Rating: Summary: Beautiful and Bittersweet Review: Once again, Gary Oldman gives a stellar performance, this time as the tortured and deaf Beethoven. His ability to transform himself physically and musically still amazes me as much as the first time I saw it. In addition to Oldman,the scenery is lush and the casting is superb. It shows just how bittersweet timing can be, and how love can carry on through the ages. See it if you haven't.
Rating: Summary: Great Review: This Movie is great! This Movie makes me Love Beethoven's Music Even more, it also makes me understand more about Beethoven's music .
Rating: Summary: In my top five list of all time greats! Review: It doesn't matter that the film isn't totally accurate (how could you expect it to be). It doesn't matter that plot revolves around a seemingly pointless search for Beethoven's "Immortal Beloved". What matters is that this film successfully gives you an insight into the tormented soul and creative genius of the maestro. If you come to it with an open mind (and an open heart) you can do no else but love it.As for myself, I was an occasional listener of Beethoven's music before I watched this film. Now I am an avid fan. This film (and it's wonderful music) inspired me to go see all his symphonies and concertos, buy nearly all of his music, and struggle through the difficult Thayer's Life of Beethoven (both volumes!). As for Gary Oldman - An absolutely fantastic actor, one of the best. He brings such passion to every role he plays (check out Leon (The Professional in Europe) and Bram Stoker's Dracula for other excellent performances)
Rating: Summary: Great subject, great music, so-so movie. Review: As a lover of classical music, I was interested in this movie because of it's subject matter; my favorite composer, Ludwig Van Beethoven. As a film aficionado, I was interested because Gary Oldman, one of my favorite actors, played the lead. Having never heard anything about the movie, I was willing to take the risk of buying it based on those two considerations. That said, here's my review: I would have rated this movie as "two stars," if it weren't for the pleasing cinematography, and, of course, the music. On occasion, the laudable camerawork is marred by bad editing, and the sublime music is, in my opinion, overused; you begin to wonder if this film wasn't intended to be a Beethoven music video! Even the casting of Oldman, which was superb, and his capable portrayal -- he bore an uncanny resemblance to the young Beethoven -- wasn't enough to make this an enthusiastically recommendable movie. The film is disjointed, making the somewhat, banal plot even more tedious. The storyline is based on a totally speculative theory of who Beethoven's "Immortal Beloved" really was -- the maestro had, in fact, addressed such a person in a letter -- and, in the process, attempts to paint a picture of the famous composer. We can never really know what Ludwig was actually like, but many of the liberties taken in portraying his life are purely fictional; I take little issue with this, considering that this is a movie, not a documentary. Beethoven is portrayed as a surly and bitter man -- no doubt he was, from time to time -- and we are, somehow, expected to pity and like him nonetheless, due to the circumstances of the movie; that attempt falls far short of the mark, if anything, we ask ourselves why anyone in the film likes him at all! In the end, we are left with the idea that we should honor and love this person based on the power and depth of his music alone, like the characters in the movie; a ridiculous demand on our sensibilities. The most moving segment in this film is the Ninth Symphony performance, where we are allowed to "see" into the mind of the composer; for me, it justified the purchase of the video. Being knowledgeable about, and interested in, Beethoven, I can overlook the inadequacies of this movie, but I would not recommend it to a person with little interest in the man and his work. If you feel the way that I do about Ludwig, buy it, if not, you'll likely be disappointed. A far better film, in this genre, in every respect except the music -- Mozart's music is equally fabulous -- is "Amadeus."
Rating: Summary: A Tribute For An Exceptional Spirit Review: A tribute to the greatest musical genious of all times. A journey through Beethoven's mind, spirit, love and music. Watch carefully the scene where he presents the Ninth Symphony for the first time, and be amazed by the conjunction of beauty emerged from a tormented childhood. Be trapped in Beethoven's world of silence and dispare as you share emotions claiming to burst out in the form of music.
Rating: Summary: A movie for art lovers Review: Its very rare to find a movie of this calibre, todays movies are all about explosions and violence and sex, that they dont inspire an audience, or even motivate them to improve themselves. this movie is like a breath of fresh air in new-york. its drama, set, props are absolutely stunning. its script amazing, and its story line was good. in all, this movie is a milestone. Gary oldmans outstanding preformance, along with the great music of beathoven combine to make this a movie of truely epic proportions.
Rating: Summary: The scenery, the music, the acting, a rich experience! Review: The scenery in this film was some of the most beautiful, and the soundtrack was magic to the senses. Beethoven's pieces never sounded so beautiful. This movie inspired me to read about Beethoven and Gary Oldman's performance truly was magnificent. You get a sense of what it must have been like for Beethoven with his hearing impairment. You can easily feel like you're there while watching this movie and I wish I had been!
Rating: Summary: This movie made me cry. Review: I told my boyfriend after we watched it: "IT can't be this sad." It is definitely one of my favorite movies. You'll start listening to classical music with a new attitude once you see this movie.
Rating: Summary: Superb Review: This movie touched me deeply. For the first time I understood the heartbreak of a composer not being able to hear his own work. The film portrayed Beethoven's deafness beautifully, therefore giving the viewer a deep empathy with his pain, his temptestuous temper and his sometimes cruel nature. The last 30 minutes especially will surely touch your soul and make you weep for the vagary of missed opportunities and a lifetime of misunderstandings. I was not a Beethoven fan before I saw this film. Now, I cannot get enough. As for Gary Oldman - he is perfection as the tortured Ludwig.
Rating: Summary: A movie that weaves emotions and offers greater expression Review: Critque the accuracy if you need to. Speak respectfully from your point of knowledge if you must. None of that matters. What matters is that Imortal Beloved is an extrodinary movie in and of itself. For the average person, this feature offers a rich tale of a misunderstood person. That quality alone makes this a great experience. The music adds more. If you've never had an emotional experience with classical music, this movie will change that. To the untrained, unlimited ears and eyes this movie opens the doors of both Beethoven and classical music. Clasical music experts and critics will have to put up with those of us who are capable of seeing this movie for what it is, an exceptional movie experience.
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