Rating: 
Summary: Great Plot, Great Actors, Great Music...
Review: I've seen this movie for the first time a couple of days ago, and I just can't get it out of my mind. The plot is amazing, you are enchanted by it and can't get out until the end of the movie. The actors, especially the one that acts Mozart, are great, and add to the great plot. The incredible music of Mozart is wisefully combined in the movie, and is a part of the plot and not just background. Together, they create a powerfull, Beautiful and terrifying, thrilling and hilarious, movie, that will leave its impression on the watcher.I also think that it's a good movie to watch with the young musician, say 14, especially those that play Mozart anyway. I liked Mozart before I saw this movie, but now i'm interested in him. I'm reading his biography, and now I listen to his music with more understanding to the man behind it.
Rating:
Summary: A classic gets the full treatment.
Review: If any movie of the past 20 years deserved the "Special Edition" treatment on DVD, it was Amadeus. This lush, accesible & very moving introduction to the music of Mozart could only be improved by the crispness of DVD & improved sound of Dolby 5.1. But this set gets even better than just technical improvements; it answers many questions film buffs have asked over the years. The 2nd disc includes a 20th Anniversary documentary on the making of Amadeus. This documentary gave a new dimension to the film, at least in my eyes. For instance, all of the opera sequences were filmed in an opera house that has been almost completely untouched by the past centuries; this opera house was where Don Giovanni actually premiered! The casting choices are explained (I had always wondered how Elizabeth Berridge got the role of Constanza), & many technical aspects, such as Hulce's performances on piano are explained. I found this documentary fascinating! The additional scenes added by Forman to make this a "Director's Cut" do not add to the movie, in my opinion. Amadeus was a perfect gem to start, & the additional sequences slow things down. The only scene that adds dimension to the film is the one in which Constanza attempts to seduce Salieri. His rejection of her explains her later antipathy towards his presence in her apartment. Other than this scene, the others deal almost exclusively with Salieri's internal demons & are adequately covered in the original cut. The oft repeated "too many notes" should have been kept in mind by Forman! Please, do yourself a favor & purchase Amadeus:Director's Cut. Even if you think you don't like classical music, you will find within yourself a new appreciation for the construction & theory of music, & way a composer's mind translates inspiration into beauty.
Rating:
Summary: What a wonderful masterpiece
Review: I just happened to watch the film and the documentary "The making of Amadeus" yesterday - not the first time though. All I can say is that after all these years, I am still deeply touched by the story, its characters and the absolute perfectionism and emotion with which the film was realized. Understanding Mozart's life is certainly not to be achieved by watching a movie - even though this one is wonderfully crafted. However this devine spirit that must have lead Mozart in creating music comes across very intensely - and becomes even more poignant through the documentary. It shows the immense dedication and emotionality that everyone in the project contributed: Shaffer, Forman, all actors and production staff. I am thankful for this wonderful work.
Rating:
Summary: masterpiece , triumphant , dramatic tale of mozart's life
Review: i've always been intrested in classical music. this movie has always been one of my favorites. it is wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: MASTERPIECE THEATRE!
Review: Others have so aptly described this film that there is not much more to say save that it is a masterpiece, magnificent, stupendous, absorbing, astounding - so many complimentary adjectives and superlatives can and ought to be further attributed to this feature. Director, producer, actors, costumiers - everyone having anything to do with this film richly deserve all accolades bestowed and more. I recommend that you buy and watch over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: The best!
Review: This may be the perfect film, (I know I said pretty much the same thing about "Charade", but...) This is one of the few deserving films to actually receive the Academy Awards (r) that were mandated for it! Unlike "Goldfinger", "2001", "Star Wars" and "The Lion In Winter", "Amadeus" received all the meaningful awards it rightly deserved! This is a story of envy, covetousness and Machiavellian machinations by a contemporary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Salieri, who had the misfortune to be greatly disappointed by his young hero on first meeting. This meeting stayed with him for the rest of his life, as he plotted from his second meeting to rid the Viennese court of "the creature"! F. Murray Abraham is a revelation in the role of Salieri, relishing every little snarl and curse at Tom Hulce's Mozart and cackling with glee at every triumph, real or imagined, playing the young AND the old Salieri as if he was a spirit ressurrecting Salieri's original corpse. Dick Smith's aging make-up is flawless, making it very easy to believe that Abraham is seventy+ years old as he parlays the role. The movie starts in an insane asylum where a fey young priest visits the decripit Salieri, who has recently attempted suicide. It is implied from the onset that Salieri feels a massive guilt for having "killed" Mozart through exhaustion and overwork. "MOZART!! Forgive your assassin! I confess...I KILLED you, Mozart! I KILLED you....!"