Rating: 
Summary: A Reputation Deserved
Review: There's not much to say about "Citizen Kane" that hasn't already been said. I know there are people who don't understand why this film is considered to be one of the most brilliantly made films ever produced, but I propose the reason for that is this: the film and narrative techniques on display in "Kane" have become so integral to every film made since that they no longer seem special in Orson Welles' film when looked at from a 21st Century perspective. I encourage anyone still in doubt of this film's greatness to instead look at it from an historical perspective; just compare it to any other movie that also came out in 1941 and I think "Kane"'s uniqueness will be apparent.I don't think the film is without flaws. Welles' pacing can be slow at times, and I think the last quarter of the movie especially drags. The story itself isn't particularly interesting or even novel for its time, but one doesn't (or shouldn't) watch "Kane" for the originality of the story. Instead, pay attention to how the story is told and who's telling it. When the film is over, ask yourself this: can you say you've been given an objective account of Kane's story? Do you really know what happened to him? This is radical stuff for 1941. Can you imagine a movie being released at that time that didn't answer the questions it raised? The motivation that puts the entire world of the film in motion remains unresolved. That doesn't happen very often in films even now, let alone then. And if none of this is reason enough to watch "Citizen Kane," just watch it for the stunning cinematography and compositions. Virtually every frame is a work of art in itself. And if that isn't reason enough to watch it, then just watch it for Orson Welles' mesmerizing performance in the title role. Easily one of the ten best in cinema history. And if that isn't reason enough to watch it, you're on your own.
Rating:
Summary: There's no excuse not to have seen this by now.
Review: Whether or not the AFI was right in calling Citizen Kane "The best movie of all time" is debatable, but it still stands as one of those essential movies that everyone has to see. Orson Welles, then young and precocious, displayed style and intelligence in Citizen Kane that revolutionized filmmaking, and the film might be considered groundbreaking more for it's technical accomplishments than the movie itself. Welles directs himself as Charles Foster Kane, a newspaper tycoon whose life was often the biggest source of news around. "Loved by millions, hated by just as many" was his catchphrase. The movie follows his entire life, from childhood to death. It was loosely based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, a real-life newspaper tycoon. I have seen Citizen Kane so many times, and it is starting to feel dates, especially in the dialogue. But the performances from Welles and his Mercury Theatre group and the visual elements more than make up for that. As the documentary and commentary teach us (more on that in a minute), Citizen Kane was more of a techical accomplishment. Welles used camera tricks, montage techniques, and difficult shots that were, at the time, never before seen on the screen. The attention to detail that went into every scene illustrates the passion that Welles brought to the screen. It has rarely been matched by any movie made since. For the 60th Anniversary, Warner has put together a terrific 2 DVD set. The obvious jewel in the crown is the 2 hours documentary titled "The Battle over Citizen Kane", which not only tells the story of how the movie was made, but the lives of both Welles and Hearst. It is essential viewing to say the least. My second favorite extra is the Audio Commentary by film critic Roger Ebert. Love him or hate him, you can't deny his passion for movies and his almost encyclopedic knowledge of the subject. His commentary is full of fun facts and insight that made me look at Citizen Kane differently. The second commentary is by Peter Bogdanovich, a film scholar and Welles biographer. This one has it's moments, but it meanders at times. The Ebert one is the best. Rounding off the extras is an entertaining theatrical trailer and loads of storyboards, photos, and promos. Citizen Kane will always be regarded as a masterpiece, and rightly so. This DVD set from Warner is a must have, and with the quality of the extras, expect to be spending a lot of time with this DVD. Essential.
Rating: 
Summary: Rosebud...give me a break
Review: I have heard for years that this movie is innovative, a bechmark of quality, amazing, etc. I really don't see it. Does anyone actually care at all about any of these characters? Quite honestly, by the time the end came, I was thrilled that this clown bought it - what a piece of self serving nothing. This is the kind of writing I would have done in college for a class titled Pretense 101. Give me Captain Ron or Army of Darkness anyday.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow, I just don't get it...
Review: I have heard for years how innovative, groung breaking, if you only see one movie in your life...Wow! Does anyone in reality care or sympathize at all with any of these characters? "Rosebud" please - get a life, I could not wait for this clown to buy it. This is the kind of dribble that anyone would write for a college class titled Pretense 101. Give me Captain Ron any day.
