Rating: 
Summary: Me and my Shadow
Review: I have owned a video copy of this film for years. I first saw Das Kabinet des Dr. Caligari, and Nosferatu Eine Symphonie des Grauns when I was 12. About the same time I saw the second Golem movie of the early 1920's by Paul Wegener. I really enjoy the Dr Caligari movie, and prefer to think of the ending not as being a happy one, that the sick Francis would be cured by the kindly Dr. Caligari, but that he had been captured, and probably tortured in sequences after the film ends. One could imagine something like Orlac's Hande. Conrad Veidt's, Ceasar, supposedly influnced the 1930's Frankenstein films by Universal, and certainly started that so common scene of the monster kidnapping the heroine. But I think that influence was overstated. Veidt was more influential, I think, in the scenes in the Cabinet. That was a prototype for similar vampire scenes that would come in the future. This and the silent movie The Man Who Laughs put him in the running to play Dracula after Lon Chaney died, but before the stage Dracula--Bela Lugosi--was hired. Of course Veidt makes the most polished Nazi ever in Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart, Claude Reins, and Ingrid Bergman. The figure of Cesare was even aped by Peter Murphey on his first solo album. However, unlike some of your reviewers I consider Anne Rice's books or movies a waste of my time.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Wonderful
Review: I discovered this film (probably as many twenty-somethings do) in college. I had to take a class on international cinema and I watched excerpts of this in a documentary about German Expressionism and the Weimar cinema. I was so entranced by the snippets I saw that I knew I simply had to view and own the whole thing. Thankfully, this inexpensive DVD is available. True, the film quality may leave something to be desired, but, as a student, I simply don't have much money to spend at the moment and I felt this version was a lifesaver. The film's cinematography is stunning; I can think of few others that place the audience so well in a confusing, murky, dreamlike environment. The costumes and makeup are outstanding as well. The lack of overblown special effects actually adds much to the film-- Cesare's stark makeup makes him five times more frightening than today's movie monsters. The high contrast between light and dark (in the setting and the costuming) only heightens the fear factor. In terms of plot, _Dr. Caligari_ keeps the audience engaged. The conclusion is open to interpretation. I have my own favorite theory of course, but I'll refrain from sharing it so that I don't spoil the film for any first time viewers. The film's influence is evident though I, like others, am surprised that no direct remake has been produced. One reviewer noted that Anthony Hopkins would make a good Dr. Caligari. I agree wholeheartedly and I posit that Willem Dafoe would make a fantastic Cesare.
Rating: 
Summary: gothic romantic vamp film
Review: I am not sure if many people realize this, but this movies concept and look was reproduced in the film version of anne rice's Queen of the Damned. This is a gothic masterpiece It was reinvented to give life to The Vampire Lesatat's music video Forsaken. I saw this silent horror film recently with a friend and thought this is really gothic and dark.It really made a great music video! I liked the way everything was craw like very cool. I would really like to find the movie poster to the film and have it hanginging over my bed. That would be awesome. Great movie for that era.
Rating: 
Summary: rock and roll vampire video
Review: I am not sure if people realize this. But this movie's theme and look is reproduced in Anne rice's movie adaption of Queen of the Damned. It is used as one of the vampire lestat's music video's (FORSAKEN)featured at the beginning of the film. The music video version is very gothic and vamperic. I really like the darkness surrounding the films concept. I just recently orderd it and can not wait to see this movie. It looks awesome for a silent film.
Rating:
Summary: Visually Interesting
Review: I first watched "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" in a film class in college. Watching it confused as well as interested me. Visually, the film is incredible. I have to give respect since it is such an important film in history. Although I did not like the overall story, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" is a film that everyone should watch at least once, whether you're a film buff or not. It really opens your eyes to differnt techniques and a different style of filmmaking.
Rating:
Summary: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Review: There have been a number of versions of this film. My original copy was an 8mm one. The is clearly the best. It is not significantly different from other recent releases except it is cleaner, the tints are more interesting and what is especially good is the recreation of the original style of the text for the english titles. The choice of two music tracks is fun and after listening to the contemporary one, I switched to the more traditional version. The condensed version of the film Genuine was also of interest.For those who, like myself, love this classic example of early German silent film I cannot recommend this new release highly enough.
Rating:
Summary: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Review: The Image Entertainment edition of this great movie is astonishing. Don't take my word for it, just get it and enjoy this classic like you never have before. The new music adds suspense where it's needed. Turn up the volume, turn down the lights, grab your popcorn and commit yourself to this 1919 gem.
Rating: 
Summary: KEEP AWAY!!
Review: This is one of my favorite films of all time, and if must own it (yes, you must own it), DON'T get this edition -- get the Image Entertainment one (the other, more expensive edition). It's worth the extra 10 or so dollars. And let me tell you why: 1. The Image edition has the original film-stock color tinting, an important creative device and a big part of what makes this such a beautiful film (especially for its time), this version does not.
2. The Image edition is beautifully transfered from a very nice print of the film, you can see everything as it was intended to be seen. I'm sure this is how the film looked when it was originally released. This edition is a terrible transfer from an already terrible print.
3. The Image edition has better music.
4. The Image edition has better intertitles.
5. The Image edition has an aditional audio commentary. To sum it up, the Image edition isn't a piece of garbage, and it does this masterpiece justice. Don't waste your time with this edition. Sell your shoes if you can't afford the extra scratch, watching this DVD is painful. Trust me.
Rating:
Summary: Must be seen more than once
Review: I first saw this on TV when I was 14. Didn't know what the heck was going on, but the imagery stayed in my mind. I recently saw this again for the first time in over 20 years. NOW I get it. The story is very creative (makes me wonder if the "13th century myth of Caligari" was an actual German legend-does anybody out there know for sure?), but you really have to see this more than once to fully "get it." Very interesting. See it and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Fine-Quality DVD
Review: This DVD is a good quality transfer. The picture is good considering it is from 1920. It is in full-screen, with color-tinting (blue for night scenes, yellow for interior scenes, etc.) The soundtrack on this version (Image) is great! It is an eerily, serialism-esque score written just for this film. Some silent films have been given a "modern treatment" with contemporary scores, but this DVD is judiciouly been given an appropriately "period-feel" in relation to the time and place that this movie was made. The score fits the film extremely well and is a well crafted work. The DVD also comes with a commentary soundtrack that teaches the viewer about the film and the time in which it was shot in Germany. There is plenty of explanation about Expressionism as an art form in film, literature, and art of that time. A must for any film student! I highly reccomend this DVD. It was well worth the price! It's literally amazing that an eighty year old film can still entertain and surprise a completely foreign audience, but some things about human beings are just universal and this film encompasses much that is universal in mankind.
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