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Director: Elia Suleiman
ISBN: B0009IWFD8
DVD
Actor(s): Ahmad Ayadi, Samih Bathish, Amer Daher, Daher Daher, Ziad Daniel
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: Sold with pride and shipped with confirmation for US addresses. ALL DISKS ARE CHECKED PRIOR TO LISTINGS. EX LIBRARY copy with library markings.
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Customer Reviews
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awesome and deep
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-10-29
Did not know what to expect from such a title... It is a layer os messages in abstract and direct displays in this fun and wacky film, Recomend it tells many little stories of life under occupation.
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"That's Enough. Stop It Now" ~ The Urgent Need For A Lasting Peace
Rating  (4)
Date: 2008-07-28
2 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
Synopsis: The film begins with Santa Claus (or a Gentile dressed as Santa) running frantically up a hill in Nazareth with three teenage Arab boys chasing him with the intention of killing this universally recognized symbol of the Christian faith (or more specifically the United States).
A man makes frequent trips out his front door carrying a bag of trash which he throws over the fence into his neighbor's garden. When he spots the neighbor throwing the debris back into his yard he confronts her and lectures her on personal responsibility and communication skills.
A red balloon adorned with the face of Yasser Arafat floats over an Israeli check point, into the old city of Jerusalem, landing atop the Dome of the Rock mosque.
Critique: These are just a few of the surreal, symbolist sequences presented by director Elia Suleiman in the '02 message movie `Divine Intervention'. I didn't know anything about this movie before viewing it except that it dealt with the ongoing social/political situation in the Middle East.
From the title I mistakenly assumed that it was going to be presented from the Jewish perspective. However once into the film I found it personally and profoundly relevant and somewhat disturbing to discover that the hope and longing for "Divine Intervention" doesn't solely reside in the arena of the Christian and Jewish faiths. The fact that I hadn't considered the possibility that the Arab community hopes and dreams for the same thing was humbling and somewhat telling.
`Divine Intervention" opened my mind to the realization of my spiritual/political myopia and if for no other reason that fact makes this film worth viewing. It does move along too slowly for the American audience and the surreal, symbolist nature of the storyline will not attract a large following of avid viewers. Be that as it may the Palestinian angst and anger is magnificently conveyed and the image of the pot on the stove about to boil over sends a message of urgency and concern that we ignore at our own peril.
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Utter tripe
Rating  (1)
Date: 2008-07-05
1 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
This film is marketed as a Jackie Chan type comedy via the previews. The reason why is this film is an artsy-fartsy piece of garbage. If you like watching a man sit at his breakfast table while he stares at the camera for five minutes and find deep meaning from scenes like that then this film is for you. The so-called provocative interesting images this film has wouldn't fill a single music video. If you love foreign movies and film do yourself a favor and pass on this deceptively marketed film which has about as much substance as watching paint dry on a wall. You've been warned.
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Worst movie ever
Rating (1)
Date: 2007-11-18
4 out of 9 customers found this reveiw helpful
This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I bought it in order to study arabic, and was distraught to find very little dialogue. The movie isn't a comedy, as the reviews and trailer would make you think. It actually gets very boring, as it repeats the same scenes over...and over...and....over........ Overall, this movie seems to be a rather pathetic attempt by a film-maker to show how mundane life in Israel-occupied Palestine is. It's propaganda, and not very good propaganda at that.
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Life in Palestine
Rating (5)
Date: 2007-09-17
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
This film is exceptional! For those who wish to reflect upon life in Palestine under Israeli military occupation, this film is a must. See my full length article: "Palestinian Life and Politics as Feature Length Cinema." Holy Land Studies 2.1 (2003): 109-14.
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Director: Alex van Warmerdam
ISBN: B000A88ESM
DVD
Actor(s): Teresa Berganza, Johan Leysen, Halina Reijn, Jacob Derwig, Frank Lammers
Audience Rating: Unrated
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: Sold with pride and shipped with confirmation for US addresses. ALL DISKS ARE CHECKED PRIOR TO LISTINGS. EX LIBRARY copy with library markings.
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Customer Reviews
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eeh . . .
Rating  (3)
Date: 2006-02-18
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
The first 45 minutes of this film is rapidly engaging and very, very good which makes it worth the three star rating I gave it. Jacob and Marie find themselves in one interesting predicament after another but once they reach Spain and discover their Uncle had passed away the movie totally disengrates into this stupid tale of incestuous jealousy, violence and stupid actions. What a waste of what could have been a promising film.
