Rating: 
Summary: the worst movie I have ever seen
Review: this is the worst movie I have ever seen. it was painful to watch the whole thing. the only reason I did end up watching it was I was a captive audience in a film class. this film has no entertainment value at all. I don't know what is wrong with the rest of these people here that like this. this film is the biggest piece of trash I have ever seen.
Rating: 
Summary: Exquisite visual treat
Review: This movie is not for everyone. I took a friend to my second viewing of the film, and he shouted out midway thru the movie, "i know who dies in this movie...the audience!"
Needless to say, it is not a fast paced movie. It is a beautiful treat for the eyes. And I had never liked Mahler until this movie, excellent choice of music.(Its funny how I used to hate my favorite music being put into movies, commercials ie. Carmina Burana, and Satie..Three Gymnopedies..and then a movie introduces me to a piece of music that I love.)
I have seen this movie many times and it prompted me to read the book. Dirk Bogarde is fastidious it this role .
Rating:
Summary: This could have been me!
Review: Thomas Mann's 'Death In Venice' portrays the pathetic and public disintegration of a human being. One witnesses the decayed aftermath of a man whose spirit and health have been ruined by his inability to live and breathe as he was intended. One's sexuality is about the total human being, it's as much about dignity and happiness as it is about sex. And here we witness the downward spiral of an otherwise intelligent, sensitive, charming and creative soul who is slowly eaten away by years of denial and deception, and then suddenly implodes from the pain and pressure of all his yesterdays.
Dirk Bogarde, who plays the lead, Gustav, is one of my favorite actors. His portrayal in the English gay suspence film, 'The Victim' is even better than it is here in 'Death In Venice' (I highly recommend looking into other Bogarde films, he brings an introspection and depth that I find interesting all by itself). In fact, 'The Victim' would be Hitchcock at his very best. And Bjorn Andresen, who plays Tadzio, Gustav's young man of interest, plays his part with the utmost understanding, discretion and sensitivity to make the storyline believable. He's seductive and upper class, and worldly enough to know what's going on with Gustav, far more than even the much older and established Gustav.
As a young man I could imagine no worse future than to have lived my life as a complete lie, and to look back in utter horror and regret at what had been lost and could never be regained. This is the nighmare maze in which Gustav now finds himself. This is the film that told me that the risk of coming out of the closet is zeroed-out when compared to the humiliation and despair of a degraded and wasted life.
I first saw this film years ago, on video. It lacked the luster of the dvd format and quality it is now available on. Next to 'Another Country,' with Rupert Everett, this is the most significant 'gay' film I own. The message is unmistakable. The music from Mahler's 3rd. and 5th. symphonies is absolutely perfect (this was also my introduction to Mahler, who has become my favorite composer.)
I am always looking for a film that will enage me, and be relevant to my life as well as saying something of significance in the larger drama of human experience. This film fills that bill. A must own film for people like me.
Rating:
Summary: A rare gem, this is cinema as Art
Review: Thomas Mann's novella "Death in Venice" is rightly considered one of the greatest books of European literature and this screen adaptation by the Italian maestro is brilliant and also completely faithful to the book unlike most movies based on literature. Every scene in the novella is to be found in the movie and it is a film of stunning visual beauty; this is entirely deliberate as the short story itself is a jewel which deals with the twin subjects of Art and Beauty and the Artist's relationship between the two. The plot follows a famous German composer (this is the only departure from the book--in the novella he was a German writer but Mann's character was based on Mahler anyway so the departure is totally understandable) whose staunchly held views on dignity, self-denial and an austere self-restraint are challenged when he encounters his ideal archetype of Beauty whilst on a holiday in Venice: a pubescent 14 year old Polish boy of aristocratic lineage. Totally smitten the old composer becomes totally obsessed with his Ideal and this leads to tragic consequences. The movie is famous also for the brilliant acting of Bogarte as the composer Gustave von Aschenbach and for the score by Mahler. With minimal dialogue this is a movie to be savoured and certainly not one for the typical Hollywood crow! A rare gem.
Rating:
Summary: A rare gem, this is cinema as Art
Review: Thomas Mann's novella "Death in Venice" is rightly considered one of the greatest books of European literature and this screen adaptation by the Italian maestro is brilliant and also completely faithful to the book unlike most movies based on literature. Every scene in the novella is to be found in the movie and it is a film of stunning visual beauty; this is entirely deliberate as the short story itself is a jewel which deals with the twin subjects of Art and Beauty and the Artist's relationship between the two. The plot follows a famous German composer (this is the only departure from the book--in the novella he was a German writer but Mann's character was based on Mahler anyway so the departure is totally understandable) whose staunchly held views on dignity, self-denial and an austere self-restraint are challenged when he encounters his ideal archetype of Beauty whilst on a holiday in Venice: a pubescent 14 year old Polish boy of aristocratic lineage. Totally smitten the old composer becomes totally obsessed with his Ideal and this leads to tragic consequences. The movie is famous also for the brilliant acting of Bogarte as the composer Gustave von Aschenbach and for the score by Mahler. With minimal dialogue this is a movie to be savoured and certainly not one for the typical Hollywood crow! A rare gem.
