Rating: 
Summary: Not good, except for Ms Bellucci
Review: If not for Ms Belluci this movie would not even deserve one star.
In the end, after waching this disspointing movie, what remains in the memory, is the girl, beautiful to the max. If I waited to the end it was only to see the lady walk by one more time.
What a waste of extras and money, I guess. This film had too high expectations, but the director needs to go back to school and do his homework.
By the way, what is the point of showing so vulgar scenes and language?
This is a vulgar video clip with a gorgeous woman in it.
Rating: 
Summary: with love and squalor
Review: A little rawer edge to this movie than other Tornatore's movies. In it he explores the fascinations of a young boy, Renato, as he tries to find the secret to the mysterious life of the town beauty. Tornatore draws the viewer into Fascist Italy, and what some persons had to do to get by under totalitarian rule. Malena moves from being an object of beauty to an object of derision in the aftermath of the war, as the townspeople maliciously turn on her. Not sure what point Tornatore was trying to make, as the movie is told almost completely from the viewpoint of the youthful narrator. Monica Belluci exudes a lustful eroticism that could have easily devolved into soft porn, but Tornatore deftly handles such scenes, making her all the more compelling, as we witness her vulnerability. It is quite a step from "Cinema Paradiso."
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutley touching! Thought provoking and emotional!
Review: This movie is not for your typical movie go-er. This movie is a cluster of emotions! It enrages you! It makes you laugh. Its sexy. It inspires you.
I think that some American people are too used to the typical happy ending in movies. This doesn't really happen in real life, my friends! People and situations will always try to keep you down. Life is hard but it is beautiful too. Thats what this movie is all about. SORRY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T GET IT. Maybe you should stick to movies like, "Eight Mile" or "The Fast and The Furious". Lord knows that you only need half a brain to understand and enjoy those movies.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Woman.
Review: It begins with a stunning walk along and proud as she moves, morbid vision, Que culo! And suddenly, Renato's blood changes tide towards his low head, and Bang, the very first reaction of sexual excitement, now a teen who begins his coming of age quite desperately for sex, the more he sees and learns about Malena, the more the sexual appetite for her becomes a tender and true love never to be forgotten. It continues as he spies her beauty at night trough a window dressed only with a black underwear, she cleans the floor in dancing into remembrance, and suddenly, her blouse falls down and Wow, the most beautiful and voluptuous breast ever seen is hang loose, the poor boy can't control his agitated breeding and heart pounding, Amoroso is caught. From now on, the teen will center his world around this haunting woman, untouchable and enchanting, a Goddess, (Pobre Amoroso, desarrollara un compulsivo masturbatorio; pero quien le puede culpar?). Lusted by every man and hated by every woman in this Hell Town, Malena is alone, but behind her is little Renato, unseen yet close, this is a love story between a woman and a man who will never get to know each other, Buena fortuna Miss Malena, she glimpses back to the teen, an smile shows and fates away quickly, this are all the words Renato will ever say to her, then she goes away.
