Rating: 
Summary: fantastic
Review: This in one of the most delightful (in fact the most delightful) opera movies I have ever seen. The first amazing thing is that there are no cuts in the score. About the cast...well...incredible...
Domingo sings Don Jose incredibly. No contemporary tenor is his equal. Carreras and Lima (the other 2 don jose on DVD) are just not as good as him. Domingo also has a good french accent...which is a must in this opera. Migenes: well I can't understand some other reviewers who accused her of ruining the performance. I thought she was incredible. She is an amazing actress. Although she never sang carmen on stage, she has however a very deep understanding in the role...perfectly reflected in this movie. The toreador (raimondi) and micaella are also good. Well..overall the cast is great ...and the decor is AMAZING...the opening scene is a bit brutal...but also...what can i say...the music in the prelude IS brutal and the sets are just following the music..isn't that opera??? I highly recommend this DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't get the hype.
Review: I guess all other opera movies are laughably bad, so when this halfway decent production of Carmen comes along it's suddenly a masterpiece. Let's not be too quick to give it a standing ovation. Don Jose is one of Domingo's signature roles and he sings it beautifully, but the horrendous camera work of this film makes him appear too stiff and cold, especially during scenes with Micaela. The beginning is way too gross and way too long, and the big scenes like the "Tor-ee-a-dor" seem sort of worthless after sitting through the slow sections. My big problem with this movie is Migenes. She can't do anything except dance and wiggle in a sexy manner which seems to fulfill the role at first but, by the end, makes her effort less satisfying because it's really all she knows how to do. She just couldn't sing it and she needs to shave under her arms. A really over-rated film. Yes, it's hard not to enjoy Carmen, but in my opinion even the beautifully lavish scenery couldn't save this. An average attempt at best.
Rating: 
Summary: The Ultimate Film Version of Carmen
Review: Unfortunately, it's not the best operatic version. This version as a recorded opera lacks the sensuality and tragedy of Bizet's original vision. It's due mostly to the miscasting of Julia Migenes as Carmen. Her voice is not suited for the role. She is out of place with the great talents of Domingo, Esham and Raimondi. Lorin Maazel's orchestration has its moments but lacks charm in certain parts. The film is excellent with Rosi conducting, everything from the opening scenes of the bullfight ending to the strains of the Overture to the climatic finale when Don Jose confronts a red-clad Carmen. The cinematic treatment is superb, shot entirely on location in Spain, combining a rustic and exotic charm to the film, particularily the streets of Seville and the bullfight arena. The Gypsy song, to which Carmen and her friends dance at Lilla's Pastias tavern, is done far too slow, the Habanera is overdone and made to look more like a dance number than the fine operatic piece it really is, and Migenes is not Bizet's attractive heroine. Yes. See the film because it is undoubtedly great. But do not get the soundtrack. If you wish a truly excellent Carmen, listen to either the version with Victoria De Los Angeles as Carmen, or Grace Bumbry (who is the best Carmen) in the 1971 recording with John Vickers as Don Jose and Mirella Freni as Micaela. All in all, this film is excellent. But I give it only 4 stars and the complete 5 due to the disappointing Migenes as Carmen and Maazel's weakness in orchestration.
Rating:
Summary: Splendid movie!
Review: This is one of the best "Carmen"-s I've ever seen. The reason for that is, how strange it would sound, the superb supporting cast, and not only their singing is great, but also thier acting. My favourite part on this DVD is quintet from the second act. This is really amazing, five voices appear as if there was only one person singing. I think this is achieved first of all because of outstanding conducting of Maazel, who brings up the light to the performance.
Julia Migenes is proud and sexy Carmen, but I can say, that she is definetely not the best Carmen (listen to Grace Bumbry's performance under Karajan, or legendary Leontyne Price). Domingo is in the great shape, his voice sounds perfect. Raimondi is too good for Escamilio, Freni is superb Michaella. And finally outstanding directing from Francesco Rosi: nothing is extra and nothing is missing. Everything on the screen has its place and time.
Great, maybe there are better live performances, but as long as movie concerned, this movie is the best. 5 stars!
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Carmen
Review: Julia Mengas-Johnson is a sensation. The opera shown as a motion picture. Her portrail of Carmen is flawless! She brings Carmen to life on the screen. With the voice of an angel. I recommend the movie.
