Rating: 
Summary: I'm Sorry, But I Thought This Film Was Boring!
Review: I know I'm going to offend a lot of people by saying this, but, frankly, I found reading the reviews on this page much more entertaining than watching Citizen Kane. I can just picture the fans hunting out the negative reviews and clicking "No", and the rest clicking "No" on all the positive reviews. While their are many well-written reviews here, both pro and con, most are merely attacks of other reviewers who disagree. Clearly there is something I missed; how else could this be considered by so many to be the best film ever made. I respect the opinion of those who disagree with me, but I thought this film was extremely tedious. It's not because I'm too young or don't appreciate monochrome photography. It's just that this movie failed to entertain me. I'd much rather watch a movie I think deserves the credit Kane usually gets: The Best Years of Our Lives, Rebecca, Peter Ibbetson, Show People, or The Wizard of Oz (all but the last are black and white movies). One reviewer recommended multiple viewings to appreciate Kane's greatness, but I don't think I could sit through it again. My apologies. I've decided to remain anonymous, lest I receive death threats or find that my sled has gone missing.Oh, and I just wanted to thank the reviewer who informed the "dumbass" that movies weren't being made in color in 1941 for enlightening me. I've been dining out on the notion that movies such as Gone With The Wind (1939), Whoopie (1930), and The Toll of the Sea (1922) were all filmed in Technicolor, but I must have been mistaken. I'll have to rewatch these great black and white classics to reassure myself.
Rating:
Summary: The most over-rated film in the history of cinema
Review: For years this overblown, self-congratulatory and frankly VERY dull film used to top the critics' polls ... a kind of collective delusion prevailed. Today, that must surely amuse many among those seeing it for the first time. Welles' supposed masterpiece is nothing but a mausoleum lit by his vanity. Every frame of his portentous travesty wants to you acknowledge its importance, every directorial flourish begs for applause. Unless you've already seen Jules and Jim, Wild Strawberries, M. Hulot's Holiday, Whistle Down the Wind, Withnail and I, To Kill a Mockingbird, Blow-Up, The Man Who Would Be King, I Know Where I'm Going, Ballad of a Soldier and the 5000 other films which leave this for dead, don't bother with it.
Rating:
Summary: ya, sure, whateva
Review: Dumb film about a rich tycoon who loses everything. Seen it all before but better. The plot is derivative and the acting is wooden. Plus, you can tell that this was done on a shoestring budget because it's done in black and white. These days, you can't get a movie to premiere at Sundance without color. That's just the way it is. But back to this movie: it's a snore. And in case you didn't know, Rosebud is a sled! Wait, did I just reveal a spoiler? Oops.
Rating: 
Summary: ...and Orsen Welles was only 26.
Review: About 10 years ago, I was near an art theatre in San Francisco that was playing "Citizen Kane". I'd heard it was a great movie, but knew little else about it. Fortunately, I had a few hours to kill, waiting for my then-wife, so I went in to see it. I came out convinced that Welles was, without a doubt, an absolute genius! I've seen "Citizen Kane" many times since then, & I never fail to find something new each time. Orsen Welles co-wrote the screenplay, he produced the movie, he directed it, he starred in it, and Orsen Welles was only 26. At the time of its release, "Citizen Kane" was controversial, political, & an absolute breakthrough in filmmaking. Welles's junxtaposition of the time sequence of the flashback scenes which comprise the bulk of the film is dramatic in & of itself, & his use of deep-focus cinematography, while not original but borrowed from slightly earlier German films, adds tremendously to the visual impact of many scenes. Deep focus (enhanced depth of field) also meant that Welles the Director had to work painstakingly to position each scene element for specific impact, unable to use focus to direct the viewer's eye. This film has become so important in American culture that I've seen or heard indirect references to "Rosebud" many times in other genres. When you learn at the end of the movie what it refers to, you grasp its symbolism immediately (& you see where others got the idea of using this technique in other films). "Citizen Kane" may be in black & white, but its power will make you forget that quickly, as you become immersed in the story. The characterizations are true to the era, unlike the characterizations in more recent films about the same era -- another point that makes "Citizen Kane" a standout.
