Rating: 
Summary: opera is so misunderstood
Review: As one who directs opera for a living, I am dismayed by some of the comments by other reviews here. They sound like they were written by college students trying to impress themselves with their new-found intelligence. They could never dream of making a film on this scale. I was greatly moved when I first saw this film. Yes, the willow song is missing. Why? Because it doesn't (as beautiful as it is) further the dramatic story. Would I cut it from the staged version? No. But, what people many involved in the field often forget is that opera was always intended as a synthesis of the dramatic and musical arts. It is NOT just about the music. A good director tells a story. In addition, telling a story in film is not the same as telling a story on the stage. When people see this film (and I have shown it to many) they love it! They even weep at the end. Of course these are people who have no preconceived notions or generally have not seen the staged version. It does its job. It is absolutely beautiful, powerful, breathtaking and dramatic. Iago getting harpooned was a stroke of genius. We all wanted it. Composers write the music and do not pretend to write the staging. So what--if it wasn't written in the score as a dramatic notation. The film did not draw attention to the director but had the opposite effect--it drew us into a different world and made me personally forget that I was watching a film. That is the mark of a good director. Were their flaws? Sure. But all artists are flawed. Get over it. This is a monumental work. From a dramtic standpoint, I prefer it to most staged productions. If you want something from a musical standpoint, get the CD. Those who hate the fact that opera is a synthesis, should stay out of the opera house. The art form has been ruined by these kinds of people (especially at the Met) where fat singers dying of consumption "park and bark" their way through a piece intended to be dramatic--where two singers will stand on opposite sides of the stage and sing undying love to one another without any connection at all. Bravo to directors who are not afraid to take risks and actully tell a believable story.
Rating:
Summary: opera is so misunderstood
Review: As one who directs opera for a living, I am dismayed by some of the comments by other reviews here. They sound like they were written by college students trying to impress themselves with their new-found intelligence. They could never dream of making a film on this scale. I was greatly moved when I first saw this film. Yes, the willow song is missing. Why? Because it doesn't (as beautiful as it is) further the dramatic story. Would I cut it from the staged version? No. But, what people many involved in the field often forget is that opera was always intended as a synthesis of the dramatic and musical arts. It is NOT just about the music. A good director tells a story. In addition, telling a story in film is not the same as telling a story on the stage. When people see this film (and I have shown it to many) they love it! They even weep at the end. Of course these are people who have no preconceived notions or generally have not seen the staged version. It does its job. It is absolutely beautiful, powerful, breathtaking and dramatic. Iago getting harpooned was a stroke of genius. We all wanted it. Composers write the music and do not pretend to write the staging. So what--if it wasn't written in the score as a dramatic notation. The film did not draw attention to the director but had the opposite effect--it drew us into a different world and made me personally forget that I was watching a film. That is the mark of a good director. Were their flaws? Sure. But all artists are flawed. Get over it. This is a monumental work. From a dramtic standpoint, I prefer it to most staged productions. If you want something from a musical standpoint, get the CD. Those who hate the fact that opera is a synthesis, should stay out of the opera house. The art form has been ruined by these kinds of people (especially at the Met) where fat singers dying of consumption "park and bark" their way through a piece intended to be dramatic--where two singers will stand on opposite sides of the stage and sing undying love to one another without any connection at all. Bravo to directors who are not afraid to take risks and actully tell a believable story.
Rating: 
Summary: Wrong transfer speed is set, but otherwise a beautiful film
Review: as soon as I played this DVD, I knew something was terribly wrong. after comparing it to a few other recordings, I found out what: this film has been set at the wrong transfer speed, and sounds either a half-tone, or even a whole-tone, lower than it should be. so Domingo sounds like a baritone, Diaz like a bass, and Ricciarelli like a mezzo. visually, however, it is pure Zefferelli; absolutely amazing. the camera work is letter-perfect. And despite the transfer speed, the musical performance is still wonderful, with Domingo sounding at his best. Diaz is a fantastic singer and actor, much more convincing than Milnes ever was (sorry, Milnes fans); Ricciarelli sings beautifully and looks stunning. The supporting roles, chorus, and orchestra are excellent. If MGM hadn't made this error, I would have given this 5 stars. The wisest choice is to get the soundtrack, which has the right transfer speed, and also has everything this film cut (the Willow Song is, unfortunately, not here, and the list of other cuts is as long as my arm). so definately get this film, but better to get the soundtrack.
Rating: 
Summary: The film has been transferred at the wrong speed
Review: As soon as I started playing the DVD I knew that something was terribly wrong. A quick comparison with my CD set of the soundtrack, and other recordings of 'Otello', confirmed my fear: the film has been transferred at a slower frame rate than was originally intended, and thus everything sounds lower than the correct pitch. MGM DVD gets zero stars for an unforgivable error.
