Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointing film but worth seeing..
Review: I read the theatrical notes from the DVD and was wondering if it was referring to a different movie. I love historical epics and although this film had the heart it didnt have the execution. The film is ostensibly about the Red Violin but the instrument never takes on a character of its own. The different period dramas the film moves thru seem forced and there is never any character development that leaves you feeling connected with the sweep of history that is supposed to be represented. The Samuel Jackson character is a little ridiculous and the ending is unrealistic and unfulfilling. I dont know if the nature of the Red Violin's color was supposed to be shocking but as a side note Ibanez (the musical instrument maker) has released a signature model of one if its guitars with the endorsers blood mixed into the paint (Ibanez Jem Y2K DNA Steve Vai Model).
Rating: 
Summary: Intelligent, Original, Exquisite.
Review: "The Red Violin" is a masterpiece of an art film. This is an intelligent, well-crafted film with a spark of originality. The characters can be believed, the music is absolutely wonderful (and won the Best Score Oscar) and the story is always interesting. But that's because this movie is ingenious in the way where it doesn't subscribe to ONE story but to MANY stories that range from Italy to China. "The Red Violin" is a movie that illustrates that passion of music, the beauty and craft of it and the instrument from which is flourishes. It shows how an instrument has it's own unique music and how to a great musician it is more priceless than gold. "The Red Violin" is rich in it's vision and storytelling abilities and doesn't subscribe to easy cliches. The cinematography is rich like the writing, which flows with the music. This is a brilliant movie that never fails to entertain and provoke passion and thinking. Great and exquisite filmmaking. This movie vibrates with art.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic movie (this review reveals some plot)
Review: I absolutely loved this movie. As I read the reviews posted here, the detractors come in one of two camps: those who didn't understand the movie at all (thought it was boring), and those for whom the real beauty of the movie was elusive.The movie was not supposed to delve into the souls of the characters, but rather their souls were revealed as they reacted to the power of the violin. The violin was not special "just because the viewer is told it is," the violin is special because of its innate ability to captivate all those who are touched by it. Much like astronomers measure the power of black holes by observing its effects on the objects around it, we see the violin's power by watching otherwise sane people become obsessed with it, risking (and losing) their lives in the process. As a side note, those who were disappointed by the casting of Samuel L. Jackson should step back and look at the movie again. Yeah, he's not Jules from Pulp Fiction or the new Shaft. He's an intelligent, articulate man of reason who faces uncontrollable obsession. Jackson pulls of the part with masterful acting, and gives the best performance in the movie. Maybe he wasn't on the screen long enough to garner an Oscar nomination, but his performance was noteworthy, even in that it is a departure from his over-the-top repertory. A welcome break from typecasting.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not glitchless
Review: John Corigliano is an adequate, but not great, composer. Still, the music and the prodigy's playing of his part of it are the most pleasing aspects of the film. Some scenes (such as the extreme reaction to infidelity) are a bit hokey. Especially since Italian, French, and German are spoken beautifully by the actors, it's a disappointing surprise to hear mispronunciation of the violin maker's name (Bussotti) and a key word of his inscription ("cuore") by one who supposedly is an expert in the history and construction of violins. Does everyone grasp the horrible meaning of the final line of the film? It made me, the father of three daughters, shudder.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Gorgeous
Review: This movie was beautiful! Everything was perfect and the story was so moving. Movies like this are so rare that when they come along they are either embraced or reviled. This movie deserves to be love dfor a very long time. The movie follows the story of one very special violin. One that was made to be held by the maker's son, played by a prodigy, dissolve a love, and survive a cultural revolution and end up in one person's hands ,but who's hands will it be? Watch this movie to find out and if you want to truly experience it watch it alone when no one will bother you.
Rating:
Summary: The Red Violin
Review: This movie was one of the best films I have seen. Mainly, the most interesting part of the movie was how they told the story. The story of the violin and the mystique around it, being told in the past, gave meaning to the auction taking place in the present. The stories were also linked together in a credulous fashion; the violin, and how it was passed down for centuries, did not rely on miracles for it to be brought to the auction in Montreal. It was also impressive how so many languages can be placed into one movie so fluently. In addition to the wonderful storyline(s), the music was a wonderful plus to the movie, as well. Some of the pieces that were played were incredible! Overall, this movie was a joy to watch. I would strongly recommend this movie to anyone, not just people interested in music.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movie!
Review: I heard this movie while watching the "Oscar Award" in the tv. Right there and then I made a mental note to rent it. Don't know what to expect. And boy, was I in for a surprise! I love it! The story, the mystery around the red violin, the boy wonder! (Kaspar Weiss). I was wondering, where's their Oscar statuette? This movie should have been nominated for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, etc. I highly recommended for you folks to see and maybe buy a copy for your collection, I know I am...
Rating:
Summary: Passion and Music
Review: Fans of the French piece "Tous les Matins du Monde" (Alain Corneau, 1991) will enjoy this creation of French-Canadian Director Francois Girard, whose prior forays into film include documentaries involving Bach Cello suites and television specials starring cellist Yo-Yo Ma. It's no wonder then that Girard was able to capture the sheer majesty and fascination of the violin; in this film we follow this captivation through the centuries. Samuel L. Jackson plays Charles Morritz, an expert in antique musical instruments. The story opens with Morritz' arrival at an auction, where a very significant and unique Bussotti violin is being sold. As the film flashbacks throughout periods of time in the violin's history, we visit its making in Cremona, Italy, its burial in the hands of a young Austrian prodigy, the musical career of a Victorian virtuoso, and its banishment from Revolutionist China. As Morritz studies the famous instrument, he unearths deep secrets about its origin, and must face the ultimate dilemma himself: "What do you do when the thing you most wanted, so perfect, just comes?" The music, composed by John Corigliano, won the 1999 Academy Award for Best Score. Violinist Joshua Bell (who also starred in the 1999 film Music of the Heart, playing himself) provides the music of the Red Violin, and was able to capture the different centuries as if he had played in them himself. The part of the Austrian music teacher Georges Poussin, played by Jean-Luc Bideau, is especially delightful in its comedic undertones; also not to be missed is the tarot card reader who is setting up the story; her role ties the film together and gives it the continuity needed in this kind of format. Overall it is a very engaging film full of passion, music, and history.
Rating: 
Summary: Greta Scacchi's character
Review: I agree with the Amazon.com reviewer, but the subject of my comment is something else: Interesting that so many pepole assume that Victoria is Frederick Pope's mistress. I figured she was his wife. After all, she did inherit the estate. It's unfortunate that people think that sex can't possibly be that good unless it's illicit. (Not that I believe that sex between unmarried partners is illicit-- but marriage gives sex a stamp of propriety, at least in our society.)
Rating:
Summary: Audibly incredible and visually fanastic
Review: I just went to see the live performance of the music by theworld-renowned Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal at Centre Molson inMontreal, to say the least, it was incredible. François Girard (co-writer/director), John Corigliano (composer), Joshua Bell (the actual violinist who performed the violin solos with the LSO for the soundtrack), and Christoph Koncz (12-year old prodigy, Kaspar Weiss in the movie) were all there. Joshua Bell performed incredibly with Charles Dutoit at the helm, and Christoph Koncz was flown in from Germany to perform wonderfully as well. The passionate music in this film is what truely brings it alive. All breathtaking scenes are shot on location around the world using the native language of each area to enhance the reality behind each segment. The pure cinematographic imagination deserves this film wide recognition. Alas, it is a foreign film, therefore it will be barely recognized, in the US, as it deserves to be. END
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