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Grimm ~ The Title Says It All
Rating (1)
Date: 2005-12-27
4 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
Note: Dutch and Spanish with English subtitles.
Jacob (Jacob Derwig) and his sister Maria (Halina Reijin) are young adults still living at home with their incredibly poor parents. One day their Father leads them out into the forest to gather wood and abandons them there. He leaves a note behind advising them to travel to Spain to visit their uncle. And so their journey begins.
Left with absolutely nothing they must fend for themselves the best they can. They resort to stealing, robbing, prostitution and even murder in order to survive. They finally arrive at their destination only to discover that their aunt and uncle have died in an accident. Believe it or not, things only get worse from there on.
Grimm indeed. Apparently director Alex van Warmerdam was attempting to create a modern day fairytale ala the Brothers Grimm. I will leave the decision as to whether he failed or succeeded in this task up to those more well versed in the writings of these famous siblings. However as far as rating this film on its entertainment value I have to say he failed miserably. The main characters weren't very likeable and the choices they make along the way make them even more undesirable. A pointless film from beginning to end. Pass on this one.
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I guess I just needed more breadcrumbs to guide me back...
Rating (4)
Date: 2005-12-11
4 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
As I continue to read more and more dedicated, intelligent graphic novels, I cannot help but think that perhaps director Alex van Warmerdam didn't read a couple prior to creating this film. From the opening sequences until the end of this film, you cannot help but feel a sense of whimsy, the fantastical, and enchantment. From our hopeless characters to the sporadic plot, Warmerdam has created a film in which the symbolic references and fairy tale connections isn't laid out in front of you, but instead deeply rooted within the chaos of Grimm for only those who are truly dedicated can find them. He buries them very deep within his work, but with some patience, a great eye, and a passion for the human genre element, you too will see the strength of Warmerdam's work. Grimm is not a masterpiece by far. In fact, it isn't one of the greatest films that I have seen, but it did burst from the seams with potential.
Warmerdam has quite the ability to build a very surreal world, place unknowing (and sometimes unwilling) characters into the mix, and give us bleak references to pop-children's culture. He shows us this with Grimm. For those of you die hard fairy tale fanatics, you may not like this story. It is not one that the average film viewer will enjoy. Grimm takes some time getting used to. It takes some time developing the characters, and it takes quite a bit of time giving us its story. It is never rushed (though sometimes we wish it were quicker), and eventually completes with a message of family, strength, and sibling love. Warmerdam does a great job of giving us two great navigators through his story with Jacob and Maria. Two completely different characters by nature, but both still have one passion in their eyes, to keep their friendship and family dynamic together. These two are the quintessential "Hansel & Gretel" as they voyage through the world of Spain to discover, not only themselves, but also how cruel the real world can be. While their interweaving stories could/should have been developed deeper with stronger bonds between them and the other characters in this film, Warmerdam has done a superb job of giving us their sole stories and emotions. If you solely watch just Jacob and Maria throughout this film, you will see such a strong human element and the sporadic events that occur to them as they continue their perilous journey. I applaud Warmerdam for his work on these two characters because they lead us through the story. We feel for them, we grow with them, we rally behind them near the end, so in essence, we enjoy these characters. Alas, his lacking story structure is the only hurdle that is tough to cross.
Warmerdam interweaves so many different fairy tale-esque moments throughout the story that you begin to loose focus of the central themes. It reminded me of a third-grade story in which the young child forgot to do his homework and begins his report on "Hansel & Gretel" and inadvertently brings in moments from "Peter Pan", "Little Red Riding Hood", and "Jack & the Beanstalk" unknowingly. As the class laughs, you cannot help but think of how interesting a story like that would be. I think Warmerdam did his homework, brought several different childish stories together, but somehow never quite completed them. He would throw in segments of several different childhood genres that we, the audience, never had the opportunity to enjoy the one we were on. This is where Warmerdam lost me. I wanted to enjoy the different stories. I wanted to see how our not-so-young heroines would react to the different situations, but we never had that opportunity. He would begin a story, but never finish or at least create a strong enough segway to the next moment. Warmerdam had a great concept with this film, but never was able to pull his ideas together. Coupled with a horrible choice of music selection, Warmerdam never quite built the darkness surrounding Grimm. That is what ultimately hurt this picture.
