending 90 minutes around this person is an eternity of tantrums. Around to provide audience stand-ins are Jason Biggs, Michelle Williams, and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, all of whom disapprove of Lizzie's self-destructive behavior. Jessica Lange, professional as always, is Lizzie's brittle mother. If the movie really did capture the sense of the zeitgeist suggested by its grandiose title, or if it carried some intriguing stylistic urgency that carried us into its depressive labyrinth, perhaps Lizzie's journey would be palatable. But the long delay between Prozac Nation's shooting (in 2001) and its emergence on cable-TV and DVD is all too easy to understand. --Robert Horton

Description

Award winners Christina Ricci (CURSED, MONSTER) and Jessica Lange (BIG FISH, ROB ROY) star in this emotionally charged true story about a journey into excess! When talented young writer Elizabeth Wurtzel (Ricci) earns a scholarship to Harvard, she sees it as her chance to escape the pressures of her working-class background and concentrate on her true talent. But what starts out so promising leads to self-destructive behavior and paralyzing depression that reflects an entire generation's struggle to navigate the effects of divorce, drugs, sex, and high expectations. Based on the best-selling autobiographical novel, PROZAC NATION also stars Michelle Williams (THE STATION AGENT), Anne Heche (JOHN Q), Jason Biggs (JERSEY GIRL), and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM).

Customer Reviews:

What Requiem for a Dream was for drugs, this is for depression.......2007-04-14

Like most movies with actual content, this move is underrated at 3/5 stars.

Great acting. Not a movie which appeals to everyone. But in my opinion, if it got across what it was trying to get across, then it is a quality movie. That's not to say everyone need like it. This is somewhat akin to someone who doesn't like spicy foods walking into a Thai restaurant and saying the food sucks.

Where Requiem for a Dream was designed to make you feel the highs and lows of drug abuse, this was meant for depression. I really thought it did a good job, just as Requiem did.

I have to say, my gut wrenched when she would go off on a rant when I knew she didn't mean to, I turned the sound down for a moment! She played the role well...perhaps too well? :)

We all have our problems, it's a shame if you take this movie at face value and think that: well she must have problems because her dad left. If you write it off like that, you miss the point. People are much worse off than her. Pain is not an absolute scale, its utterly relative to your life. Your parents don't need to be divorced to be depressed. This affects a lot of people and even more people are very ignorant about it.

PROZAC NATION!!.......2007-04-06

ALTHOUGH I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE BOOK THAT THIS FILM WAS BASED UPON, THE MOVIE WAS ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD!
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE FILM SHOULD BE VIEWED AS AN ACTING SHOWCASE FOR CHRISTINA RICCI!
HER PERFORMANCE WAS SPECTACULAR!
PROZAC NATION MIGHT JUST BE TELLING US ABOUT THE TYPE OF WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY AND HOW DEALING WITH OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES CAN BE RATHER DIFFICULT!
RICCI FANS SHOULD DEFINETELY SEE IT!!

Vincent Gallo as a chick........2007-03-05

Decent acting, but this forgettable memoir has all the gravitas of a Darlene-heavy episode of TV's Roseanne. The narcissism of this story is so advanced it appears oblivious to what a pedestrian diary of teenage angst it's reading from. Liz does something bad and gets yelled at. She yells back, then feels bad and cries. This describes nearly every scene. Mental illness has been done, and done better, on film. This ain't all that deep. Go watch "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" if you need to push this junk out of your brain.

A sensitive look at the world of mental illness.......2007-02-19

The beautiful Christina Ricci stars as Elizabeth Wurtzel, a young girl with a talent for writing, battling with severe mental illness and the background of a broken family.
She has to deal with an overbearing mother (Jessica Lange) and it seems going to Harvard will be a bright new chapter in her life.

However the life of drugs and sex at university is not always the best enviroment for someone as fragile as Elizabeth, and she begins to fall about, as she is abandoned by her friends and boyfriend.
Undoubtedly Christina Ricci's talent is what makes this a five star production.
A sensitive and hopefully revealing look at the world of depression and mental illnes , adapted from the book by Elizabeth Wurtzel. One has to understand the phenomenon to really sympathize with what Christina's character is going through, which her university friends clearly dont.
Two interesting things about the movie, regarding Christina Ricci's career.
This was Christina's first nude scene in a movie, and the second time , a Christina, a Christian has played the role of a Jewish character, the first time being the magnifficent The Man Who Cried.

Lost Time.......2006-12-12

Granted, I've not read the book. It seemed that the film left out vital parts of the story, or it was poorly edited/directed. It just seemed really choppy and inconsistent. The value of the plot is immense, I just didn't think that as a package the film delivered it well. The acting was great, though I constantly found myself thinking that Michelle Williams looked so much older than the rest of her peers that the illusion of college was broken for me. I wanted the film to be this deep commentary on our sanctioned drug culture via the mental health audience and I never felt that it got there. It was more a noncommital nontreatment of mental conditions.

As It Is in Heaven (Så som i Himmelen) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Sweden ]

Average customer rating:

Village Life Not As It Seems
Worth the time: beautiful film
A MASTERPIECE BEYOND WORDS
Beautiful!
Open your heart!

As It Is in Heaven (Så som i Himmelen) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Sweden ]
Director: Kay Pollak
Manufacturer: SF(Fox)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Soundtrack
Under the Sun (Under Solen)
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ASIN: B000ER31LE

Product Description

Sweden released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: Swedish (Dolby Digital 5.1), Swedish (Dolby Digital 2.0), Danish (Subtitles), English (Subtitles), Finnish (Subtitles), Norwegian (Subtitles), Swedish (Subtitles), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SYNOPSIS: A successful international conductor suddenly interrups his career and returns alone to his childhood village in Norrland, in the far north of Sweden.It doesn't take long before he is asked to come and listen to the fragment of a church choir, which practises every Thursday in the parish hall. Just come along and give a little bit of good advice. He can't say no, and from that moment, nothing in the village is the same again. The choir develops and grows. He makes both friends and enemies. And he finds love. SPECIAL FEATURES: Biographies, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access,

Customer Reviews:

Village Life Not As It Seems.......2007-05-03

I missed this film on it's initial theatrical release, however I managed to see a DVD release from my local video hire library. A slow building film about Daniel, an international conductor, who returns to the village of his birth having not lived there since age 7. Daniel has come home for a quiet life and to confront the odd demon from his youth. What he really wants is to be left to live his life in peace and contentment - what he gets is the villagers wanting him to take an active part in conducting and developing the local church choir. Still waters run very deep in this village and many of the choir members have issues with their past and present lives. Daniel is unwittingly drawn into the lives of the villagers, but through him they are able to confront their problems and shine through. The music is good and the song Daniel writes for Gabriella, a member of the choir, is sung beautifully by her character and as you read the words of the song in this subtitled film, you easily see that this really is a song about Daniel. As the film reaches it's climax, the entire choir realise and understands that they don't need to rely on Daniel to make their voices sing in unison - what he told them they could achieve happens spontaneously.

