Life of Leonardo Da Vinci

Rating:
Summary: I've seen better...
Review: After reading The DaVinci Code, I wanted to watch a biography about DaVinci, so I purchased this movie. It was made sometime in the 1970's and the screen quality (even on DVD) is horrible. What's worse is the awful overdub. At the beginning of the movie an announcer explains that there is not a lot of information on the childhood of Leonardo DaVinci, but this is what could have happened...and they create little childhood for DaVinci. I thought this would have had biographers and mini dramatizations on DaVinci's life...not a full movie recreating his life.

Rating:
Summary: I've seen better...
Review: After reading The DaVinci Code, I wanted to watch a biography about DaVinci, so I purchased this movie. It was made sometime in the 1970's and the screen quality (even on DVD) is horrible. What's worse is the awful overdub. At the beginning of the movie an announcer explains that there is not a lot of information on the childhood of Leonardo DaVinci, but this is what could have happened...and they create little childhood for DaVinci. I thought this would have had biographers and mini dramatizations on DaVinci's life...not a full movie recreating his life.

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Italo Hollywood
Review: Although the reviewers seem to like this film a lot, the Italians did not do any justice with this overlong version of the famous artist. It presents him as a callous and distant man, somewhat obsessed by a hatred toward his natural father. In contrast, there is enough documentation that proves him as a very gregarious individual who did a lot for his friends! Then the film lacks his accomplishments as an inventor, and the one obscure but very fun part of his life: In Milan, he was in charge of food services; Leonardo invented the modern eating utensils we use today. Therefore, he had little time to paint. A silly outdated version, where is a good studio when you need one.

Rating:
Summary: A reasonable portrayal of an extraordinary talent
Review: For many years, I have considered Leonardo Da Vinci to be the most talented person who ever lived and this series of videos reinforces that belief. While the dialog and many circumstances are based on little more than conjecture, the story does give you an indication of the amazing talent that was loaded into just one man. Since it has been reproduced so many times, it easy to forget that "The Last Supper" covers an entire wall. The magnitude and detail of the painting are even more impressive when you understand that. It also increases your disgust when you realize how it has been treated down through the centuries.
His talents as a thinker, inventor and engineer are just as impressive. Many of his "inventions" were centuries ahead of their time, anticipating many devices such as the submarine and tank. While none were actually constructed, many of the design principles were sound and it took many people to regenerate his revolutionary ideas.
The tapes also give you detailed insight into the political and economic structure of southern Europe at that time. Northern Italy was the center of the Renaissance, and the city states were economically powerful but militarily weak nations. Ruled by wealthy people who would not have had that kind of political power in earlier centuries, that wealth was spent in the support of court artists so that they could create works to enhance the prestige of the rulers. While this placed substantial resources at the disposal of the artist, it also made them subject to the fickle political winds that were constantly blowing across northern Italy.
His service to deposed rulers made him politically suspect and he was forced to relocate several times during his life. I had never realized that the famous Mona Lisa had been moved so many times. One can only speculate on what his accomplishments would have been had his travels been reduced. It was also new to me that he was once brought up on anonymous charges of heresy, which could have led to his being executed as a heretic.
One of the greatest artists of all time, Leonardo was also one of the great observers, seeing many things that no one else did. Using these observations as a model, he cataloged and invented many things that were centuries ahead of their time. Had he completed it, his books on human anatomy and painting would no doubt still be in use. Leonardo Da Vinci could have achieved a significant place in history in many different areas, together they make him the most talented of all time and these tapes will help you understand the man and the world he lived in. I was amazed, impressed and humbled when I watched them.

Rating:
Summary: For all Fans of the Maestro
Review: How can anyone capture the complexity of such a staggering and legendary figure as Leonardo da Vinci? This massive docudrama gives its all, and will probably never be surpassed. It is an excellent treatment of Leonardo's tulmultuous life, both highly informative and entertaining. The device of having the narrator himself step into the scenes to give context and anecdotal information works very well in counterpoint to the dramatic illustrations of episodes in his life. The narration makes a point of separating the legends (started by Vasari and others) from the facts, the acting is good, and there are many added, startling touches that are fantastic.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not Accurate
Review: I found this video insightful towards Leonardos life, but much is based on speculation and made-up scenarios. After studying Leonardos life for years, I've learned that this video only captures a small portion of leonardos life, missing soo many important documented discoveries he made. The video also misses his complex cognitive processes which is documented in his notebooks and what is truely favored by most people. The video lacks in many dimensions but is a good beginners introduction into the meistros life.

Rating:
Summary: At Long Last Leonardo!
Review: Like the reviewer above, I've been waiting a long time for this video. And it's every bit as good as I remember it being. The sets, costumes and, of course, actors are all superb (especially Phillipe Leroy as Leonardo). I also always enjoyed the Rod Serling-like commentator who occasionally invades the scene, giving background details or insights into Leonardo's thoughts and personality. A must for any Leo-lover!

Rating:
Summary: Perfect
Review: Made in Italy in 1972, with superb acting from Philippe Leroy and supporting cast. What is most fascinating, however, are the reconstructions of Leonardo's many artistic and mechanical masterpieces, some of which have been lost. The costumes, the sets and camera are all flawless. One of the best documentaries of all time.

Rating:
Summary: Priceless Video
Review: Of all the video studies I have seen this one is most accurate and most priceless, taking the viewer on a tour of the artist's life from his illegitimate birth to his death at a very old age. Orginally produced in Italy with Italian and British actors, this movie which spoke Italian has the same dialogue well translated into English, allowing the viewer to understand the true depth, drama, wry wit, and humor of Italians.

Leonardo Da Vinci was a tragic figure to whom painting came as natural as breathing, giving his portraits a life like quality that was niether equalled nor excelled even by his contempory, Michaelangelo. Da Vinci's fascination with mechanics, anatomy, the weather, flight, and all are well presented in dramatic fashion, allowing the viewer to share in his inpiration and lament in his sorrow at not having accomplished all he had hoped to with his brilliant mind. Leonardo Da Vinci's competition with Michaelangelo is all well documented.

Questar's presentation is well worth the money spent on it. In my opinion it is priceless and should be viewed by all who love and study the Renaissance and Leonardo Da Vinci.

Rating:
Summary: The Life of Leonardo da Vinci
Review: Originally telecast by PBS stations in 1972 as "I, Leonardo" this five-part series earned a Golden Globe award for Best TV Drama in 1973. I loved it then and was thrilled to be able to finally see it again after so many years. The program is simply outstanding, stunning, superb, bellissima . . . I've run out of superlatives to describe it. A vividly illustrative, highly-detailed, historically accurate, only-occasionally-sentimental account of the life of an incredible human being, the program provides a great deal of information about all facets of Leonardo's life and the personal, political, and artistic challenges that confronted him. I enjoyed the detailed background provided about his mother Caterina,about whom very little is known, and the balanced handling of his relatonships with the two primary disciples in his life, Salai and Francisco Melzi. The video also provides a wealth of information about the historical events that forced him to leave and return to Florence and Milan, the political intrigue of the leaders he had to collaborate with, and the bitter rivalry between him and Michaelangelo in his later years. It's a show I can and will watch over and over and over again . . . and again.