Malena

Rating:
Summary: Tornatore Material Par Excellence!
Review: Malena, the beautiful so-presumed widow of the small yet merciless Italian village, Castelcuto. Beauty was her only mistake, and Renato, the twelve-year old boy, was forever captured. Malena is a story of a boyhood's innocence, passion, and imagination. Although incidents take place around 1941, the essence of Tornatore's masterpiece is omnipresent. This movie caught me at a time of my life that I can safely describe as eventful on the emotional level. But then again, art such as that manifestly declared in Malena can never be missed by any avid connoisseur's eye or senses; vividness of cinematography, sensuality of score, eyes that speak in both stilled and distilled obsession, rendering the heart a most revered asylum when words are hushed into silent submission. Malena is an endless poem written by a boy's irresistible momentum of heart. He passionately signed his name on the continuum of time, where his Malena is his only unforgotten verse.

Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: Malena is much like the director's heralded Cinema Paridiso. They are both Italian period films seen through the eyes of a kid who comes of age. In Malena, our hero, the kid, falls in love with a beautiful married woman during World War II. He never talks to her, but watches her intensely. The kid is so fascinated by the woman that he becomes a peeping tom, but in doing so becomes her apologist when she gets a bad reputation.

There are some funny political comments in that his father has no trouble comically beating him around a little, but his father is also an ardent anti-fascist. An equivalent American film would have the beating father a nazi sympathizer. The movie changes gears from comedy to drama and it does so as the war gets nearer to Italy, but it never seems false. The overall feel of the feel of the film combines the rare quality of being gently erotic and sweet. If you like Cinema Paridiso, this is also worth seeing.

Rating:
Summary: Great piece of art!
Review: This movie is simply fascinating. I was introduced to Monica Bellucci upon seeing this movie and from then on, I've been looking after her next movie projects. I think she could never acted her character more perfectly than she did. She was resonating, appealing, and most of all very natural. She does not really exert effort in acting her character. It's like she has lived the life of Malena.

One thing I can commend to this film is the way the storytelling was presented. Although everything was told on the point of view of the boy, Renato, the story revolves around the troubles and mishaps of Malena. I got really mad with the people who were envied and tried to destroy her. Yet I was touched to what Renato did because in the end, he was the only person who helped Malena redeem herself, by reuniting the couple.

Overall, the movie is more than five stars. Even if you're not a foreign film enthusiast, this film is very much enjoyable. I recommend it to everyone. It's fun, melodramatic and sexy combined in one movie.

Rating:
Summary: Monica .. call me
Review: great movie of every innocent teenager I believe . I liked the italian atmosphere of the movie which makes you wanna visit Italy again ..

Rating:
Summary: Heavily Censored Malena
Review: Malena is a fine film. Sadly, you will not be able to see this film in the U.S. as Mirimax/Disney Home Video has heavily censored it for DVD release in the U.S. Monica Bellucci is a beauty, but to fully appreciate her in Malena, you'll need an Italian import of this DVD and a region-free player.

Rating:
Summary: I'M FORCED TO GIVE IT 5 STARS
Review: Although in reality, this is a 4 star movie, when you tear it apart-the script is average, and there are too many scenes with the title character (Malena) walking through the town, getting looked over by men and boys of all ages. But I still can't give this film four stars.Why?It's such a deeply affecting and touching story-for me.I mean, this movie really struck a chord with me.The acting is subtle, and superb.The cinematography is very pleasing to the eyes, and it combines comedic elements with events so harsh they drove me to tears. No really, I was just hysterical, I literally could not watch, it hurt so much(I'm not gonna tell you at what parts though).So, here's a quick layout of the plot-It's set in small Italian village in 1940's Italy.And all around, all the talk is of the beautiful Malena(Monica Bellucci).Women do nothing but gloss her over with nasty gossip, because, duh they're jealous-She's young,beautiful beyond all comprehension, and all their husbands worship her.And men see her as nothing more than a mere sex object.The whole town talks about how she has all these lovers and is a complete whore with zero moral conscience.In actuality, she's actually a faithful, down to earth woman who does nothing more than take care of her elderly father, and sit at home, awaiting her husband's(who's off at war)return. A scene which shows Malena dancing to a record with her husbands picture in the privacy of her own home works very effectively, not to mention offers a glimpse into her private life, one which you seldom get to see.It's all about what Malena is on the surface.You get to tell for yourself what Malena is really like.Anyway, so the short and short of it, is that what every one says about Malena is total bull, and depite her awe-inspiring appearance, leads a very lonely life. Women let their jealousy eat them alive, and don't want anything to do with Malena, and men do want something to do with Malena, but that only something is sex.Throughout what appears to be a few years, Malena experiences tradgedy of all sorts-her father is killed in a local bombing,she gets word that her husband died too, women at the market refuse to sell her food at the market, resulting Malena become the very thing she was once so unjustly accused of.And not to give away too much,but this results in that very scene, which is both haunting, shocking, and heartbraking.I swear, it tore the s&%t out of me.if that scene doesn't do something to you,stop reading this review right now, and go get a check up at the doctor's to see if you have a heart.This results in Malena leaving the town, and, soon you have the ending, which is both heartbraking,fragile, and true to life.It wasn't something blown out of proportion, or sugary sweet, it was just perfect.Fresh from a sobfest, I cried once more , but this time because I was so touched.But,let it be said, that Malena is not the main character in the movie, she is rather the base of the movie, what holds everything together, she's the theme, not the character.The main character is Renato (Giuseppe Sulfaro).A young adolescent boy who falls in young lust with Malena, her mystery+beauty.Malena soon becomes the object of his every desire-She's in every daydream, every single minute of his day, and he follows her everywhere she goes, including her own home.He is the only one who actually knows the truth about Malena, all that happened to her, and is the only one who is able to see through the web of lies created by the town folks.Giuseppe turned in his role with poignancy,innocence, and maturity.May it also be said, that Malena(Monica Bellucci) barely speaks throughout the whole film, maybe in what seems to be 1 or 2 short scenes, and even then she only says a few words.And must I say, Bellucci played her role off her perfectly.Her face and eyes, expressions,actions spoke volumes and emotions, that I don't think words would've been able to convey.Just by showing a quick shot of her eyes, I was able to see, and almost feel all the pain,lonliness, and fear inside her.She's a gem, at least in this film.She's subtle,powerful, and fearless.One thing I also loved about this movie, was how little things were so close to life.For example,most townspeople aren't very attractive, and that's because they're not meant to be.I hate it when there's a movie full of beautiful people, you know it's not like that in real life.I loved it how Renato's (Giuseppe Sulfaro's) light acne wasn't covered up.Most every boy I can think of his age has some pimples!I loved it how Malena, despite her awe inspiring beauty, looked like a real woman, and not a cookie-cutter barbie!!She had curves, you know what I mean??I just loved it how the director kept all of life's imperfections in full view and didn't gloss them over with Hollywood sheen.It makes for a more effective and realistic film.In conclusion, I'd like to say, that I don't know if my review was helpful or not, but that it's been a long time since I've seen a movie with such depth and poignancy, one that touched me so deeply.Malena is a vastly underrated, exceptional film which deserves to be seen around the world.