A lovely film that deserves to be seen by a wide audience. Slow building but well worth watching to the very last credit. Deservedly nominated for an Oscar in its category of Best Foreign Language Film.

Don't pass up the opportunity to see this film.

Worth the time: beautiful film.......2007-03-25

Lovely scenery, lovely people, wonderful acting. I'm slightly jaded and find pat plots tiresome, but even though there was "one of everything", the acting was so nice and the story so genuine, I went with it. I did not expect the ending nor could I see how the romance would end up.

The music is absolutely delicious. I have searched high and low for a soundtrack or even just recordings anywhere of Helen Sjöholm singing ANYTHING but no luck...

To add a little more mystery, we live in Costa Rica and could only get the movie dubbed in Spanish with Spanish subtitles. Turns out, this is an excellent Spanish lesson. Hope I followed the actual story...

A MASTERPIECE BEYOND WORDS.......2007-01-14

If this movie doesn't touch you, doesn't speak to you at all - well, you should see a shrink, as you are likely to be unhappy and emotionally stiff.

This story is not for analyzing but for breaking the analytical, stubborn mind and cutting through its cold, deceptive intellectualism to the center of one's being - Love.

Dry, analytical words are of no value. They can give the ego a sense of superiority but deprive one from experiencing beauty and joy.

It would be nice if one could let go of one's stupid intellectualism and dive into the sea of the Heart.

This is what this movie is about. It is not about analysing and about being philosophical, it is about shifting from living as a thinking being (i.e. being dead) to living as a listening being, where the abundance of Love is.

When we listen to classical music which overwhelms us we don't sit there analysing the notes or the rhythm or the age when it was written (well, normal people don't). We surrender to it. This movie is about surrender of that which keeps us away from happiness, it is about letting go of the cold intellect and waking up to Life.

Seeing this movie is like hearing a symphony that leaves you both empty and full. Empty of misery and full of what is beyond words and thoughts.

Beautiful!.......2006-10-29

I saw this movie twice, the second time knowing exactly why I wanted to see it again. If you are trying to find out if you love someone or not, make sure that you see this movie. Such a simple but yet such a powerful definition of love it gives. Explains why we are where we are, and makes you part of the harmony. Is love as simple as teaching someone to bike? Think about it.

If there are no rules against it, this film should be renominated for Oscar.

Open your heart!.......2006-09-27

This is a beautiful film that makes you cry and laugh and at the same time.

Although one could critisize that it uses certain klischees and stereotypes we all know that if you open your heart things like that can and do actually happen in "real" life.

Overall very inspiring, I love this film!

P.S. Bless all who resist it's magic... ;)

Average customer rating:

Guerrita Frida
Extremely Concise
The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo
Exceptional, even for a documentary
Superb documentary

The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo
Starring: Lila Downs , Diego Rivera , Rita Moreno , and Leon Trotsky
Director: Amy Stechler Burns
Manufacturer: Pbs Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Frida
Biography - Frida Kahlo (A&E DVD Archives)
Frida A Biography of Frida Kahlo
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Frida Kahlo: The Paintings

ASIN: B000CCCZYA
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Description

Never before has the extraordinary life of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo been framed in relation to the full spectrum of the historical and cultural influences that created her. The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo explores the 20th-century icon who became an international sensation in the worlds of modern art and radical politics. Among those interviewed in the documentary are Carlos Fuentes and Carlos Monsivais. The film is narrated by Rita Moreno; Mexican singer Lila Downs is the voice of Frida Kahlo.

Customer Reviews:

Guerrita Frida.......2007-05-14

This PBS about Frida Kahlo was quite good. However, I would like to have seen some footage of the inside of Casa Azul in the present. Her death could have been explored a little more in depth as well. I am huge fan of Frida Kahlo and already know a lot about her and this film enhanced my knowledge with the exceptions of the aforementioned.

Extremely Concise.......2007-03-25

Extremely concise, yet good biography on Frida Kahlo. Probably good for people just starting to be interested in Frida, and of course, those wanting to get further in-depth into Frida's life and art, Hayden Herrera's biography is the best source.

Some excellent film footage of Kahlo which I'd never seen before, and as always its great to see her in a moving image as opposed to photographs and paintings.

Well worth the money even though its rather short and doesn't dwell too long on even the most important parts of Kahlo's life.

The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo.......2007-01-09

A lively and intriguing overview of Kahlo's battles with her health and struggles in her relationship with her lover/mentor, Diego Rivera.

Exceptional, even for a documentary.......2006-11-12

This documentary of Frida Kahlo was well organized and presented. You can not put one's whole life into 90 minutes; however this came pretty close. We see the places Frida lived and the people and events that influenced her. Luckily she lived in a time of photography and films. The presenters do not try to over include any aspect of her life and do not try to put a spin or judgment on it or her paintings. The presentation is intense and tightly packed. The films are not found in other media such as books. You may need to stop it periodical to reflect on the contents.

What it is not. It is not of course as in-depth as the book "Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo" by Hayden Herrera which includes correspondents' and a stronger background of the life and times.

Even though this is a first rate and fascinating documentary it can not hold a candle to the presentation in movie "Frida" Starring: Salma Hayek, Mía Maestro Director: Julie Taymor. This is presented first person and has a haunting musical compliments.

Superb documentary.......2006-08-15

As another reviewer noted, for those of us who love and are inspired by Frida -- both her life and her work -- any additional tidbit of film footage or new anecdote about her is a treasure. This beautiful and moving documentary is a cornucopia of biographical information, archival film footage, wonderful photos, and current views of some of Frida's former haunts. The film is spare enough to avoid repetition of some of the best-known information, yet detailed enough to provide new insights to someone who has read two major biographies of Frida. One arrives at the conclusion with a much richer and more comprehensive understanding of her role in the history of Mexican art and surrealism. Rita Moreno's lilting narration enhances the film's Mexican flavor, and the sound track is unobtrusive but pleasant. The special features, consisting of interviews with Frida's students ("Los Fridos"), reveal another side of her personality: that of a gifted and generous teacher. These interviews also contain some enchanting insights into her creative process and her relationships. One of the best artist film biographies I've seen!

Average customer rating:

Fantastic Silent.
One of the most impressive films ever made
Visually stunning, but...
Love breaks all bonds
Surprisingly good soundtrack. Good visuals. Iffy plot.

