1984

Rating:
Summary: The Wake Up Call to the World
Review: The great George Orwell gave his truly profound gift to the humanity in his 1984: a warning about the potential of human beings to create the most horrific totalitarian state imaginable. The fact that most Americans had no problem giving away their allegedly cherished Bill of Rights, in exchange for some vague promises of protection against the number one hundred something cause of death, is a reason for an urgent alarm, I believe, and resonates the warnings of 1984 in a truly eerie way. The movie 1984 depicts the horrors of the orwellian vision of upcoming totalitarianism with no mercy shown to the viewers: it is stunningly realistic and cruel. While not a pleasant movie to watch, it leaves a lasting impression, as it is the ultimate masterpiece with moral and political messages of the utmost importance, therefore highly recommended to anyone not planning to emmigrate to another planet or galaxy in the near future. Benjamin Franklin: "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty nor security".

"War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength." (The Three Governing Principles of Oceania - From 1984).

Rating:
Summary: Read the book first, then compare it to this
Review: I've enjoyed reading the novel. It was such a great story. Although, it brings kind of depression into the mind of the reader, it would kind of affect one's thinking when comparing what the writer thought during the 50s and looking back at our days now. The movie is faithful to the novel, except I expected more living backgrounds and scenery. I mean, I'd expected more like "brazil" than this one. The music is good, but could have been better if done in Dutch as to bring the taste of WWII into this. Well acted, but I didn't like the actress(forgot her name) since she could have lived her role better than this. The movie is not long, though its very precise and there's not one minute wasted on nothing. I'd expected more personal scenes for the main guy, to remind you of the book. This movie is only recommended for those who read the book first, and who are into the dark futuristic genre (a clockwork orange,Brazil,etc).

Rating:
Summary: 1984
Review: An exceptional movie except the Eurithmics soundtrack is missing! How fantastic was this original soundrack?! It was so haunting combined with the imagery (ie.- Smith escorting Winston to a beautifull grassy plain), that the movie haunted me for two weeks after I first viewed it! I love this movie and feel it is one of the best films ever made, especially with the Eurithmics sountrack warped and wobbly, painting a more surreal and inescapable nightmare. The sounds reflect a feeling of seperation; a feeling of becoming disengaged! We unfortunately do not get to hear this orginal score. For a movie as wonderfully made as this one and considering the fans of the Eurithmics original sountrack, I feel MGM needs to be more considerate of this work of art and give people the option to hear both versions of the film. This can be easily achieved with the DVD format, yet this very important option was left out. Watching this DVD with the altered sountrack is like eating a vinyl sushi window display. It looks like sushi but it has no flavor! I strongly urge MGM to re-release this great film and give the Inner Party what they deserve...THE ORIGINAL!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Don't Buy This DVD--Yet
Review: Do not buy this until MGM changes the soundtrack back to it's original--i.e.Eurithmics--soundtrack, the movie will be a shadow if it's former self. This is, however, a beautiful movie. Do yourself a favor and buy the Eurithmics CD version of the sound track.

Rating:
Summary: Oceania 'Tis For Thee!
Review: Michael Radford's production of "1984" is not a typical Hollwood/bastardization of George Orwell's classic novel--thank the Lord that Radford was not forced, as was Terry Gilliam & "Brazil," to alter this bleak picture of a posssible future world as seen from 1948--the year Orwell wrote the novel.
In this version--there have been a few others--care was taken to be faithful to the novel, and the producers apeared to have a freehand to shock the audience with both the novel's sexual aspects & the inhumanity of O'Brien and the other members of the Inner Party. (Note--the film is worthy of its rating and might have gotten an X or NC17 in a more puritan society.) The acting of John Hurt is outstanding and Richard Burton's last tole proves to the viewer how good an actor Burton was when given a good script and a good director.
There has been some some complaints about the lack of the music by the Eurythmics. Having seen both versions of the film and owning a cassette of the Eurythmics contribution, I feel that the film works better without the additional music. (Note--their work was fine and "Julia" was a haunting song.) I say this because in such a world as Orwell and Radford depict, I feel that the only music that fits is the music that the Party allows--songs written by machines and the song of the children, the telescreen's fanfare and the Oceania anthem. These small pices of music tell the whole story and thie limited use helps to create the bleakness of a society based upon a boot continually striking a human's face and the need to worship Big Brother. An outstanding film!

Rating:
Summary: Why Change The Soundtrack?
Review: I was considering buying the DVD of this great film until I read some of the reviews. It's insane that the folks who produced it decided to remove a memorably surreal soundtrack for apparently no good reason. Considering it's a DVD (and not VHS), they could have at least been considerate enough to give people the option of choosing between the "Original Soundtrack" and "Orchestral Soundtrack."

I'm going to hold off buying this for now, and hope that MGM will correct this error.