Rating: 
Summary: Film of superior visual and emotional beauty
Review: What makes this a great film? Top of the list, of course, is Bogarde's amazing performance. Also, the haunting atmosphere that grabs you from the minute the boat appears through the mist. Meandering scenes and sparse dialogue provide an effective sense of place.It is not about homosexuality but about creativity and beauty and how, to appreciate these, we have to be truthful. Most of all, it is a very emotional film and that's the kind I like. What makes this a bad film? Not much. Some of the flashbacks are puzzlingly clumsy coming after the delicacy of earlier scenes. The dialogue in the flashbacks is like amateur dramatics. Generally, though, 'Death in Venice' is to die for.
Rating:
Summary: Visconti's heart-breaking vision of unrequited love
Review: When I saw "Death In Venice" I was haunted by it's images for weeks. To this day, I cannot think upon this film without again experiencing some of the original feelings that it inspired. This is not, without question, an easy film to watch. The dialogue is sparse and the music is basically limited to Mahler's gorgeous Adagietto from Symphony No. 5. Notwithstanding, never has the marriage of music and film been more vital or more atmospheric. Mahler's haunting music was seemingly composed for this film and the effect is chilling. Dirk Bogarde is perfection as the bitter, vitriolic Gustav Aschenbach, a man so consumed with what he considers ideal beauty that he welcomes his own destruction for a moment in it's company. The young Bjorn Andresen is, too, equally captivating as the object of Aschenbach's obsession. Even though his role is essentially a non-speaking one, what he achieves within the lmiits of the role is extraordinary. The beautiful and elegant Silvana Mangano is on screen too infrequently for my taste, but her contribution is nonetheless wonderful. At times I found myself enveloped by this film, as if though I were a guest of the grand hotel quietly seated on a wicker chair watching these events unfold before me. Venice has never been more tangible on film than it is here. Do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece of a film. One warning, though; "Death in Venice" is a devastating film and it takes it's toll on the viewer. Watch it in the company of loved-ones and on a beautiful, sunny day.
Rating:
Summary: Visconti's heart-breaking vision of unrequited love
Review: When I saw "Death In Venice" I was haunted by it's images for weeks. To this day, I cannot think upon this film without again experiencing some of the original feelings that it inspired. This is not, without question, an easy film to watch. The dialogue is sparse and the music is basically limited to Mahler's gorgeous Adagietto from Symphony No. 5. Notwithstanding, never has the marriage of music and film been more vital or more atmospheric. Mahler's haunting music was seemingly composed for this film and the effect is chilling. Dirk Bogarde is perfection as the bitter, vitriolic Gustav Aschenbach, a man so consumed with what he considers ideal beauty that he welcomes his own destruction for a moment in it's company. The young Bjorn Andresen is, too, equally captivating as the object of Aschenbach's obsession. Even though his role is essentially a non-speaking one, what he achieves within the lmiits of the role is extraordinary. The beautiful and elegant Silvana Mangano is on screen too infrequently for my taste, but her contribution is nonetheless wonderful. At times I found myself enveloped by this film, as if though I were a guest of the grand hotel quietly seated on a wicker chair watching these events unfold before me. Venice has never been more tangible on film than it is here. Do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece of a film. One warning, though; "Death in Venice" is a devastating film and it takes it's toll on the viewer. Watch it in the company of loved-ones and on a beautiful, sunny day.
Rating:
Summary: slow moving but, scenery worth it
Review: While this was a very slow paced movie, I found the scenery very beautiful and worth viewing. Both the city and water scenes, as well as young Bjorn. While it takes forever to get anywhere with the slow plot, the gradual interest and interaction between man and boy are interesting. (I think it would have been nice to see at least one conversation between the two.) I was confused by the ending, and one other time when he touches Tadzio's hair. Was that real or a day dream thing. Truly, a unique movie and the boy was a very nice looking kid. Whether you are "intersted" in boys or not, you can't deny his beauty. Also, if you just want to "see Venice" this slow paced film is worth viewing. Thank goodness for fast-forward. All in all, the film is worth seeing.
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