Rating: 
Summary: unforgettable
Review: I'm sure there's probably 11-100 people who will end up seeing this movie, but every one of those people will be glad they were one of the lucky ones who actually get to experience this film.The casting is probably one of the most noticeable elements in the film. Tim Roth, who you would think couldn't pull off anything but the somewhat creepy landscape character transforms himself not only into a leading man, but a top shelf leading man. The smaller characters, although few in lines, make up for it by leaving a lasting impression throughout the course of the film. Beyond the acting-- the mise en scene is impeccable, the coloring and the production design are straight out of a Renoir painting, and that's just what you see. And what you see is nothing compared to what you hear-- for those who like jazz before it became jazz and classical before it became pretentious, in other words, music for music, you'll love this. But for all of you who need just a little bit more-- the recording scene will be there for you. I can only describe this scene as being the best cinematic scene that came out of the 90's. It's beautiful. It really is. Rent it, buy it, see it... do what you have to do, it's worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: Go for the longer Italian version of this magical film
Review: I've adored this movie from the beginning to the Hong Kong DVD to the Canadian DVD and now the Italian DVD which is 169 minutes long and has a second disc with interviews and how the movie was made, etc. This longer version adds even more magic to this unforgettable film. It's as though these wonderful, memorable characters came back to just tell you a few things more. Most of the additional footage is in the first half of the film and no matter how well you know the shortened version, the additions are virtually seamless, making you think they were there all along. For those who question why this film didn't do well originaly, it was released around the time of Cameron's "Titanic" and people had all the wrong expectations for this one. The Italian version (in PAL format) has dialogue and subtitles in both English and Italian for not just the film, but the bonus materials too, so many (well, if you have a multi-region DVD player) people can enjoy. This movie is reason enough to blast the studios for fighting all multi-region "firmware" out there for DVD players. Otherwise, we'd have to go to Italy to see this version. Ridiculous. Oh, if you get it, turn on the subtitles--since they were done in Italy (the Canadian DVD has none), it seems they might be from the original script and you can compare them to the onscreen dialogue which is more idiomatic and character-driven. Now can we please get the long version of "Bagdad Cafe" on DVD? The one that runs on Bravo....
Rating:
Summary: Transforming film
Review: This film speaks to us of our self-imposed limitations, insights, and perceptions. How do we view the world? How does it view us? What are the notes we play and hear from others? Amazing film; guaranteed to take you deeper inside yourself as well as lift you outside yourself with the haunting, exquisite music, camera angles and time-stopping shots. One of my all-time best movie selections.
Rating:
Summary: what a sweet movie!!
Review: I, too, first saw the movie on IFC (one of my favorite channels) but only caught the 2nd half of it. The next day I came back home praying that IFC would show it again, and they did! What can I tell you, I got hooked. I still haven't returned the rental DVD (2nd week now). Needless to say, I'm just about to order the uncut, Italian version. It is a shame that a movie of this caliber is found by accident here in the US, while you get force fed with ads for big budget hollywood b.s. till it starts coming out through your nose. Aside from the director, I think the two men that played a major role to the success of this movie are Ennio Morricone, whose music is simply amazing, and Tim Roth, who shines in this role. As much as I enjoyed the movie, it felt like it could've been made a bit longer. Today I discover that there IS a longer version, yesss! I'll come back to write what I think of it. ciao
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: Another masterpiece from Giuseppe Tornatore. If you've ever watched Cinema paradiso you you can expect a movie as beatiful as that. I wish it never finished and I could sit and watch for ever. There is something different about it, It doesn't let you blink from the beginning to the end.
Certainly deserves 5 stars(Actually 7).
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful from start to finish
Review: A mother gave birth to a baby on a ship crossing the Atlantic. She left him atop a piano to be found. The crew member who found him named him 1900 since he was found on the first day of the first month of 1900. 1900 lives his whole life aboard the ship on which he was born. The Legend of 1900 is the story of his life aboard the ship. This movie is magical. It is enrapturing and has an amazing ability to draw you in from the very beginning with it's magic. 1900 is a phenomenal piano player and the movie comes alive with his music. Only once is 1900 tempted to leave the ship to visit a beautiful young girl who inspired the most beautiful song of the movie. This movie is an experience, not just a movie. You inhale this movie rather than watch it!