Overall, Warmerdam did a decent job with overall final product of this film. Grimm is not a film for everyone, but for those that enjoy moments of David Lynch coupled with themes of childhood fairy tales. It is a dark story that never quite makes you laugh but instead attempts to use shocking cinematography to bring you this surreal world that we never quite believe exists. Warmerdam has created this mythological world that could be right in your backyard, but spooky enough to believe it came from your imagination. His characters were strong, but his story lacked decent connection. I found myself, like Jacob and Maria, lost during several of the scenes only to reconnect later during the film. I guess I just needed more breadcrumbs to guide me back...
Grade: **** out of *****
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Director: Alejandro Gamboa
ISBN: B000CCD1RK
DVD
Actor(s): Andrés García, Cecilia Gabriela, Mariana Ávila, Elizabeth Valdez, Ricardo Palacio
Audience Rating: Unrated
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: Sold with pride and shipped with confirmation for US addresses. ALL DISKS ARE CHECKED PRIOR TO LISTINGS. EX LIBRARY copy with library markings.
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by (Cinematographer: Yoichi Shiga) (Producer: John O'Donnell) (Producer: Kiyoshi Sugiyama) (Producer: Stephanie Shalofsky) (Producer: Tom Wayland) (Producer: Tomoyuki Imai) (Writer: Barry Banner) (Writer: Sadayuki Murai) (Writer: Taku Mayumura)
Director: Kazuya Konaka
ISBN: B000063JZJ
DVD
Actor(s): Masami Horiuchi, Dai Kanai, Ken Nishida, Chiharu Nîyama, Yasue Sato
Audience Rating: Unrated
Condition: Used: Like New
Comments: DVD and original case in like new condition. From private collection. ALL DISKS ARE CHECKED PRIOR TO LISTINGS.
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Customer Reviews
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The storyline was interesting but it did not meet my expectations
Rating (1)
Date: 2007-03-12
0 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
This movie had an interesting storyline. So I bought it. But it did not meet my expectations. I did not even stand watching it 'till the end.
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An interesting little movie
Rating (4)
Date: 2006-02-25
6 out of 9 customers found this reveiw helpful
This movie is surprisingly good and a little less confusing than the average Japanese flick. The two main heroines are pleasing to the eye and effects are decent, the only real problem I have is with the transfer...rather subdued colours and lacking a little clarity.The rating would have been higher with a quality transfer..I'm not going to bother going into any plot details, if you like slightly off-kilter Japanese SF you will like it...especially if you have a roving eye for the Asian ladies.
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Sophisticated Sci FI!
Rating (3)
Date: 2003-11-21
14 out of 14 customers found this reveiw helpful
The Dimension Travelers is a decent film which explores the posability of alternate realites.The film centers around a school girl Midori (played by Chiharu Niiyama) who begins to find her life and friends routine and boring, until she meets a new student at her school Mayumi. The girls connect and become fast friends. Eventually Mayumi confesses that she is a dimension traveler, which allows her to enter alternate realites by the sheer force of imagining them with her mind. Mayumi also reveals that Midori is a dimesnsion traveler, and soon Midori is caught up in the ability to switch her realities. As she switches realities, Midori soon discovers that not all are safe. Both to her and the worlds in general. In one reality she is a mental patient in a psychatric hospital. In another the people of the world are being controlled by a mind altering device, and Midori is part of a resistance force. Soon the ability to jump into other realities becomes a problem for both the girls and a third dimension traveler. The worlds begin colliding with one another creating chaos and destruction. The three travelers discover what the problem is in the end and have to make a sacrifice in order to save the realities. I don't want to spoil the film for you, so I'll leave the rest for you to see. The Dimension Travelers is an intelligent story, and was written by the same screenwriter of the anime movie Perfect Blue. The film plays out more like a psychological tease leaving the viewer to decide if Midori is really switching into alternate dimensions, or if she's just plain crazy. The special effects are average, save the reality where Midori is a freedom fighter. The two leads, Midori and Mayumi, do a good job with their roles and help convey the urgency of each reality. Also, the soundtrack fits the film with it's hauntingly Sci FI sound accompanied by a female vocalist. The tech aspects of the DVD include both a Japanese and English dubbed version.(English dub is done well on this one) Movie tralier, a bio on Chiharu Niiyama, character notes and some DVD-ROM features. I did like this film and have watched it more than once. However, I only gave it a three, because the film moves along slowly, and the disc quality could have been better. This edition appears to have been copied form a laser disc where a slight glitch appears, also there are a few spots where the color looks a little too green. This film is not for everyone, but if you like psychological teasers, anime that makes you think, or non-action oriented Sci FI, you might just enjoy this film. It's worth a watch if you fit into any of those three categories. Just don't expect a Matrix type film. It's definately not that.