Faust
Starring: Gösta Ekman , Emil Jannings , Camilla Horn , Frida Richard , and William Dieterle
Director: F.W. Murnau
Manufacturer: Kino Video
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ASIN: B00005ASOS
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Amazon.com

F.W. Murnau's last German production before leaving for Hollywood is a visually dazzling take on the Faust myth. Pushing the resources of the grand old German studio UFA to the limits, Murnau creates an epic vision of good versus evil as devil Emil Jannings tempts an idealistic aging scholar with youth, power, and romance. The handsome but wan Swedish actor Gosta Ekman plays the made-over Faust as a perfectly shallow scoundrel drunk with youth, and the lovely Camilla Horn (in a part written for Lillian Gish) is the young virgin courted, then cast aside, by Faust. The drama falters in the middle with a tedious courtship and bizarre comic interludes, but the delirious images of the opening (Jannings enveloping a mountain town in his dark cloak of evil) and the high melodrama of the climax (Horn desperately clutching her baby while crawling, abandoned and lost, through a snowstorm) triumphs over such shortcomings. The sheer scale of Murnau's epic and the magnificent play of light, shadow, and mist on his exquisitely designed sets makes this one of the most cinematically ambitious, visually breathtaking, and beautiful classics of the silent era. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Silent........2007-03-01

I bought this without having previously viewed it, because so much has been written about the visuals and atmosphere. I'm no film expert, but I can tell that this film is something very special. Its like David Lynch only good. Murnau basically keeps a theme while being an expressionist; something modern "art" film makers can't seem to do. Murnau has done the impossible: told a full length story with a beginning and end using only images and feelings. You feel every one in your bones and if you're like me, you'll appreciate every frame of the movie. There seems to be not one shot in the whole movie that doesn't have meaning on its own.

All this being said, what is the film about? I was not previously familiar with Faust except for knowing he was the "guy who made a deal with the Devil" thing. Devil makes deal with archangel (stunning depictions by the way), Devil in part of deal tries to corrupt long-bearded Faust. Faust is a pompous academic whose piety and devotion to God you always doubt from the beginning (probably from his alchemist background). The Devil easily entices Faust to make a 24 hour pact in which time he successfully introduces Faust to all the things he normally reserves for those who either have good looks, youth, riches or all three and Faust; about to partake of a beautiful woman for (what we assume) his first time, is forced to either lose his newly found youth or make the pact eternal in the face of end of the 24 hour pact immediately impending. The rest is a spoiler so I won't ruin it except to say that there is much joy and sorrow the rest of the way.

The acting by Faust and the Devil is first rate. The rest of the acting is good. Gretchen is fun to watch, especially when she shuffles around her house. The movie itself lives on its own. The ending seems abrupt upon first watching, but upon subsequent watchings it seems to make far more sense.

Favorite moment: I have two, when Mephisto makes a scary face at Gretchen when she is going to church, and when the archangel raises his flaming sword in judgement against the Devil.

Greatest wonderful surprise: The orchestral score that plays with the movie is fantastic. Better than any I've ever heard with a silent.

Extras: Not many. Just some production photos and a hard copy of an essay written about the movie by some guy.

Movie rating: 9 out of 10. Some may say the middle part drags a little, but I think that was intentional in order to bring out some thematic ideas.

One of the most impressive films ever made.......2007-01-30

Faust is just an incredible accomplishment in the art of silent cinema, one of the most ambitious and masterfully directed films of any era. If you've never seen a silent film and wonder if one could even keep your attention, Faust is the film to watch. Far too many classic early films were either lost or came to us in relatively poor condition, but this digitally mastered version of Faust is remarkably clear and free of white outs. I'm sure it looks better now that it did when it was released over eight decades ago. Don't go thinking we're only talking about characters standing around conversing, either; F. W. Murnau packed all kinds of incredible special effects into this magnificent piece of filmmaking.

You all know Faust - that fellow who made a deal with the devil. The story goes back as far as the fifteenth century, with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe penning the definitive version in the early nineteenth century. Murnau's Faust differs somewhat from the original two-part drama written by Goethe, supplanting rationalism with mysticism (no one did mysticism better than early German filmmakers). This approach, among other things, allows Murnau to open the film with nothing less than jaw-dropping visuals and effects. The story is heralded by the grim image of the apocalyptic horsemen thundering through the clouds, leading us to a confrontation between Mephisto (Satan) and an archangel over the control of the Earth. A wager is proposed, with dominion over the Earth set to depend upon the fate of one man's soul. That man is, of course, Faust, a good man targeted for evil temptation by the cursed one. Knowing he could not tempt Faust directly, Mephisto uses his own compassion against him. As a devastating plague is unleashed among Faust's fellow citizens, Mephisto casts his dark shadow over the landscape quite literally, as we see him hovering over the entire village. That, to me, is one of the most memorable and iconographic cinematic sights I've ever seen.

As his friends and neighbors beg Faust (Gosta Ekman) to save them from the plague, his unanswered prayers bring him to the point of despair. He actually summons Mephisto himself (in another incredible special effects-laden scene). After some deliberation, Mephisto (Emil Jannings) convinces Faust to sign a pact for one day only, and that proves to be an offer Faust can't refuse. A little later, though, Mephisto brings in the big guns - the promise of restored youth. Extending the contract from one day to eternity is basically just a formality at this point. All of his new powers don't truly satisfy Faust, though, and so he sets his sights on a lovely, pure maiden by the name of Gretchen (Camilla Horn). The whole mood of the film changes at this point, with the art of wooing temporarily displacing the clouds of doom hanging over the first half of the film - but this is only a prelude to true tragedy. As Daniel Johnston says, "Don't play cards with Satan, he'll deal you an awful hand," and that is exactly what happens here. It gets pretty darned depressing, really, making it hard for the viewer to see how Faust can possibly redeem himself for all of the misery he has caused. Murnau doesn't pull any punches when it comes to establishing the central theme of the story.

Thanks to earlier successes such as Nosferatu and The Last Laugh, Murnau had complete control over the making of Faust. Something of a perfectionist, Murnau made sure that every aspect of every single shot met with his satisfaction. It's obvious that the man was a genius, as even the contrast of light and shadow reinforces the central motif of the story he is telling. The special effects seem years and years ahead of their time. Even the makeup is remarkably well-done (I would never have guessed that Gosta Ekman played both the old and young versions of Faust, as the older version looks genuinely old). And the acting? Top-notch, all the way. Ekman is superb, Emil Jannings becomes the very personification of Mephisto, and an inexperienced Camilla Horn is simply enchanting as Gretchen. (The role of Gretchen was actually written for Lillian Gish, but she bowed out because Murnau refused her demand to have her own personal cameraman shoot the film.) The musical score, composed and conducted by Timothy Brock, is a wonderful counterpart to the film, as well.

In virtually every way possible, F.W. Murnau's Faust is nothing less than a cinematic masterpiece.

Visually stunning, but..........2006-03-17

... the performance of the musical score is dreadful! The actuall composition is ok, but listen to the unbarable sound of the strings! Ghastly! Can't anybody tell Kino (and Eureka) to find an orchestra that know how to tune their instruments and keep the tone while playing them?

The music actually destroyed the whole experience for me. Spectacular film otherwise, but I think Murnau is turning in his grave knowing a bunch of amateurs making sound to his pictures.

The five stars are all for Murnau!

Sincerely/Daniel (from Sweden)

Love breaks all bonds.......2006-03-15

The story is Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe's; the film is unmistakably F.W. Murnau.

The Archangel (Werner Fuetterer) and the evil one are in a struggle for the world. Both are sure they know best. A bet is stuck for the sole of a religious alchemist named Faust as we can see he has knowledge of the elements yet maintains a moral attitude.

