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Cinema Paradiso
Limited Collector's Edition
Studio: Miramax/Genius Products
Year: 1988
Rated: R
Film Length: 174 minutes (Director's Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 16X9 Enhanced Widescreen (1.66:1)
Subtitles: English & Spanish
Reviewer's Note: Though my present plans are not to return to
a full-time reviewer's position, I do enjoy covering titles that greatly interest
me. In this case, the resurgence of one one of my all-time favorite foreign
films. I have decided to revisit this title with comments that were included in
my original 2003 review.
A celebration of youth, friendship,
and the everlasting magic of the movies
Truly Magnificent!
If I could pick the one single thing I have been
most passionate of in my lifetime it would be the
love of film. Ever since I was a child I have been
held captive by the images I have seen on the silver
screen. My teen years were spent next to an 8mm
movie projector as I tried to recreate the movie
house experience in my home. I even made my own
home movie shorts using my parent's 8mm camera.
Now as an adult I spend much of my time still looking
at celluloid images on my Home Theater system. It
is for these reasons that I fully connected with
Cinema Paradiso, an Italian film about a
young boy's journey into the life of the cinema that
can best be described as pure "movie magic."
Set in a small town in Sicily we meet a young boy named
Salvatore (or "Toto") (Salvatore Cascio) who spends his afternoons
watching films at the village's only local film house. Every Friday
night the villagers migrate to this small Cinema to be taken away
from their daily problems. Salvatore isn't content to simply sit amongst
the audience and watch the film on the screen. He becomes friendly
with the projectionist Alfredo (Philippe Noiret) who teaches him the
trade and soon becomes a life-long friend.
When the Cinema Paradiso burns down, Salvatore finds
himself looking after Alfredo. Now as a young man, Salvatore
becomes the new head projectionist. He soon falls in love
with a local girl named Elena (Agnese Nano). Alfredo, not
keen on Salvatore's romance, advises the young man to
leave his home town and never return again. Salvatore takes
the advice and travels to Rome to further his career.
Years later the middle aged Salvatore (Jacques Perrin) returns
home for the funeral of his deceased friend. In the process
Salvatore rediscovers his lost love. I dare anyone not to be
emotionally moved by the final moments of this film.
Theatrical Version vs. Director's Cut
It is my understanding that when Cinema Paradiso was
released in 1988, Italian movie-goers were treated to a
much longer cut of the film than what was shown to North
American audiences. A few years back, a new version
incorporating 51 minutes of never-before-seen footage had
been reconstructed for a Miramax DVD release.
Some have scoffed at this Director's Cut which ruins the
"mystery" of Salvatore's lost romance. I personally prefer
this version as it gives us a completed story of love lost
and found. At nearly 3 hours in length, the Director's cut never
seemed badly paced. This film has been restored quite well
to the point that I was unable to distinguish the new material
from the original.
How is the transfer?
One would expect that for a brand-new boxed set being
released under a new label, that some sort of major restoration
effort would have gone into this release. Sadly, this does not
appear to be the case. My views on this transfer do not differ
much than what I had written for the 2003 Miramax DVD release.
Generally, the transfer looks very good, though certainly not
to what I would have expected for this new DVD. There is a
noticeable amount of film blemish littered throughout. Instead
of having that sharp quality to it, overall picture image looks a
tad soft and unfocussed. The film has a dated look to it with colors
that look slightly washed out.
The Director's Cut contains a new Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack
that is a little uneven with its sound direction. Audio is well
presented across the front channels with very distinct stereo
separation. Surprisingly, this re-recorded track firmly places
dialogue in the center channel with absolutely no bleeding. There
are also times that dialogue cleverly moves across the front
channels left and right. Problem is, the center channel sort of
becomes a "catch-all" for most of the film's effect noises. The
rears occasionally help support Ennio Morricone's beautiful score
or gives reverb to the scenes inside Cinema Paradiso.
Special Features
Cinema Paradiso has been re-released as a boxed set
from a company called Genius Products. The box is quite
handsome and opens up to reveal the 2-Disc deluxe edition
along with a CD of the film's original soundtrack by Composer Ennio
Morricone.
There are also reproductions of one sheet posters and lobby
cards included in its own envelope.
Presented on two discs, you have the opportunity to watch
the Director's cut or the original 1988 version. Note that only
the new version contains a 5.1 track,while the original retains
a normal surround track and an added French language track.
New to this DVD is commentary featuring Director Giuseppe
Tornatore along with Italian film expert Millicent Marcus. This
commentary is featured on the theatrical version only.
Two new documentaries are also included here. Exploring
a Timeless Classic is a 15 minute look at the magic behind
the film and features comments by Director Giuseppe Tornatore
and film critics. Cinema Paradiso Style is a wonderful look
at how Little Italy NY rolls out the carpet for its outdoor viewing
of their favorite film.
Also included is Cucina Paradiso, a 21-minute Food Network
tribute from Nappa, featuring Michael Chiarello, who gives you lots
of recipes for a successful outdoor screening.
Final Thoughts
Is it worth purchasing this new boxed set that can be had for
just under $30?
That depends.
If you already own the 2003 Miramax release, there doesn't
seem to be any significant improvements in transfer quality.
However, if you are as huge a fan of this film as I am, the
boxed set does offer director's commentary and some nice
extras including the soundtrack CD and new documentaries.
Whether it is worthy of spending $30 for the same transfer
and these extras is entirely up to you.
Cinema Paradiso is absolutely delightful. It is a celebration of
everything film is about. I can sit here for hours and tell you
how great a film this is, but yet everything I say would probably
be an understatement.
I implore everyone who loves film as much as I know you all
do to go out and at least rent this utterly moving story. It is
one of the finest films I have ever had the pleasure to watch.
For anyone that loves film -- this is a film you will love!
Release Date: November 7, 2006
Images are for illustrative purposes only and may not represent
true picture quality or proper aspect ratio
Edited by Ronald Epstein - 8/5/2009 at 02:22 pm GMT
