The Age of Innocence

Rating:
Summary: Stifling Society Produces Pain
Review: I disagree with viewers who say that this is a story about a man who is forced to choose between infatuation and stable love; it is in fact about a man who is forced to choose between love and society. Actually, I believe the catchcry was something like: "What if the thing you desire most is the one thing you cannot have? Which would you betray - your whole world, or your heart?" This sums it up perfectly. The film perfectly conveys the emotions and characteristics of each of the main characters - chiefly Newland's angst, May's subtle cunning, and Ellen's innocence and pain. The scenes are beautiful, the camera work amazing, and the narrator slightly irritating, I'm afraid. It was a little too excessive - do we really need THAT much explanation? It was, however, useful in explaining little things we would not be able to understand, like how the men had to change gloves before dancing with different partners at balls (so we're told as Newland deliberates over a table of pristine white gloves). The only other negative thing I can think of is that the ballroom scene (where a ball is held to welcome Countess Olenska) made me feel slightly nauseous (the camera revolves around the room in swooping circles, seemingly for minutes). I found that this negative effect was not replicated on the small screen, however. As for the acting, it's perfect - actually, this was probably Michelle Pfeifer's best performance - I wouldn't have believed her capable of such brilliance. Daniel-Day Llewis is suitably English, reserved, and introspective; Winona Ryder is perfect as "innocent", boring, bitchy May. And the soundtrack is beautiful. See it.

Rating:
Summary: A piece of art
Review: What a masterpiece! What a pleasure for the eyes, ears, mind and soul! From the moment the rose starts to unveil and unveil, I entered an enchanted world and was transported to a new reality. And the reality that Martin Scorsese creates here is so compelling it is difficult to return to your everyday one. I cannot think of a more perfect way to bring forward the exquisite beauty of Edith Wharton's language than through the voice of this narrator. The story and the voice are one, powerful and tempered, an upscale and well behaved account, but with the incredible fine inflections that hint only of deeper meanings, of compromising secrets, of high society gossips. It is a love story with no sexual scenes, but in which the tension builds up unbearably high. I enjoyed most of all the sense of detail, the perfection of the scenes, each and every one a piece of art. Daniel Day-Lewis is a great actor, he created a perfect Newland Archer, a complex and tormented character. I am really grateful to Martin Scorsese for this movie I think about with the deep emotion reserved for beautiful music or a few poems.

Rating:
Summary: Its OK
Review: This film was good to an extent. The acting and the directing was good though. The film was just boring at some parts. I believe they draged it out alot. I wouldn't buy it. I would only rent it.

Rating:
Summary: Director ruins good film
Review: I actually agree with many of the comments of the previous reviewers. The camera work is excellent, the story is good and the acting as well. The visual storytelling is beautifully done, so why does Scorsese have to ruin it all by letting a voice-over explain everything which the images had already conveyed? Doesn't he believe that the audience is capable of thinking? Apparently not because near the end he had to make a flash back to that pivotal beach scene where Pfeiffers character did not turn around. Only this time she does turn around, thereby indicating with the subtlety of a highway billboard that if only she would turn up in the window (which we all know she won't) things may end happily. Please Mr. Scorsese, do have more respect for your audience in the future.

Rating:
Summary: It grows on you.........
Review: The first time I watched this film I thougt it was a thrilling bore and could barely bring myself to pay attention to the story.But as I wisely decided to give the film another few chances I am captivated by the beauty and flawlessness of this film.The camera work is spectacular bringing alive the perfectly-paled faces of late-19th century New Yorkers,the vivid color of the scenery(Countess Olenska standing at the pier of a lake is a breath-taking scene),and the amazing decor.The narrators voice is compelling and soothing and guides you through the film mentioning a lot of significant detail though there is some excessive description of the houses.The music is equally remarkable particularly Enya's "Marble Halls" which is set against the scene of New Yorkers parading down one of the city's streets(somewhat reminscent of Ezra Pound's "In a Station of the Metro").The costumes are lush and opulently detailed,the era is displayed as a charming and serene time period,and the emotion that is felt between characters is so intense that you can almost feel it pour out from the screen.Scorses is apparently a master at what he does,and this film is proof of it.Perhaps Pfieffer is a bit of a miscast but she somehow manages to deliver the character well enough.This film won't appeal to everybody,and anybody who does watch it won't like it straight away but it is worth a try.It's an intense movie that I found very moving .It's worth watching even if you find the storyline a bore because it is an amazing work of cinematic photography.

Rating:
Summary: I absolutely love this film.
Review: This is one of Scorsese's finest films (I think it trumps Wharton's novel), a lovely, heartbreaking exploration of the ravages of social mores at the turn of the century (and, thus, bears much resemblance in theme with one of Scorsese's other masterpieces, Mean Streets). I am moved beyond words by the final image of the film every time I view it. To this day, those who do not understand and therefore disparage The Age of Innocence infuriate me to the point where I'm almost tempted to break off all ties with them. But it's just a film, I know, and a glorious one at that.

Rating:
Summary: Sad and Inspiring
Review: The beauty of this movie is that it isn't the type of romance where the main character ditches their responsibilities to enjoy themeselves. The thing about Newland that I admired was that he stayed with May even before she became pregnant, he could've canceled the wedding but he didn't, because deep down he respected May, he was only infatuated with the Countess because he couldn't have her. The ending is powerful because it proves what I said. After time passed Newland realized himself that he was only infatuated with the Countess and that his infatuation couldn't measure up with the years of memories and bliss and joy he received from his life with May.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Craftsmanship
Review: Martin Scorsese has given many different genres a shot, and many viewers thought that he was dreadfully out of place crafting a costume piece. But, Scorsese injected more elegance and greater visual flair into this film than any director has into a fancy-pants effort. On lush visuals alone, the film is worth looking at again.

Rating:
Summary: Vastly underrated masterpiece
Review: Everyone was so surprised when this came out that this Scorsese film was somewhat shunted aside as an inferior attempt to imitate Merchant-Ivory, but with each passing year it stands as one of Scorsese's finest films (and perhaps one of the finest adaptations of a literary classic ever made). Although Pfeiifer and Day-Lewis are a bit miscast, the supporting cast (particularly Miriam Margolyes as the imperious Mrs. manson Mingott, and Winona Ryder in the performance of her career as the surprisingly resourceful May Welland) is superlative. But it's the camera work that really astonishes: the beautiful fades to color, the great roving shots as Newland enters the Beaufort mansion and at the going-away dinner for Ellen, and the great opening scene at "Faust." Worth repeated viewings.

Rating:
Summary: A must see.........
Review: I had to see this movie because of a class I took at NYU and thought it was going to be a drag, but the unspoken details revealed with by the camera was a shock to me. I was moved beyond understanding. New Yorks' life in the early 1870's comes very close to the cruel world of the 90s. I was brought back to an era that seemed familiar and very atractive, yet the psychological stresses inflicted by the high class would not waver me from wanting to be Newland Archer and conquer the heart to the Countess. I was not surpriced by the ending for I would do the same. Why re-live in the precent what can not be erased from the past. The music and the attention to detail by the director will capture your imagination and send you into a time warp to an era that will never come again.