A Visually-Interesting Film about a Dreamer's Failure !
928593
While this movie has been around since the late 1980s, the story is compelling.  Preston Tucker was a larger-than-life car guy, a dreamer, a promoter and an idealist.  At the end of World War II, he was the car-guy equivalent of Senator Ted Cruz to his fellow Senate Republicans.  This movie romanticizes the Tucker story.  While many of the parts of the movie story-line are correct, many serious automobile historians today conclude that the largest contributor to the Tucker 48's demise was Preston Tucker himself and the lack of money.  (At this same time, wealthy industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and veteran automobile sales manager Joseph Frazer launched Kaiser-Frazer..).  Francis Ford Coppolla has made a visually-compelling story that even those whom are not gearheads can enjoy.  Well worth the time to watch
159890
This film is an absolute work of art! It tells the beautiful story of a young boy and his only friend: a big red balloon. Their friendship is true and the living balloon follows the little boy wherever he goes. They play with each other, trust each other... they are together for good!

A very simple and beautiful story... one that makes you remember how good it is to be a kid. ...all the possibilities... all the imagination and the innocence we lose when we grow up. This film will touch everyone who sees it.

The only problem is the print they used for this DVD. Absolutely horrible! Full of scratches and marks... (there are silent films in better shape!) it seems someone dragged the film stock on a street to make it look bad. I cannot believe such an important film had such a lack of caring. The soundtrack is also bad and the rich Technicolor is gone. I was lucky enough to see this film on the big screen during the seventies and... believe me... it was beautiful. Nothing like this.

I knew this print was bad because I read the other reviews, and yet, I bought it because I felt I must have it (for I love this film). But it was still shocking to see how bad a bad print can be.

I think this film is a masterpiece and I will buy it again if this is ever restored and released again... but this is an european film and I do not see that (restoration... or a new print) coming soon. So I bought it anyway - think like this: not even in France this film is available... go figure why!

A beautiful film that is worth every scratch... but it is a shame... Films like this one should be seen over and over and I am sure if it was to be rereleased it would be a success. Perhaps one day someone like Criterion (who for once released it in Laserdisc a looong time ago) will take this film and give the treatment it deserves.

By the way, the american edition of this DVD (no longer on print) came with an american animated cartoon : "The Pincushion Man". It is about a ballon-like city with ballon-like characters. The print was equally bad. It is an early thirties "silly symphonies-like" color cartoon produced by Castle Films. The film is nice and it leaves you wondering about how many great films are there left to rot. ...
2006188
This is an excellent film which allows the viewer a peek at the excruciating discipline and hard work that lies behind the physical attributes and talent needed to become such an ethereal creature.
1537885
This flick, made by some 20 somethings, is a work of genius that will definitely stand the test of time.  I've seen the movie 2 or three times, but wanted to buy a copy not only to watch again, but to get the commentaries on the disc.  The commentaries turned out to be less than thrilling, but interesting. You get info on how the animation was done, and the fact there were several animators, which I did not previously know. Some of the philosophical discourses in the flick are bs, but overall this is an inspired treatment of lucid dreaming, and a pleasure to watch.
3119660
There are 2 films within this movie :

1. Reality through a young girls' eyes - Set in war-torn Europe, the young girl from a dysfunctional family is distracted by an alternative universe of magical beings, where she is told she is a princess of an Underworld Kingdom, and has to perform certain tasks to attain the title. These `magical tasks' (which are the centerpiece of the movie) are by far the most visually arresting I've seen in a while - it reminded me a lot of Tarsem's "The Cell" (the underrated masterpiece starring Jennifer Lopez) both visually and metaphorically.

2. Reality as it is - The film also parallelly follows the reality of the girls' family and how the world views her - which means there is nothing magical going on, just a lot of violence and sadness, as to be expected from the dreariness of the era. Throw in an abusive father, a spineless mother, and inhospitable living conditions, and you can imagine why the girl is so desperate to block this reality out.