A grate plague appears and with all of his books and learning Foust can not save anyone. He turns to prayer and seems to get nowhere. So in a fit he burns his books; in the embers he spots a book that suggests he call on Mephisto (Emil Jannings.) He does so and is repelled at what he did. However after some dickering he accepts a one day contract to at least be able to help some of the plague victims. Naturally he is to reject God and sign in blood. And you guessed it things go wrong. He is tempted by youth, "Your Life was only the dust and mold of books.", and distracted with an Italian cutie Duchess of Parma (Hanna Ralph) just long enough for the sands to run out on him. From there things go down hill but the story heats up.

With the overwhelming visuals and great acting one tends to not notice the elements or threads that tie this film today to our society. Notice the standard circle and the calling upon the four corners as Faust calls three times the name Mephisto. Also notice the garlands that Gretchen made for the children. More interesting is the use of the flower with "She loves me...she loves me not."

Emil Jannings does such a good job that you almost find your self rooting for the bad guy.

Surprisingly good soundtrack. Good visuals. Iffy plot........2005-05-04

This is the first silent film I've seen that has a fitting musical score. Amazon is unclear as to what version this is, so I'll just have to assume we're all talking about the Timothy Brock score (1995). It matches the plot and action note-for-note, unlike some other silent films that seem to feature a random mood piece in the background.

As far as the film itself, you will be blown away for the first 20 minutes. The visuals are downright chilling (especially the memorable entrance of Mephisto), and the plot is faithful to the original legend as it was penned by Goethe. But something happens halfway through that I'm not sure what to make of. Murnau turns Mephisto into a slapstick comedian (which one other reviewer has compared to a Laurel & Hardy... I'd say more Lou Costello, myself). The film never quite recovers from this, and it loses its dark edge. Adding insult to injury is the rather unconvincing romance thrown in.

It's definitely worth a watch for the music, technique and nostalgia. It helps also if you can avoid comparing it to the original legend of Faust.

Average customer rating:

My New Favorite movie...
"School of Life" is Charming, Witty, and Fun overall.
School of Predictability
I can't believe what they're saying...
Excellent school film, as Ryan Reynolds grows up even more

School of Life
Starring: John Astin , Christopher Attadia , Frida Betrani , Hunter Elliott , and Chelsea Florko
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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4-for-3 Art House & International | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000BO0L90
Release Date: 2006-01-03

Description

Ryan Reynolds lights up the screen as the charismatic and hip Mr. D, a teacher whose lessons extend far beyond the classroom. A heartwarming tale of learning to appreciate every moment we're given, School of Life, is a funny and touching story about life in school, but more importantly, the human spirit.

Customer Reviews:

My New Favorite movie..........2007-04-19

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Even though it may predictable, as some reviewers have said, I love movies that cause me to think about my mortality and remind me to not take it or people around me for granted. That's what "School of Life" does for me. If you want a movie that has corny humor and depth then you'll enjoy this movie also.

"School of Life" is Charming, Witty, and Fun overall........2007-04-15

I had to say, I bought the movie for Ryan Reynolds; I love his work, and have seen some of his older things and quite enjoyed them. That being said, I didn't expect this level of depth from either Renolds's character or the movie in general, but you get more than you pay for. I loved it, and would suggest that everyone watch, and most will enjoy, this film.

-gary

School of Predictability.......2007-03-06

Ryan Reynolds plays a smarmy, crowd pleasing new teacher who immediately bonds with all the angelic waifs in this fairytale of a school. He wins them over by being their buddy, finds the time (and money) to kit himself out as an indian chief, and even re-inacts a civil war in the playground (complete with black powder rifles). His destiny is clear from the moment he blurts out, "How much time do we have? Not much...". David Paymer is the comic relief, all that's missing is the floppy shoes and clown makeup. There is also the usual puppy love sub-plot with the not so awful young actor Andrew Robb, just a shame that the plot has nowhere to go.

The entire film reeks of trite, moralistic falseness. If this were just a comedy then it wouldn't matter how silly it was (accounting for your tastes), but it tries to aim too high and preach to us the meaning of life. I'm guessing this was targeted at younger audiences by the studio, but give the kids some credit, they can spot a stinker a mile away. We just need more people to be bothered leaving honest reviews (not just the fans) to lower the feedback to a realistic score, so people don't get suckered into buying such drivel.

If you want truly decent teacher/student heartwarming stories (without the shmaltz), try "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (the remake is good too), or "Mr Holland's Opus". For some good escapist fun I'd also recommend "School of Rock".

I can't believe what they're saying..........2007-01-21

I didn't think this movie was even worth commenting on, but after reading all the people that have been praising it, I just couldn't let it slide. First, the basics. I am nineteen (so you know where I'm coming from). Actually, I don't expect any good or bad votes on this comment because I don't think anyone knows this movie exist... not a bad thing. I'm pretty sure it went straight to DVD and sold for a couple bucks (not a good sign). My brother brought this movie over while we were chillin with some friends. We have always had good movie experiences with Ryan Reynolds so we thought we would give it a shot. That was a mistake. Well, Reynolds had some funny moments that actually saved the movie from getting a one star ("I love bowling"). But my brother was able to predict the entire movie (in detail) within the first 10 minutes. I have never seen that done before! Honestly I don't see what genre this movie fits in with. It's cheesy enough to be played on the Disney channel, but there are some bad words tossed in that make it JUST too inappropriate for little kids. And anyone who is older than 15 probably wouldn't be caught dead watching it. We sat through the entire movie just to see how bad it could get, and we were not disappointed. I guess it's a comedy because the acting was funnier than the jokes. Man, that was harsh.

Excellent school film, as Ryan Reynolds grows up even more.......2006-12-02

SCHOOL OF LIFE is an original ABC Family television movie which aired in 2005, and, until I saw my brother's dvd copy, I had never heard of it. I popped it in, thinking that it might be an interesting movie, given that I get a kick out of watching the always entertaining Ryan Reynolds. But, like most of the reviewers here, I wasn't counting on this film reaching me on a richer, more emotional plane.

David Paymer is great as Matt Warner, the insecure, fussy middle school biology teacher who's forever lived in the shadow of his father, Stormin' Norman Warner (John Astin), himself a teacher at the same school and who had won the annual, student-voted Teacher of the Year Award for 43 years running. Now Matt has a teenage son named Dylan (Andrew Robb, who provides the film's voice-over narration) who frequents the same school, with whom Matt struggles to connect. Like most kids, Dylan is embarassed of his dad, who he thinks is a geek. When Stormin' Norman passes away, Matt promises Dylan that, this year, he'll win the Teacher of the Year trophy. That plan is immediately placed in jeopardy with the opening school day intro of new history instructor, Michael D'Angelo (Ryan Reynolds). The cool and funny D'Angelo, with his unorthodox teaching methods and a life philosophy that go beyond classroom restrictions, promptly wins over the students and earns him the honorific of "Mr. D," much to Matt Warner's dismay.

The film then adopts a sit-com plot at length as Matt, jealous of Mr. D's popularity and seeing his chances for the Teacher of the Year Award circling down the drain, manically attempts to gain some dirt on the guy. What he discovers about D'Angelo, instead, shocks him and sobers him up fairly quickly, forcing him to re-evaluate not only his feelings about Mr. D but also to reassess his own life.