Rating: 
Summary: A curious yarn
Review: THE LEGEND OF 1900 has as its protagonist a man named D.B.T.D.L. 1900. The "1900" is indicative of the year he was born and found abandoned on a luxury ocean liner, the "Virginian", after its passengers had disembarked in New York. Let it suffice to say that the other initials stand for the ship's crewman that discovered him, and the brand name on the produce crate in which he was lying. The time frame of this film can be tricky at the beginning unless one pays attention. The "now" is, apparently, after WWII. After pawning his trumpet in an English hockshop, Max (Pruitt Taylor Vince) begs to play it one last time. While doing so, the pawnbroker recognizes the melody as that played on a piano on an old record. He spins it for Max, who identifies the pianist as 1900, whom he met in 1927 when he (Max) signed aboard the Virginian as a band member. In a flashback, he recalls the story of 1900's birth, emphasizing that the man never ever left the liner to set foot on solid land. On being asked where he found the disk, purportedly the master copy of the recording session and the only one in existence, the shop owner says it was hidden in a piano that came off an old hospital ship berthed in the harbor. On going to the dock, Max recognizes the rusting hulk as the Virginian, which is in the process of being loaded with explosives designed to scuttle the vessel. Convinced that 1900 is still aboard and hiding, he insists on a search. Interspersed with this activity are more flashbacks to the 20s and 30s when Max played with 1900 in the ship's main ballroom. THE LEGEND OF 1900 is not a perfect film by any means. The character of The Girl (Melanie Thierry) and her relationship with 1900 are left frustratingly underdeveloped. Sad-faced Tim Roth is wonderful as the enigmatic 1900, who is perhaps too inscrutable. (But, then, legends generally are, or they wouldn't be legends. Remember the old saw, "Familiarity breeds contempt.") Without the monolog by 1900 towards the end when he explains himself to Max, the viewer would be left with precious little of the former to fathom. However, one thing is known for sure - 1900 is a phenomenal musical talent. He can play a melody on the piano, no matter how complex, after having heard it only once. He demonstrates this and more (wow!) during a "dueling pianos" session with Jelly Roll Morton (Clarence Williams III), the "inventor" of jazz, who comes aboard for an Atlantic crossing just so he can challenge the famous upstart. And, in perhaps the film's most entrancing scene, 1900 plays the piano in the deserted ballroom while the ship rolls in the ocean swells. 1900 has unlocked the piano's anchor wheels, so the instrument glides serenely back and forth over the dance floor while managing not to hit anything until ... well, you have to see it. Viewed as a tragic figure, the viewer will understand 1900 when he says, "The world has passed me by 2000 people at a time." The film is bittersweet to be sure, but well done. See it if you're looking for something on the slightly eccentric side of ordinary.
Rating:
Summary: I never wanted this movie to end...
Review: Every now and then, you see a movie that really touches your heart in a way that you will never forget. The Legend of 1900 is at the top of that list. Exquisitely filmed with a beautiful score and amazing performances, you literally cannot take your eyes off the screen. The scene where 1900 plays the piano while it rolls around the ballroom is especially noteworthy because it is absolutely hypnotic. This is a must see film for anyone who loves a sweet yet tragic tale of love, loss and friendship.
Rating:
Summary: A Really Great Movie. Disregard My First Review !!
Review: Excuse me while I go out and beat my head against the wall for a few minutes. When I first tried to watch this movie, I was at a loss as to why there was no dialogue. Only background sounds. I was ready to return it to Blockbuster when suddenly I had a brainstorm--- maybe something needed to be done to the sound, a feature checked, or unchecked on the menu. Well, lo and behold, the menu indicator was on "Music and Details Only", so I checked "Dolby Sound" or whatever the choice was, and it was a miracle. They talked !! I started at the beginning again and thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It was different, --and the main charactor was very admirable, - he made a life choice and stuck to it. Glad I gave it another try.
Rating:
Summary: The Legend of 1900 on DVD
Review: BUY this one. Rent something else. This is actually a slightly tragic story, but there is a scene in this movie that is so funny, that if you don't laugh, call the coroner, because you're dead. That scene alone could have carried the film if the rest of it were a dog. But it's not. The piano music is stunningly brilliant. Except for three snippets shot at the dock, this entire movie is set on board the cruise ship "the Virginian". Yes, they do blow up the ship toward the end, with "six tons of dynamite". But there is so much more reason to see this movie! Okay, maybe the actors aren't your big name over-paid familiar type people. The cast perform outstandingly, without a single instance of "bad actor" distraction! The roles are believably portrayed with the depth of character that might prove too challenging for the Mel Gibson sort of Hollywood actor. The sets weren't cheap, either. Only detectable reason for the "R" rating is the occasional use of the "F-word", when a "screw it" would have sufficed. Too bad, really, because this is otherwise a great PG movie the whole family would enjoy. No nude scenes (but I liked it anyway!) Tech Note: DVD does not offer "English captions for the hearing impaired." You will watch this (at least parts of it) over and over again. The sound track is well worth a second and third listen, too. Five of a possible Five Stars.
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