Rating:
Summary: Citizen Kane Movie Review
Review: Citizen Kane
Movie Review Citizen Kane was filmed in 1941 and was directed by, produced by, and starred Orson Wells. Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Wells wrote the screenplay. In the opening scene there was a lot of symbolism such as wrought iron fences, fog, a moat, a light on the hill from the house and the light going out when the main character of the film died. It was during this scene Charles Foster Kane, the main character, speaks the word "Rosebud" and then drops a glass globe that shatters on the floor. Just before it shatters, the viewer looks inside at the falling snow and then Kane dies. The story is based on the true story about William Hearst, newspaper tycoon. I give this movie 5 stars because from start to finish this movie keeps you intrigued with one thought and that is, "What is Rosebud." Orson Wells never overworked any scene as so many movies do nowadays. The movie was filmed with a lot of symbolism which keeps the movie viewer's interest and also feeds the viewer's thoughts well beyond the length of the movie. The movie takes you back to the time just before Charles Foster Kane became one of the world's richest people in history. Charles Kane's story began when a boarder could not pay for his rent at a boarding home owned by Mr. & Mrs. Kane. The boarder gave Mary Kane a deed to an old abandoned mine for payment. The mine was later called the Colorado Lode Gold Mine and the 3rd richest gold mine known in the world. Mary Kane took $50,000 of that fortune for her and her husband. She then gave custody of her son, Charles Foster Kane, to Mr. Thatcher, a banker from New York, who would manage the fortune and boy until he was 25 years old. Kane bought the New York Inquirer and immediately became publisher and printed news by "his definition." Some called Kane a "yellow journalist. Mr. Jedediah Leland, a schoolmate, "best buddy" and dramatic critic for the Inquirer stated, "I was his oldest friend," and Mr. Kane "never gave anything away," "newspaper was his life...and he loved himself," but Kane "didn't know how to love anyone."
After Kane's death the big question on everyone's mind was "who or what was Rosebud." A newspaper reporter interviewed Kane's 2nd wife, Kane's General Manager, and even his butler-in-charge at his well known estate, Xanadu, but no one knew what the significance of Rosebud was. Charles Kane loved to collect beautiful things and among those collections were statues, paintings, and pictures that could have filled 10 museums. Kane's collection was worth billions. Charles Foster Kane had the 6th largest private fortune in the world. Even though he could buy anything that he ever wanted, Kane was never able to buy love and happiness, consequently Charles Kane died alone. During the liquidation of Kane's estate the packers and movers were told to burn items that had no significant worth. The camera zooms in to see a man throwing a boy's sled into the furnace that had Rosebud painted on it. The sled was the only possession left of Kane's boyhood and memories when he went sledding in the snow. Most importantly though, the sled symbolized the time in Charles's life when he had a mother and father and a home and when he was loved.
Rating:
Summary: Ha! Some people need hype
Review: I love to read reviews of "Citizen Kane" on different boards because it's so hysterical reading the raves of viewers who can't think for themselves. Some viewers use as their own quotes the identical words of "critics"--those no nothing snobs who feel it's their duty to tell the lower class what they should like or dislike. I think what many, many viewers of "Citizen Kane" will never admit is that it's incredibly over-rated, that's it incredibly boring in many segments and that Orson Welles and his crew hardly revolutionized film-making. Welles readily admitted in later years that the striking photography and effects were already being used back in l914 by Cecil DeMille in "The Cheat," in the 20s by Paul Leni in "The Cat and the Canary" and by Ernest Von Stroheim in the incredible "Greed." But--these facts are not allowed when one is deliriously raving about Welles brilliance and genius. Because when one states these words, this proves they're real big film buffs! Please, more, more! I love it!
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece from a 25 year old genius
Review: Citizen Kane is one of the most analyzed and written about films in all the history of movies. You certainly don't need any commentary from me about the artistic merits of the film. However, I will say that I find the movie visually stunning with a visual style that has been copied by many and almost always to lesser effect. Some of the images stay in my memory like a beautiful melody. The script is also very good and at times it is powerful. And while it is always listed as one of the greatest of all movies, and maybe as a movie it is, I certainly don't think it is the most powerful or moving film ever made. It certainly is a great film, but can't you think of others that move you more deeply that were also well made films? But to think that Welles was only 25 years old when he made this film is absolutely breathtaking. In making this film, Welles at once triumphs as a producer, director, and actor. I can't even think of a similar achievement to compare it with. Wagner at Bayreuth? This disk is a very beautiful transfer of the film (there are a few small defects), plus interesting commentaries by Roger Ebert, and Peter Bogdanovich, plus the trailer, newsreel from the premier, storyboards, and a second disk with a two-hour documentary on the battle Welles had with Hearst over the making and release of the film. Isn't it interesting that the film has become more famous than Hearst? Such a thing was unimaginable in 1941. But don't buy into the myth that this is a crypto biography of Hearst. There is also McCormick and others (McCormick is the one who built the opera house for his mistress). Certainly, aspects of Hearst's excesses are obvious, but one of the powers of fiction in the hands of an artist is to mix multiple realities together to get at something deeper and more instructive. Ebert points out that the famous scene in which Kane destroys his mistress's room was based on a scene where Welles himself lost his temper in a restaurant. True artists spare themselves least of all. This is a great set of disks that do justice to this great film. I am glad that I own it. It deserves to be in your collection.
