Rating: 
Summary: La Strada audio "dropout" questions answered
Review: In a previous review, I was concerned about two sections on the "English" dubbed audio track, in which the sound completely dropped out. I just received an email from Jon Mulvaney (who represents Criterion). Here is an excerpt of that email: [The English language dubbed track on Criterion's LA STRADA is derived from a print of the American version of the film. Several minor cuts were made for the American release, and the disparities between the complete Italian cut of LA STRADA and its shorter American counterpart have resulted in a number of unavoidable audio dropouts on the English-dubbed track on the DVD. This is not a flaw in the DVD of La Strada but an accurate reflection of the Italian and American versions and an indication of the cuts that were made for the American release.] Many thanks to Mr. Mulvaney for looking further into the problem and getting right back to me. In short, we have the definitive version of La Strada (compliments of Criterion), and there is no need to return the DVD to Amazon or Criterion.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful DVD by Criterion
Review: For those who may not know, "La Strada" is a legendary film by Federico Fellini. It honestly moved me the first time I viwed it. The Gelsomina character is so adorable and lovable. There's no doubt that this is one of Fellini's greatest films, and one of the better movies ever made in film-history. Nuff said on that obvious note - now for the transfer: obviously, this film was shot in the early 50s and most likely never had a "widescreen" version. It is presented here in a 1.33:1 fullscreen aspect-ratio and is mastered at a crisp, pristine, high-quality image. This DVD of "La Strada" by Criterion looks clean, sharp, artifact-free, and beautiful. It's captured in all it's rich, black and white beauty for all-time. The film is obviously in Italian, and has English subtitles. There is a wonderful little bio-documentary of Fellini with some great footage and interview footage of the man at work on a seperate disk. I was very pleased with the purchase of this DVD and am thrilled to add it to my home collection. Well worth every penny! "La Strada" is a wonderful movie through and through, and this is a wonderful DVD representation of that legendary classic.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this now!
Review: One of my very favorite films. Criterion has done a beautiful job with this movie -- terrific film quality, very attractive packaging, nice bonuses. Well worth the price. Very highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Classic
Review: La Strada suffers from an overly schematic characterization dividing mankind neatly into wit, brute strength, and innocence. What make it powerful are the great performances, mainly by Quinn as Zampano, a character that anticipated the Raging Bull. Also, Fellini's fine blend of Italian Neo-Neorealism with his magical whimsy has created something both earthy and spiritual.
Perhaps, not a work that will challenge the intellect, but like Wild Strawberries and Forbidden Games, it's one of the highpoints of 50s art cinema that redefined what movies could be as poetic contemplations of the soul.
Rating:
Summary: Boys don't cry...or do they?
Review: I vividly remember a summerday afternoon. I was a 4th grader boy. While I was watching this movie, I cried but didn't feel ashamed. I never cried while watching a movie until one of my freshman days. Then my favorite actor Robert De Niro's Mission was the one brought tears to my eyes (Remember the waterfall climbing scene he is dragging his armours?). La Strada is one of the most beautiful and powerful films in our history. It''s haunting! This is one of my top 20 if not top 5. But it's clearly one of TOP5 I'd feel like my life has a gigantic hole if I didn't watch it in my life. I'm glad watched this over and over again and I am glad we can own it now. How happy we are! PS) My only complaint is (yes, there is one) at the end of movie, when Anthony Quinn hears a lady humming Gelsomina's song, it sounds too 'professional'. I always wish it had been recorded as if it's sung more casually.
Rating:
Summary: Fellini's La Strada
Review: This is one of those films which can, albeit its slow-pacing, deliver an unforgettable and complex experience.
The plot is no brainer; Gelsomina (played by Fellini's wife Giulietta Masina) is sold by her poor mother to a brute fairground wrestler, Zampanò (Quinn) in order to be his show assistant. Just a few moments later, one can see Zampanò nature; he tortures Gelsomina, both verbally and physically. But the latter receives these harsh treatment very meekly - at times, she seems to represent a martyr figure, in some respect resembling Christ. On their way they meet the Fool (Basehart), who doesn't get along with Zampanò, which leads to great tragedy. In the end, seeing what his actions have spawned, Zampanò finally attains his humanity - but it is probably too late for second chances ...