The interesting thing is, the viewer is not told which reality is true. In the end, when realities converge, it is left very vague as to whose world is real. On one hand, it is suggested that the girls' elaborate fantasy (and in fact the entire film, thereby) is just an illusion. On the other hand, it is suggested that all the story was is one girls' attempt to escape the harshness of the world by creating an imaginary world that only she could see and understand. I prefer to think it's the former, but either way, this is a beautiful film that makes you think. The cinematography is brilliant, and the special effects are truly exemplary.

However, even though I do adore this film, I can see why some people would find it pretentious and meaningless. I mean, those are cruel words for a film of this beauty, but the end of the film can leave you very cold and un-moved, even if you did enjoy everything that came before it. I saw this with someone who felt the same way but was left down by the end, which was more of an anti-climax, in the worst sort of way.

The highlight of the film is definitely the young actress. She is not very talented as an `actress' per se, and if you know a little about film-making you can see that the performance she gave is definitely because of the efforts of her director to make her `look better' as an actress.

That said, this is a glorious film that you should watch with someone who appreciates foreign film as much as you do. It is by no means a perfect movie, but as films of 2006 go, this was pretty much the cream of the crop.
3805129
This movie was entrancing to me and bored my wife; yet another example that beauty is in the eyes (and ears) of the beholder. Hugo evoked memories of the excitement of being young, impressionable and filled with wonder at the mysterious parts that make things work, both animate and inanimate. The movie progresses at a rather slow but steady pace at the beginning that may put off those who are looking for action in their movies. To me it did an effective job of identifying and defining Hugo with all of his dreams and aspirations; I felt a kinship with him that reminded me of certain aspects of my childhood. Gradually the clues that are given in the early part of the movie are put together and the viewer begins to see how it all fits together.

The movie is visually somewhat overwhelming in its level of detail on the screen; one gets the feeling that one needs to watch it again to finish seeing all of the amazing and fascinating things being shown. This movie will be a feast for many boys and those men who have not lost their boyish sense of wonder. The role of Hugo is convincingly played by Asa Butterfield and the other lead roles are well done by such seasoned actors as Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lee, and many others.

