Amadeus

Rating:
Summary: original is way better!
Review: im sorry to say but the original cut is perfect.
the added scences break the rythem and the "fast" editing of the original, and add questionabale information.
an original track should have been given as an option on the dvd.
soundwise, it sounds like a better copy, very good anyway.
this movie is a gem either case, ive seen it over and over.
directors cuts arent allways a good thing.

Rating:
Summary: Dark, Quality Drama, A Perfect Introduction To Mozart
Review: It was 1984 when F. Murray Abraham walked away with an Oscar for his performance as the sinister, jealous and vengeful Antonio Salieri. The cast includes Tom Hulce as Mozart, whose first name was Amadeus and hence the title of the film, Elizabeth Berridge as Mozart's wife Constanza, and Christine Ebersole (of Broadway musicals) who plays the voluptuous prima donna Katarina Cavalieri. The visuals on this film are striking, effectively dark some scenes, festive in others, a splendid production by director Milos Forman (director of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest). Not only is this quality drama, winning Best Picture, but a great introduction to the music of the greatest Classical composer of his time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Partially true to historical account, Amadeus serves as an interesting historic drama as well as psychological drama. There is no solid evidence to prove that Vienna's court composer Salieri was responsible for the death of Mozart. Fictional plays by twentieth century author Peter Shaffer and the source that inspired him, a Russian writer, Pushkin's, play "Mozart And Salieri" tell that Salieri was bent on revenge and Mozart's death simply because he was intensely jealous of his musical genius and popularity, where as his own compositions sank into obscurity. There is also no truth to Salieri's descent into madness. Salieri was Mozart's contemporary and a successful composer, having numerous works to his credit, including religious chorales and 40 operas. But in the psychological drama that ensues in the film, Salieri's dark character is deliciously revealed. There is a scene in which he burns a crucifix (Salieri himself was a devout Catholic) and vows before God: "Because you choose for your instrument a vulgar, sinful boy, I will make sure to destroy your incarnation!." At his most darkest, Salieri plans Mozart's death through his Requiem, an exhausting and consuming funeral mass that took a heavy toll on Mozart, whose health had always been afflicted with alcohol and a frivolous party lifestyle.

The musical score is all Mozart. This is a great introduction to classical music, although in this case, specifically Mozart. Most of his great hits are here, including his operas Abduction From The Seraglio, Le Nozze Di Figaro, Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute. Among his instrumental music are his Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, Flute And Harp Concerto, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and his Symphony 25, which opens the film. All in all, this is a terrific DVD, with behind the scenes looks and director's cuts. Watch, listen and learn.

Rating:
Summary: Inferior to the original
Review: I'm going to be harshing on the director's cut of Amadeus here, so if you're not interested in this issue, read no further.

The original Amadeus is very economical. It tells a complex story using the fewest elements possible and its characterization and plot development are perfect. Simply put, it's one of the most well-edited American films, ever.

The new Amadeus adds footage which clutters up the plot. I know that many people see these new things as enhancing the story, and I've tried to agree with them. However, in this case the new things just don't make a lot of sense.

The major new addition is a scene where Salieri humiliates Mozart's wife by making her disrobe (she's willing to sleep with him if it will advance Mozart's career) and then throwing her out. This scene turns Salieri into the villain much earlier in the film and gives him too active a role. In order for the film to work, he has to remain more of a passive observer until his hate for Mozart has had time to develop. The flawless buildup of the first film is disrupted and Salieri's character loses some of its coherence. Also, the brilliantly tuned response of the wife in the death scene becomes odd and incoherent. Wouldn't she be much more angry at Salieri, given what he put her through?

Some other added scenes show Salieri sabotaging Mozart's chances for work as a music teacher, and Mozart trying out a job opportunity Salieri has given him, only to find the position untenable. Again, Salieri is given too active a role, and Mozart is given too strong a hint that Salieri dislikes him. Mozart's naivete about Salieri's real feelings is made less believable. Surely no one is that stupid?

The transfer and soundtrack are marvelous here (three cheers for Dolby Digital!) but as a work of art the film goes from classic to merely fine. I like many director's cuts and I'm always willing to try them out. Sometimes genius is left on the cutting room floor and sometimes not. In this case, not.

Rating:
Summary: The Extraordinary among the Mediocrity
Review: Certainly a fantasia on the life of one of the world's greatest composers, "Amadeus" is more much more than merely dreamed biography. It soars above the retelling of a wonderous life, presenting to us a mosiac of deep meaning, wonderful performances, sensational music, and one of the best movies ever made.

Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abrams take control of this movie the first time they appear in it, and refuse to let it go. Whereas the power in their lives rests in the monarchy, they are the true power of this film as they dance and weave around each other. Salieri, a now forgotten composer, apparently once revered in his time, secretly adores and publicly abhors Mozart, gifted prodigy. By giving us some creative if not accurate context for Mozart's music, we see the true brilliance of his greatness, by comparing and listening to his music through Salieri's simple ears. The finest moment of the film perhaps comes at the ending, with Salieri, an old and feeble man, realizing that his life has added up to nothing but mediocrity and meagerness. As he's wheeled through the halls of the sanitorium, he blesses the crazy and insane, reveling in the pain of the irony his life has become. Incredible.

As mentioned, Hulce and Abrams both soar in their roles; each embody the true spirits of their characters, there is not a moment's doubt or hesitation in their performances. Their acting is so perfect, so refined, it is not acting, it is being. On the screen, the real Salieri and Mozart are before you. No finer gift can an actor give to his craft.

