Rating: 
Summary: Light Hearted Pizza Pie of a Movie
Review: After enduring years of belly-button jokes and being passed over for superb acting chops in films like "Mask" and "Silkwood" Cher achieves a remarkable transformation in this sweet family film, in the process earning a Best Actress Oscar. As Loretta, she shines in every scene she appears in, delivering her lines with an "eye-talian" sensibility that's fresh, funny and inspired. Olympia Dukakis is equally fine as her mother, and also copped an Oscar for Supporting Actress. There are some moments of sero-comedy bliss here, especially scenes with the magnificent Danny Aiello and the late great Vincent Gardenia. Only Nicholas Cage dissapoints, breathing little empathy into his character, and delivering his lines without the rich gusto that's required. Still, "Moonstruck" is worth its weight in gold as a romantic comedy for the ages. Now - if only Cher could replicate its success, she'd truly become a film legend!
Rating: 
Summary: One of the most endearing and enduring films from the 80s
Review: It's impossible to feel anything but affection for this wonderful movie. Officially, I guess, it's a romantic comedy, but it also contains some serious drama; often it's very funny, but just as often it's genuinely touching. It features a great soundtrack, with music ranging from Italian folk tunes to selections from Puccini's La Boheme to pop songs like Dean Martin's "It's Amore" and Vikki Carr's "It Must Be Him" plus a lovely rendition of the '30s standard "Moonglow." In each case the music is perfectly and aptly used. Moonstruck, unlike most Hollywood films, shows us that there can be sexual energy, flirtatiousness, and above all romance between people who are well on the other side of 50: one of my favorite scenes is when Aunt Rita (Julie Bovasso) looks at her husband's face in the moonlight and tells him, "in that light, and with that expression on your face, you look like you're 25." Then there's the scene in which Rose (Olympia Dukakis), after insisting that her husband Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia) stop seeing his mistress, tells Cosmo that his life is "not built on nothing." "Te amo," she tells him. It's as moving as anything I've seen in any drama. Then there's the cast! I, for one, wish that Cher would abandon her career as a second-rate (albeit successful) pop music star and concentrate on her work as a first-rate actress. In every frame of this film, she's extraordinary and completely in character. Nicolas Cage has never been better. And every role is filled to capacity by esteemed, if not famous, New York and Chicago stage actors. Special mention must be made of Fiodor Chaliapin, who is given a great moment (howling at the moon with his dogs), and who fills it admirably. Moonstruck is certainly a "New York" movie, but it's set, spiritually as well as physically, mostly in Brooklyn, rather than Manhattan. Moonstruck is a wonderful film! I remember seeing many European "art" films during the 1980s, but if I were to compile a list of Top Ten Films from that decade, they'd take second place to this Norman Jewison masterpiece. This one's a keeper!
Rating: 
Summary: A 5 Star Movie on a 1 Star DVD!
Review: Moonstruck is a fantastic movie! I loved it when I saw it in a movie theater with my Mom and my aunts and I still love it and think Cher, Nicholas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, John Mahoney, Vincent Gardenia, etc, all gave excellent performances and the plot was also outstanding but what I don't like is that the DVD has been edited and I want to see either a letterbox widescreen or anamorphic widescreen DVD release come out and until then I will keep the letterbox widescreen version I taped when it was shown on TCM but I would rather have it on a widescreen DVD! Btw: This A 5 star movie but I don't like how they edited the movie and chopped it into pan and scan which is why I give the DVD 1 star and it's only the DVD that I'm unhappy about and not the movie or the actors!
Rating:
Summary: To widescreen, or not to widescreen?
Review: (formerly a THREE-STAR review)GOOD NEWS AND ALTERED COMMENTS!! BUY IT, BUY IT, BUY IT!!! "Moonstruck" is a fabulous modern comedy/romance, a classic!! I LOVE this film, and you will, too! I had complained in my previous comment about the lack of widescreen theatrical release format in the previous release of this film, but I have just received word straight from the horse's mouth (MGM, via e-mail at their website) that the re-release of 'Moonstruck' on DVD (Nov.) will be available in either full-frame or (finally!) widescreen. AND they told me, in answer to my direct question, that 'Moonstruck' was shot in a full-frame 1.33:1 aspect ratio; theatrical presentation was 1.85:1. (Huh?) I found out that most 1.85:1 aspect ratio movies are actually shot in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, with the intention that the top and bottom of the frames will be trimmed (matted) for 1.85:1 widescreen theatrical presentation. The cinematograper and director frame the shots with this in mind. The result of this is that the movie can be transferred easily to video without doing a pan-and-scan treatment of the photography for full-framed TV presentation. In other words, you're not missing anything in the full-screen framing. This is much preferred by the director, but still not ideal. In fact, you get MORE than the director and cinematographer intended you to see, so the framing of the shots is a bit tall, less subject-focused than intended for cinematic presentation. This is by far a better compromise than a pan-and-scan transfer: rather than losing portions of the picture and ruining the framing, you just get some extra film that the director considers superfluous. It's still a compromise, and as you watch the film, it could mean the difference between a great shot and merely a good one. So I personally still prefer theatrical release format, but I don't begrudge those who dislike widescreen their full-frame option, especially if they're not missing parts of the picture. I must say though that it surprises me how many people out there are bothered by widescreen movies on the normal 1.33:1 television. You get used to it quickly, unless you LET it bother you. (Have you noticed all the commercials and TV programs shot in widescreen recently? You probably haven't, so look for them!) As an owner of only a 27" TV (new), and a 20" before that, I say you can enjoy widescreen on TV! I would now buy this DVD even if it were only full frame. GEORGE'S RECIPE FOR INCREASED DVD AND VHS SALES: the movie studios should inform us on the back of all video releases as to what alterations have been made for the video release. If it says it's pan-and-scan, I won't touch it, but if it's this other method, I might. Many feel the same as I. I have many DVDs with widescreen on one side and full-screen on the other: the perfect compromise!