Rating:
Summary: Read the book
Review: I read the book 1984 and then months bought the movie. I would highly suggest that you rent it before buying it. If I did I sure wouldnt't be writing this review and complaining to everyone how terrible they made the movie. They could have done such a better job with it. But I guess thats what you get when hollywood tries to make a movie from a book.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad - for a film, that is
Review: Though I read the book long before learning of the existence of the film, I'm not sure I'd reccommend them in that order - the book raises unreal expectations. Better to be pleasantly suprised by the film, and move on to the sublime, nearly flawless novel.

I can't weigh in on the soundtrack controversy. I saw "1984" on VHS, with the now legendary Eurythmics music. I don't see the appeal; it's good, but not great. The film can easily stand without it, and, for many parts of the movie, does just that. My compliments to the exquisitely dreary scenery, filmed on location in London during the months that the novel took place - April to June 1984.

I am only giving the film three stars because though it's an accurate portrayal of Orwell's futuristic imaginary, it does not go further. The novel, however fatalistic, is a passionate statement about humanity - fierce in its defense of love and choice. The ease with which these are obliterated by violence is why the novel lives as such a chilling precaution. The actors, Hurt and Hamilton, never quite rise to the occasion: there is too much fatigue in their lovemaking. They behave as though they have one eye to the fame of the book: it's a classic, we've all read it in high school, everyone knows Winston and Julia get caught, might as well not waste our time seeming enthusiastic about each other. (The filmmakers do manage, however, to get as many shots in of Hamilton naked as possible, even a scene in the book - she's eating bread and jam - where Orwell explicitly states that Julia is wearing coveralls.) Thus the poetry of the second part of the book, the human relationship that is to serve as a counterweight to Big Brother and the system, is lost on film.

That they could botch the heart of the book and still make the movie interesting is no mean feat, however. Credit goes largely to Richard Burton, who is as coolly maniacal as O'Brien ever was. O'Brien's torture of Winston is beautifully acted, though the infamous "Room 101" scene is dissapointing.

"1984" evokes an appropriate sense of dissatisfaction, though the film makers shouldn't have had Winston turn from the picture of Big Brother when he thinks, "I love you." It's too ambivalent; Orwell makes clear that Julia and Winston love each other no longer because they cannot; the movie lacks the courage to make the same point.

Look for Hurt's reading of the passage from Goldstein's book: anyone skeptical of the current administration's war policy will find much to agree with.

My compliments also to Hamilton - Julia's scenes are heavily cut back in the film (too bad - the print Julia's a very charismatic presence), but she still manages to give the audience a sense of who Julia is.

The film isn't perfect, but it deserves a try.

Rating:
Summary: I have to agree...
Review: Not that I am some fanatical Eurythmics fan...but the music is definately missing. It wouldn't be a big deal if they had replaced it with something equally dark and edgy as the original...but this soundtrack is just plain weak. It evokes very little and adds nothing. It took me a little while to figure out what was different, but it was obvious from the beginning that something wasnt right. It truly effects the overall impact of the movie and for some reason makes the editing very noticable. While it is still one of my all time favorite movies, this dvd version renders it sort of...limp. If you are viewing this movie for the first time, stick to the VHS version and I guarantee you will love this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Too True
Review: 1984 is an exceptionally successful adaptation of a well known novel, which is perhaps the best way of understanding its qualities. Brilliantly designed, directed, shot and edited, the film brings Orwell's nightmare vision of a decaying Oceania to tangible life. It is difficult to decide which to praise more, the film's technical achievements, the concisely condensed script that economically dramatizes most of Orwell's themes, or the superb performances. John Hurt manages the difficult task of taking Everyman Winston Smith beyond a literary abstraction into a fully rounded human being. Outstanding as his achievement is, however, the real kudos should go to Richard Burton's utterly soulless O'Brien, the embodiment of velvety, degenerate power hunger. Burton's last performance, it is also probably his best on film.

1984 certainly is not a movie for everyone, however. Its relentlessly downbeat tone, understated horror and slow, quiet pace are likely to turn off most viewers. The film's extreme success in conveying a sense of dank and disintegration are likely to make you want to take a shower afterwards. The torture scenes are harrowingly affective, and forget the possibility of being spared any of it. (Readers of Orwell's novel can at least get some satisfaction from reading the postscript about Newspeak, written in a reassuring past tense that establishes some distance between the story's events and the present. The film offers no such relief.)

The American theatrical release of 1984 included a score by the Eurythmics. This edition uses the original orchestral score of strings and English horn, which is considerably more understated and moody. While the orchestral score is almost *too* perfect for the film's hushed mood, the Eurythimcs track has always struck me as a little inappropriate. (Viewers interested in seeing the film with the Eurythmics score should track down a copy of the laserdisc issued a few years back.) Forced to choose, I'd opt for the orchestral score, if for no other reason than it was what was originally intended. Both scores bring different pluses and minuses, however.

If you haven't read Orwell's novel in a while, you might want to watch this film, then go back to the book to see just how much of its mood, texture and thematic sophistication the film makers have captured. 1984 is literary cinema at its best.