The movie is just over two hours long and seems to proceed at a leisurely, introspective pace. I have not been young for a long time but it brought back memories of youth that took me back to the feelings of childhood. I recommend it highly.
2253246
The first half of the movie is like being trapped in a college coffee house discussion of philosphy.  Ideas that we have all heard before ranted on and on.  Interesting at first but after an hour I was gettins somewhat annoyed, luckily the animation is enough to keep you entertained.  Some of the animation is a little choppy in parts, but that might have been intended.  The animation styles change throughout the movie giving it a strange but effective painterly feel.  A large team of animators worked on this film, understandibly, and that is part of the appeal, if you don't like what is being said, or the annimation style, you can just wait five or ten minutes and another style of annimation will take over.  This is a truly original film about lucid dreams...a hot topic in the world of cinema.  Vannila sky is another film that dealt with the idea of lucid dreams, however waking life makes the lucid dream last the entire movie.  This film is a huge accomplishment for director Richard Linkliter (Dazed and Confused, and Slacker), I can't wait to see what he's cooking up next.  I highly reccomend this film for its visual appeal, if you are into those artsy type movies.  You can even watch with the volume on mute and still enjoy it.
4299142
This is one of those films that you can't make any literal sense about it.  It's all images.  It's like Fellini's Satyricon, Greenaway's Prospero's Books, and, to a lesser extent, Argento's Inferno.  But WHAT IMAGES!  This is a magnificent, breathtaking beautiful, poetic, painterly masterpiece.  You could freeze any frame of this, and they would look like medeval paintings come to life.  Paradjanov did not make many films (the Soviet authorities made life a living hell for him because of his outspoken views on politics and his nationalistic leanings), but the ones that he did will always live.  No one in this world made films like he does.  They are so unique in world cinema.  This is an abstract film about the Armenian poet Sayat Nova.  It is not a literal biographical film.  It is a film that enters into the poet's world.  Many have complained about the transfer by Kino.  It is not great, but the fact that this film has survived at all is a miracle in itself.  And it's Paradjanov's original cut too.  The conditions in which it was made were not very good, so it is possible that the film stock Paradjanov shot on was defective, or very worn.  One little known problem with Soviet filmmaking was that many crews had to share equipment with each other, and that it wasn't the greatest to begin with.  That might be why the film looks faded and old.  But the fact that we have it is magnificent enough.  The documentary, Paradjanov: A Requiem, is very good.  It is not filled with talking heads analyzing Paradjanov's films and life.  Most of the film features Paradjanov himself.  It contains the final interview he did.  He is fully alive and very boisterous during the whole film.  He is still very outspoken about life in the USSR (which was falling apart by the time this film was made), and he is just amazing to behold.  The film has clips from many of Paradjanov's early work, none of which has ever been released here.  This is definitely worth picking up.
3929991
The Butterfly Lovers re-imagines a classic Chinese folktale for a new generation, but, sad to say, it falls a bit short of enchantment.  If you take a chance on purchasing it, you probably won't be disappointed with the animation, but I doubt you'll return to it often.  To this animation aficionado, The Butterfly Lovers suffers from the same maladies as the majority of Dreamworks animated films - technically-accomplished animation that tries desperately to support scripts that lack both eloquence and substance.  In the end, the film is just the culmination of dutiful animators, not passionate artists.  It's missing its living spirit, and the magic is easily broken.
2232318
Yes, this is a striking, well-made and thought-provoking film, but suffers from the same flaws affecting the debates around crime and criminals in the West: what about Tsotsi's victims?  How about the woman who is paralyzed from Tsotsi's gunfire?  or the honest, dignified businessman who is horrifically knifed for the little money in his wallet?  and the aspiring teacher who is brutally beaten and disfigured by Tsotsi?  The film does not dwell on their fates -- just Tsotsi's.
While viewers can be struck by the hopeful note of the possibility of this brutal criminal discovering his own humanity, redemption isn't that simple.  The underlying themes are troubling: it isn't his fault -- his childhood, abusive father, victimized mother, lack of education, etc. may have helped create this monster -- but he IS a monster.  One can be seduced into a feel-good experience by focusing on his emerging empathy and personal growth, but only because the film ignores his victims and the ongoing impact of Tsotsi's actions.
If you want a feel-good, hopeful movie -- it's very good.  But be prepared to be unsettled if you aren't comfortable with shades of gray, and a limited examination of the issues of urban violence.
3174943
I would have liked the movie better if I'd read a spoiler first and known this was about a man with altzheimers.  I was drawn into the movie thinking it was a love story (it was) but I began to see the dream world and the stark reality of the confusion and memory loss and the tragedy of the mind forgetting.  My mother has altzheimers and this movie seems to be a good representation of the confusion surrounding everyone connected to this horrible disease. Lives stolen.
2607290
The visual imagery and creativity is stunning however the film fades towards the end. Which is a huge shame. So what went wrong? Films like "How to Train Your Dragon" appeal both to kids and adults. The storyline, including twists and character development, must be accessible to kids but must also be relevant and entertaining to adults. Weaving adult sophistication into a kid's film is a fine art. "Epic" so nearly succeeds; it is funny and clever and beautiful. It is just the last five minutes that fail to deliver - I can only assume they intended a second film, an "Epic II" but honestly I'd be surprised if that happened. I still recommend the film because I was entertained and mesmerized by the visuals and the witty script.
4864920
This is a beautiful film, every scene is a gem... I can see why it may not have been widely distributed in the States: it is a caricature of America, made by a French director adapting a Scandinavian book. Foreign looks upon the US are not always well received, especially when they have several layers of profoundness and touch on delicate subjects like giving guns to children and exploiting child talent for your own fame and profit.

I can also see that many people do not appreciate Jeunet's storytelling style, which reminds me of Wes Anderson in Moonlight Kingdom. Still, I think this film deserves to be watched and appreciated for what it is: a deep look into America, a serious story underlying the frivolous storytelling style. A film to be watched and re-watched, savouring every scene.