... The very first lines you hear after a massive Beethovenish chord is sounded at the start of the film. He goes on to tell the priest the story of himself and Mozart in the Viennese court of Emperor Joseph of Austria, portrayed here as an empty-headed fop by the recently notorious Jeffrey Jones. As the prodigal Mozart is about to be introduced to Joseph, Salieri, operatic director Count Orsini Rosenberg, Kappelmeister Bono and the visiting Baron Von Swieten, they are shocked to see him as an immature, cocky, obnoxious little boy, rather than the dignified matured prodigy they expected. Salieri is especially disappointed since he had worshipped Mozart when he was younger and emulated him all his life, achieving the rank of Court Composer through the inspiration of this admiration. He had even written a processional piece for Mozart's entrance especially for the reception, only to have Mozart tear it apart as repetitive and derivative, cackling at him with that irritating howl of a trademark laugh. From this moment on, Salieri and Mozart were bitter enemies, although Mozart doesn't realize it. He actually sees Salieri as an ally against the directors of Joseph's musical court, who constantly thwart Mozart's attempts at livening up the moribund Viennese musical zeitgest. In the end, as Mozart realizes that he may never attain true riches, partly due to the behind-the-scenes startegies of Salieri and Rosenberg, he grabs at anything that will provide food and a roof over the heads of his young wife and son. Enter, finally, Salieri, disguised as the image of Mozart's late father, to request a requiem mass for a "deserving soul". Little does Mozart realize that the "deserving soul" is himself! Maybe the ONLY thing askew about this incredible film is the odd miscasting of Mozart and Emperor Joseph....Tom Hulce bears NO resemblance to Wolfgang A. Mozart! However, Jeffrey Jones, who portrays the emperor, is the spit and image of him. Perhaps they should have checked to see if André Previn, (who looks JUST like him), had a lookalike son or nephew! (However, Hulce pretty much owns the role as Abraham owns Salieri. His portrayal of Mozart as a complete horse's ass is perfect for Peter Schaeffer's purposes.) Elizabeth Berridge's Constanza Mozart is cute and Berridge assays her as a type of person that American audiences would be immediately comfortable with, a kind of eighteenth century "Shirley Feeney". The poor girl's career, however, went nowhere after this, as did the careers of just about everybody ELSE in it, except for Jeffrey Jones, and even HIS is probably now kaput, due to his own grave mistakes. The sense of humor and the acting of even supernumeraries in the production has to be seen to be believed. (The scene in Schickenader's vaudeville house being an excellent example.) Finally, the movie can't be recommended enough, as it is a thing of near-perfection from beginning to end.
Rating:
Summary: The legend of Mozart
Review: Although this film takes great factual liberties, it succeeds in bringing to life the spirit and genuis of a stunningly brilliant human being. A life as dense and productive as Mozarts is almost impossible to bring to film, yet director Milos Forman manages to condense the expanse of Mozart's accomplishments into a production that rivets the attention of the audience. The almost magical intrigue that surrounds Mozarts life and death is captured with the theatrical and dramatic impact that would be expected from such an extraordinary life. This is one of those rare films that can be viewed more than just a few times. Mozarts music soars througout the film with the brilliant direction of Sir Neville Marriner.
Rating:
Summary: More than a biopic
Review: I had only seen this movie recently when I purchased it based solely on its accolades. Heralded as, "As perfect as any movie can get." I thought I'd give it a shot.....It's absolutely true the things you hear about this film. It truly is some of the best filmaking in the history of movies. Many of the 'less than stellar' reviews for this film are mainly due to its director's cut treatment. Some felt the deleted scenes needed to stay deleted. I have never seen the original theatrical release so I really cannot comment on this. Although called Amadeus, it's more than just his biography. It's more about one man's undying obsession with Mozart. Look at the title refering more to a condition rather than a person. The obsession that has consumed the story's protagonist, Salieri, as the story traces his life through the years constantly living in the shadow of friend/secret enemy Amadeus. As many other reviewers have pointed out, the absolutely most brilliant scene in the movie takes place near the end as a dying Mozart is composing Requiem with Salieri documenting the notes. Barely able to move, Amadeus suddenly becomes enthralled with the music in his head as he dictates Salieri's writing. One of the most powerful scenes I have ever seen in a film. As for the production value and the digital transfer, there is absolutely no indication that this movie was filmed in 1984. The producers were superb at creating Vienna in the late 1700s and the transfer to DVD was magnificient appearing as almost a recent film.
Rating:
Summary: The "Maestro", with a Vengeance.
Review: Behold, the greatest musical in film history ever made, with one of the best portrayals of envy within man, and the universal brooding music of Mozart, the man and his madness. Brilliant and delicate, with touches of dramatic human confabulation, along with a masterful dominion of the image and sound, convey is: truly, madly, humorous kinky, tenderly deeply. Released in 1984 and winner of 8 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Milos Forman), and Best Actor (F. Murray Abraham), Amadeus belongs to the other kind of musical that doesn't uses the music to tell a story, instead it tells a story about Music, this time it happens to be the story of one of the highest enlightened Geniuses of all human history, Salzburg's precocious composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791).
