My Voyage to Italy

Rating:
Summary: Important Film History Lesson from Important Director
Review: I've always been curious about European film since so much has been written of it--and so little of it played here in the States!

Martin Scorsese has made an excellent DVD that touches on his earliest influences and provides a tour of the Italian cinema from its beginning to its critical zenith in the 1950's and 1960's.
I would recommend this DVD for anyone with any interest in foreign films. With Scorsese as a guide, you'll not only see the highlights and subtleties of each film, but you'll get historical details and a better understanding of the context from the narration.

I'll definitely be checking out Scorsese's previous "personal journey" after watching MY VOYAGE TO ITALY.

Rating:
Summary: If you care about film, art, and humanity, SEE THIS!!!!!!
Review: If this DVD were required viewing (and I hope it is) in film schools, drama schools, in fact, any school with a "major" in art, it could perhaps revolutionize our cultural values. Am I being hyperbolic? I think not. By following the trajectory of Italian neo-realism to its later forms and permutations through the eyes of Scorsese, you learn a couple of things. One, you learn what how an artist forms his vision, interests, calling; in short, you will discover WHY an artist is compelled to follow his/her artistic inclination. You will also see why at least some art matters profoundly. You will see what a pale shadow modern moviemaking is compared to these older masters. You will see art within its spiritual, cultural, social, ideological context and how it mirrors, echoes, and fulfills the deepest aspects of the human condition like dignity, heroism, suffering, etc. You will also hear authentic, heartfelt commentary both regarding the significance that films can portray and an analysis of the modest methods filmmakers could use to create a vision and a reflection of society that rings so true, it will echo in your ears and mind's eye indefinitely. As our films and culture become more "WOW" oriented; when eight average Americans can hold the world's attention on TV via "Survival" simply by eating live octupus; and when the idea of a "good" film is "The English Patient" or "Sixth Sense," this DVD set perhaps can begin as an antidote to mediocrity. You can be "wowed" by "The Matrix" or discuss for hours on end the structure of "Momento" or "Sixth Sense," --when you are on your deathbed, are you going to say, "I am SO glad I got to see "Sixth Sense" one last time?

Rating:
Summary: Immensly impressive and fascinating history by Mr. Scorsese
Review: In the beginning and end of Mi Viaggio Di Italia (My Voyage to Italy), filmmaker Martin Scorsese explains, in good reason, that the way to get people more interested in film is to share personal experiences of viewing particular ones that had some kind of impact for a movie-goer's experience (much like a friend telling another that a new movie is out, go see it, it's good, etc). Scorsese used a similar approach to his first cinema lesson- A Personal Journey Through American Movies- and like that one, it's a long, detailed, and deeply felt documentary. Sometimes when he talks about these movies you can tell he's so passionate about them, and it's a good approach.

First, Scorsese gives the viewer a feel of how he saw so many of these films from Italy- how he could go from seeing a Roy Rogers western in the theater and come home to watch a Rossellini series or a De Sica feature on TV- then, he goes through a comprehensive tale of the progression of the neo-realist movement, also mentioning the silent film epics, the tragi-comedies, and how it progressed into the "new-wave" of Antonionni and Fellini in the early 60's. Like 'Personal Journey', it's long, possibly longer than the previous, and might not be watchable in one sitting (it's a two parter as I remember it from seeing it broadcast on TV). But for the avid movie-goer, fan of neo-realism, or someone wanting to get a glimpse of a better world in cinema in these days of cineplex garbage, it's highly reccomendable.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent!!!!
Review: This film, stands on its own. The longing and warmth Mr. Scorsese transmits to its audience (It feels its talking to you and your friends in your living room on a lazy sunday morning) is enough to get this work, not counting the editing and coments intersecting the pieces of gold plated italian films.

If you want to start to undestand Scorsese's work listen to the impression these films imprint on his brain and heart.

This DVD wont dissapoint nor cinematography students nor casual viewers.

Caveat: Its 4 hours. Be prepared.

Rating:
Summary: Film School on Discs
Review: This is a kind of film school lecture series on Italian neorealist films. Great for people who can't afford film school (like me) or are simply interested in these films, and functions as a commentary track by Scorsese over his favorite scenes in the dozen or so films. However, at more than four hours, it's a little tedious to sit through. And worst of all he showed the ending to some of these films, thus destroying his aim to introduce them to people. How can people watch them now knowing the ending? Unless they are a student or a scholar. In that way the DVDs work best if you have already seen the films, so his discussion can give you a deeper understanding. Otherwise it's just a crash course on Italian neorealism, not that it's a bad thing.