Rating:
Summary: A monument to two American legends
Review: This DVD is brilliant and essential in any serious collection. It is a pleasure to watch this classic with stunningly crisp picture and sound. This 2 DVD set contains the #1 rated American movie of all time in resored digital transfer with multiple commentary tracks; more importantly, it also contains a narrative documentary that traces the fast-paced life of the young Orson Welles whose career would be dashed over this film. The documentary's thesis - that Kane is essentially an autobiography of Welles superimposed on the canvas of publisher W.R. Hearst's life is a cogent argument and one of the most facinating stories in 20th century America. Both men were willing to sacrifice the truth for spectacle, and both succeeded in radically transforming the world around them. Hearst changed newspapering in America. In the early days he'd pay any price to get the best reporters and editors and turn them against the rich and powerful. Welles equally changed the world of electronic media, showing the world the terror that radio could bring with 'The War of the Worlds' and the political muscle Hollywood could weild with 'Kane.' It might seem that Welles got the last laugh in this showdown.But the documentary is wise to point out that the movie's legacy is the only enduring winner. Movie lovers around the world also win - as 'Kane' is one of the most entertaining and dramatic yarns in cinema history. The audio commentary tracks by Roger Ebert and Welles biographer Peter Bogdanovich are chock full of cinematic insights and interesting anecdotes. And, last but not least, these DVDs are very cheaply priced for a package comparable to a deluxe Criterion Collection edition. A+
Rating: 
Summary: A dull vision
Review: Yeah, this movie is a classic, so what? People now days seem to think that if it was black and white and made in the 50's that it's a great movie. Citizen Kane is a sometimes interesting movie about a man's life story very similar to that of William Randolph Hearst. Yet the movie is poorly acted except for Orson Welles (Charles Foster Kane), and the plot isn't very intruiging either. ( A man separated from his parents creates a big newspaper franchise and makes it big, but it falls apart later). The best thing about this movie was the head-scratching mystery of Kane's last word, "Rosebud".
Rating:
Summary: What Were YOU Doing at the Age of 25? Welles made THIS!
Review: If you have already seen "Citizen Kane," you don't need me to tell you to buy it. Just go ahead and put it in your shopping cart. This review is for those of you who do not know about this film, and are maybe even wondering why you should care. Why do so many film critics lavish so much praise on a film made so long ago? One reason is the director and star of the film, Orson Welles. Already considered to be a genius at a young age, Welles stormed Hollywood at age 25 with the clout of a man three times his age. With that power, he made a movie that defied typical storytelling techniques, invented cinematic tricks on the fly, and successfully pulled off filming an unflattering, near bio-pic of the nation's most powerful newspaper publisher, William Randolph Hearst. The kind of "carte-blanche" given to Orson Welles at the time, was unprecedented, but now, it's unthinkable. That makes this film all the more mezmerizing because it's a fantastic film. It centers around Charles Foster Kane, a larger-than-life man without the fear that stops lesser men from achieving greatness. But Kane's life is not all great, and in a series of flashbacks and flash-forwards, we see how Charles Foster Kane was both tender and loving, but ruthless and selfish just the same. This is a film of immense importance in American cinema. It was Orson Welles' greatest acheivement, yet the beginning of his downfall. After all, who could possibly top a movie as good as "Citizen Kane?" Welles discovered that it was impossible to even try. This is an important film for fans of movies, film historians, people interested in the William Randolph Hearst connection, and in the sheer drama of filmmaking. There has never been a movie like it, and there never will be. It is a film that will surprise you, no matter how many times you watch it. Once again, if you have not seen it, make "Citizen Kane" your VERY NEXT DVD purchase. You owe it to yourself as a movie fan.
Rating:
Summary: Citizen Kane: Digital Gold Mine
Review: Warner Brothers has done a nice job bringing this 60 year old classic to DVD. Firstly, the very sleek black packaging to hold the 2 DVD set compliments the film for any collector's shelf. The picture quality is just as good if not superior to the Criterion Collection laser disc print released several years ago. The set has a handful of goodies, including a documentary and 2 commentary tracks, one by Critic Roger Ebert and Director/Biographer Peter Bogdanovich. I must say that I was disappointed by Bogdanovich's rather dry and unenlightening play-by-play of the film. Ebert's commentary is much more enthusiastic and interesting. From other commentaries(Dark City) that Ebert has recorded, you can perceive that he truly loves the cinema and everything about it. Viewers will notice without much difficulty, an easter egg that cues a mildly entertaining 5 minute interview with co-star Ruth Warwick. For as long as the film has been viewed, film historians, critics and popcorn munchers have debated, whether or not, Citizen Kane is a "good" movie. As a prior film student, I extremely enjoyed scrutinizing the wonderful mechanics of the piece and the beauty of its cinematography, the wonderful deep focus shots and high contrast lighting. I also found the screwy 1930-40's style of acting humorous. After repeat viewing and I mean REPEAT viewing, I feel that the film as a whole is much better than the sometimes quiet plotline is singularly.