The truth of authenticity, the music behind the man, and the man behind the music. Based on play by Peter Shaffer, the story uncovers the mean intentions of Antonio Salieri (brilliantly performed by F. Murray Abraham), who awfully discovers that his long wanted godlike talent has been bestowed upon a buffoon not worthy of such a gift, he encounters a childlike man that is both vulgar and ordinary, this is Mozart (performed by Tom Hulce with great talent and deep Insight of the character). Salieri's jealousy quickly turns into a vengeance against God for denying him the touch of grace, he will harm God's creature, commending The Requiem (Unfinished), at Mozart's funeral, tribute to himself and his now hatred monotheism, kill him and be purified, AAAAAHHHHHH Salieri has been finally touched by God.
A perfect transcendent screenplay, Milos Forman uncannily composes all the necessary elements in their right space and tone, the cast (perfectly chosen) become the faces of the factual historic characters (you'll never take apart Tom Hulce's face from the real Mozart), the already legendary performance by F. Murray Abraham, compels the virginal side of the purest love for music, along with the filthy tremors of the envious ways, Salieri is shown at is fullest human emotions, a magnificent reference work. Filmed in Prague, utilizing real historic locations of the life of Mozart, the film creates an atmosphere of music frenzy and soft repression of artistic creation, along with the exquisite costume design, and of course, a magnificent conduction of Mozart's music by Sir Neville Marriner (dissection by musical exposure), Amadeus is far more than a complete canvas of the genius creation, is a whole experience of tenderness and myth, and that unique quality of the best story telling that embraces the viewer towards smooth and touching glimpses of the human comedy, is ever cinema has praised a historic figure and despised another one with a sympathetic opinion, Amadeus is king, with a valuable lesson in vengeance; Victory!
Even though Amadeus is an unlikely film for a Director's Cut, the new 20 minutes additional footage enriches the movie without hurting its pace, adding more splendor to the viewers eye (2001 New digitally transferred). The Making of, on disc two (over an hour of material), shows every aspect of the creation of this Masterpiece (the whole cast and crew was gathered for this documentary DVD), the simultaneous audio track by Milos Forman and writer Peter Shaffer is good (but lacking of consistency), anyway the new version is at the level of its feature (Also, a Limited Edition Collector's set, comes with a beautiful presentation of the film and a third disc), a great opportunity to watch again this jewel of Cinema History with all the enhanced visuals and audio to please you in your comfort at home (The first DVD version did have a great transferring of the movie, 5.1. Dolby Digital, an alternated audio track with only Mozart's music and some production notes, offered a great choice).
Mozart was among the most versatile of all composers and wrote masterpieces in all the musical forms of his time: symphonies, concertos, chamber music, operas. All his music sings and conveys a felling of ease, grace, and spontaneity as well as balance, restraint, and proportion. Yet mysterious harmonies contrast with its lyricism, and it fuses elegance with power. Not only do his compositions sound effortless, they were created with miraculous ease and rapidity; for example, he completed his last three symphonies in only six weeks.
Mozart died on December 5, 1791; five minutes before 1 am, After being blessed in front of the Crucifix Chapel of St. Stephen's, Mozart's body is buried in a common grave in the cemetery at St. Marx, leaving an immense legacy of inspiration and grandeur of the music composition, Amadeus is a consequence of that legacy, an extension into the visual / audio pattern of filmmaking, to inspire more with its beautiful romantic ideal of the life of the music genius, only the best, not meant for the uneducated ear.
Rating: 
Summary: Yes, it makes more sense, but is it better?
Review: The first thing I did with this was watch the "making of" bonus documentary. I had only recently re-watched the film, and wasn't sure I wanted to see it again, so soon. But when I realized how much extra footage was there, I got curious. With all the formerly excised bits put in, the flow of the narrative becomes clearer. Salieri becomes more pathetically wicked, and Mozart becomes more worthy of our empathy; especially from the standpoint of "the plight of the artist". We more fully understand their motivations. Even Mozart's wife's character is complexified, as well as their marriage (a short spat scene). Thus it takes on a character unlike the original. It's just a bit less "easy", as most Hollywood productions are these days. But I'm still not sure I prefer this. This is because, although, as I say, this "psuedo biography" makes more sense in its narrative, the scenes that were added are sometimes questionable from a qualitative standpoint. There is an American actor who plays a patron, for example, who hires Mozart to teach his young daughter music; but the scene is so over the top, that it's easy to see why it got cut. Though, you'll understand (and it speaks volumes about how Mozart is portrayed), why Mozart is so smugly sucking on a wine bottle as he walks through the busy streets afterward. But the scene in which I always thought Salieri's final reaction to Frau Mozart's ploy to get him to help them--wherein he drops the portfolio and leaves the room--makes a lot more sense here. So some of the revived scenes fix small annoyances like this one. So, as I say, if, like me, this is one of your favorite films, you won't be disappointed by this version, but you will begin to think, perhaps, that the film would have seemed a bit flawed if all of this had been released in the first place. And even wonder if it would have been so popular. So buy the original theatrical version, and rent this--you may like it, but it's left me conflicted--and thus you may decide for yourself before plonking down the loot, how you feel. Some movies are like old friends, and it's a little difficult to adjust, if say, for instance they show up with a nose job....same deal here.
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