And it does prove that it is possible to make a good quality film using 3D technology and not just some mindless super-hero blockbuster!
1274557
After seeing this film twice at the Vancouver Film Festival, visiting from my home in Mexico, I could hardly wait to own it, even though it was only available in VHS. I find it fascinating and disturbing that Saura's masterpiece, as non-linear and right-brained as any great work of art, should be maligned by critics such as Roger Ebert, and others. Here's to those who've written their praise for the film on these pages!
This is extraordinary creation, a fusion of both outer and inner realities that the logical mind cannot grasp - and why must it? Does it really matter what happened factually to Goya? Aren't those fiery skies and the music of Boccherini,  reflecting the fire and brimstone in Goya's mind, enough to tell us that the film is mythic? Shakespeare did the same thing with his tragic heroes because the Elizabethans and the alchemists believed in "as above, so below". Macbeth's turmoil is reflected in the storms outside, and the bloody battles raging around him. Yet that's fiction and we believe this world is reality..
I buy few films, and I cherish this one. I'm still longing for  "Providence" to come out on DVD because Resnais  interweaves life and art from the same perspective...an old man, a writer, dying among his living, breathing creations. I live in an Mexico's oldest city, on a street named "Cinco de Mayo" Every day I'm reminded of Goya's painting, and this film is shown at least once a month on TV because the Mexicans love it - the Latin world has no problem suspending reality in the name of art - which is why Andre Breton called Mexico the ultimate surrealism. Thank you Saura, once again.
3077005
Here's a movie about hopes and dreams and what it takes to accomplish those dreams, about doing want YOU want vs what your parents or parent wants you to do. It's about learning to follow your HEART instead of your HEAD. At times it can be a heartfelt, poignant, and even amusing. When this movie first came out, I had no interest to go see it, maybe it's because I'm a guy, I don't know. As I sat down and watched it, I was hooked. I went along with all the characters, I was even smiling while I was watching it. It turned out to be a true "sleeper" in my opinion. It's because of all of this, I would even go as far as to say, it's one of the best films of the year! The story concerns three different and unique girls (Amanda Schull, Susan May Pratt, and Zoe Saldana) simply following their hearts. Jody Sawyer get accepted to the American Ballet Theater, a place she has waited ten years to get into. It's been her life long goal to make it as a ballerina. Schull is a new face to me, and quite a talent, not to mention a looker  lol. She's a wonderful jazz and ballet dancer. In time, I think, she will really hit it big, her talent will not go unseen. Then we have Maureen (Susan May Pratt). She's been at the A.B.Theater for 9 years, mostly thanks to her mother. She is considered the best dancer in the entire school. And also one of the most stuck up. Then we have Eva (Zoe Saldana), who to me, doesn't really seem to care where she is. It's mostly all fun and games with her. She'll say what she wants when she wants and to who she wants, in other words, she's never at a lost for words. These three girls have their own struggles to overcome before they can make it to their dreams. Jody(Amanda Schull), has fallen for Cooper Nielson (Ethan Stiefel). The problem is, as she later puts it in the movie, "(He) sucks as a boyfriend." He plays with her emotions when she the most vulnerable, after being told "(she) has bad feet." I know it sounds funny to some. She now must work harder to reach her dream. Maureen (Pratt) is suffering from bulimia and if that wasn't enough she's having doubts about her future as a dancer. She's come to the conclusion, that she just doesn't have the "heart" for it. It's not what she really wants out of life. And as for Eva (Saldana), she tries to forget about all the hard work dancing can be, and the pressure put on her by the A.B. Theater, and remembers why she first wanted to dance, because she loves it. This is a movie filled with enjoyable characters that are fun to watch and you even begin to care about them. It easy to follow, and has great dance scenes in it, the one at the end is amazing! This is a movie everyone should hurry up and buy, you won't be disappointed.  p.s- a little something for the guys. Don't be so quick to pass this one up. Just think about it, HOTT GIRLS, WEARING TIGHTS, JUMPING  lol, doesn't sound that bad now does it?
3899616
Usually this reviewer would not find time or inclination to view a film that was centered on the ballet, or ballerinas. Nothing against ballet, ballet in the flesh which he has seen on many occasions. The film under review though, The Red Shoes, intrigued him in two ways since he had actually read the Hans Christian Andersen story as a kid (as a kid before he realized that a lot of fairy-tale type stories should perhaps not be told to children, not told because they are too scary or tragic as here making one wonder about the personalities of the fairy-tale writers) and because he was interested in the story within a story idea that animated the film (The Red Shoes Ballet based on the Andersens story).

