Rating: 
Summary: I Take Only My Panache
Review: This is a movie about honor, unrequited love and the best swordsman in all of France. It is set in Rennaissance France and concerns the love that Cyrano de Bergerac holds for the lovely Roxanne, and the love she bears for Christian, a soldier in his troupe. Roxanne asks Cyrano to help her begin a relationship with Christian, and out of love Cyrano promises to speak to Christian, who enlists Cyrano's aid to woo Roxanne. Cyrano helps Christian by writing beautiful letters. The lovers tale plays out, even as they are surrounded by intrigue, threat of war, and some great swashbuckling action. Edmond Rostand wrote an incredible tale of honor and this version starring Gerard Depardieu is one of the best presentations of the tale I've seen. Depardieu makes the tragic/heroic character of Cyrano so real that you feel you've lived the story by the end.
Rating:
Summary: What's French for "Marveleous"?
Review: I loved this movie. It's poetic, tragic, romantic and full of wit. Gerard Depardieu's Cyrano was perfect. He wasn't acting, he WAS Cyrano. His love for Roxanne tugged at my heart. It was a noble thing for Cyrano to help Christian woo Roxanne with his beautiful poetry. That kind of giving is a rarity. For fourteen years he kept his secret, all in the name of his love for Roxanne. Even as he was dying, he still denied that it was he who wrote the letters, but Roxanne realized the truth as her eyes were opened to what had been right in front of them for years. I highly recommend this film, whether you speak French or not(Thank goodness for subtitles). It's a tear jerker. And it will make you laugh as well. Cyrano's wit is without rival, especially during the duel scene. The movie was well-acted and well-filmed. And the costumes were great. "Cyrano de Bergerac" is just superb all around.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment in long-awaited release.
Review: I'd been waiting years for this to be released on DVD, it's a fabulous movie, my absolute favorite adaptation of the original play - however, MGM messed up. This edition is a matted letterbox, which means that it's actually a 4:3 TV image with the full image reduced to fit on the screen of a traditional TV screen and has black mattes on the top and bottom. However, it should have been presented in anamorphic widescreen - which gives the same presentation on a 4:3 TV but also fits a widescreen television set. As it is, it will not display properly on a widescreen tv - the image is either stretched out (so that everyone and everything is flat) or is enlarged beyond the border of the tv screen - thus cutting off the subtitles! My wide television has 6 separate display formats but I cannot format a full image on my screen that is not warped or severely cropped. Extremely disappointing. I'm hoping for a new true anamorphic widescreen edition to be released eventually, but at least I have the film for now.
Rating:
Summary: Gerard Depardieu stunning as Cyrano
Review: I've always deeply loved the character of Cyrano de Bergerac and was already familiar with Edmond Rostand's play before I watched this wonderful movie. This superb version directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau brings to the screen the story of Cyrano's unrequited love for his lovely cousin Roxane with all its tragedy and depth. In a certain way one could say that with Cyrano another version of the Beauty and the Beast story is played out, but a truly great one. Gerard Depardieu is one of my favourite actors and he absolutely rises to the challenge of playing Cyrano's character. Which is an eerie sensation for the viewer, because Depardieu completely becomes Cyrano! He brilliantly portrays the complexity and many facets of this character thus giving us an unforgettable cinematic experience. I also loved Anne Brochet's witty and tender performance as Roxane, the lady of Cyrano's heart. Further an excellent supporting cast here as well. A truly fast paced, excellent, poignant movie, with great costumes and a beautiful music score. Directed with intelligence, filled with many unforgettable scenes and sparkling wit. But first and foremost of all, it's Gerard Depardieu's superlative performance which carries this version of Cyrano for me!
Rating:
Summary: "my elegance is interior"
Review: Sumptuous and poetic, this is a fabulous telling of Edmond Rostand's blank verse play, adapted for the screen by director Jean-Paul Rappeneau, with English subtitles by Anthony Burgess that are superb; This is not only a great film to watch, but a great one to read.
Gerard Depardieu is perfect as Cyrano. One of the most versatile actors alive, here he gives a many-layered, robust performance, with lots of sword fights, lots of wit, and lots of heart.