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by (Composer: Masamichi Amano) (Composer: Fumitaka Anzai)
ISBN: B0000C2IWW
DVD
Actor(s): Ken Ogata, Shigeru Chiba, Toshio Furukawa, Tessho Genda, Fumi Hirano
Audience Rating: Unrated
Condition: Used: Like New
Comments: Sold with pride and shipped with confirmation for US addresses. DVD and original case in like new condition. From private collection. ALL DISKS ARE CHECKED PRIOR TO LISTINGS.
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Customer Reviews
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What on (Insert name of planet)?
Rating (4)
Date: 2006-02-09
1 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
The He-Man Rejects face off against the Flash-Gorden Fan club in a very watchable film.
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The best of the UY movies
Rating (5)
Date: 2005-10-20
0 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
When everyone in Tomobiki receives invitations for Ataru's wedding, and Lum's not the bride, it doesn't take much to get everyone into an uproar. Things don't get better when it turns out that Ataru's bride-to-be is another alien princess.
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Gotta love the petals
Rating (4)
Date: 2004-03-07
4 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
"Only You" is probably one of my favorite Urusei Yatsura movies, tied along with "Beautiful Dreamer" and "The Final Chapter". If you're a casual viewer, you might want to check out the TV series and get to know the characters before diving into this one. But if you're an established UY fan, then this will be a real treat.
The movie puts the usual slapstick comedy in the back, and prefers to focus on the more heartwrenching scenes. Don't get me wrong, there are enough things to laugh at, such as the UY trademark subtle face expressions (of which Ataru is a master at), good ol' tiger-bull Rei's obliviousness, and the monk Cherry's appearances -- but the primary focus of the film is set on scenes that squeezes your heart.
And the scenes are, fortunately, quite well done. I'm a man, and I'm not afraid to admit that the "Lum in space" scene with "Lum no Ballad" playing in the background got me choked up -- and I'm usually quite apathetic to scenes like that in movies. Ataru watching with fear and concern for Lum in the back of a fighter jet is another tug. And of course, the final scene at the end alone is worth the time and money for any long time UY fans -- those that've seen the movie will know exactly what I'm talking about.
Unfortunately, as with any movie, there tend to be a few flaws. For one, the humans don't really get to do anything. This includes Mendou, Shinobu, Megane & Fan club, Cherry, and especially Sakura. Sure, Mendou, Shinobu, and Megane fare better than the others, but for the better part of the movie, they were just "there" for the sake of appearances. Cherry gets a bit of spotlight early on, but then disappears. I get the feeling that Sakura was just brought in to appease the Sakura fans since she had a few lines but did absolutely nothing else.
On the other hand, if you're a fan of the aliens (especially Benten), then you're in for a treat. Benten shows up A LOT, Oyuki gets some scenes, and even Rei jumps into the action. Ran also helps out, as do Mr. Invader himself. You'll even hear a few lines from the Crow Princess, Kurama.
Another flaw would be the characterization of Ellie. For a main villain, she seemed rather one-dimensional. Her design is good, and she can definitely compete with the other UY females in terms of beauty.... but when it comes to personality, we aren't given much about her. Reasons for why she did her malicious deeds are never explained, and nothing is said about how she came to be. And worse of all, just when we're about to get a glimpse of the surface below, the movie's about over. Sigh.
All in all, if you 1) are familar with Urusei Yatsura and its characters, 2) are a big fan of the Lum+Ataru relationship (and who isn't?), and 3) don't mind a few flaws, then you need to see this movie, no questions asked.
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Always a great anime classic....
Rating (5)
Date: 2003-12-26
2 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
But I have a problem with this DVD. This would have been a GREAT DVD If Mr. Woodhouse would have put a WIDESCREEN version out, and had dropped the assinine dub. Diddn't the Dub of episode one teach him anything? Well, at least UY is still coming out on DVD, so I guess I should be somewhat greateful.
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Urusei Yatsura Movie - Only You
Rating (4)
Date: 2003-09-06
3 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
I have this movie on japanese laserdisc.
