Arts Movie Reviews

Three years ago, I was lucky enough to see, within a three-week period, Riverdance in Tokyo and Cirque du Soleil in Melbourne. Watching Cirque du Soleil live is, of course, a heart-stopping and heart-racing experience, so joyful, so amazing. My reaction again and again to the dozens of performances on these DVD's is not "unbelievable", but "impossible". The laws of physics do not permit what these performers are able to pull off. The performers are so far above and beyond anything you will see anywhere else, combining original styles you never see in a traditional circus. Nothing is predictable. On top of that you get a production worthy of an Olympic opening ceremony, just on a smaller scale to fit into CdS's live tent. In addition, there are no live animals used for the amusement of us humans. All the entertainment (including the lions in Dralion) is provided by people for people. The show is wild, uplifting, inspiring, hysterically funny. Two of the shows were filmed before live audiences, and just as in the live performance I attended the audience is screaming, clapping, whistling, guffawing and gasping almost constantly throughout the show. Totally involved. Most circus acts start slow and build to an amazing climax. Cirque du Soleil acts start amazing, move through unbelievable and climax at impossible. My only slight disappointment in this set is "Journey of Man", which was not filmed before an audience but at a variety of famous natural and man-made sites around the world. The "journey" narrated by Ian McKellen is so fast, the baby in the first scene grows to late middle age about as fast as Alice changes size in Wonderland, only to discover that the secret to happiness as an adult is to keep the child within you alive. Somehow, the writers try to connect this to some of the Cirque acts which are truncated to fit into the short show. Nonetheless, the acts are still impressive and the photography is lush, the scenes varied. On the whole, you will not find a more entertaining DVD set for the whole family to enjoy together. Be forewarned: after viewing the DVD's you are going to want to see Cirque live if they come to your neck of the woods.

If you have loved Cirque Du Soleil, but have not yet bought any of the performances, get this set of three and watch them on DVD on a HDTV widescreen. FANTASTIC! These are the best of all the DVD's they have released to date.

The sound quality is greatly enhanced over any VHS you could have ever seen. I makes all the diference.

Judging from the other reviews, I guess I am alone in saying I didn't like this show all that much; I have all the Cirque DVDs and would rate this below several others in many respects. First, though, I'll say that I loved the DVD from a technical viewpoint. The photography was spectacular and the colors...many times while watching I would just sit back and marvel at the colors, thinking "Wow, is that beautiful!" The sound was also superb, especially in DTS (which I think is definitely superior to Dolby 5.1). The extras were interesting and the mult-angle stuff was well-done. What I really didn't like that much was the show itself. Complaints: too much time devoted to the clowns, whom I didn't find funny; too much emphasis on "drama" and trying to tell a story and not enough circus acts (they shouldn't forget "Cirque" is the first word in their name, which implies circus acts and not acting); and the acts they had were not that good. The juggler and the Icarian games were top-notch and rate with the best, but I too find aerial straps boring (and there were 2 acts like that, by the twins and the girl, and a third that was similar, the 4 girls on the platform), and the rest (balancing, etc.) we've seen before and by more exciting performers. I guess this was just too "artsy" for me; I'd much prefer they get back to presenting the top circus talent in the world, and more of it.

Ever since i saw Allegria live, I have been a huge Cirque fan. I have seen every show expect Mystere and Varekai. I plan on seeing Varekai live when it comes to my city this upcomming summer. I know I may be spoiling the whole thing by buying the DVD but I wanted to see how good it was. I must say that Cirque Du Soleil really did their best work with Varekai. All the acts are amazing. Even the clowns are funny, since they arent wearing lots of clown make-up or have a big red nose. The guy is hilarious.
The acts are the best I have ever seen. In Body Sakting the performers seem to have so much fun.
Icarian Games shows strength, trust and amazing abilities.
Even Cloud caught my attention with the wonderful music.
I own every Cirque CD there is and the music in the DVD is the best of them all.
To finish such a fine show with Russian Swings was the best idea. U can see how much the audience loves every act.
Every act is beyond anything that is amazing. The DVD has such good quality to it, and the extra features are brillent as well.
I advise any Cirque fan to purchase this and go see the show live, believe me it is worth every penny.

I have seen all of the Cirque shows- some in person, all on video. Without a doubt, Quidam is my favorite. Varekai comes in a close second, tied with Dralion. Interestingly enough, a LOT of what's in Varekai are acts from Dralion and Quidam.

It's obvious they would put Olga's hand balancing into the show, since that's her forte', but the hand Acrobatic pas de duex- I recognize a lot of those moves right out of Quidam. Just about all Cirque shows have some sort of arial strap act (which honestly bores me), some sort of trapeze act (which I can never get tired of), some sort of hand balancing act, and a juggling number (also love them).

