Inzaghi, Simone Movie Reviews

Though the story of the film takes place in the ancient Persian empire and its capital Susa, where Jews lived in exile, and the characters are dressed in epic-like ancient costumes, the backgrounds are ruins, within which the contemporary rearlity keeps interfering as sounds (cars, sirens, airplanes, etc) as well as visually.

Through this narrative strategy, the film itself makes comments on its story, and open up the metaphorical and universal reading of it. The book of Esther concerns the oppression of the Jews living in exile, so the Jews are the victims who somehow manage to survive. However, already the biblical story ends with the oppressed Jews becoming oppressors themselves. And the film ESTHER totally opens up this element of the story; exile, being oppressed and suffering are not monopolized by Jews.

Teaming with master cinematographger Henri Alekan, first-time fictional feature director Amos Gitai weaves out a stunningly righ series of visual feast. The rich use of colors and the strong sun lights of Haifa turn this fairy-tale-like story into high-contrasted visuals. Alekan's bold use of colored lights, as well as the stunning costumes based on Persian minuatures color codes already create a strong contrast with the simple, monochromatic ruin landscape. And the amazing 9 minutes tracking shot at the end of the film subvert and opens up what we thought the film was about.

It is a film that, most of all, makes you think. So not for the audience who were looking for a biblical epic a la Cecil B. Demille. But those who are open-minded enough and sensitive enough will find a rich visual pleasure in this masterpiece, and will also start thinking about power, oppression, conflicts et all from a different perspective than what we are used to see on, let's say CNN.

Some of the scenes you're like "Huh? Do did he/she/it do that?". So sometimes it's a little unrealistic. So what? All movies are a little unrealistic so don't let that spoil you're mood. The ending is really really REALLY unexpected and very brutal. The last 30 min is just like a slasher-fest in the garden of a large house where three stupid teenagers are hunted by a murderer with a very sharp sickel. And this is incredibly done. Because the pain you see the actors have makes you shriek together as if you were living this through.

The movie's doesn't really have any shock-scenes but it does have its intense moments and I think that real fear is better than a ghost jumping out of a closet.

All in one: This movie is kinda scary and doesn't have very good acting at all (Well maybe the first 7 min are ok). But this movie is really more brutal than anything I've ever seen. Original murdering scenes (Blender, Kitchen, Pool...) make this movie one hell of a ride.

A must see for all who enjoyed "Scream 3" and "Anatomy 2" (I don't know when Anatomy 2 is starting in USA. Sorry!).

First of all, the fabulous Jeanne Moreau is at the peak of her career in this film, and she just absolutely OWNS her role, even more so than Glen Close did in the Frears version, radiating a mixture of evil and sensuality and whimsical decadence that's hard to describe but easy to be completely fascinated by on the screen. Also, Gerard Phillipe, the 'James Dean of France' who was known as one of the most wooden actors of his generation (for proof of this woodenness in a GREAT film that transcends Phillipe's acting limitations, check out Jacques Becker's MODIGLIANI, MONTPARNASSE 19), finally comes into his own on this film (his last before he died), and gives a magnificent nuanced performance, full of decadent amorality. The influence of the New-Wave is all over the film, as it was enjoying the only commercial successes it was to have at the time in films like "The 400 Blows," and "Breathless." Phillipe would've adjusted himself to these types of films had he lived just fine, if his performance here is any indication, and Moreau is a complete natural in the freer more neo-realist inspired mise-en-scenes of all the younger directors. Her huge scandalous success in Louis Malle's "The Lovers" had shown that she was the most daring actress of her time and since the New-Wavers weren't opposed to exploiting a little sex to get themselves more of an audience, she was the more refined and elegant natural anti-dote to Brigitte Bardot (After putting Moreau in maybe her greatest role in "Jules et Jim," Truffaut could've made his film "Mississippi Mermaid," 3 years sooner had he agreed to go with Bardot, yet he insisted that it was "Catherine Deneuve or nothing" and waited until 1968 because of Bardot's reputation for being a difficult and capricious star).

Vadim transposes the story to a contemporary setting of 1960s France & ski resorts for the upper classes, and best of all, puts a Thelonious Monk jazz soundtrack on throughout, with Kenny Dorham and other black jazz players in the film's party scenes throughout. He introduces the film himself hilariously in a heavily French-accented English (striking that intellectual-super-pimp-of-the-rich-and-famous pose he was already known for), contrasting the type of woman he made famous in Briggite Bardot (the overripe girl), with the type he's trying to represent through the Moreau chacater (a woman who refuses to adjust herself to a man's world, etc), in this film, which indicates that he was trying to fuse Chaderlos de Laclos with trends he saw in contemporary France! Now that's ambition! Certainly much more than it would take to make "Barbarella"!

Rent it from a well-stocked store today & see what Vadim was up to once! Let's hope someone brings out the DVD and they bless us with a good friggin transfer. This film deserves it.

