Rating: 
Summary: No detail left out. The result is a perfect film.
Review: Loosely based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, this is the story of the rise and fall of one of the wealthiest men in the world. It is also the story of a period of time in American history beginning in the 1890s when it seemed that all was possible. Its innovative film techniques also raised the standard to which the world of film would forevermore have to aspire. The film begins with the death of the rich man, Charles Forster Kane. The audience sees newsreel footage about his life and so the general outline is established early. But when a newspaper reporter now interviews all the people who knew him well, the flashbacks tell the real story. Orson Wells plays Kane in an outstanding performance, the use of makeup as well as his voice and body language making him age before our eyes. Joseph Cotton plays his best friend. And Agnes Moorehead has a small role as his mother. The rest of the cast's names are less familiar today: Ruth Warrick is cast as his first wife; Ray Collins as a corrupt politician; Everett Sloan as his business associate; Dorothy Comingore as his second wife. They were all young unknowns then, and it was Orson Wells' skill that brought out outstanding performances from all. The Turner Classic Edition of the video I watched included a short piece about the technical aspects of creating the film, which I found fascinating. According to Robert Wise, who did the film editing, shooting though cheesecloth filled with sand to get a grainy effect created the newsreel shots. Some shots were done from a camera that was actually placed below floor level and aimed upwards or a ceiling camera aimed downwards. The dominant characters had camera angles aimed upwards at them; the weaker characters were shot with camera angles aimed downward. The film is shot in black and white with high contrast, often having the foreground characters completely in shadow. Often, the features of a character are indistinct and shadowy and it is the voice that carried the action. Other times, the entire scene is in what is called "deep focus" with every bit of it absolutely clear. It was Wells' genius that made it all work so well. The film moved fast and held my interest throughout. There was never a lull or a dull moment because of the technique of overlapping dialog, which moved the viewer from one scene to another with maximum effect. No detail was left out to make this a perfect film, which can be watched over and over again, just to see its unique composition. I give this video my highest recommendation. If you've never seen it, don't miss it. If you've seen it before, see it again.
Rating:
Summary: Groundbreaking (for 1941)
Review: This is one of "the" great films, but not necessarily one of the most "liked" films, of all time. I'll admit, the first time I rented the film, I fell asleep, and it wasn't even competitive for the Oscar in 1941. But, to say the movie is boring, or that you don't like it, is to miss the point. Citizen Kane was not only a groundbreaking film for its technical aspects, but also for structure, story, and many other aspects. Take a look at a pre-Citizen Kane movie, and then watch Citizen Kane. Then, you can see the revolution that was Citizen Kane, both technically and artistically. Movies like Memento and Vanilla Sky (as one reviewer prefers) wouldn't have been possible without the changes that Citizen Kane started over 60 years ago! These things may not appear revolutionary to us today, but we need to watch the film in the context of 1941. I've watched Citizen Kane a number of times over the years, and every time I come to admire it, and yes, even to like it, more. I think you'll like it too, but you shouldn't expect to see things you've never seen before. Today's better filmmakers have adopted many of the best principles used in Citizen Kane
Rating:
Summary: It all depends on you...
Review: If you are educated and/or intelligent (they are not mutually exclusive you know), have an appreciation for film and film history and can appreciate something on its own as well as within the context of its time, then this is one of the greatest movies of all time. Imagine someone making a movie today that interprets the life and ego of Rupert Murdoch, Ted Turner or even Bill Gates - chances are it would be cliche ridden and include midget actor Tom Cruise exercising all three of his acting personas. If it had a Rosebud, it would fully explain it (maybe even add a bland Elton John song to enhance the meaning) in some trite way that would deny intelligent viewers (who understand there isn't always an answer for everything) the chance to just revisit their own life's Rosebuds over and over. If you still don't get it after viewing Ebert's commentary, you really need to read a book now and again.
Rating:
Summary: Classic film, classic DVD
Review: This wonderful made DVD with a pristine transfer, clean sound, and a whole bunch of extras, allows the movie many consider the best of all time to shine supreme. A recommendation for all! :)
Rating: 
Summary: America's Kublai Khan
Review: The story of Charles Foster Kane.
I liked the story, but I didn't buy into the hype!
A nice story, but that's it.