They really did a great job at the music, and the costumes (especially in the body skating) are fantastic.

Regarding the clowns, the guy is really funny, the girl (can't think of her name) brings nothing to the act. Hopefully she'll mold into a more interesting character role later.

Don't get me wrong- the things I pointed out here don't make this less than an excellent show, I'm just pointing them out because this is a review. The acts are flawless and incredible, and the music and costumes are fantastic.

Anyway, I gave this one a 5 because they FINALLY figured out what the DVD format is good for- extras. There's an entire second disc of extras! They packed a lot of great stuff in there- personal interviews with some of the talent (I find it amusing when John Gikley says he doesn't consider himself a clown), and making-of featurettes, multi-angle performances, etc. Bravo on the DVD features!

In the movie Citizen Kane, auteur Orson Welles uses a variety of visual effects to make his film appealing to audiences. The film begins in medias res because Kane has already died at the start of the film. This technique is used to immediately capture the attention of the audience. The film is about a group of reporters who set out to research the life of the very rich, static character Charles Kane. Their goal was to discover the meaning behind his last words, "Rosebud." The audience learns about the life of Kane through the use of flashbacks and a nonlinear film structure. As the reporters interview different people in Kane's life, we are taken back in time to witness the relationship Kane had with those people. This style of film is much more interesting than the normal chronological structure.
The flashback to Kane's childhood shows a happy boy playing in the snow on his sled. His mother is inside making arrangements to send him away after learning Charles would be inheriting a large sum of money. The extreme close up angle of her face shows that she believes she is doing this for the good of her son. She obviously feels he would be better off away from his father, especially with all of the money he will receive. This flashback explains why later in life Kane's character is so concerned with earning the love and acceptance of others. He felt like his mother sent him away because he wasn't good enough. He spends his adult life trying to force people to love him. He marries two different women, runs for governor, and buys a few newspapers in an attempt to control what people think. Unfortunately, nothing works out as Kane would have liked, and he dies a very lonely man. In order for a film to be successful, the audience must have a connection with the main character. The flashback to Kane's childhood makes the audience feel sorry for him and understand why he is the man he is.
The direction style in this film was way ahead of its time. Fading scenes made smooth transitions, even with the nonlinear structure in which it is filmed. Filming in black and white allowed Welles to take advantage of shadows. When Susan tries to convince Kane that she does not want to sing anymore, he steps towards her and his shadow covers her face as he tells her she cannot quit. She is singing again in the next scene. The camera angles are high as Kane gives his speech during the run for governor to indict that power and presence Kane exhibits. When Susan leaves Kane, there is a close up of a bird squawking loudly, which shows the emotional turmoil Kane is suffering through as he becomes alone once again.
There is a lot of symbolism in Citizen Kane. The most important symbol is the sled called Rosebud, which represents the only time Kane was ever truly happy in his life. This symbolism technique is called value placed on an object by a character. The reporters in the film fail to uncover the meaning of Rosebud, and in the denouement it is ironically burned as junk. The snow globe also represents his happy early childhood. The palace he builds represents Kane's wealth and power, yet all the space inside represents how lonely he really is inside.
Kane's character remains static throughout the movie. Even when he realizes he is losing those close to him, he refuses to change his ways. He loses two wives and his best friend and is left to die alone and miserable. Susan's character is very innocent and naïve when she first meets Kane. After many years in an unhappy marriage, she develops the nerve to leave Kane.
The unique style of directing and great acting makes Citizen Kane a fantastic movie.

I can definately see why. It's shot perfectly. The cinematography is extradoniary, as is the story, plot, acting, music, and historical accuracy. It's incredible. The way it is told and it's just amazing. The story is about a newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane, taken from his mother as a boy and made the ward of a rich industrialist. The result is that every well-meaning or tyrannical or self-destructive move he makes for the rest of his life appears in some way to be a reaction to that deeply wounding event. The movie starts off like a documentary, and then they reveal that it is footage made up for the rememberance of Charles Foster Kane, who at that point had died. On his deathbed he uttered 2 words "Rosebud." No one knows what he meant by that, so they start interviewing and asking people who knew him to tell them everything they knew. The reporters find out about his childhood, young adulthood, his adulthood, and basically his entire life. They sadly never find out what or who Rosebud was, but the audience finds out. I'm not gonna tell you, but it so obvious that you'll kick yourself at the end of the movie for not knowing.

This is a great DVD set for any fan of Citizen Kane... it was ranked best film of all time by AFI. It was also nominated for 9 academy awards and won for best original screenplay. This box set includes 3 discs as I have listed below...