And no finer film can a group of professionals give the world. Amadeus is all about brilliance at the same time being all about mediocrity. This duality drives the tension and the drama, making the film so wonderfully complex and deep. I never tire of watching this, each time finding a new glimmer previously not realized.

It is well worth your time, if you have not yet done it, to settle down and allow "Amadeus" to soak over you, and prepare to marvel.

Rating:
Summary: A tragic Love story.
Review: This movie, perhaps my all-time favorite, is about the theme of how the deepest object of our affections can allude us no matter how much we desire union. In this case, music is made into the touching metaphor of Love and Salieri is the fumbling Romeo who's courting technique, no matter how admirable, fails in winning his beloved.
But Salieri is content in being near his love, always with the hope that one day his efforts will be acknowledged by God and he would be rewarded with the ability to become united with music. Then one day, Mozart, here portrayed as the most annoying, obnoxious, despicable character comes marching in. Mozart, played by Tom Hulce, isn't the character we love to hate. It's almost painful to watch him on the screen and so it only helps us understand Salieri's bafflement all the more on how such a fool could be blessed with such a aspiring musical genius.
In short, Mozart the bad boy, gets the girls, while Salieri the good guy is left to wallow in the unwarranted torment, he believes, God has created for him.
Of course, this isn't historically accurate in the least, but should we expect anything else from Hollywood? However, as a film in-itself, Amadeus will leave you breathless.

Rating:
Summary: An AMAZING film gets a well-deserved deluxe DVD treatment
Review: The new Director's Cut DVD looks and, especially, sounds fantastic, glorious, incredible! It sent my spirit soaring. From the snowy opening shot to the heartbreaking finale--it had me entranced. Definitely one for the collection.

Now if only Warner Bros. would get going on a 2-disc set of "Blade Runner"... I'd do a cartwheel for that one!

Rating:
Summary: A Mozart Fantasy
Review: Having seen the original play on Broadway, and the movie years ago time allows some perspective. I was impressed like many here, but like so many movies today the facade does not hold up over time. The casting of Tom Hulce as Mozart was dreadful. That silly laugh has gotta go! In fact all of these American actors are pretty bad in this movie. To see good 18th Century costumes and then hear flat American accents that sound like Madison Ave. is visually distracting. This movie throws a lot at you with music, impressively staged opera scenes and a lot of over the top acting. But in the end you are left with a sensational perspective of Mozart and his times, with little solid background. The rivalry between Mozart and Salieri is certainly exaggerated for affect. The idea is clever, but grating after a while. This movie will appeal most to those who don't really know much about Mozart and classical music. It makes him look like a punk rock star of the 18th century! If the movie awakens interest in listening to more of his music than I suppose it will have served a good purpose, but as a historical portrait of the composers life it is a travisty. A musical fantasy. The DVD version I found disppointing as it does not really show any behide the scenes footage of how the movie was made

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Best Picture Winner of 1984.
Review: "Amadeus" is easily one of the best movies ever made that won Best Picture for 1984. It's a story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, played wonderfully by Tom Hulce (Oscar-nominated), who was a composer all his life until he died mysteriously at the age of 35 in 1791. F. Murray Abraham won the Oscar for playing Antonio Salieri, a competent composer, and Milos Forman won the Oscar for Best Director. I have this movie on DVD and I am glad to have it for my collection. An excellent film.

Rating:
Summary: If there was ever a DVD that cried out for a re-release...
Review: ...this is the one.

Milos Forman's "Amadeus" broke new ground in so many ways. It's one of the most amazing, entertaining, enthralling biopics ever made. It broke tradition by showing its hero not as a Tortured Artiste, but a regular guy with a lowbrow sense of humor who just happened to be one of the world's most gifted composers. And unlike many other biographies of musicians, the MUSIC takes center stage. Listen as it blasts out of your speakers!

"Amadeus" was released on DVD in the format's early days (1997, I think) and the main problem with that release was that the length of the film required it to be "flipped" to the other side halfway through. The new Director's Cut fixes that problem...and goes a long way to make amends.

First of all, there's tons of extra footage, incorporated into the natural sequence of the film (it's not added in as a "bonus feature"). Most of the extra footage is welcome, with only a couple of scenes unnecessary, in my opinion. Second of all, the sound! This is music to be played loud, and the quality is perfect.

Let's not forget the extras...director Milos Forman and screenwriter Peter Shaffer offer insightful commentary. There's a wonderful documentary on the making of the film which contains great soundbites from the cast and crew, interesting trivia tidbits and great behind-the-scenes footage.

The film itself is a joy. If you enjoyed the original DVD release, you'll be in heaven here.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent film! A must have!!!
Review: Albeit fictional, this film has raised my curiosity tremendously about Mozart's life. I have known his music & found the film even more entertaining with his pieces played here & there.

F. Abraham played Salieri to perfection, portraying him as a scheming person but not one-dimensional as he was eqaully able to show how muich he respected Mozart's works. Beneath that jealous ridden individual was a devoted person both to God & to his craft. T. Hulce wouldn't be outdone being W.A. Mozart, a very gifted musician though quite immaturish in his living.

At the end, my heart went to both of them. For Mozart who did not live to reap the reputation he so deserved & to Salieri for living the rest of his life in guilt.

A highly recommended film!