Life Is Beautiful

Rating:
Summary: A daring risk that pays off in many ways!
Review: I love this film for what it is. It's a simple story of a father trying to protect his son, like every father does. But not everyone is in a concentration camp, and have to deal with the worst acts that have ever been inflicted on humans in our whole history as a species. The first part of the film is a delightful love story that has so much charm and humor. It instantly makes you love Roberto Benigni. He has a chaplin like phsical humor, but he also has the charm that most comedians fall short of. The second part is some of the best cinematography and writing that any film has ever had. The charming father has to use his wits to fool his son into believing that the concentration camp is a resort. And he makes it into a game but in reality he is protecting his son from the horrors of the camp, and he keeps them alive. It is a story of hope in the human spirit, and show how important and precious innocence can be to a young boy and how he keeps the youthful spirit of his son through out the whole ordeal. I watch this movie over and over again. It never fails to move me and I recommend anyone who loves films that effects and touches the viewer. The DVD is also better, because it has really nice features. This film delievers on it's promise, it shows that {la vita e bella) Life is beautiful!

Rating:
Summary: DVD Details
Review: First, my impression of the film-I don't think I laughed and cried so much in a long time. Buy it, own it and share it with others!

Now my input on the DVD experience. The disc contains a dubbed version of the film in English. We tried watching this version first, but found the dialogue and story were actually harder to follow than the subtitles! When we started the film over again with the English subtitles "on" we discoved we were missing Roberto's energy and punctuation. Even if you don't understand a word of Italian you need to hear the impact in the actor's voices to appreciate what is being said. Still, if you can't deal with the subtitles you have a choice. Incidently, the sections of the film which feature German dialogue are not dubbed so we still have the same experience as our characters do.

The bonus materials area on the disc features several TV spots (commercials) for the film. No real bonanza here, but there is a brief documentary, "Making Life Beautiful". It features footage from various programs where the film has won awards, etc. It also contains a mini-filmography of other Benigni films and interviews with his various costars. The documentary tone is very promotion oriented spending most of its time patting Benigni and company on the back-deservedly so.

Picture clarity is excellent (what you would expect from a new film) and sound very good as well.

Rating:
Summary: La Vita è Bella?
Review: Wonderful motion picture capable to enchant people of all ages with its emotional story and original score. Although, I prefer Central Station as foreign language film. Central Station is more dramatic, touching and realist. Watch it and you will be able to see if life is beautiful or not.

Rating:
Summary: life is beautiful
Review: This movie was the ultimate example of attitude and how it can make a profound difference in the way you view life. I am grateful to have chosen this movie as a rental without knowing anything of what I was about to experience. Thank you Nicolette for giving us Americans a true masterpiece. It has been a long time since I have seen a movie which validates the true importance of love. It really is the only thing that is important and it is the one thing that truly does unite us even when we are across the ocean!

Rating:
Summary: Magical...*
Review: Something you don't see often is an optimistic, uplifting film title as of Life is Beautiful by Roberto Benigni. As for the film, you'll have to see for yourself, it certainly has a magical and pleasant way of looking at life. Even though, actor, writer, director, producer, Roberto Benigni is a bit energetic with Oscar chairs and lives every minute to the fullest. The main role couldn't be played any better, than by talented Benigni, himself. There's a brilliant scene I especially enjoyed, which indicates the passage of time in a few seconds. The part is when Guido Orfice (Benigni) follows the woman he loves (Nicoletta Braschi) into a garden house, as he walks further, he disappears. As an offline voice calls out to someone (whom we don't know), a small child appears from the garden house,...we then realize that the voice is his mother's calling. Guido Orfice and Dora are outside waiting for their son. The film explores important values of life, even when there is sadness and tragedy, there is still room to spread hope, happiness and laughter.

Rating:
Summary: Most outstanding film I've seen in a long time
Review: My husband and I loved it. We never imagined that such an horrendous episode in human history could be caught in a funny but still very sensitive way. Guido (Roberto Benigni) is not only the perfect husband and father but someone that could be the perfect role model for any person in the world. I've been dreaming of this movie since I saw it four days ago. He really deserved the Oscar. The movie really shows you that Life is beautiful.

Rating:
Summary: Definetly La vita e Bella
Review: I Think that this movie is a wonderfull movie, that is perfectly acted, and directed, isaw this movie more of 10 times, and every time It Think is better. The Music is one of te most Beatifull and perfect Music ever made for a Movie, Giorgio Cantarini a Child with and incredible gift, he acted very well, that is the type of movie that make you think That your life never has suffered in the same way. for That I think That the Life and THIS MOVIE IS BEATIFULL.

Rating:
Summary: The most amazing movie ever made
Review: I had no idea what I was getting in to when I went to see "Life is Beautiful" (with subtitles) last winter. I adored the first half: the camera work, the characters, the script, the setting, the humor, everything. When Guido and Joshua were ordered to the concentration camp, I was stunned. I'd had no idea it had anything to do with the war. But quite obviously it does and never have I been so moved in my life. The fact that a father could keep his son from seeing the sickening fascist atrocities all around him and shelter his innocent (and adorable) eyes from the darkest act in the history of mankind was spellbinding. And when Guido plays the opera that he and Dora went to over the victrola, I sobbed. Throughout the entire second half of the movie I sobbed. I have never cried so hard in my life, let alone at a movie. I left the theatre in sorrow and happiness at the same time. Nothing has moved me so much. Everyone should see this movie to see what a noble cause we were fighting for. When my roommate rented this movie dubbed in English I was appalled. I thought it would ruin the sheer beauty of the film. The italian language is so beautiful, and it made the movie that much greater. But I was stunned. The dubbing was impeccable and didn't sound like dubbing at all. It was magnificent. Whichever version you can get your hands on, do it, and witness the most breathtaking film to date.

Rating:
Summary: Tired of pessimists.
Review: I am really tired of pseudo-intellectuals bashing everything that is remotely popular. "Oh, so many people like this movie, it must be bad. Here, I'll make intelligent references to obscure, better works and people will think I know what I am talking about!" Those who argued over the unrealistic portrayal of the Holocaust, or any other absurd claim, are completely missing the point. This movie isn't a documentary of the Holocaust, nor does it claim to be. It is about the love between father and son, and sacrifices that all parents can relate to. I think it is foolish to dismiss this movie as cliché. Please, put down the thesaurus and stop overanalyzing things.

Rating:
Summary: Not a trivialization...
Review: This movie has been called an insulting trivialization of the Holocaust by some because of its humor. Were it the case that no humor existed in the death camps, perhaps this would be a valid claim. And yet, this is not true. For anyone who has read *Man's Search for Meaning* by deathcamp survivor and psychologist Viktor Frankl, you'll know what I'm talking about. Mr. Frankl writes about how he and a friend made a pact to tell each other something humorous each day, just to keep the flame of lightheartedness alive. Guido out of touch with the horror of his situation? No. On the contrary, he saw with absolute poignancy what his predicament was, but he used his humor and unique outlook to draw his son through the death and the fear.

Humor does not necessarily do a disservice to serious topics such as this. On the contrary, humor and solemnity are often inextricably linked, as is shown by this thought-provoking movie. To see only funny moments of this movie or to be entirely focused on the serious subject matter is to miss the point. The point is that these two things can and do exist together and, perhaps more importantly, that humor and a whistful attitude is not the weaker of the two.