Disk #1 - Citizen Kane (the Feature Length Film including the Movie Premiere Newsreel, Rare Production Photographs, Storyboards, and more)

Disk #2 - The Battle Over Citizen Kane (the Academy Award Nominated Feature Length Documentary detailing the bitter struggle between film director Orson Welles and newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst)

Disk #3 - RKO 281 (Golden Globe Nominee for Best Mini-Series, Best Actor, and Best Actress, this HBO drama is filled with exciting performances from some of Hollywood's greatest stars)

In addition, this box set includes a collectible senitype with an image from the motion picture and its corresponding 35mm film frame. Plus, a 16-page commemorative booklet is included that also features images from the motion picture.

The one negative about this box set is that (although you see it in Amazon.com's picture)... the theatrical poster is not included. I suppose this is because it would have to be folded and then would not be in good condition for framing or hanging. Therefore, they include a "free" mail-in offer to get it sent to you... the catch... there is a shipping and handling charge. I was disappointed by what I consider to be an outrageous shipping fee, especially after shelling out the $$$ to buy this set.

I still gave this set 5-stars because it is such a great movie!

This is an excellant DVD for an absolute beginner. As an adult who has just begun ballet training, I had no knowledge of the basic ballet positions. This DVD helps you to get familiar with the basic positions in ballet.
My only gripe is that the movements aren't put into combinations or practiced continously so that you can practice along. An extensive history of ballet is given in between each teaching segment, but there is an interactive menu so you can skip those parts.
If you need to know the basic ballet positions, then this is a good DVD (and the price isn't bad either). They also review arms, eyes, and body alignment. Plies, releves, and arabesques are also reviewed. NO combinations at all.

Anyone expecting the lush extravagance of Journey of Man, the wry enchantment of Quidam or the dazzlment of the new Varekai is in for a severe disappointment. The music verges on the unendurable, with whole performances drowned in the worst kind of smooth jazz with moments of 80s synthesizer schlock. The talent of the acrobats and aerialists is matched only by the fetor of their wardrobe, an unimaginably hideous panoply of dreck, sort of 'punk rock on an acid trip' meets 'revenge of the psycho hairdresser.'

There are a handful of bright moments -- a 'family' scene at the beginning that was quite touching, a nimble group of pole-climbers, and some lithe bungee-aerialists toward the end. The lead singer is striking and has a beautiful, ethereal voice - but someone should shoot her costume designer.

My overall opinion is that Cirque du Soleil offers better fare for the price. Check out Varekai, Quidam, Dralion, or the Journey of Man, all of which are much superior.

Let's be honest. Seeing Saltimbanco Live is an experience by itself. Nothing really comes close to it by any stretch of the imagination. However, those wishing to capture memories of that very enchanted evening will find this video absolutely wonderous. Directed by Jacques Payette and original concept by Franco Dragone, this masterpiece will entertain viewers right from the beginning. Although the brilliant opening in their live show has been cut, this video starts off with the most touching act called Adagio, a trio consisting of a family performing amazing acrobatics choreographed to a brilliant haunting score composed by Rene Dupere. This is followed by the acrobates on the chinese poles which will dazzle you with their strength and precision. Watching the ' Chinese bird on the wire' will totally take your breath away as will the next act which to me, is the highlight of the tape. You will absolutely be blown away by Miguel Herrera and his juggling act. His confidence and control of 7 balls at a time is something you just can't grasp. His robotic manner in which he juggles, performs different combinations and sequences totally timed to perfection will simply leave you speechless. Following this are the amazing pair with their boleadoros and the fun and comedic street performers on the Russian Swing. The next highlight of the tape has to be the famous Lorador brothers who have left Saltimbanco and are now performing in one of Cirque's resident show 'Mystere' showing in Treasure Island Las Vegas. I'm telling you, these lads must have bones of steel and the flexibility of rubber all rolled in to one. The strength, power and control of their amazing routine will leave you wondering why all men weren't created equal! This act known as 'Hand to Hand' consists of several manoeuvres that the brothers perform including headstands on the sole of a foot, a hamstring lift with a man doing a handstand on the soles of your feet and a most amazing balancing act that has to be seen to be believed. Other acts include the twin sisters on the double trapeze and the graceful artists on the bungee. In all , a most amazing tape with wonderous visuals and even greater musical performances by the singer and the band musicians. As they say, " When a Circus is not a Circus ".

Need I say more?

This video is amazing. It features some acts of the Saltimbanco tour by Cirque du Soleil, including tight-rope walking, juggling by the amazing Miguel Herrera, hand balancing with the marvelous Lorado brothers, clowning, chinese masts, ... The music is good, the artists are excellent, the costumes are great: a unique experience, though not as good as seeing them live (except that you can watch it again and again.