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant film version of Carmen
Review: This film production of Bizet's Carmen, shot on location in southern Spain, is magnificent. The singing and acting are first rate, as are the sound and picture quality of the DVD. Carmen, like Don Giovanni, is a complex, multi-faceted character that can be played a variety of ways. Julia Migenes portrays Carmen with raw sensuality, and it works, as we see her opposite, Don Jose (performed brilliantly by Placido Domingo), unable to escape her womanly powers. The film uses dialogue rather than recitatives, as that is what Bizet intended--Carmen is an opera comique, which means that spoken dialogue (not recitatives) are employed between the singing. The dialogue definitely heightens the drama of Carmen, and it was only after Bizet's death that sung recitatives were unfortunately used in in this opera. Because this is a film version of Carmen, there are many creative and symbolic options that couldn't be done in the opera house. The use of a live bull in the ring is extemely effective, and it is the first image we see in this film. We see how beautiful and noble the bull is, how strong and free spirited he is. This powerful and tragic image will stay with us throughout the film. The use of such symbolism allows us ultimately to compare Carmen to the brave bull who would rather die than surrender its freedom, while don Jose is the bullfighter who must kill the object he lives for and loves most. There is real frisson between Domingo and Migenes as they heat up the screen--Domingo gives an amazing performance of don Jose's gradual fall and ultimate self-destruction. There are no disappointments in the entire cast. The final act is most effective as don Jose essentially is transformed into the matador while Carmen represents the courageous bull--refusing to back down, she must die, just as the bull must be sacrificed in the ring. While they are performing their "dance of death" we are shown clips of Carmen's new lover, a matador, in the ring facing a real bull--this is a powerful juxtaposition that could obviously only be done on film. This is a striking film, one that captures the very essence of Carmen and her world, and it only gets better with repeated viewings.
Rating:
Summary: Musical movie based on Bizet' opera Carmen
Review: This video is actually a movie and performed by part opera singers and others. It appears that this movie is banking mostly on Placido Domingo as the superstar, who undoubtedly sings and performs beautifully and excellently in this movie.There are also Raimondi as Escamillo who sings splendidly in the aria Toreador. However, sadly enough Julia Migenes-Johnson coud not match their excellence, while it is obvious that she is more a good actress rather than a singer. Disappointedly, as in present movies, the romance between Don Jose and Carmen in the tavern, resulted to become a saucy love scene. Whereby the background scenery can be just perfect as it is able to envision the beautiful and enchanting highland and mountains of Spain, which enlivened the tragic and severe world of the gypsies and the band of smugglers. Sadly we missed the continuous beautiful music of Bizet' opera Carmen, which in this movie is cut to only remaining the best arias and choruses. Nevertheless,all the arias that appear in this movie were sung and performed so splendidly by Placido Domingo, Raimondi and the chorus, that we can forget the fact that this video is more a musical based on Bizet' Carmen, a mixture of opera hgihlights and movie performance displayed verbally in acts and words, rather than an opera. People who does not like to watch lengthy opera performances and wants to enjoy some beautiful opera music followed by acting might like this video, but real opera lovers who want to enjoy the excellent and splendid complete opera music and performance would be very disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Why make opera films?
Review: Opera is an art form that is not about how gorgeous the sets and costumes are, although it helps; how good the protagonists look, although it helps; or even how well the performers sing, play and perform. It is about all of these things and something more, and it is this other something that I always find is missing in films of opera. If one was to have a conversation with someone whose face and body language did not match the words and inflections coming from their mouths we would become confused and frustrated by such mixed signals, we wouldn't become emotionally involved in the conversation at a gut level because the emotions being expressed were not clear. As soon as someone starts to mime to their own voice on a soundtrack, as it seems must always happen while making filmed musicals or operas, this most fundamental aspect of communication and is lost. When this happens the audience member is not taken into this new world and they then notice how lovely the settings are, how good the sound is, etc., rather than starting to feel the story at a deep emotional level. It is such a pity, because everyone involved in making this film has truly made something exceptional to look at and listen to - but ultimately I felt nothing, and therefore couldn't have cared less!
Rating:
Summary: Opera moviemaking at its finest
Review: The problem with most made for movie operas is that its seems to be limited to a stage production. The prescence of a live performance is missed when viewing this type of production, and the acting is typically flat. The soundtrack is usually poorly dubbed or has poor accoustics. Not so with this production of Carmen. It is the most beautiful, most charming and most invigorating opera movie I have ever seen. Jules Mignes Johnson worked diligently to portray her character Carmen accurately as the gypsy cigarette factory worker with an overdriven libido and an eye for troublemaking. As far as I'm concerned she completely overshadows Domingo, who looks ridiculous as a 50 year old private/sargeant who doesn't ever don a hat. Unlike most female leads she looks and acts her part (i.e. unlike the 200 lb soprano's that are dying from tuberculosis in other opera productions!). Escamillo is particulary entertaining as the vain bullfighter; we can see the vanity and shallowness in both Carmen and Escamillo, and why they are attracted to each other. Don Jose' is brooding and serious and we can see right away how this will not work well with the flirtatious Carmen. All these characterizations are elements in this film that you will not see in other productions. The choreography and cinemtography takes advantage of the expansive location and extras. As an grand opera on a grand scale, I would highly recommend this movie.
Rating:
Summary: It could have been so much better...
Review: Placido Domingo IS the Don Jose of his generation. This was beautifully filmed and the vast majority of the cast can act... Why, then, make such weak choices in direction and acting as far as Michaela is concerned? Why make Don Jose and Carmen so god-awful unlikeable? It is very difficult to be engaged in what is already a love story full of tension and jealousy when neither of the characters, as portrayed by the stars, are worth bothering with. Domingo has played Jose in much more sympathetic fashion in other productions and this Carmen's acting ability should have enabled us to find her charms more than skin deep. I own it, but I'm looking for a better version.
|
