Cinema Paradiso

[Pale Blue Dot]

I just watched it for the sixth and seventh time with my loving, patient wife, and it remains one of my favorite films. For those who don't know the story behind the film, Cinema Paradiso was first shown in 1989 in a nearly three hour version that audiences hated. The director, Giuseppe Tornatore, then cut it by almost an hour and released it to universal acclaim. It won numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and became one of the highest grossing foreign films of all time. It currently ranks as #93 on www.imdb.com 's favorite films of all time.

That cut of the film is a movie lover's dream. It is so funny, touching and nostalgic that simply hearing the opening notes of the score (by the incomparable Ennio Morricone) brought tears to my eyes this time. It is a movie about the love of the movies, and the transfomative power of film.

Due to the incredible success of the film, Tornatore got to re-release Paradiso in the US in 2002 with the original footage intact - ironically, to universal acclaim. In this version, the film becomes a completely different kind of great movie, full of deep, complex questions about human nature and what is really most important in life.

Both versions are incredible, and both stand completely on their own. Watching both is one of the most unique viewing experiences in the history of cinema.

I urge you to rent this film; but please, watch the shorter version first. If you do so, you'll have two movie experiences that you'll never forget.

[CreekDog]

1. Wonderful movie

was lucky enough to see it on the big screen for my humanities class in college.

[Pale Blue Dot]

2. Have you seen both versions?

If not, do you know which version you've seen?

[CreekDog]

4. i think i saw the 2 hour version, back in 1991

they showed it at the International Cinema at BYU. Subtitles, not dubbed thankfully.

i saw it as a rental later on and if i recall, it was dubbed into English. between that and the small screen, it just didn't work as well.

part of it is me, i pretty much only enjoy movies on a big screen.

[Pale Blue Dot]

6. I understand.

In a way, it's hard to recommend the Director's Cut because it's such a different movie. On the other hand, it's a really great different movie. It's hard to explain.

[Danger Mouse]

3. I own it. On a whim, I asked for it for Christmas, knowing next to nothing about it.

All I knew about it was the bit of the soundtrack I heard.
It was enough.
I fell in love from the first scene. It has become one of my favorite movies.

[Pale Blue Dot]

5. I don't mean to be a broken record, but have you seen the Director's Cut?

The soundtrack is wonderful, IMO.

[Danger Mouse]

7. I haven't watched it yet, but I mean to.

Sounds very interesting.
Soundtrack is beautiful, ennio morricone is my favorite film composer by far. His soundtrack for 'Once Upon a Time in the West' is nothing short of amazing.