If you're a fan of Tahahashi Rumiko and in particular the Urusai Yatsura series this is a must have.
UY is a twist on the Von Daniken theory where most of the aliens are beings from japanese folklore, Oni, Tengu and yuki-onna.
The story opens with every regular character receiving an invitation to the wedding beween Ataru and someone called Elle. The only person happy about the news Is Ataru though he doesn't remember her.(he won a game of shadow tag when he was 6 which is tantamont to being eng
aged on her world).
Elle turns out to be the Queen of the Rose star world, Lum who regards herself as Ataru's wife decides not take this lying down and takes all the regulars to her home world the Oni star and officially marry him first. But, on the way they are intercepted by the Rose star fleet and Ataru is liberated by rose star agent during which he says things over an open mike that discourage anyone from the Oni world from wanting him back.
How will Lum react?
As I haven"t seen the DVD I can't comment on the translation or the english voice acting or extras. and they may not be calling it the Rose star.....
This film eatures a lot of the serious to outrageous humor that was the trademrk of the UY series. It's the second best of the 6 UY movies after Beautiful Dreamer, already available on DVD.
4 stars as it's very good for what it is but less appeal for people who arenot familiar with UY or anime.
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by (Producer: Robin Scott) (Writer: Antonio Ghislanzoni) (Writer: August Mariette Bey) (Writer: Camille du Locle)
Director: Derek Bailey
ISBN: B00002NDLW
DVD
Actor(s): Paata Burchuladze, Ghena Dimitrova, Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Chiara, Nicolai Ghiaurov
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: Sold with pride and shipped with confirmation for US addresses. EX Library DVD in very good viewing condition. ALL DISKS ARE CHECKED PRIOR TO LISTING. Moderate wear on the cover.
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Customer Reviews
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Forgettable, but has its strong points
Rating (3)
Date: 2005-05-13
6 out of 7 customers found this reveiw helpful
CRITICISM:
1. If you know the opera very well and can handle the Italian, tough. There's no way to get Italian subtitles (on either the PAL or the NTSC version).
2. The "grand march" (musically intended to be the most magical moment of this opera) was inanely choreographed. According to the libretto, they're supposed to be bringing in "the spoils of war," as they dance to the music. Instead we have a bunch of guys dragging giant statues around the stage with ropes. The famous "Dance of the Moorish Slaves" was also ineptly done, but that has been adequately discussed by other reviewers.
3. Pavarotti does indeed have weight problems. He's so fat in this performance, it's distracting.
4. The quality of the audio recording, if you do yourself right with some quality headphones and listen to it carefully, is frequently poor. The attentive listener can hear pops, clunking, clanking, coughing, page turning, etc. (Of course, to be fair, this WAS recorded live.) This is something you'll want to know if you're an aural purist.
PRAISE:
1. Singingwise, the performers are at their peak.
2. With the exception of the lack of Italian, the subtitles were well brought off: accurate and literate.
3. Considering the limitations of their situation, the cameramen did an excellent job. But amazing work on their part doesn't necessarily mean it's quality viewing.
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not perfect, but not trash, either
Rating (4)
Date: 2005-05-11
6 out of 6 customers found this reveiw helpful
First off, I must address the reviewer who criticized the nude women in Amneris' bath scene. This production was staged in Italy, where the native population does not giggle like a schoolgirl at the sight of a woman's bare breast. The nude women, all chosen according to the model of classic female beauty, added an element of sensousness, not lewdness. If they were so lewd, why would they cover up when the group of small boys burst onto the stage?
As other reviewers have stated, this production has its ups and downs. This is the first time I have seen a taped Pavarotti stage performance, and boy, he makes Ramon Vargas look like the greatest actor alive. Once, Martina Arroyo (herself a spectacular Aida) was once asked, in an interview, if it was detrimental to have a very heavy opera singer onstage. Her response was quite intelligent; she said it depended on how the singer moved. Without mentioning names, she stated that when you see some singers, all you think is "all that weight." Well, she could well have been thinking of Pavarotti. Half the time, when the camera zooms in, we see him panting like a tired dog. It doesn't help that he licks his lips like one, a very course habit for the operatic stage.
In addition to his weight issues, Pavarotti seems to feel incredibly lost if he is onstage for more than a few seconds without singing. Just witness him during the triumphal march. As for his singing, it is good, but not heroic, and Radames calls for both.