In a way the story line is simplicity itself for those who know that in the Andersen tale the latest possessor of the red shoes is made to dance until death by the demonic shoemaker, the devil himself of you thing about it, after enticing the female victim with desire for them. There is a rough parallel to that theme in the film although it starts out as a more conventional Svengali like piece. Vicky, played by Moira Shearer, is an up and coming ballet dancer who is looking for a break like many other young dancers with a famous ballet company run by Boris, played by Anton Walbrook, who alternates between ruthless tyrant and benevolent despot. He lets Vicky in to see what she is made of and after viewing an afternoon local production of her in Swan Lake he decides to keep her in his company as they travel to Monte Carlo for the season.
Vicky was kind of left stalling around until the prima ballerina was with child and that was her big opening. Along the way Boris had also hired Julian, play by Marius Goring, to write scores for his ballets. In this way Vicky and Julian meet and at first are adversaries but through their collaboration as main dancer and score writer in the production of the Red Shoes Ballet they turn into lovers. Boris who sees the next best thing for his company in Vicky is initially furious because of the dashing of his artistic reasons for wanting her single once the young pair get married. Boris realized though that he loves Vicky, or at least has strong romantic feelings for her although he was a bit short on showing that side of himself-ever. To get even, to break the pair up after the huge success of The Red Shoes Ballet, Boris fired Julian and in his train Vicky followed.

Vicky had her own agenda as well since she was as struck by stardom as any other promising dancer and although she followed Julian back to London while he was working on his first opera the bright lights got to her. She went back to Boris company in Monte Carlo after he promised her a revival of the Red Shoe Ballet. On opening night Julian showed up from London on the night his own opera was opening to bring his wife home. Vicky initially balked since she was torn between Boris and Julians visions for her, and her own as well. At first Boris won out but then Vicky turned tail and ran after the departing dejected Julian. But as she ran down the steps with her red shoes on to rejoin Julian she either tripped or jumps over a balustrade and into an on-coming train. Near death she asked Julian to take the damn red shoes off of her feet. Yeah, damn those red shoes that did in Andersens dancer and poor Vicky too. Watch this one as well for all the then very famous dancers the producers brought in to make this a very realistic ballet film-in early version technicolor too.
2015236
I don't know if you're into metaphysics, mythology, psychology, and Eastern philosophy.  If these things interest you, you will probably love this movie.

Based on the book by Mircea Eliade, who has explored many cultures, and religious paths, who has written books on alchemy and about shamanism, and spirituality,  Youth without Youth trips through the wires of your higher consciousness.

As you watch, the captivating images that unfold onscreen, immediately make you aware that you are not dealing with an ordinary filmmaker.  If you press the subtitles button, what you see is not subtitles but a readable commentary by Francis Ford Coppola, which I found added to my understanding.  He explains how the lightning is awakening. He mentions Prometheus, and Frankenstein's monster being created by lightning.  I thought about Saul being converted by a lightning strike.

Dominic Matei, old and bitter, is struck by lightning.  He regresses in age to become a young man.  Nurses notice his virility with pleasure. His intelligence grows. Sinister people want to  tap his potentiality.  He sees another version of himself in the mirror, a duality, but is it conflicting, or does it open doors.  He meets a woman, who looks like the love of his life, but is a totally different woman.  They engage.  They travel.

Along the way the mind, (I loved the four probabilites) reincarnation, linguistics, bridging the gap between dream and reality, and consciousness are explored through Dominic reexperiencing youth without youth.

I had a great dream after seeing this, that paralelled the movie. I was not struck by lightning, but I did get an electric shock. It seemed significant. I don't know if you will have a dream after seeing this movie.  Only one way to find out I suppose.

I bought&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Forge-and-the-Crucible-The-Origins-and-Structure-of-Alchemy/dp/0226203905/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and Structure of Alchemy</a>&nbsp;after watching this.

I liked this movie a lot, but it's not for everyone. It's not your typical commercial movie. Carl Jung or Joseph Campbell would probably hail this as a masterpiece.

I wonder if you find this helpful, and I think you will love it.