Rating: 
Summary: What's Different about the New Version
Review: Cinema Paradiso is one of my favorite movies. I finally found the new version available for rent through Netflix when I couldn't find it in any Blockbuster.
For those who have already seen Cinema Paradiso it needs no introduction. For everybody else, it won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film in 1989 and features one of the most nostalgic treatments of the role of movies in people's lives. Ennio Morricone's theme song has also been recycled in countless commercials and movie montages and trailers.
What's good about the Director's Cut or "New Version" DVD is that one can view the director's cut with added scenes on one DVD side and the originally released version on the other.
For those of us who wanted some kind of closure to Toto and Elena's relationship, the Director's Cut has it-- there's about an hour more of footage of their relationship. The new version also more footage of Toto's military service and his adulthood. The added scenes somewhat mute the focus of the movie, so I could see why they were originally cut out. But, at the same time, the added scenes fill in the blanks that originally made a lot of us think, "Hey-- What about...?" And although Toto's childhood scenes are, as far as I can tell, unchanged from the original version, we also find out more about Alfredo.
After finishing the New Version I appreciated the original version better. I highly recommend the new version not because it makes Cinema Paradiso more of a masterpiece, but because it adds more characterization to what, arguably, is a masterpiece. The added scenes can be a bit superfluous, but they show how important editorial decisions are to shaping the structure and momentum of a movie.
Rating:
Summary: A story of hope and love perfectly done - Bravo!
Review: I must have watched this film 25 times and i know I'll watch it 25 more. I can't wait to watch it with my newborn daughter when she is old enough to understand. The message of hope and love is so strong in this film. When I visited the small Sicilian town of my father's ancestors I saw the same hope and love amongst its people. In a place that is in such dire straits by our standards I saw loveing people who truly cared about one another, whose love went so far beyond the materialistic. This movie portrays this so well. ALl that we see and hear, Alfredo is perfect what a father he would make and did make to young Toto. Toto's mother's resilience in contacting him. The scene at the end when Toto is seeing all the people he new from his youth, older and still in the same situation yet still happy and hopeful, and when our homeless friend walks through and states "La piazza mia." who can say they didn't cry but with a smile on their faces. A true masterpiece, I think I'll go and watch it right now. It truly is Paradiso.
Rating:
Summary: New vs Old - Old stands stronger to the core.
Review: After reading all the reviews about new vs old, I think any warnings of good vs bad are a bit extreme. I watched both on a quiet Sunday afternoon 3 hours apart and although I beleive the old was a clearer fit tying his youth and mentor to the end of the cinema, the new version wasnt overwhelmingly distracting from the main story or "old version".All in all, the old still stands more solid evoking the same teary emotions from the primary story than the added "all in one" theme created by the interjection of the old girlfriend returns element reminiscent of the hollywood cliche. The new actually lessened the full intensity of experiences within the Cinema from the time he was a boy to his reminiscent return as a middle aged man. I recommend the cleaner old version for the afficionados of non hollywood influenced movies.
Rating: 
Summary: Definitely A Better Version
Review: I'm so surprised that the Director's Cut would have detracted so much from the original version. Whilst the original version concentrated the relationship between Alfredo & Toto, the Director's Cut went deeper in exploring the relationship between Toto (or Salvatore de Vita) & his first love, Elena. Most of the new added scenes were concentrated towards third quarter of the movie & subsequently, we have a richer & more in-depth understanding of what motivated Toto to become the person that he is today. A timeless movie about self-sacrifice, eternal love, friendship of the highest order. Despite its age, Cinema Paradiso still has the capability to stir the emotion & soul. Arguably one of my favourite movies of all times. No extra in this movie at all but to see how this movie was intended at the first place is a blessing! Highly recommended
Rating:
Summary: Movie Magic Casts It's Spell.......
