Cinema Paradiso
Starring: Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Antonella Attili
Directed: Giuseppe Tornatore
Studio: Arrow Academy
Format: Blu-Ray
Disc Release Date: March 21, 2017
About:
A CELEBRATION OF YOUTH, FRIENDSHIP, AND THE EVERLASTING MAGIC OF THE MOVIES
A winner of awards across the world including Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, five BAFTA Awards including Best Actor, Original Screenplay and Score, the Grand Prize of the Jury at the Cannes Film Festival and many more.
Giuseppe Tornatore s loving homage to the cinema tells the story of Salvatore, a successful film director, returning home for the funeral of Alfredo, his old friend who was the projectionist at the local cinema throughout his childhood. Soon memories of his first love affair with the beautiful Elena and all the high and lows that shaped his life come flooding back, as Salvatore reconnects with the community he left 30 years earlier.
My Review:
Cinema Paradiso is a Reminiscence / coming to age film dealing with a Guy named Toto…his nickname whom is a film maker who got news that a Friend an older film projectionist has passed away. The film dives back into the old days as he starts thinking of the day when he was a kid and how he loved going to the movies, but not just for the movies but for how it all works. This is where he meets Alfredo whom becomes a friend / father figure for him. The film is filled with fun, funny moments, sad moments and an ending that will make you tear up.
The story was a pretty fun follow as I’m viewing the Theatrical version, which this edition also comes with the Directors cut adding another 50 minutes of back story which I will have to watch at another date. The 2 hour version was good enough for now as I did get all I wanted with the back story and learning what Toto was like as a child to his teen years and so forth. I Am wondering what I could have missed with that extra 50 minutes of story though. But from what I have read its best to see the Shorter version.
Overall the film was a great watch, great story that will make you smile, laugh, and shed a few tears. Now for those who hate reading, I guess you will miss out on a great move due to subtitles only. Picture Quality is top-notch with vibrant colors, lifelike skin tones and sound is on par as well on this Blu-Ray. This is a movie I will watch again.
With that said I give Cinema Paradiso a 4.5 out of 5. I say if you are into everything movies, then this is for you as it deals with a story line about movies in it self, also its just a good story. Go Pick it up.
Extras:
- Restored from the original camera negative and presented in two versions the 124 minute Cannes Festival theatrical version and the 174 minute Director s Cut
- Uncompressed original stereo 2.0 Audio and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio options
- Optional English subtitles
- Audio commentary with director Giuseppe Tornatore and Italian cinema expert critic Millicent Marcus
- A Dream of Sicily A 52-minute documentary profile of Giuseppe Tornatore featuring interviews with director and extracts from his early home movies as well as interviews with director Francesco Rosi and painter Peppino Ducato, set to music by the legendary Ennio Morricone
- A Bear and a Mouse in Paradise A 27-minute documentary on the genesis of Cinema Paradiso, the characters of Toto and Alfredo, featuring interviews with the actors who play them, Philippe Noiret and Salvatore Cascio as well as Tornatore
- The Kissing Sequence Giuseppe Tornatore discusses the origins of the kissing scenes with full clips identifying each scene
- Original Director s Cut Theatrical Trailer and 25th Anniversary Re-Release Trailer
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector’s booklet by Pasquale Iannone illustrated with archive stills, behind-the-scenes images and posters
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