SCHOOL OF LIFE is a humble, little film that has a lot to offer, including a message about living life to the fullest. It'll, for sure, make you smile and chuckle, but, then, as you go deeper into the movie, it'll also make you sad as events take a gut-wrenching turn. But the bittersweet elements definitely will make it resonate more strongly within you.

SCHOOL OF LIFE, much like FOOLPROOF (2003), showcases a Ryan Reynolds with more acting gravitas. Yes, he still provides his usual brand of humorous bits and, make no mistake, he is the heart of the funny, but his comedy is elevated by his strong, underlying dramatic performance, which then takes over in the film's latter half. This blend of humor and sensitivity is what really carries the movie, because you can't really commit to the story unless you buy into Reynolds' character. Paymer, as I've said, is great as the fastidious bio teacher, although, later on, his character does end up borrowing too much from the page of Mr. D. But, good job, Paymer and Van Wilder. A decent supporting turn, also, by Kate Vernon, who plays Paymer's supporting and understanding wife.

So, yes, this film is definitely worth your backing. I've said this before somewhere else: enough credit cannot be given to movies like SCHOOL OF LIFE, which reenforces the importance of teachers as educators, nurturers, and as inspiration for our kids. You just can't underestimate the value and the impact of a caring, innovative teacher who truly tries to make a difference. As a side note, if you like SCHOOL OF LIFE, check out THE RON CLARK STORY, another inspirational movie about a teacher.

Average customer rating:

A fantastic fantasy; Propaganda or Art?
a triumph
A classic tale brought to the silver screen
Truly an Epic and a Work of High Art!
A mythical icon

Die Nibelungen
Starring: Gertrud Arnold , Margarete Schön , Hanna Ralph , Paul Richter , and Theodor Loos
Director: Fritz Lang
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007CVS6
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Customer Reviews:

A fantastic fantasy; Propaganda or Art?.......2007-05-18

This essay is a comparison of the 12th century epic poem, The Nibelungenlied, and the Fritz Lang movie, Die Nibelungen. It examines the message(s) the story might have been intended to convey to its original German audiences. I doubt it reveals much of the conclusion you can't have guessed on your own, and I've taken out the parts that tell you how it ends, but you still might want to watch the movie first.

Film scholar Jan-Christopher Horak, in his essay included on this 2 DVD set, states flatly that Die Nibelungen is "pure propaganda." We must assume he means German Nationalist propaganda, as the movie came out in 1924 and the National Socialist Party was still newly instigated, and not yet risen to power. In fact, at the time the film was in production, Hitler was in jail for his part in the Munich Beer Hall Putsch, writing Mein Kampf, and still virtually unknown to the nation at large. But even then, Germany's Nationalist movement was intent on overturning the Versailles Treaty, imposed after World War One, which installed the Weimar government, limited Germany's productivity, as well as her military, and left her population to starve paying reparations.

My first viewing of Fritz Lang's masterpiece came immediately after reading an English translation of the Twelfth Century epic poem, The Nibelungenlied (or: The Lay of the Nibelung) upon which this movie is based in fairly precise detail. Both share the same characters and plot line, with the only significant differences being the addition of the dragon slaying scene, only referred to in the book; using Hunnish king Etzel's more recognizable name (to most American audiences, at least) Attila the Hun; and the final scene, which I'll omit.

The story is loosely based on real life characters. The presence of Attila places the story firmly in the fifth century. Both the kingdoms of Burgundy and the Huns did exist at that time. The movie adds Attila's departing to sack Rome, and other details of lesser significance, though numerous, not unlike Jackson's treatment of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, only less so.

It may be difficult to imagine The Burgundians accepting an invitation to visit her after she was married to Attila, who was a figure of fear to the Goths, and named by them, "The Scourge of God," but honor dictated they do so, and so they did.

part I: Kriemhild

So in what sense is Die Nibelungen "propaganda"? Assuming it is - and I'm not denying - it must be that Germans were meant to identify with the central figures in it, primarily their traditional national hero, Siegfried, and his abused widow, Kriemhild, and Hagen. The "stab in the back," later referred to by Hitler in reference to the 1918 Versailles Treaty, was intended to conjure up visions of Siegfried being run through by King Gunther's henchman, Hagen. And perhaps the German people, to whom this pair of films were dedicated, could see themselves in Siegfried and Kriemhild. But it is Kriemhild who has to carry on after Siegfried is murdered and make the best of, not only being bereft of a husband, but also her inheritance, again at the hand of Hagen, who had it thrown into the Rhine lest she use it to buy loyalty and have her revenge. These events compelled her to submit to the marrying a man not of her faith, itself a violation of her Christianity, in order to obtain means of retribution. The parallels are plain: Siegfried and Kriemhild are Germany; the stab in the back was the Versailles Treaty imposed at the end of the first world war; Gunther and Hagen are the Weimar Republic and the League of Nations respectively, and the Huns are the foreign powers from which Germany must enlist aid (Russia, Hungary, et al) to obtain revenge.

If these symbols are intentional, and Die Nibelungen is to be taken as a metaphor for Germany, her allies and enemies, then what's truly amazing is that no one learned the lesson the tale bears with it. Suffice it to say, the Burgundian rulers and their followers are destroyed.

If the movie was meant to be taken as a metaphor for Germany's plight, did Germans think they would somehow escape the fate of those depicted therein, if Germans followed in their footsteps? Which brings up the question; Knowing the predicament Germany was in after World War One, and knowing Germans would see their nation in the story, might not Fritz Lang have intended Die Nibelungen, not as a propagandist effort to inspire Germans to rise up and cast off the chains of their oppressors, bur rather as a warning? i.e.: "This do at your own peril"? Frankly I find the coincidences between the fantasy and the ensuing reality more than a little striking. Needless to say, if Die Nibelungen was a warning; it was not heeded . . . with catastrophic results.

Part II: Hagen

It is also possible that Lang and Harbou, the writer(s) of the screenplay, intended the audience to identify with the Hagen character. No doubt those who did, in many cases, were Hitler's followers. The reason, obviously enough, for such extreme loyalty in this crowd is that it was held up as such a high virtue by the dictatorship. Hagen is depicted in both the book and movie as acting strictly out of loyalty to king and country, with no regard to himself, or even morality. He kills Siegfried because he understands Gunther desires it, because Siegfried has offended Brunhild, because such obedience is in accordance with the knightly code of honor which demandes he obey Gunther's wishes and commands to the letter in all things first, and on matters of personal discretion, for the good of Burgundy after, as the two are one. He is a model of loyalty up to and including his death.

Hagen's character was not unlike those who, after World War II, refused the ignoble claim that "I was only following orders" to distance themselves from their Führer. The story's original medieval audience considered utter loyalty a virtue, and by a vassal no consideration was to be given to whether a lord was right or wrong. The lord's word was treated as the word of God, who they believed put him in his place to begin with. Hagen knew his duty and unswervingly adhered to it. In fact, in the book, Hagen is treated both as a villain and a hero: A villain for murdering Siegfried, and a hero for his loyalty, and prowess as a warrior. However, the honor accorded Hagen may, in most respects, be due to his prowess as a warrior, but given the medieval mind set, the subtext of this honor must also include his loyalty, in spite of Gunther's errors, as such was a knight's bond of honor. This sense of duty might be somewhat lost on modern audiences, but certainly was not, either to a medieval, or German Nationalist audience.