Rating:
Summary: Too Much Imagination is Sometimes Dangerous
Review: The one under reference is the 106 min. version.

One wonders which part had been censored. Perhaps it was the part about peeping Tom, or else, the mass masturbation of the school boys by the seaside. But those, especially the latter being so crudely depicted is hardly a pretty sight, nor does it add anything to the movie as a whole. In any event, there isn't much nudity at all in the original: adding up to one minute or two altogether at most. Yes, more sensuousness if not sensuality is necessary to make the point.

Instead, we have a rather lovely portrayal of this little Italian town and also their life. And with more sex the theme, the tone and the balance might well be upset. Anyway, there is insufficient movement in this movie, as the Amazon's editor aptly says, "Sometimes it wanders..." It dwells on and even draggs on the early puberty stage of this boy. It is obssessed by this boy's innocent obssession by an object of sexual appeal, a point which is only half done and Malena here is hardly a round character at all.

But perhaps that doesn't matter one way or the other. One tends to say, "A Dog's Life" set in North Europe is more fun and more appealing as far as early puberty is concerned.

Rating:
Summary: PEOPLE,PEOPLE,PEOPLE!
Review: GO SEE THIS MOVIE.THIS MOVIE SHOULD NOT BE MISSED BY A SINGLE SOUL.IF YOU CAN APPRECIATE QUIETLY POWERFUL,BEAUTIFULLY UNDERSTATED ACTING,A HEARTWRENCHING, TRAGIC, AND ALL THE WHILE HUMOROUS STORY,ENCHANTING CINEMATOGRAPHY,AND A GORGEOUS SOUNDTRACK TO ACCOMPANY IT ALL, HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE.IT BOTHERS ME HOW THIS FILM GOT BARELY ANY ATTENTION.I MYSELF HEARD OF IT ONLY BY ACCIDENT, AND IT'S SHAMEFUL HOW GREAT FILMS ARE SHUT OUT OF THE WORLD OF MAINSTREAM CINEMA.MONICA BELLUCCI IS A JEWEL, AND SO IS GIUSEPPE SULFARO.THIS FILM HITS HOME ON SO MANY LEVELS, I MEAN IT EVEN TOUCHED MY FATHER WHO IS IMMUNE TO 99% OF FILM.IN SHORT A BEAUTIFUL,TOUCHING,AND SUBERBLY PUT TOGETHER FILM THAT IS SURE TO LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON ANYONE.THIS FILM SHOWS THAT THERE ARE FILMS LEFT OUT THERE WHICH ARE MORE THAN MOVIES-THEY'RE ART.PEOPLE OPEN YOUR MINDS, AND SEE THIS FILM.

Rating:
Summary: Why watch a censored DVD?
Review: The European release of this film was 106 minutes. This version was cut down to 92 minutes for North American audiences, both to make it more acceptable to short attention spans and to eliminate some of the scenes that included nudity. For those of us who are capable of sitting still for 106 minutes and who are not horrified by the nude body employed in the presentation of a film such as this one, this is nothing less than insulting. Serious viewers of film should be able to see films as the director intended them to be seen, and should not settle for this sort of censorship.

Rating:
Summary: A great Italian movie that captures Sicilian life.
Review: This movie, like "Cinema Paradiso" are two gems when it comes to depicting life as it is in Sicily. The mannerisms, the customs and the reactions are truly Sicilian. The story is about a little boy who has reached puberty and his passion is awakened by a beautiful woman called Malena. Please add this to your library of DVDs because it is worth buying. I loved it.