Rating:
Summary: Live and control
Review: How much power can a man have? How much power can a man wish? How much would a man influence others, and how much would he wish to control them? This is an excellent movie to think about these questions. It may seem too fictitious judging just by the questions, but *there are* people like that outside. There are people with such power, and people with such ambition, or desire of controlling others. And, at the end of their lives, if they grew up that much power, they could still influence others in bizarre ways, as the movie shows from its start. This movie gives space not only for these thoughts, but also for the other side of human relationship. Not control, but affection. How do humans choose one or another to pursue?
Rating: 
Summary: Citizen Kane movie review
Review: Citizen Kane was filmed in 1941 and was directed by, produced by, and starred Orson Wells. Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Wells wrote the screenplay. In the opening scene there was a lot of symbolism such as wrought iron fences, fog, a moat, a light on the hill from the house and the light going out when the main character of the film died. It was during this scene Charles Foster Kane, the main character, speaks the word "Rosebud" and then drops a glass globe that shatters on the floor. Just before it shatters, the viewer looks inside at the falling snow and then Kane dies. The story is based on the true story about William Hearst, newspaper tycoon. Mary Kane, Charles's mother, ran a boarding home and by default a boarder gave her a deed to an old abandoned mine, which later was called the Colorado Lode Gold Mine, the 3rd richest gold mine in the world. Mr. Thatcher, a banker from New York, took charge of Charles, who was just a boy, after Mary Kane gave up custody. Kane was seventy years old when he died. Kane married and divorced twice. Kane's first wife was the current President's niece and her name was Emily Monroe Norton. Charles Kane married his 2nd wife, Susan Alexander, two weeks after his first divorce. A newspaper reporter, Mr. Thompson, interviewed people that knew Charles Kane to find out what "Rosebud" meant. Mr. Bernstein, Mr. Kane's General Manager, said that "Emily was no rosebud" and maybe "Rosebud may have been something that he lost." Neither, Mr. Bernstein or Susan Alexander knew what "Rosebud" meant. Susan "didn't want to sing" and "everything was his idea, even my leaving him." As publisher of the New York Inquirer, Mr. Kane would print news by "his definition," and some called Kane a "yellow journalist. Mr. Jedediah Leland, a schoolmate, "best buddy" and dramatic critic for the Inquirer stated during his interview, "I was his oldest friend," and Mr. Kane "never gave anything away," "newspaper was his life...and he loved himself," but "Rosebud, I don't know." Mr. Leland wrote the dramatic critique about Susan's poorly performed opera debut and was later fired. Kane was still married to his first wife when Charles and Susan's affair was publicized at the same time Kane was running for Governor of New York. Kane lost the election. The Inquirer printed that there was a "Fraud at the Polls," twisting the truth as was the usual. The butler-in-charge told Mr. Thompson that when Susan left, Charles trashed Susan's bedroom and that Mr. Kane "was a man who had everything" and that "I guess Rosebud was just a piece of the puzzle that was missing." Charles Kane was a collector of statues, paintings, and pictures that could have filled 10 museums and was worth billions. Charles Foster Kane had the 6th largest private fortune in the world. The last scene of this movie was seen in the boiler room with a staff member burning some of the items considered to be worthless and the camera zooms in to show the viewers that a sled that belonged to Charles when he was a child and still living with his parents was being burned up and bore the brand name Rosebud.
Rating:
Summary: AFI's best film is not good enough for me.
Review: We should not argue on whether Citizen Kane is the best film. The debate should better be on whether it's considered a good film or not. This is by far one of the worst films I have ever seen. What it does best is to put audience to sleep. Most American films are better than Citizen Kane.
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