A winner of numerous international awards, "Cyrano" was a lavish production by French filmmaking standards, and we get authentic looking costumes and sets depicting 17th century Paris (the theater, with its chandeliers full of candles, is an amazing re-creation), cinematography that is a visual delight by Pierre Lhomme, and a lovely score by Jean-Claude Petit. Roxane, played by the stunning Anne Brochet, is in love with Christian's form and Cyrano's soul, so typical of women throughout the ages, ever yearning for "the perfect man", both sensitive poet, as well as impetuous lover; she goads Christian into speaking and writing his love for her, and does not realize it is Cyrano who is responding. Vincent Perez is excellent as Christian...this part was what put him on the cinematic map, which he cemented two years later as the romantic lead in the extraordinary "Indochine", another film that should not be missed.
This is a film that has many marvelous aspects, but two that tower over everything, the language, and Depardieu. Total running time is 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Rating:
Summary: Cyrano est tres bon
Review: Cyrano de Bergerac is a story of a hidden love, one so deep that the lover gives up his life's happiness to please the woman he adores. This man is the greatest sword fighter in all of France, yet he fights with pain in his heart and despair by his grand nose. The language adds to the eternal and elegant nature of the film. A true classic.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent Filmmaking
Review: I have waited for this film in digital format since the day I figured out how to work the remote on my DVD player. What a gorgeous piece of work. Depardieu's Oscar-nominated performance should have been his Oscar-winning performance (with apologies to Jeremy Irons). It is just what you want a movie to be--engaging, escapist, and completely entertaining. One of my top three favorite movies of all time.
Rating: 
Summary: The definitve version of the Edmond Rostand play.
Review: Cyrano De Bergerac has been performed countless times on film and stage, but no actor brings the character to life more so than Gerard Depardieu. All the things I loved about the play since I read it in junior high, have been transformed into movie magic. Cyrano is a heroic tale of a man who has been cursed with a large nose, but blessed with the wit and sensitivity of a poet. More importantly though, its a love story. A story about a 17th century Gascony cadet, who cherishes words and wit, excells to be the best at everything, and strikes fear into the hearts of men who dare stare at his nose. He is in love with his cousin Roxanne, who to has a great love for words and wit. However, she is in love with another cadet named Christian, who is handsome, also in love with Roxanne, yet tongue-tied. Cyrano, feeling fate is against him, decides to help Christian become a mighty hero of romance. With Cyrano's words Roxanne falls deeper in love with Christian. So in love that she forgets how handsome he is and now loves him for his soul. Cyrano, knowing this, and Christian also knowing that Cyrano is madly in love with Roxanne, decides to tell all to Roxanne. But again fate denies Cyrano the chance, for Christian dies during a siege by the Spanish army. With Christian dead how can Roxanne believe Cyrano? Roxanne goes into mouring and not until 14 years later, she finally realizes that it was Cyrano's words and soul that captivated her. She passionatley confesses her love to him, but alas fate mocks Cyrano again for death is but a moment away. The film is acted with such grace, that you feel the characters words in your heart. Filmed in beautifull 17th century French settings with great attention to detail and a score that would make John Williams envy. Its easy to see why this version is the definitive version of the famous play. It would be a 5 star DVD if it were not for the lack of special features.
Rating:
Summary: A one-man tour de force of acting
Review: Rappeneau and Carriere have created the perfect canvas for the artistry of Depardieu. Simply put, he IS Cyrano: masculine, chivalrous, impassioned, literate and rueful. The air truly is thin where Depardieu works, and this magnificent performance proves it.
Rating:
Summary: Un film de coeur!
Review: In my opinion this is one of the greatest films ever taken from literature and easily one of Depardieu's most impressive performances. He is really astounding in this role. Apart from about two pages, the lines of the film follow the exact lines of Rostand's text, so basically the whole movie is in verse. You can only really appreciate that if you are fluent in French since the subtitles do not quite follow. This is a touching and exciting film about compassion, love, wit, sacrifice, dispair, filled with heart and extremely true to the original play.
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