Like baking a cake, leaving out an ingredient can be tragic. That same ingredient may not be very special by itself, but when added to the whole, a tasty dessert can be created. As to whether this film is "good" or not, however, like any other movie, be it 2001: A Space Oddysey or Dude, Where's My Car, that's entirely up to you. Like paintings or sculptures, if you enjoy it, it served a purpose. If you gained something from it, it's a sheer treasure.
Rating:
Summary: Stop the hype!
Review: Please stop the hype on Citizen Kane. It doesn't work. It's like you are trying to convince people that poop smells good. Bad movie is always a bad movie. No matter what you do, it's not gonna change from what it is. Citizen Kane is the movie that every American should be ashamed of. It's overrated and boring. Enough said!
Rating:
Summary: A mythical movie; the film of films
Review: Charles Foster Kane; welcome to Xanadu the biggest fortress ever built. That opening sequence in which we feel inmediatly the presence of the purest sense of the german expressionism, gives us one of the multiple clues who will give Orson Welles, this legend name in the cinema story.
Ths story is told brilliantly for Welles; the way Welles introduces to the world of Kane is through a new who informs us about the death. Warning about this point because Kane will never be telling his life in first person, but through all those knew him in a far or close distance. In this sense Welles, cleverly gives us a huige puzzle that you as viewers must arrange , and thanks to all his countless devices, at the end of the film when you finally discover what Rosebud means , you leave your seat convinced you're a private eye; but rememeber what Welles said once about Rosebud: it just was Freud for one dollar.
And this bitter opinion is due the fact that Rosebud means the iodea of something that never reached the complete process of growing up; a flower who never became the best of itself; I mean this point is remarkable because the sense of unfinishness is what Kane means ; nor more either less.
In fact Kane is a man who had everything he wanted; except just one thing; his stolen youth and the dreams contained in this unique stage of the life; the world needed just before he reached his twenty years old and made from him a man before the time comes.
That's why you can understand his outrageous character; and thanks to The Inquirer he can expand his biological time and in a certain way to try to live his lost years.
When he meets to Marian in that funny water accident; he confess her another clue; both of them are surrounded and involved by the loneliness even they are so distant in his respective social status.
And all his efforts walk in this direction. Remember by instance, the smart answer pronounced by Kane in a very special inflexion point of the story: "I'm all what you hate" .
Kane loves challenging the world, in every little detail; he plays with it and "no matter if he losses one million dollars each year , because he would lose all his fortune in Sixty years".
All his life turns around the sophistication, the greatness and above all to be remembered and loved or hated but never pass away by a sense of indifference. And this is an important issue, because there's a shakesperian mood in this point of view.
How can you translate the shakesperian spirit of glory and trascendence into a raising democatric country and also the new raisng empire of the world.
That impplies all his outrageousness; the expensive parties; the employement of the deepness of field which lets you watch the secondary planes just beside the first; remeber that dramatic sequence in which Welles and Cotten walk in the newspaper room.
The camera works at the floor level; another clever device of Welles; I think he wants to give us the sensation of being in a theatre hall , and in many ways that resource let add much more dramatism to every take.
Greg Tolland made an unfirgettable work behind the camera; because this film demands of you that the images through the travellings , dollies and objective use be another actor in this play.
The monumentality all along his achievements is obviously a consequence of his character; that justifies the fact of trying Marian be the greates prima voice female in the Opera ; (however; in the deep of his soul and his mind he knows she'll never reach that goal; but once more he's challenging the world)
Remember what Oscar Wilde said once: "The difference between a caprice and a passion who remains all the time of one life; is the caprice remains for a longer time" .
This film will be always a must for all the viewers of any age and as well as Bach , Mozart or Beethoven music or the Michelangelo works or Vermeer paintings , due his mythical essence; such its own force for transforming every time you watch them; but the question is Who really transforms: you , the work of both of two?
Orson Welles (1915-1985) still continues being a refernce point for many film makers , great or minors ; and to name his contributions would surpass certainly the permitted limit of this review.
A film is really good, when the camera is an eye in the mind of a poet, undoubtly a wise sentence of Orson Welles.
It's time for all those people who still hadn't watched this movie that literally is a must to make it.
A masterpiece in the widest sense of the word.
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