Rating:
Summary: The film has been transferred at the wrong speed
Review: As soon as I started playing the DVD I knew that something was terribly wrong. A quick comparison with my CD set of the soundtrack, and other recordings of 'Otello', confirmed my fear: the film has been transferred at a slower frame rate than was originally intended, and thus everything sounds lower than the correct pitch. MGM DVD gets zero stars for an unforgivable error.
Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous cast, horrible cuts
Review: Domingo's Otello would justify seeing even if Britney Spears and Groucho Marx took Desdemona and Iago. He's at his peak here, and his thrilling, passionate, and tremendously powerful voice is astounding. Ricciarelli is no less impressive as Desdemona, whose silvery tone makes on think of Kiri te Kanawa. Justino Diaz as Iago . . . well, the voice isn't quite Milnes or Gobbi, but his acting was impressive and his voice was acceptable. Zeffirelli's directing was great, but the cuts are UNacceptable. "Fuoco di gioia," most of Act 3's finale, the opening of Act 2 ("Non ti crucciar")and, most shockingly, the Willow Song!!!!!!! Great film and cast, but hear an uncut one first.
Rating:
Summary: What? No Willow Song? No Ave Maria?
Review: How could they cut the gorgeous Salce and Ave Maria? I can only speculate that Ricciarelli couldn't manage the lower tones of this "Zwischenfach" role.
Rating:
Summary: Zeffirelli's MOVIE version is different but worthy.
Review: I disagree that this is a poor version - it's just different from the score and most staged productions. The cut of the "Willow Song" was bad judgment, perhaps, but I found the flashbacks regarding his childhood and the ballet interesting and well done. Zeffirelli always has the courage to be innovative and tries to bring some new vision to his productions. I have all the filmed versions that are available and have this one on VHS and LD, therefore, have shared it with many friends and those new to opera. Everyone just loved it without having a staged production to compare it to. The staged production from Covent Garden, Solti and Te Kanawa is wonderful and highly recommended (5+ stars). However, I liked the excellent performances in this movie, the settings and photograpy if not Domingo's makeup and teeth, which I can live with. Katia, Placido and Justino were a great cast and did a very good job of acting and singing. I feel it is a credible MOVIE version of this, which required dubbing. It is one of my all time FAVORITE operas, (I've seen Placido perform live 25 times between LA and NY with various other cast members). The best version is one from The Met with Placido, Fleming and Morris but not available commercially. Write to The Met and request they release it for production on DVD - then the best would be available. Placido wasn't totally pleased with this film either and it was shot at a sad time in his life as well, having just lost his beloved father. I recommend this as a really good buy if you like opera movie videos. It sure beats anything Hollywood has churned out in the last 10 years! Thanks to Amazon for making all these opera videos available! We Opera Buffs can never get enough of the sport and need videos to keep us going in between live performances! They are a great way to initiate others into a wonderful world for which they get little or no exposure in today's public "educational" system and crass mass media/ entertainment void.
Rating:
Summary: A real missed opportunity
Review: If Franco Zeffirelli hadn't tampered with the music and made a couple of awful directorial decisions,this could have been a legendary film of a great opera. The singing and the voices themselves are breathtaking,and the acting is also quite good. The print I saw,however (on cable) has a curious flaw---the voices and orchestra (the famed LaScala Orchestra) are all an octave(or maybe a semi-octave lower than they should be,and this is NOT true of the film's soundtrack album. But at least the film corrects the album's greatest flaw,of making the orchestra practically blast you out of your seat while the voices sound like they're in some kind of tunnel or drainpipe. The disastrous decisions include cutting important small bits of the opera,inserting the ballet music of the French stage production into the opening celebration,where it does NOT belong,and the most hideous mutilation of all, cutting the awesomely heartrending and beautiful "Salce" (The Willow Song) ,Desdemona's most important solo aria,from the film.(It can be heard on the soundtrack album--Zeffirelli cheats us by having his singers and orchestra record the ENTIRE opera,then cutting it in the video version only. This isn't the only crime he commits against this most beautiful of Verdi operas. He leaves in or inserts sound effects and unnecessary flashbacks right into the middle of his arias,so that while Domingo and Ricciarelli sing their love duet,we see and hear,in a flashback to Otello's childhood,marauding soldiers on galloping horses snatching Otello from his mother while she screams hysterically.(This over the beautiful music and singing!) On the plus side, Domingo,Ricciarelli and Diaz are memorable,and the photography,sets,and location filming are beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: A Disgrace
Review: This is not Otello. It is Franco Zeffirelli's nightmare of a wet dream. I am not a purist, and I like experimental opera productions, but this is just plain horrible. The cuts are too many to list (including Desdemona's "Wilow Song"), and they are not limited to scenes and arias. At times it sounds like every other note has been removed. There are extended pauses where they do not belong and two ballet scenes with mediocre music that is nowhere in the score. If there was ever a doubt over who-Verdi or Zeffirelli-had better musical and dramatic judgment, this travesty should settle it. The last act in particular sounds like it was run through a food processor. This movie should not be seen by anyone ever!
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