Some argue that this is Fellini's ''easiest'' film and a kind of homage to Charlie Chaplin with the persona of Gelsomina. I still say that this is a film not to be missed - it contains so many truths of life that it is essential to be seen by every human being.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful DVD by Criterion
Review: For those who may not know, "La Strada" is a legendary film by Federico Fellini. It honestly moved me the first time I viwed it. The Gelsomina character is so adorable and lovable. There's no doubt that this is one of Fellini's greatest films, and one of the better movies ever made in film-history. Nuff said on that obvious note - now for the transfer: obviously, this film was shot in the early 50s and most likely never had a "widescreen" version. It is presented here in a 1.33:1 fullscreen aspect-ratio and is mastered at a crisp, pristine, high-quality image. This DVD of "La Strada" by Criterion looks clean, sharp, artifact-free, and beautiful. It's captured in all it's rich, black and white beauty for all-time. The film is obviously in Italian, and has English subtitles. There is a wonderful little bio-documentary of Fellini with some great footage and interview footage of the man at work on a seperate disk. I was very pleased with the purchase of this DVD and am thrilled to add it to my home collection. Well worth every penny! "La Strada" is a wonderful movie through and through, and this is a wonderful DVD representation of that legendary classic.
Rating: 
Summary: Dreary
Review: Okay, so it's a famous movie by a famous director. So what? The acting is not especially good. (Yes, I realize part of the problem may be that the original dialogue had to be dubbed in Italian. But it is what it is.) The Gelsomina character is particularly annoying, so obviously trying much too hard to be cute and appealing, and coming off mostly as artificial and rather stupid. The plot barely exists, the cinematography is ordinary, and there isn't a single character whose fate I cared about.
Rating:
Summary: Overrated, Unimportant, and Poorly Produced
Review: There, I said it. This film just doesn't have much going for it, other than positive word of mouth. I challenge you to find some substantive reasoning in the 5-star reviews... can't find it? That's because they're full of hot air. Giulietta Masina is unattractive and a most unenjoyable screen presence. There, I said it again. Call me shallow, but I want my movie stars to be visually pleasing. Fellini reminds me of Citizen Kane demanding that his wife be a star. The original voice track production ruined the film: I wanted to hear the Italian voices but then couldn't hear Quinn's real voice (the whole film was dubbed, twice, it has no "original" sound). Also, Fellini's films are too long. If you are not telling the story of Gandhi or Lawrence of Arabia, then keep your drama to under 90 minutes. For a film with virtually no plot, La Strada takes a very long journey down such a short (and frankly, insignificant) road. Regarding the Criterion DVD, the image is crisp. That's it. The special documentary is boring and could have fit on the first disc, I don't know why they used two. As usual, Criterion offers no subtitles beyond English. Marty Scorsese offers up a 120 second summary in which he doesn't really say anything complementary about the film. How much did he get paid for that interview, $10k, maybe $20? Don't worry, you're paying for it, as this disc is highly overpriced in the Criterion tradition. If you must, Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite magical.
Review: Fellini is over rated (!). There, I mentioned it. His 'indominable imagination', while influential as far as filmmakers such as Terry Gilliam are concerned (see Criterion's 81/2), is simply not enough to sustain narrative or deep thematic concerns. He does not hang enough ideas on these elaborate constructions, seems more or less disinterested in developing the figures he creates beyond extrapolating on their grotesque/freakish/cute/unusual qualities. He really does not like women very much (but then I suppose not many male filmmakers do). The conceptualisation of his female characters always falls within the(yawn) well defined limits of the old madonna... thing. Women are capricious, sexual, wanton, barely glimpsed, desired (etc.) or hag-like, stupid, ugly (etc.)in Fellini's films. In this film the Chaplinesque main character, a woman, is made out to be rather a dullard, her cloying cuteness and mugging at the camera notwithstanding. But that's going off at a tangent; the films are pretty to watch and this one has a particularly interesting context (Fellini wanting to break through the confines of the familiar neo-realist tradition of that period in Italian cinema etc.), but the razzle dazzle and surface beauty of the film while captivating at first soon becomes, quite frankly, boring.
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