Sadly, it wasn't until her passing this year that I started to read more about her and start listening again. She was truly gifted as a pianist, lyricist and her vocal approach is unique to all the world. And that voice. Its quite haunting. This live performance displays her rawness, realness and the intensity of her delivery in the timeless and prolific lyrics/messages of her music. "Mississippi Goddamn" is a powerful testament to a universal truth in its ugliest state. Via the snippets of interviews spliced between numbers, Nina expounds on music and personal experiences. The woman was tough and it showed in her words, body language and again, the live performance. When she snaps about it being HOT in the club (she is practically drenched with perspiration), you feel it with her. I especially enjoyed the rhythmic breakdown in "Be My Husband" and the interplay with her drummer adds to the energy of the set. Her audience provides the chorus on "See-Line Woman" and its fun to watch.

Quality of visual is low, with dim lighting and the shots a bit fuzzy, but as mentioned earlier, this is a VINTAGE performance. I recommend Live at Ronnie Scott's to anyone interested in learning about this strong woman who made an unforgettable and incomparable mark in the music world. CLB.

There is a lot to love about this dvd. Nina's performance is one of if not the most intimate performance I have ever watched and I know it's hard to understand that if you're not there in person but somehow she managed to transcend even the barriers of a television set. Listen to the way she beautifully performs her "two love songs" as she calls them, "If You Knew" and "Mr. Smith" and then effortlessly move from playing the harpsicord (on a keyboard) to the piano on "Fodder In Her Wings". Other standouts include her wonderful rendition of "I Loves You Porgy" and "The Other Woman". Both showing such vulnerability and sadness you wonder how anyone cannot possibly love her??? Her two signature songs, "Mississippi Goddam" and "My Baby Just Cares For Me" are absolutely wonderful as is the entire concert. "Mississippi Goddam" this time blended with "Alabama Song" from Brecht's "Mahagonny". Brilliant! My absolute favourite though is "For A While". I have never and I doubt I will ever hear a song perform with such aching tenderness, truth and sadness. What she does towards the end of this song is evidence of her amazing knowledge of musical performance and also one of the most moving moment I have ever witnessed. It's worth buying the dvd for this one performance alone.

I am always reminded of experiencing an amazingly emotional yet cathartic show everytime I watch this. OK, is it not evident that I am a fan? But that aside, I truly do believe this is worth the price if you're a fan, have just discovered her or somehow magically stumbled here but enjoy quality music and a performer who really knows how to get inside your heart and soul.

Interview clips throughout the concert, inserted between songs give insights into this remarkable woman but is not really necessary. Her music speaks for itself.

I love the chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. Both their characters were so heroic and caring - what a great example!

The movie was just plain on-the-edge-of-your-seat action. It was fast, it was exciting, it was fun.

There wasn't a lot of cussing, but there were several bloody scenes. It wasn't nearly as gory as most similar kinds of movies are, however, which I appreciated.

This isn't going to change your life, but it's certainly a fun few hours.

I love the chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. Both their characters were so heroic and caring - what a great example!

The movie was just plain on-the-edge-of-your-seat action. It was fast, it was exciting, it was fun.

There wasn't a lot of cussing, but there were several bloody scenes. It wasn't nearly as gory as most similar kinds of movies are, however, which I appreciated.

This isn't going to change your life, but it's certainly a fun few hours.

The story is hardly original, but it's done very well for this kind of show. In fact, the one minor flaw of this series is the way the plot "jumps around" from one event to the next. However, it's the characters which make RECORD OF LODOSS WAR so much fun, and much of the best scenes belong to Parn and Deedlit; especially the dance sequence. Ghim and Deed also get to bicker about each other's differences while Parn, on a quest to clear his disgraced father's name, finds a father figure in Kashue. Ashram has a Dark Elf named Pirotess (the opposite of Deedlit) who'll do anything to prove her loyalty to him... including sacrificing herself, Karla is shifty and cunning, while Wagnard is just plain evil -- an over-the-top, maniacal monster equivalent of Kefka from FF III who cackles fiendishly as he puts his dark plans into action. The chemistry between this cast of characters is so well done and the show is so engrossing that it's easy to forgive its occasional shortcomings, notably the jumpy plotting and the animation, which, although gorgeously drawn, uses a low cel count which results with some stiff movements. It may take a while for one to warm up to the music, but by the end, it really grows on you. For fantasy buffs, RECORD OF LODOSS WAR is simply great fun.

Central Park Media made a DVD release of this title a few years ago, but have since rereleased it in a more beefed up package, with some new bonus features to speak of, including the behind-the-scenes featurette we saw on the VHS tapes as well as a Promotional video (dubbed in English), which sounds, I'm sad to say, awful. There's even some DVD-ROM features (identical to those on the CHRONICLES set), including the dub script and credits for both casts. As far as I'm concerned, the visual transfer is very well done, but then I've never seen the old release so I can't compare it with that. (I was told, though, that CPM used a new Digital Video Remastering process to clean up the visuals for this release.)