Maria Chiara is not a first-rate Aida, but I happen to like her interpretation. For the person who likened her to a figure slithering in the shadows, think about this: You are taken captive, the daughter of a King. You wonder from day to day if it will be your last. Furthermore, you soon discover that you are at the mercy of the whims of a jealous, scorned captor. To add insult to injury, your father denounces you after he asks you to do the impossible. Well, in this light, would it have been proper for any Aida to prance regally across the stage?
As Amneris, Ghena Dimitrova looks like Cher on the Nile. Really, her makeup looks like it was applied by a drag queen, thought the effect is fabulous. Dimitrova has some patchy moments, but after a rather wooden presence in Act I, she really catches fire in Act II. The basic tone and projection is commendable for a non-Italian singer. When she experiences a metanoia in the judgment scene, we really believe it.
I also loved Juan Pons as Amonastro. We have a lot of good baritones today, but his Amonastro is polished, and again a believable character.
As for the costumes, they leave something to be desired. For such a monumental staging, they could have given us the look and feel of classic Egypt, without overdoing it. Instead, what we get is a mostly drab palatte.
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Visually interesting, poor acting
Rating (3)
Date: 2004-09-26
2 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
I found this a very interesting presentation of a very popular and famous opera. Of course, we all know that Aida is to take place in Egypt, however, I wasn't sure if Egypt was the country in which the story was taking place, or exactly which time period it was taking place in. Not one bit of the costuming (or the sets) appeared Egyptian in the slightest degree, and strange as it sounds, the entire opera seemed to be more something from the "Arabian Nights" than the days of the Pharoah's. Putting that aside, visually, the opera was stunning and very beautiful. Most of the costumes did the singers proud, making them really appear glamorous. The only exception was, of course, Pavarotti, and his costume looked like it was made in "Desert Sands Tent Shop." The oriental shoulder pads did little to even out his very LARGE frame. He could have actually worn Jessye Norman's costume for Sieglinde in Walkure (done by the MET) and it would have looked almost the same, excepting it was in brown and this in blue. The basic figure was almost the same as Norman at that time.
The sound wasn't bad either, and we were not "treated" to the strange pianissimo at the end of Celeste Aida we are greeted with in the recording released on Decca of this same performance. I found the sound quite clear, and only very slightly did it seem unbalanced, and only from time to time. It was never a distraction.
The distraction was firstly the super bad acting of most of the singers, and I mean most of them. Pavarotti was his wooden self with no sense of character, or anything, for that matter. He sang well, but without anything very dramatic being conveyed. Chiara sounded actually way better in the DVD live performance recording than she did in the studio one of this same performance. There she was more than lifeless and her penetrating
high notes really were awful. Here, however, she sang quite fine, and even though those same high notes were a bit too brilliant and at times almost shrill, they were fine. The problem with her performance is she is about the most boring person I have ever seen on stage. Pavarotti can't act, but he is seldom boring (even just being himself gives an audience a lot). Her actions consisted of rising one arm, then two; in moments of high drama she would move which ever arm more quickly, but the basic movements never changed. She had what Wagner called "eternal swimming motions" which he thought were horrible. I happen to agree. She always made her stage entrances as if she were frightened we might know she were there. She reminded me of a character from Rikki Tikki Tavi who would slink around the walls of the room and never actually dare to enter the center of it. One bit of stage business that really was affective was having her enter the famous Nile Scene by boat. Here, and only here, was her "fear of being seen" affective. Other than that, it was a constant annoyance.
The other characters were completely forgettable, as they are in most every performance. Who ever remembers who plays the King, or the high priest? Few of us. However, we do appreciate when they are affective in the scenes they are in. In this case, they were affective, very affective, but like all minor roles, they were overshadowed by the leads.