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Worst Movies Ever Made!
Review: Pleeeeeeeeeease give me my money back! It has been many years since I watched this film at the theater. I walked out halfway through this HORRIBLE excuse for a movie. It is boring, boring, boring... You get the picture. No plot, no good humor, and a great actor (Nicolas Cage) and a great actress (Cher) turn in the worst performances of their careers. Anyone who likes this film should change their middle name to Artsy-Fartsy. This movie is as bad as Dune and Lost In Translation! Don't waste you cash. I doubt if Cher or Nicolas Cage own a copy of this film. Buy one of their other movies - any one of them is better than this. God Bless! www.therunninggirl.com
Rating:
Summary: incredibly romantic
Review: Moonstruck is about an Italian-American family in NYC dealing with their expectations about life and each other. Cher plays 37-year-old widow Loretta, who is convinced that her first marriage was plagued by bad luck because she "didn't do it right" i.e. got married in City Hall, ending with her husband getting hit by a bus two years later. So when Johnny, an older nice-enough man, proposes to her, she accepts -- right before he goes to Sicily to see his dying mother. He instructs her to contact his brother Ronnie whom he hasn't seen in 5 years and invite him to the wedding. This film is funny, with subplots involving Loretta's parents and grandfather as well. The acting is superb -- so much of the comedy is tied into the gestures and facial expressions of the actors in the various situations. It is cute, warm and romantic, and you will feel like you are part of their family too. You will wish you could be moonstruck yourself when the ending credits roll!
Rating:
Summary: Light Hearted Pizza Pie of a Movie
Review: After enduring years of belly-button jokes and being passed over for superb acting chops in films like "Mask" and "Silkwood" Cher achieves a remarkable transformation in this sweet family film, in the process earning a Best Actress Oscar. As Loretta, she shines in every scene she appears in, delivering her lines with an "eye-talian" sensibility that's fresh, funny and inspired. Olympia Dukakis is equally fine as her mother, and also copped an Oscar for Supporting Actress. There are some moments of sero-comedy bliss here, especially scenes with the magnificent Danny Aiello and the late great Vincent Gardenia. Only Nicholas Cage dissapoints, breathing little empathy into his character, and delivering his lines without the rich gusto that's required. Still, "Moonstruck" is worth its weight in gold as a romantic comedy for the ages. Now - if only Cher could replicate its success, she'd truly become a film legend!
Rating:
Summary: A Must See Romantic Comedy!
Review: Academy Award Winner Cher, plays Loretta, a middle-aged widow who while her fiance is in Italy at the deathbed of his mother, finds herself unwilling drawn to his misfit younger brother (Nicholas Cage) who is falling apart after his own "loses."
And while the family struggles with their individual problems, Loretta's father finds his youth in the arms of another woman.
Olympia Dukakis plays an Award Winning role as Loretta's mother.
Nicholas Cage although he won no awards for this film, does an outstanding job as an over-the-top, heartbroken man who is jealous of everything that his brother has, including Loretta.
Definately a must-see romantic/comedy. I very much enjoyed this movie and hope you will too.
Rating:
Summary: a warm-hearted,yummy comedy
Review: Cher is fabulous and infectious.Danny Aileo, and the rest of Cher's warm-hearted Italian family are perfect.And Nicholas Cage, whom everyone complained about for being "too dry" actually works within the context of this film(and I'm not a fan).This film is just about as enjoyable and warm-hearted as they get.It's the perfect movie for those lazy,rainy days, or just anytime when you're in for some light-hearted entertainment Cher plays a woman about to get married to Danny Aielo.But things change when she meets Aielo's sullen, younger brother, played by Cage.This film is warm without being too corny or trite.The acting (particularly from Cher) is pretty great, and the whole thing just comes together to make an effortlessly engaging and enjoyable romantic comedy.It's no masterpiece, but its a wonderfully warm-hearted film that even those who hate romantic comedies will enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Fine Study of Each Actor - "Bella Luna!" What a choice!
Review: Many of my fellow reviewers here at Amazon are very concerned with the format with which the DVD was released. They must have been very concerned about how this formatting choice impacted the story as it unfolded. My focus was on the acting and the characters and how they filled the story.... and fill the story they each most certainly did. Each actor's portrayal could be a study in itself, from the starring roles to the minor, one scene cameos and supporting players: each is rich in expression and integral to the story. I especially enjoyed how colorfully the "background" characters weaved their way into one another's lives -- it made me, as an audience member, also feel richly woven in with the rest of them. Nicholas Cage and Cher are an invigorating pairing (hooray for an older woman younger man for a change!) who match one another, soulful eye for soulful eye. Add the "Bella Luna" and the music and New York (how I miss it!) and viola! A delightful treat to fill any two hour time period in your day.
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