I mean, this movie might have been important fifty years ago, but times have changed!
Everybody who had anything to do with this movie, the writer\director, the inspiration, dead.
One of the AFI's most important movies of th 20th century, 20th century!
We're diving headfirst into century number 21.
Time to put away the toys of yesteryear!
Rating:
Summary: Worth it for the commentary
Review: For years I regarded Citizen Kane as a good but not great film, and I never really understood why critics and serious film buffs kept putting it top of the list. Now I understand, thanks mostly to the Roger Ebert commentary on this DVD, which focuses on the technical, production and compositional aspects of the film. Ebert's commentary on this disc is simply the best I have ever seen on a DVD--time and again Ebert points out and explains brilliant touches and conceptions most of us wouldn't have noticed on our own, and he does it in an earnest, non-condescending, explanatory way. Illuminating and insightful. The Bogdanovich commentary is from a different perspective. It's a little too in-groupy, "me and Orson," for my tastes, but it doesn't merely duplicate Ebert, and adds to my understanding and enjoyment of the movie, even if it's not the eye-opener that Ebert's commentary is. The companion DVD-Documentary is also illuminating. Now for the first time I understand Welles's strange lack of success in Hollywood, despite his reputed (and undoubted) genius. This is the kind of DVD that could turn an ordinary person who just likes old movies into a raving, drooling, film buff. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling Portrait
Review: This is a masterwork of film making because it takes the character and life of a man and highlights the various facets of a man in the mere space of a movie. Welles makes it appear so easy and that's the delight of the film. Good picture quality and the included documentary was also considerably enlightening as well speaking about Welles and Hearst as parallel lives that collided violently. I have not yet taken advantage of the commentary from a choice of two individuals.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Film of All Time, Not
Review: I am 40 years old and watched this for the first time a few days ago;saw it at the library and wanted to finally view what everyone considers the movie of all movies. Honestly, I do not see what the big hype is about. It just wasn't that great. Sure, it contains some good filming and lighting techniques, and symbolism, but overall the story was boring to me. I guess I am not interested in newspaper men and polititians. I felt the story could have been more developed. It was one of those movies where I was falling asleep near the end, wondering when it would be over. Throughout my life in various ways I have heard of the "Rosebud" thing and what it referred to. Now I got to see what it was all about. But I guess I felt the movie didn't really tell me why those were his dying words, why after all these years, Rosebud meant so much to him. Maybe I am just missing something here?? Anyway, it's definately not a film I will watch again. Personally, I find Alfred Hitchcock was a much better filmmaker than Orson Welles.
Rating:
Summary: Classic film, excellent commentary
Review: I had never seen Citizen Kane when I bought this DVD. When I got it, I watched it twice; once for the film, and the second time for Roger Ebert's excellent commentary. Ebert has an obvious enthusiasm for good cinema in general and Citizen Kane in particular. With nearly every shot he provides anecdotes, trivia, and valuable insight. His explanations of the various photographic tricks (deep focus, back projecting, sets that literally split apart to allow for freer camera movement) allow you to appreciate the film on a very technical level.
Rating:
Summary: Of COURSE it's the Best Film of all Time!
Review: This IS the best movie of all time! Anyone who says otherwise is mindless ... There is no getting around it. With the character development, the acting, the incredible directing; how can you say otherwise? I'm not going to write about how much I love this movie, because I'm sure it would just be repeating what others have written about it.
I got this for my dad for christmas because I knew that he loved it. He watched it with the rest of my family on christmas day. I didn't want to watch it, so I satyed upstairs and sat at the computer. What a stupid mistake!
A couple months later I was sitting downstairs on a saturday morning flipping channels whn I saw the dvd laying on the table.
I thought that since it was named the best move of all time I should at least give it a try.
Boy, was I surprised. I couldn't get over how much I loved it. The minute it was over I watched it again. I've never watched a movie before that taught me so much about filmmaking just by watching it. Now when I make movies with my friends (Which I do every week with the digital camcorder I got for my thirteenth birthday a couple of months ago), they're tons better, just beacause every time I'm directing I think of what Orson Welles would have done to make it look interesting.
So, back to (those of you) who say that this is not the best movie of all time. Go watch MTV or something.
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