It's hard to tell if this dueling antagonist/protagonist role was intentionally left in the movie to the end of driving its German audience to such extremity. If it is propaganda, then it must be for this take on loyalty. But even if one accepts Hagen as a somewhat sympathetic figure, loyal to his king and unflinching in the face of death, the lesson remains nearly identical. i.e. To join forces with the king is to lose one's identity in his, and should he fall, your blood will be forfeit along with his. In this light, Hagen was not so much bloodthirsty, as angry at the inevitability of having to die due to an irredeemable set of circumstances.

The story, then, has two opposing, but ultimately equally disastrously fated central characters; interchangeably protagonist and antagonist: Kreimhild, who could no more refrain from seeking revenge for the murder of her husband, Siegfried than she could cease being a queen, and Hagen, who likewise, could no more be disloyal to his liege lord and fail to fight fulfilling his will than he could cease being a knight. This is the principle conflict in The Nibelungenlied and Die Nibelungen, and I suppose what gives the story its enduring appeal. It's high tragedy, and if the German people failed to see their fate closely tied to that of either or both of its central pro/antagonists, the only explanation is that either they were not looking, or like anyone maddened by desire for vengeance, they simply didn't care.

a triumph.......2006-11-11

Watch this movie, soak in the lush forests and beautiful landscapes. Follow the life of the greatest germanic hero Siegfried as he surrenders the hort to the poor citizens of Worms and cry when he is betrayed and brutally killed - remember that no good deed goes unpunished.

Die Nibelungen, and especially Siegfried, is one of my favorite movies. Some of you may laugh but Lord of the Rings doesn't come close to Fritz Lang's breath taking masterpiece. Truly a story that sparks something wonderful in the dark human soul. You can almost hear the gutteral strains of beerhall songs at oktoberfest and witness the mad nazi propoganda of the 20's and 30's.

Do yourself a favour and purchase this movie.

A classic tale brought to the silver screen.......2005-08-02

Die Nibelungen (1924) filmed at UFA ("The UFA Story" ISBN: 0809094835). Director Fritz Lang, the original story "Siegfried's Tod" I have seen it with German subtitles and other versions with English subtitles. Paul Richter (Siegfried) was in 45 other films, from 1921 to 1972.

Siegfried (Paul Richter) is the son of the King of Xnnetn (Sigmund). He forges his own sward so sharp that it cuts chicken feathers.

He is told that near the Rhine at Worms the King of Burgundy (Gunter) and his sister, Kriemhild is at a castle.

Siegfried, "On the hour I leave for Worms to win Kriemhild"..."Show me the way if you want to live!" He falls for the "I know a short-cut" routine.

Die Nibelungen snickers when he is out of earshot;"Your way leads not to Worms, but to Death" Guess who lives in the heart of the forest? Yep it is Fafnir the Dragon.

Poor Fafnir was minding his own business getting a drink when Siegfried gets that "What can I hack" look on his face. The dragon even wags his tail with the approach of Siegfried.

I won't give you the blow by blow. I'll just say that smoking can kill you. Fafnir gets stuck for the drinks and dragon blood drinks allows you to understand the birds. A little birdie tells him that bathing in dragon blood will make him invulnerable.

You guest it cover your eyes. Oops look real quick. "Dragon tail flicks a linden leaf on Siggie's back." Can you say Achilles heel?

Meanwhile back at the castle Volker von Alzey is already singing to Kriemhild of Siegfried' triumph over Fafnir. From here it goes on to deal with treasure, invisibility, and all the stuff that Teutonic mythology holds.

Truly an Epic and a Work of High Art!.......2005-01-07

My real initiation into silent films started with a DVD release of The Lost World, which interested me because it was based on one of my favorite novels. As I have expanded my silent horizons, I have discovered that the artistic quality of many early films ranks easily with the great works of the later parts of the 20th century.

During the inter-war depression in Germany, the economics of the horribly weak German mark put the German film industry in the enviable position of paying their people in marks and selling the films abroad for dollars and pounds sterling. This allowed the most extravagant productions and virtually eliminated artistic restrictions on German filmmakers.

Die Nibelungen is a great example of what could be done. It is huge in scale with fabulous sets and costumes that might rival many modern spectacles. The story is, of course, the great German epic myth of Siegfried, though the plot is much much more along the lines of the medieval epic poem than the more Nordic version of Wagner's operas. It is original in concept and Lang's direction is superb. The photography is beautiful. The characters develop fully, taking good advantage of the nearly 5-hour length. Full of complex themes - love, hatred, a strange medieval concept of loyalty, and especially vengence - this film has the capacity to draw the viewer in and strain the emotions. I just couldn't stop watching, even though I was emotionally exhausted at the end.

Of course, one must make allowances for the special effects - this was the early 1920's. The dragon was described by my daughter as laughable, which I suppose it was. But if you can at least try to look past the technical limitations of the time, you will find an exquisite classic film that is well worth the time investment.

I have discovered a whole world of fine films by learning to see silents within their own context. Many of them, and Die Nibelungen is near the top of the list, are truly great works of art, and must not be dismissed by the modern SFX-glutted audience. Yes, they are black and white. Yes, they are silent. Yes, they have primitive special effects. But the photography is often gorgeous, the acting can be superb, the production values sometimes rise to equal the best of the modern films, and some of the old directors could mold a really fine product. Die Nibelungen is one of the best I have seen.

A mythical icon.......2004-06-20

With this movie Fritz Lang show once more why the movies can be a genuine proof of art in its purest expression.
Think just fifty years before when Wagner built Bayreuth for showing us all his works.
And the most powerful of them , the quintessential of the set was precisely The Ring .
Lang made a sublime adaptation of this work . 1924 was the year of this landmark picture.
Inspired in the powerful mythologic essence , Lang keeps the expressiveness, the force and the soul of this legend.
Believe or not , but I've always thought that you never will be capable to appreciate in his wholeness Metropolis , if you are not involved by the mythical spirit of this film.
A must for all the viewers really interested not only in the cinema evolution , but in the soul of the art.

Biography - Frida Kahlo (A&E DVD Archives)

Average customer rating:

Fruit Salad presentation
don't bother...
Kahlo Biography DVD

Biography - Frida Kahlo (A&E DVD Archives)
Starring: Frida Kahlo
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo
Frida
The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait
Great Women Artists: Frida Kahlo
Biography - Vincent Van Gogh: A Stroke of Genius (A&E DVD Archives)

ASIN: B0009K7RXY
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Description

Portrait of the Mexican artist who began painting at age 15 while convalescing from a serious accident. Frida Kahlo sent her work to the great Diego Rivera, whom she later married. Pain, which dogged her all her life, and the suffering of women, are recurring and indelible themes in her often shocking works. Characterized by vibrant imagery, many of her pictures are striking self-portraits.

