Rating: 
Summary: A feast for the viewer and listener
Review: Lavish presentation, as intricate and ornate as a baroque symphony. The story centers on the journey of a priceless violin (varnished with a curious red laquer) as it passes from hand to hand over many generations and thru the centuries. A little short on plot, with a somewhat tattered thread sewing the 'plots' together, The Red Violin is nonetheless a lush, sensual, and satisfying film on most levels.
Rating: 
Summary: You call these Audio/Subtitle Choices?
Review: I give the film 5 stars but the DVD 3 stars. Read on...
With 158 reviews written already, I wasn't going to write another. Most reviewers found "The Red Violin" very favorable to which I can heartily agree. What I want to comment on is the terrible language/subtitle choices on the DVD. Your given only an English language choice along with English & Spanish subtitles, period. That's right, no other language choices. What's worse is the fact that in order to understand all the languages spoken in the film (Italian, French, German & Chinese) the viewer is required to select "English Subtitles" from the Menu. If this selection isn't made no subtitles appear whenever a foreign language is spoken, and they're spoken quite often throughout the film. Consequently, choosing "English Subtitles" from the Menu displays English subtitles even when English is spoken! The English subtitles were really designed and intended for the hearing impaired, since they're also displayed to describe sounds taking place such as "beating heart" or "groan". This really diminished the enjoyment of the film for me. When I saw the film in the theater I recall there being subtitles displayed only when foreign languages were spoken. For such a beautiful film to be produced on DVD lacking decent Audio/Subtitle choices (no extras either) is a total ripoff and quite disgraceful! You've been warned.
Rating: 
Summary: A Musical and Historical Mosaic with Profound Quality
Review: Solid performances from all participants both artistically and musically. A joy to watch this filmographic puzzle come together. Proof that quality does not have to be a big [] production from the major studios.This movie sparks thought and questions such as:
1. It makes you wonder what items in our society today will become the masterpieces of tomorrow and how our lives might be touched by them? Are we taking such items of quality for granted?
2. It also makes you wonder what the future holds for the "Red Violin"?
3. It makes you wonder if the "red" stain of the violin only affected it's color or did it and it's origin provide it's soul?
4. Oh how quality music touches the soul, but does the an instrument of such quality also possess such abilities? This movie is for those who appreciate soulful and thought provoking movies. If you want action and adventure, while this movie has both, it will probably not be your thing. Very well done and I highly recommend it. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: Come...take the journey with the Red Violin. Any music lover will drop their jaw as the stories unfold. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Not sure about the DVD's qualities - the movie is SUPERB!
Review: ...this movie is set in present day Montreal, while a famous Nicolo Bussotti violin, known as "the red violin," is being auctioned off. During the auction, we flash back to the creation of the violin in 17th century Italy, and follow the violin as it makes its way through an 18th century Austrian monastery, a violinist in 19th century Oxford, China during the Cultural Revolution, and back to Montreal, where a collector tries to establish the identity and the secrets of "the red violin." What amazed me about this movie were two things. One: the detail in the flashbacks to previous owners of the violin and how much attention the script paid to how important this violin became to each owner. Two: The undertone of insidiousness that comes from the nature of the violin itself (I don't want to give too much away here). The filmography and set/costuming were visually stunning, and the script challenged my first assumptions about "what happened." The technique of weaving everyone's separate stories and lives together through one object was unbelievably fascinating to me. It wasn't necessarily a star-heavy movie, but each actor carried his/her weight powerfully, and did a very convincing job of communicating their role to me.
Rating:
Summary: if you need an easy introduction to foreign film, this is it
Review: i love this movie. like i say, if you can't get into foreign films or the subtitles trip you up, try this one. it's half english, half other languages, and it is perfect at introducing you to other non-american themes and more sexuality than you will be used to, but it is provocative enough to make you want to continue watching. nothing too racy, but beautiful and told in an interesting and hauntingly beautiful fashion.
Rating:
Summary: A Finely Tuned Movie
Review: Since several of the reviewers before me have left such succinct synopses of this movie, I will not waste your time or mine giving you a scene by scene detailing. I will say, however, that this movie is one of the finest ever made. The acting and writing is superb. The editing is clever. The music is moving and beautiful. The historical details and scenery make it a treat, even with the movie on mute. This is a must purchase, must see film. The only negative I have about this DVD is that there were no bonus features. I would have loved to have known more about the making and writing of this fantastic film.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good...
Review: This movie was quite good, but I expected a bit more.
The intro and begining part in Cremona are nicely done, but after that, the transitions between each time period are rather choppy. There really could have been more ime taken with each period. However, I greatly enjoyed the part with the violinist in England. It was quite a nice part of the movie, as is the modern day auction parts. On the whole, it, even as a rather artsy film, still needed some intrigue, mystery, and/or more plot.
On the whole, definitely worth seeing, but nothing to die over.
Rating: 
Summary: The Red Violin - a movie w/out a lasting impression
Review: I found The Red Violin to be both boring and unmoving. The story follows the 'life' of a violin created in the 1600s and the movie consists of several individual stories woven together by the present-day scene of an auction at an Auction House as well as a tarot reading consisting of cards including Death, Justice, The Moon and the Hanged Man. The movie attempts to portray to the viewer the importance and wonder of music, particularly that played by the violin but at the same time the movie does not leave any lasting impression on the viewer and bar an interesting twist at the end of the movie, your time would be better spent catching up on some sleep. The best part of the movie is some original editing techniques that make for an interesting film study but for those looking for an entertaining, relaxing movie, I suggest you look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: And I'm into punk music!!!
Review: I thought that this movie was amazing. The story is excellent and moving. I was suprised that I actually liked this movie so much, especially since I listen to and play punk and heavy-metal music. This movie makes you want to go and learn how to play violin!
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