Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: This movie wasn't as good as all the reviews I had read. Infact, it was pretty boring. The story is underdeveloped and not verybelievable. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking however, as isMaria Grazia Cucinotta.In the midst of a pre-WW2 economicdepression, Mario Ruoppolo (Massimo Troisi) takes on a part-time jobdelivering mail to the remote cliff-side home of the famous poet PabloNeruda (Philippe Noiret). Poor and lonely, Mario becomes infatuatedwith the wealth, fame, and sex-appeal of Pablo. Trying to imitatehim, he tries his own hand at poetry while courting the beautifulBeatrice (Cucinotta). The movie becomes very annoying with itspro-communism sub-theme, and the DVD desperately needs Englishdubbing. Sub-titles get old fast.
Rating: 
Summary: An ode to friendship, love and poetry
Review: The scene is Italy, circa 1953, a fisherman's village on a small island, Cala di Sotto, presumably in the south. Internationally acclaimed poet and communist Pablo Neruda and his wife come to the island in exile from Chile. He rents a house on a hill overlooking the sea. Mario Ruoppolo, son of a fisherman who ironically can't stomach being out on a boat, becomes Neruda's postman. The simple fisherman's son and the great poet strike up a friendship. The first thing I should say about this poignant and beautiful film is it starts very slowly and you will be tempted to give up on it. Don't! In the tradition of the theater in which the playwright will sometimes make the captive audience squirm a little in boredom (to better set them up for what's to come), Director Michael Radford--an Englishman, by the way--begins slow and then slows down a little. (A German proverb has it that "hunger makes the best cook.") But about one quarter of the way home the story begins to build, and by the time it's over we are in tears. Massimo Troisi stars as the postman who wants to learn and use the power of poetry to woe the girl he loves. It is a sad irony that he died just as the picture was completed. Veteran French actor Philippe Noiret is suavely brilliant as Neruda, whose receipt of many letters from female fans intrigues Mario and motivates him to learn the master's secret. Maria Grazia Cucinotta, who plays Beatrice Russo, the café owner's daughter who waits tables, does not appear until the movie is almost half over, but she is more than worth the wait! She has eyes as dark as black night and a figure to rival that of Sophia Loren in her prime. It takes Mario ten seconds to fall in love with her. However, Beatrice's mother wants something more than a part time postman for her daughter, a man whose "capital is the fungus between his toes." Thus we have part of our story. But the larger part of the story is the friendship between Neruda and Mario, and how they inspire and learn from one another. There are a number of brilliantly planned scenes that delight. I especially liked the scene in the church as the priest is saying he cannot accept Neruda as a best man since the man is a godless communist, when suddenly in the background we see Neruda in suit jacket and tie knelling at the altar as he crosses himself. Very affecting was the scene in which Beatrice sees Neruda upon his return to the island react to Mario's son and hearing his name pronounced, "Pablito," indicating that the boy had been named after him. This is a film about beauty. I think when we realize the beauty, that's a very good sign. There is a little talk about how poetry works with some excellent examples woven into the script. Ironically, the rather crude mother of Beatrice has some of the best lines, i.e., "One touch and he will have you lying on your back," she advises her daughter. When your mother tells you THAT, I think you can believe she knows what she is talking about! When Mario, who is a natural poet, but a primitive, is asked by Neruda for a way to describe the fisherman's nets, he replies, "sad." When he is asked to record something about the beauty of his island he spontaneously says, "Beatrice Russo." There is in the background the struggle between the Christian Democrats and the communists in which Mario and Neruda are participants, each in his own way. But this struggle is not emphasized and is in fact given its true devalued place in human affairs. In the words of Mario, who has more important things on his mind, "So what if we beak our chains. What do we do then?"
Rating:
Summary: A gentle, yet passionate film
Review: "Il Postino" ("The Postman") tells the story of the friendship between Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and the shy postman who delivers his mail while Neruda is living in Italy. This Italian film, directed by Michael Radford, is a beautiful and gentle work of art that celebrates love, friendship, and the power of poetry. The performances are outstanding. Massimo Troisi brings an awkward charm to his role as the postman, Mario, and Phillipe Noiret is both majestic and appealingly down-to-earth as the revered poet. The supporting players are also superb, but it is the chemistry between Troisi and Noiret that really brings magic to the film. The dialogue of "Il Postino" thoughtfully explores such issues as fame, political commitment, and the art of poetry. I especially love the line, "Poetry doesn't belong to those who wrote it, but to those who need it." But this is also a wonderfully funny film. Some of the scenes gave me some hearty belly laughs! The romance between postman Mario and a local girl is a particularly rich source of comic material. If you are one of the millions who love the passionate poetry of Pablo Neruda, you should really see this film. And if you see the film before having read Neruda's work, I recommend that you read some of Neruda's poetry. To sum up, I highly recommend "Il Postino."
Rating:
Summary: Simply the finest film ever made
Review: When people ask me "What is your favorite film?" this is my answer. In the truest sense, it captures love, war, the simple joys of life and brings you into a simpler yet far more complex era. If you think this movie is slow and uneventful, I imagine your favorite flick is "The Matrix".
Rating:
Summary: DVD Transfer is Flawless
Review: I first saw this on VHS. A beautiful movie then, but now I realize how poorly that version was crafted. This DVD is a must have for anyone loving film. The commentary is supurb, as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Neruda not captured
Review: This is a good movie however I think it fails to capture the greatness of Neruda and the importance of his exile. The movie however is still very entertaining and Maria Grazia Cucinotta is excellent as Beatrice. If you are a Neruda fan you will love this movie, and if you are not a Neruda fan you will be.
Rating:
Summary: What an Amazing Movie!
Review: I first came across Il Postino whilst watching the British equivalent of the Oscars, the BAFTA's, when I believe it won Best Foreign Film. Following that show I rented it from my local Blockbuster, what followed was something I will never forget. A film with such grace, elegance and passion I was sincerely moved. The scenery which is complemented by a wonderful soundtrack shows how movies can capture the hearts and minds of everyone. Telling the story of Mario Ruopollo a poor son of a fisherman, Il Postino charts the months following the arrival of exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda to the small Italian island where Mario lives and how the poet of love helps Mario win the heart of latest Bond Girl Maria Grazia Cucinotta. A story of love and friendship that will surely capture the viewers heart and stay with them forever!
Rating:
Summary: il postino incomplete on amazon.com
Review: This charming story has been harmed with the omission of the most sensual scene, between the postman and the lady he loves, when she is playing on the soccer game with him in the bar. In the original film she uses the ball as bait, rolling it enticingly between her breasts and completing the captivation of her ardent admirer. This little bit of interplay has been cut out almost entirely, definitely damaging the impact of the film. I would not have purchased it knowing of this in advance. It is amazing that a little sensual interaction is not acceptable in a world where violent death is. This is a four star movie that has been cheapened by "cleaning it up."
Rating:
Summary: Il Postino
Review: This adaptation of Skarmeta's El cartero de Neruda is horrendous. It fails to incorporate the full depth of Mario's story and brings it out of its true-to-life context. Still, it retains enough to stand as a poignant story. Read the book if you liked the movie.
Rating:
Summary: An inspiration
Review: This is one of the best movie of the 90s... poetic, inspirational, romantic. beautiful, intelligent...
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