Customer Reviews:

Fruit Salad presentation.......2006-12-24

This is the worst of all the biographies of Frida and maybe the worst biography of the series. The start out in the middle of the story and go back and for the is no coherence. Mulch of this was lifted from an excellent Mexican production {Frida Kahlo - La Cinta que Envuelve una Bomba (The Ribbon That Ties the Bomb) ~ Jesus Muñoz Delgado (DVD - 1992).} They do not really introduce Hayden Herrera.

There is a different spin on a few facets of Frida's life which still is worth watching if true or not. However if you are going to miss anything this documentary would be it.

don't bother..........2006-10-04

this doc. sucks. don't even waste your money. It barely gets one star...and I guess that would be for some old archival footage and to honor Frida's unsinkable beauty. The same photos are used over and over, with cheesy voice over narration. I was left completely unsatiated. if you're looking for a good Frida documentary, try PBS' The Life and Times of...

Kahlo Biography DVD.......2006-07-03

This is a very comprehensive video biography of Kahlo's life. Her story is told using vintage still photographs and priceless B/W home movie clips. Also included are on camera interviews with those who knew her; family members and former students, and those who have written books about her; Hayden Herrera, Martha Zamora and Raquel Tibol. If you're looking for an in-depth discussion of her art you won't find it in this documentary...very little is said about her paintings. If you're unfamiliar with Frida Kahlo, this is a great "Introduction to Frida Kahlo 101". I have watched about every Kahlo documentary that's out there...on a scale of 1-to-10 I would rate this documentary a 7. Viva la Frida

Average customer rating:

Hardly a Pleasant Suprise
Stunning !
One of Murnau's best visually told films
Another Outstanding Flicker Alley Release.
Excellent DVD, exceptionally good film

Phantom
Starring: Olga Engl , Adolf Klein , Lya De Putti , Wilhelm Diegelmann , and Heinrich Witte
Director: F.W. Murnau
Manufacturer: Flicker Alley, LLC
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Conformist (Extended Edition)

ASIN: B000HC2LOY
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Description

Flicker Alley, in partnership with the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Foundation is proud to present, Phantom, which marked a major turning point in the influential career and the groundbreaking style of cinema poet F.W. Murnau. In this beautifully reconstructed and restored edition from an amazingly detailed, original 1922 negative, Alfred Abel (Metropolis, Dr. Mabuse) plays Lorenz Lubota, a man obsessed with his own desires to achieve fame and wealth, who must confront the barriers of class keeping him from a woman (Lya de Putti)with whom he has had a fateful encounter.

Featuring a magnificent new orchestral score by Robert Israel, this powerfully expressive and surprisingly insightful film is a triumph of German Weimar cinema and a wonderful collaboration of many of its most skilled artisans and recognizable performers. Through dazzling visuals and memorable characters, Phantom paints a portrait of the corrupting influence of money, the conformity of societal norms, and the redemptive power of family.

Customer Reviews:

Hardly a Pleasant Suprise.......2007-05-31

Although visually stunning, this film was far from watchable simply because of the plot. I suppose it's a personal complaint, but the leading man became incredibly annoying. His "slip into madness" over the mere sight of a beautiful woman is hardly believable and it's certainly not sympathetic. To be honest, I found him to be rather pathetic. It just didn't seem like there was enough motivation for his downward spiral. As the film drew to a close, I found very little that could redeem this massive character flaw outside of his brutal death. I admit that's a bit harsh, but this film became frustrating at that point. I should be fair and say that I had high expectations of this film though.

A few positive remarks: Like I mentioned earlier, the visuals are stunning. I was interested in seeing this movie because of my respect (make that love) for Murnau and German Expressionism. Murnau's directing was not at fault here. Adolf Klein was better in other films, but my problem was not with the actors. The acting was superb. Almost all of the elements were satisfactory. Almost.

In summation, everything can be perfect, but if the story is not grabbing, the film can't rise above mediocre.

Stunning !.......2007-01-16

Perhaps not the best Murnau film, but surely the best edition of a
silent film I have ever seen. Wonderful!

One of Murnau's best visually told films.......2007-01-03

The transfer is really good and the music is beautiful. I was a bit disappointed that the inter titles are in English and tinted green but other than that, I have no complaints.

The film was good. It is extremely well told with some unbelievable scenes. It is really worth buying the DVD just for those scenes. I had how ever problems with the story (I just could not believe that an honest man like that would loose his head so easily). I also thought that Alfred Abel was to old for the part, even though he was good in the role.

This is not one of Murnau's best films but it is one of his best visually told films.

Another Outstanding Flicker Alley Release........2006-09-28

Here comes another outstanding silent film release from the folks at Flicker Alley. First there was THE GARDEN OF EDEN a very obscure film from director Lewis Milestone with Corrine Griffith. Next came JUDEX a celebrated serial from Louis Feuillade which was unavailable for decades and now there is F.W. Murnau's PHANTOM which was made after NOSFERATU in 1922. Despite the title there is nothing supernatural about PHANTOM. It is based on a novel by Gerhard Hauptmann as adapted by Thea von Harbou and deals with the principal character's obssession with a woman whose visage "haunts" him to the exclusion of everything else. It is also the study of a family in crisis brought about by the changing times and morals of Germany after the First World War. Obssession and familial crisis are themes that von Harbou would return to again and again in her films for Fritz Lang. While it is not top drawer Murnau it is certainly more than worthwhile and paves the way for his masterpieces THE LAST LAUGH in 1924 and SUNRISE in 1927. The film has been lovingly restored with beautiful tints and a wonderful score from Robert Israel. It also comes with a booklet on the restoration. This is how all silent films should be treated allowing the viewer of today to get some idea of the viewing experience audiences had when silent films first played in theatres. With this and the other releases mentioned earlier Flicker Alley has shown themselves to be the Criterion Collection of silent films on DVD and I can't wait for their next offering whatever it may be.

Excellent DVD, exceptionally good film.......2006-09-24

The Flicker Alley Collection has done a superb job with this fabulous restored edition of German director F.W. Murnau's "Phantom", adding many special bonus features and also a booklet to delight all serious film historians and silent film enthusiasts. F.W. Murnau was one of Germany's foremost directors, competing with the likes of Fritz Lang and G.W. Pabst, and his most famous films are no doubt the award-winning "Sunrise" from 1927, and the ever-popular horror classic, "Nosferatu", based on Bram Stoker's `Dracula'. Just after completing "Nosferatu" in 1922, Murnau embarked on this small-budget project, "Phantom", which was based on a novel by the respected and popular German author, Gerhart Hauptmann. Both novel and film were very popular at the time, and for today's audience this release of "Phantom" adds further dimension and range to Murnau's work. After directing "Nosferatu", it is clear to see Murnau's film directing quickly becoming more sophisticated, the editing smoother and more precise, and the depth of drama and sensitivity increasing, leading him to great cinematic works such as "Faust", "The Last Laugh" and no doubt the pinnacle of his success, "Sunrise".