For purists, the Japanese language track is on here with clear, easy to read subtitles, and an optional English dub. Considering that it was recorded at a time when dubs had a very bad reputation, this English production is surprisingly good. It got somewhat mixed reviews; some say it's fake and/or mediocre while others find it annoying, but here's a better review from one of its many enthusiastic fans (that's me!). No, it's not perfect, and some lines do come off as a bit awkward, but a lot of the voiceovers are really good. In particular, Billy Regan (Parn), Lisa Ortiz (Deedlit), Al Muscari (Slayn), Jacques Le Can (Woodchuck), Simone Grant (Karla & Leylia), John Knox (Ashram), Jayce Reeves (deliciously malevolent as Wagnard), and Alexander J. Rose (Wort and the Narrator), are among my favorites. Plus, the dialogue is close to the subtitled script and packed with some memorable one-liners (Parn: "Quick, Deed, what's [the dragon]'s weak spot?" Deedlit: "I'm not a dragon expert! How should I know?!") and great chemistry between the actors. I especially loved the interactions between Parn and Deedlit, the banter between Ghim and Deed, and a lot of other things. Which is why it saddens me that some would find all of this "inferior" to the Japanese language track. I listened to parts of the Japanese language track, too, and while I did find it to be of top-quality, I find that the dub still holds its own position decently. Of course, it may be in danger of being overshadowed by some of the better dub productions of today, but for a dub made in 1996, its a rather decent, if unspectacular listen. I'm still fond of it, as a matter of fact, even after hearing some better ones.

Whatever language you choose to watch it in, you'll still be experiencing one of the greatest fantasy series of all time. Highly recommended.

I think this is still the best fantasy anime despite the small setbacks. I recommend this for any fan of a good fantasy tale.

The story is hardly original, but it's done very well for this kind of show. In fact, the one minor flaw of this series is the way the plot "jumps around" from one event to the next. However, it's the characters which make RECORD OF LODOSS WAR so much fun, and much of the best scenes belong to Parn and Deedlit; especially the dance sequence. Ghim and Deed also get to bicker about each other's differences while Parn, on a quest to clear his disgraced father's name, finds a father figure in Kashue. Ashram has a Dark Elf named Pirotess (the opposite of Deedlit) who'll do anything to prove her loyalty to him... including sacrificing herself, Karla is shifty and cunning, while Wagnard is just plain evil -- an over-the-top, maniacal monster equivalent of Kefka from FF III who cackles fiendishly as he puts his dark plans into action. The chemistry between this cast of characters is so well done and the show is so engrossing that it's easy to forgive its occasional shortcomings, notably the jumpy plotting and the animation, which, although gorgeously drawn, uses a low cel count which results with some stiff movements. It may take a while for one to warm up to the music, but by the end, it really grows on you. For fantasy buffs, RECORD OF LODOSS WAR is simply great fun.

Central Park Media made a DVD release of this title a few years ago, but have since rereleased it in a more beefed up package, with some new bonus features to speak of, including the behind-the-scenes featurette we saw on the VHS tapes as well as a Promotional video (dubbed in English), which sounds, I'm sad to say, awful. There's even some DVD-ROM features (identical to those on the CHRONICLES set), including the dub script and credits for both casts. As far as I'm concerned, the visual transfer is very well done, but then I've never seen the old release so I can't compare it with that. (I was told, though, that CPM used a new Digital Video Remastering process to clean up the visuals for this release.)

For purists, the Japanese language track is on here with clear, easy to read subtitles, and an optional English dub. Considering that it was recorded at a time when dubs had a very bad reputation, this English production is surprisingly good. It got somewhat mixed reviews; some say it's fake and/or mediocre while others find it annoying, but here's a better review from one of its many enthusiastic fans (that's me!). No, it's not perfect, and some lines do come off as a bit awkward, but a lot of the voiceovers are really good. In particular, Billy Regan (Parn), Lisa Ortiz (Deedlit), Al Muscari (Slayn), Jacques Le Can (Woodchuck), Simone Grant (Karla & Leylia), John Knox (Ashram), Jayce Reeves (deliciously malevolent as Wagnard), and Alexander J. Rose (Wort and the Narrator), are among my favorites. Plus, the dialogue is close to the subtitled script and packed with some memorable one-liners (Parn: "Quick, Deed, what's [the dragon]'s weak spot?" Deedlit: "I'm not a dragon expert! How should I know?!") and great chemistry between the actors. I especially loved the interactions between Parn and Deedlit, the banter between Ghim and Deed, and a lot of other things. Which is why it saddens me that some would find all of this "inferior" to the Japanese language track. I listened to parts of the Japanese language track, too, and while I did find it to be of top-quality, I find that the dub still holds its own position decently. Of course, it may be in danger of being overshadowed by some of the better dub productions of today, but for a dub made in 1996, its a rather decent, if unspectacular listen. I'm still fond of it, as a matter of fact, even after hearing some better ones.

Whatever language you choose to watch it in, you'll still be experiencing one of the greatest fantasy series of all time. Highly recommended.

I think this is still the best fantasy anime despite the small setbacks. I recommend this for any fan of a good fantasy tale.