Review: This review refers to Buena Vista/Miramax DVD edition(2/03 release) of "Cinema Paradiso - The New Version"...... The original theatrical release of "Cinema Paradiso"(1990)was honored with many international film awards. Among them the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Langauge film.The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards bestowed on this film Best Actor(Philippe Noiret), Best Supporting Actor(Salvatore Cascio), Best Film Not in the English Language, Best Film Score (Ennio and Andrea Morricone), and Screenplay for writer/director Guiseppe Tornatore, who also was awarded the Grand Prize from the Jury at Cannes.There were many more awards and nominations too numerous to list. You may ask why a film with this many distinctions would have a new version? Well if you have seen the original, there's a good chance you fell in love with all the characters and the 50 aditional minutes spent with them is more than welcome. Most of the additional footage not seen in the original is devoted to the star-crossed love story bewteen Salvatore(also called "Toto") and Elena, and may give you some closure to their relationship. But the beauty of this DVD is that you get both versions to relive the beautiful moments over and over and you can decide for yourself which version is your favorite. Either one on it's own will touch your heart, and both together is well worth owning on this beautiful transfer to DVD. The story is one that will have you totally immersed. A small Italian village, post WWII is in love with film. They townfolk clamor to see whatever film is playing at their little theatre, "Cinema Paradiso". But none are more enamored by the films and the process of showing them then little Toto and his idol Alfredo, the projectionist. When Toto as a grown man and successful filmmaker learns of the death of Alfredo, he thinks back to that time in the village of his growing love for film, the girl he loved, and most of all the loving bond that grew between him and Alfredo. This beautiful story of love and frienship is hypnotic. The actors are wonderful in their portrayals and the score delightful. It is one that will especially touch the hearts of film lovers. The DVD is an excellent view of these outstanding films. The new version is presented in Dolby Dig 5.1 Surround. It is in the original Italian language track with English subtitles and is presented in widescreen(1.66:1)with a nice clear picture and and vibrant colors. The original theatrical version,also in widescreen is presented in Dolby Surround,which also sounds great and may also be viewed in French. There are also captions in English. The subtitles may be deleted if you choose. Other than a theatrical trailer and some sneak peeks, there are no bonus features, but for me, getting lost in Toto's world for nearly three hours was bonus enough. Let this film cast it's spell on you...a must have addition to any film lovers collection...enjoy...Laurie
Rating:
Summary: You'll Want to Watch this Movie Again and Again!
Review: This beautiful and sentimentally bittersweet Italian movie about the friendship between a small-town boy fascinated by movies (who grows up to be a famous movie director) and the movie projectionist at the town's Cinema Paradiso is one of my Top-5 favorite movies of all times (the other four are: Casablanca, The English Patient, Doctor Zhivago and The Unbearable Lightness of Being). From the opening scene, a simple shot of a view looking out from a house toward the sea with one of the movie's beautiful theme songs playing, to the last scene which (I garantee) will move you to tears, you are transported to an enchanted world where life was simpler and the only available entertainment in town was at the Cinema Paradiso. You'll enjoy the simplicity of the story, the wonderful actings of the little boy and the movie projectionist, and the beautiful, romantic and bittersweet soundtrack (composed by the great Italian composer Ennio Morricone). What is great about this movie is that it'll make you want to watch it again and again. I'm looking forward to seeing the director's cut which will be released in theaters in May 2002 by Miramax. I hope that the director's cut DVD will be available soon thereafter. A movie not to be missed!
Rating: 
Summary: Re-cut the director's cut!
Review: The original version of this movie is wonderful - hence the Academy Award. The ending is one of the truly sublime moments in cinematography! The director's cut adds so much melodrama, including footage which besmirches the main character much to the emotional detriment of the film. The result is a mediocre soap opera, and the ending of the movie is totally devoid of emotional punch because the whole arc of the story is ruined by the end of an extra hour's unnecessary footage. Fortunately, the DVD has both versions. Watch the original and love it. Ignore the director's cut.
Rating: 
Summary: Please, please, ignore the new version!
Review: I am among those who succumbed to curiosity and watched the new, extended cut. And I fervently wish I could erase it from memory. Nary a frame of it adds to the original story; in fact, it brazenly and systematically dilutes and sullies all the magic of the original. It trots out worn cliches about recapturing childhood and second chances, and makes out Alfredo to be a bitter back-stabber. Watching older Toto stalk Elena was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. DAMN! HOW can I recapture the original's beauty? There's good reason many of us are championing the original. There's good reason the original was released the way it was. Don't feebly tell me about needing 'closure' or 'more-is-better' garbage. Stay with the original, and use your imagination. Trust me. 5 stars for the original, a generous 2 for the new cut, = 3 stars.
Rating:
Summary: One of my all-time favorites
Review: This isn't the greatest movie ever made. The film-making technique isn't groundbreaking. It traffics in many cliches. The acting isn't always first rate. For an American audience, there is no real star power. It's in a foreign language (possibly, seemingly more than one) with English subtitles. Nevertheless, I absolutely love this movie. What's more, is that every single one of the people who I've recommended this to, people who have NEVER watched a foreign film with or without subtitles, have ended up really enjoying it as well. The bottom line is that it is a wonderful story, and you'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely A Better Version
Review: I'm so surprised that the Director's Cut would have detracted so much from the original version. Whilst the original version concentrated the relationship between Alfredo & Toto, the Director's Cut went deeper in exploring the relationship between Toto (or Salvatore de Vita) & his first love, Elena. Most of the new added scenes were concentrated towards third quarter of the movie & subsequently, we have a richer & more in-depth understanding of what motivated Toto to become the person that he is today. A timeless movie about self-sacrifice, eternal love, friendship of the highest order. Despite its age, Cinema Paradiso still has the capability to stir the emotion & soul. Arguably one of my favourite movies of all times. No extra in this movie at all but to see how this movie was intended at the first place is a blessing! Highly recommended
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