In this sensitive and compassionate portrayal of an honest man's slide into mental illness and crime, the "Phantom" refers to images or hallucinations of a woman with whom the poor man has become obsessed, and which consequently lead him to more desperate acts. The story shows how a few unfortunate circumstances and association with two questionable characters (one of them being his own wayward sister) combined with his pathological obsession with a woman he hardly knows, quickly cause his life to spiral downward out of control. The focus is on Lorenz's good and honest character, and the equally good-hearted woman who loves him and believes in him despite everything. All characters are wonderfully portrayed by some of the finest European actors of the time, such as Alfred Abel as Lorenz, and Lil Dagover as his devoted Maria, whose love and faith restores his life to happiness in the end. Visually, this film is quite marvellous, with beautiful scenes and photography, some interesting effects and traces of classic German Expressionism, all enhanced by good restoration and careful colour-tinting, and the entire 130 minutes of this smooth-flowing story is a delight to watch. A masterful classical orchestral score by silent film composer, Robert Israel, lifts this film to even greater heights. For a very satisfying and fulfilling silent cinematic experience the film itself is already enough, but for more background information and better appreciation of the work involved and circumstances surrounding the filming, the short documentaries in the bonus features are also of a high standard, as are the biographies of everyone involved in the film, including Thea von Harbou who wrote the screenplay for "Phantom" - as she did for many other famous and classic films. Definitely a top-class production for its time and still a pleasure to watch today!

Average customer rating:

realism is no excuse
a diamond in the rough
"Frank was a hostage I took once."
great film
Awesome

All Things Fair
Starring: Johan Widerberg , Marika Lagercrantz , Tomas von Brömssen , Karin Huldt , and Nina Gunke
Director: Bo Widerberg
Manufacturer: Home Vision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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9 songs - Unrated Full Uncut Version

ASIN: B0001GH5S8
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Description

From Bo Widerberg (Elvira Madigan) comes the Academy Award®-nominated All Things Fair, a sensual and controversial coming-of-age story in which a young man, Stig (Johan Widerberg), falls madly in love with his teacher, Viola (Marika Lagercrantz). The intense relationship that develops spins rapidly out of control, setting the stage for a final confrontation between Stig and Viola in which "all is fair in love and war."

Oscar®, Academy Award™,and Academy Awards® are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Customer Reviews:

realism is no excuse.......2006-07-14

This is supposed to be a story about an affair between a high school student and his teacher. The events, feelings and interactions that make up that story are just as real as the other things in this movie, yet the movie gives us only brief glimpses of this relationship which add up to a total of maybe five minutes of this two-hour movie. Such a one-sided selection cannot be justified merely on the grounds of realism.

And since even a Swedish film cannot include everything that must have occurred in the character's life during these months, selection has to occur, and that means that some criteria have to be used to make the selections. There is no excuse for including a ten-minute drunken ramble by the husband. There is also no excuse for spending time on Stig's job at the movie theater. Even if they did not come at the expense of the main story (of the relationship), they would not be justified.

On the plus side, the glimpses we do get of the relationship (brief as they are) are effectively done. There is no teasing with the camera (except for the extreme brevity of the nude glimpses).

Also, the handling of the teenage girl was well done and was probably the most moving aspect of this long film.

Bottom line: it's worth watching if you can get it on a rental or borrow it from a friend.

a diamond in the rough.......2006-07-02

Nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar, in All Things Fair director Bo Widerberg follows the footsteps of great Scandinavian directors like Bergman. Sometimes the movie is surreal and reminds you about the writings of Ibsen but Widerberg's ability to capture the passions in the situation is undeniable. I was recommended this movie by a friend when I told him how I liked Fanny and Alexander. (but they are of different genre but same style of provocation)

When schoolboy Stig (Johan Widerberg) is attracted to his teacher, Viola (Marike Lagercrantz), he makes passes which she accepts and thus starts the romance.She resists in the beginning, but it isn't long before she and Stig are making love, taking advantage of the fact that her husband is a traveling salesman, as she finds the passion in Stig she doesn't get from her hard-drinking, never-home husband.

Now a film like this can only end in unimaginable tragedy, and All Things Fair delivers on that front. Set in 1943 Scandinavia, World War II is a hazy backdrop as director Bo Widerberg (father of Johan), focuses on this small yet incredibly intense drama. It's easy to forget the draggy middle (when Stig befriends Viola's husband and he spends half an hour pontificating before passing out on the table), when all hell breaks loose in the end. The catalyst for the finale is Stig's relationship with Lisbet (Karin Huldt), a girl of his own generation who Stig (like every boy) finally realizes he has a whole lot more in common with. (Prudes and censors be warned, the oft-topless Huldt was just 16 years old when the film was made.) As the saying goes, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and the worst comes out in everyone by the finish.

"Frank was a hostage I took once.".......2005-07-05

It's Sweden in 1943, and teenager Stig (Johan Widerberg) is a 15-year-old boy whose attention is focused on the female sex. The notes sent around the classroom, the whispered debates, and the mythology surrounding sexuality all indicate that Stig and his classmates don't really have a clue what sex is all about, but it's still a subject that occupies their minds. A new teacher is assigned to the class--a prim and proper, attractive, married 37 year old, named Viola (Marika Lagercrantz). Before too long, Viola and Stig are engaged in a steamy affair.

It's fairly easy for Stig to have an affair with his beautiful teacher, and it's also easy for him to keep it a secret from his family. Stig's family life is decent--but claustrophobic. He lives in a tiny flat with his mother, has a semi-adversarial relationship with his father, and is deeply attached to a brother who's serving on a submarine in the Swedish navy. Stig's job as a cinema usher allows him some freedom of movement--plus Viola's lingerie salesman husband travels away from home. Things begin to unravel when Stig meets and befriends Viola's husband, Frank (Tomas von Bromsson). Frank is a pitiful drunk whose eccentric inventions are endearing at best, and annoying if you're Viola. During the course of the affair, Frank declines, and as with all typically pathological marriages, it's impossible to identify cause and effect. Is Frank the victim of Viola's appetites or the cause of them?

While the film plot may sound cliched, it isn't. Writer/director Bo Widerberg (father of the actor who plays Stag) elevates the film far above the tawdry, cliched stereotypes, and instead "All Things Fair" is a serious, rather beautiful depiction of one teenager's exposure to the ugliness of adult life. There's a poignancy here that is both refreshing and bittersweet. The story hints at a sense of impending doom and the backdrop of WWII underscores this. While the war is far away, the effects of it are still present. Stig battles silently at home with moral dilemmas but the distant echoes of a world at war carry horrific ramifications. "All Things Fair" is in Swedish with English subtitles--displacedhuman

great film.......2005-02-21

much more interesting than your run-of-the-mill coming of age story. complex, with precision editing. could become a cult classic.

Awesome.......2004-11-03

I am just happy that this film is on DVD. Rent the film and watch it and see if you'd get a copy of your own. Recommended for art film lovers.

All Things Fair (Lust och fägring stor)
--1995, Best Foreign Language Film, Academy-Nominee
--1996, Blue Angel Award for Best European Film, Berlin International Film Festival
--1996, Silver Bear - Special Jury Prize, Berlin International Film Festival

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