And in this case, everyone was overshadowed by Ghena Dimitrova. Her Amneris was exciting and developed carefully as a character. Too often she is presented as if she is some psychic witch constantly suspicious and dying to do evil. If one reads the libretto, one really gets the feeling that she and Radames were a thing before the pretty Aida entered the picture. In the trio just after the opera starts, we are often treated to a very angry Amneris, when in reality she is only suspicious that perhaps Radames doesn't love her as he once did. We saw her doubts and fears, and her suspicions, but we were not forced to see a raving witch so early in the opera (and if the truth be told, at no time should she be presented that way). She is a princess, she is powerful, she is in love, and she is rejected. She feels jealously, even rage, but she is filled with sorrow, and anger with herself for having caught Radames betraying his country and her. Dimitrova captures all the emotions of the part, and is not the traditional raving, jealous witch we are accustomed to seeing. Her great scene is the trial scene, and we are not disappointed. Finally we have an Amneris who can manage the upper register with strength and power, which is needed. I guess I am torn between a mezzo singing the role, and a really powerful dramatic soprano with a good lower range. I found Dimitrova far more exciting than Cossotto (who is considered a legend in the part). Cossotto had the voice, but her Amneris is nothing but a jealous witch from beginning to end. There is no development and she is not a great actress either. One thing that was refreshing was seeing the person of Amneris actually listening during the trial. So often she is just counting time waiting for her next big outburst.
I enjoyed the work, but I rated it only a three because it was lacking in so many ways. Visual affects, lovely costumes (even if they suggest nothing of the era or country the story is taking place in), and good singing don't create the illusion of drama that we expect to see. So many singers now days are first rate actors, and we are getting more and more used to them. Even an opera like Aida requires them, for the show of the triumphal scene is just that, one scene. When we don't see real people and feel real emotions (both because of their voices and their actions) we miss half the story and all the character development that must be there.
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Gran Aida.
Rating (4)
Date: 2003-10-26
6 out of 8 customers found this reveiw helpful
A nivel general esta es una gran version de Aida, comenzando por la puesta en escena de LUCA RONCONI, bella y coherente visualmente en todo momento, sin los alardes tipicos de la obra, pero con un inteligente movimiento de figurantes.
Luego, en el apartado vocal tenemos al sobresaliente Radames de LUCIANO PAVAROTTI, en uno de sus dias de gloria, a la poderosa Amneris de GHENA DIMITROVA (sin los medios de la Zajick, pero muy notable tambien) y a esos lujos para los papeles secundarios que se llaman PAATA BURDZULADZE (Ramfis), JUAN PONS (Amonasro) y NICOLAI GHIAUROV (Rey de Egipto), todos de lujo en sus respectivas partes.
La Aida de MARIA CHIARA cumple bien, aunque no llega a arrebatar vocalmente, impone una presencia escenica bastante interesante. Aunque prefiero a Aprille Millo...
LORIN MAZZEL lleva comodamente la direccion de los cuerpos estables de la Scalla de Milan, todos ellos muy ductiles, rematando asi una version de Aida bastante interesante.
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Out-Heroding Aida
Rating (3)
Date: 2003-10-22
4 out of 12 customers found this reveiw helpful
The singing was wonderful, but the staging ranged from distracting to hilarious.You like slaves? This production has them in abundance, cluttering up the action, groaning and moaning as they pull and push stones and monuments like a pack of crack-smoking ants. They were especially annoying in the triumphal scene, where the chorus could barely squeeze on stage, cowering in the background while the over-acting wretches took center stage. (Hey slaves! Triumphal celebration going on! Take five!) It was also kind of weird in Act I, Scene II, where the rocks just popped up out of the ground, noisly banged about, and occasionally formed,one assumes, significant shapes. Act II, Scene I was bizarre. First, there were topless women "bathing." Let me tell ya, topless women are always a distraction, except in a topless bar, and even there they distract. What was the point of them here? Second, while most ballets in this scene feature the usual gaggle of Egyptian girls "walking like an Egyptian," they changed it up a bit by having young boys--very young boys!--hopping about in thongs, while being whipped by some old dudes. (Speaking of pointless, don't miss the entrance of Radames in the Act II, Scene II, with the scantily clad young hunk standing over him, ready for action.) Finally, Herr Pavarotti was big enough; hanging curtains on him only added to the effect. (One could almost hear the slaves lamenting, "We can pull the sphinx across the stage, but not that tenor!") It is also noted that the once discriminating La Scala audience fell for this MTV approach like wrestling fans marking out to a Hulk Hogan pose down. All in all, an absurd and sterile desecration of Verdi's opera.
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What customers are saying…
Amazon.com Feedback Rating:
4.9 stars over the past 12 months (954 ratings)
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5 out of 5: 2009-01-07
Excellent condition-thanks!
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4 out of 5: 2009-01-07
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5 out of 5: 2009-01-07
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5 out of 5: 2009-01-07
On time and as described! Thanks!
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5 out of 5: 2009-01-06
everything as promised
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