Set in World War II in a small Italian town by the sea, Malena is a dear telling of adolescence blossoming into manhood with all the bitter sweet memories, both funny and dramatic, ending in a live time idealistic canvas. Giuseppe Tornatore narrates this piece with a very evident closeness to his own experiences and heart, and this is what saves the film from being a corny story of coming of age. Delicate and tender, with a kinky humor, Malena begins as a sexual comedy and changes in the most naturally way into a drama of miss judgment and envy of internal and external beauty, leaving a nostalgic taste of past ghosts. Very much criticized in its native Italy, (for whatever reason), the film is not about social exposure, this happens to be the setting, the movie is about young love in a Small Town Big Hell, and those rotten minds that forced this honorable woman to turn into a what the envious wanted to be. So, when her husband surprisingly comes back from War where he was presumed dead, he finds himself as Malena, alone and attacked by those disposable town characters, only Renato helped and told the truth, as he was silently saying good bye to Malena when she was living the town by that cruel social expulsion. The main problem is that the scrip turns weak at some moments, and doesn't let the story develops in a much sharp and complete way, fortunately Tornatore directs the film in a personal approach, utilizing his characters to charm effortlessly, maintaining the narration fresh and moving with a pace that allows the events to be exposed elegantly, Malena is a good film, but not as good as Tornatore's best pictures (like Cinema Paradiso or The legend of 1900). The main actors are perfect in their roles (excellent casting), Giuseppe Sulfaro as Renato, conveys his characters with grace and tenderness, Malena, portrayed by the always amazing Monica Bellucci, gives a simple accurate and beautiful performance, her talent and beauty was exactly what the character needed, only an Italian actress could have fit that role (Italian Woman are unique) and Monica covers all the angles adding voluptuous turns of fragile state of woman. The great Ennio Morricone delivers another fine soundtrack, making more emotional the key moments and the not so emotional ones, and Lajos Koltai photography magnifies those Italian landscapes with a deep understanding of the story colors. Like with The Legend of 1900 and Cinema Paradiso, Malena was cut for American theaters, only because of a faster pacing and censorship of the delicate nude scenes, (again repressed minds takes on stupid decisions), the European un-mutilated version is superior, with bigger and better extras on it's DVD, but region 1 and region 2 versions (PAL 2) have both the advantage of great visual and optimal sound transferring. Finally, the greatest quality of this film is something that has become more and more rare in worldwide films, it has unforgettable characters, they will stay with you for a very long time, a sweet experience.
Rating:
Summary: Angry and disgusted
Review: I have to admit my wife and I felt both these emotions after watching 'Malena' - I don't see any other reactions here expressing the same. How can you feel positive after watching a woman abused unfairly, practically raped and beaten for two hours? I was hoping a bomb would drop on this village of disgusting townspeople.
The ending was ridiculous. The gesture of kindness was 'too little, too late', and I would have slapped that woman silly.
I haven't been this angry after seeing a film in a while.
Rating:
Summary: Just Alright.
Review: "Malena" is a film, to me, that has all the right parts but still falls short of greatness. "Cinema Paradiso" (also written and directed by Tornatore) is one of my favorite films, "Malena" does not capture the audience nearly as beautifully as "Cinema" did. Monica Bellucci is without question the perfect actress for this role and her beauty is by itself a character in the film. But her performance seems a bit off. I would place the blame, so to speak, on Tornatore though not Bellucci. Her character seems too distant and that failed to really grab me.The cinematography, score and beautiful Sicilian scenery make this an absolutely breathtaking film, similar to "Cinema." So all in all this is certainly a film worth viewing and definitely has the potential to really move you, however it did not move me.
Rating:
Summary: Such a masterpiece!
Review: Malena is one of the rare masterpieces I have seen lately. It was beautifully done. Both Monica Belluci and Giuseppe Sulfaro are genius actors. It is that sort of movie that will take your breath away.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie
Review: it is a beautiful movie !
You have to watch it.
But I would like to buy the uncencored-version of DVD.
Rating:
Summary: READ THIS IF YOU WANT MORE OF MALENA
Review: If you are planning on purchasing Malena, do not buy the Region 1 disk for you will not get to see everything the director wanted you to see. Your best bet is to purchase it from a Korean dealer who sells it for half the price (16.95) and you get 2 discs, the second one with over 170 minutes of Special Edition features. The Korean version is ALL region, so it will play on all players, including any US DVD player. This 2 disc set is called the Korean Special Edition. Buy it from there.
Rating:
Summary: Uncut Malena dvd
Review: The Korean release of Malena is an uncut, 2-disc, all-region NTSC edition, w/ Italian DTS and English subtitles. It will play on any US dvd player. Some of the scenes not in the US dvd lack English subtitles, but they are mostly dialogue-free anyway. The 2nd disc is advertised as having 171 minutes worth of extras, which are in the original Italian w/ Korean subs only (I haven't watched the entire 2nd disc).In conclusion: The Korean special edition, which costs about half of the US version, is the way to go.
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