This is my reaction to Cinema Paradiso! 0:00 Intro 2:56 Reaction 33:06 Review 52:24 Wheel Time IMDB Top 100 Video: • The IMDB Top 100 Movie... #moviereaction #moviereview #cinemaparadiso #giuseppetomatore
I saw this film when it was first released in the US in a theatre so small, and with so few people attending what was a matinee show mid-week, that in the darkness, as the story unfolded, I could hear each person in the audience alternative laughing or weeping, the experience adding a level of perspective I will always treasure -> an audience of strangers became intimately connected by the shared experience. The central storyline in the American theatrical release, from my perspective, is this: Alfredo is a Christ-like figure who has one joy in his life, Toto (Salvatore), and Alfredo knowingly pushes away that joy, forever, so that Salvatore might live. Alfredo died -- gave up 30 years of the relationship that mattered most to him -- so Salvatore could live. The imagery of the film shows this theme often -- when fire consumes the original cinema, the last thing we see burned are Alfredo and a statue of the Virgin Mary. I strongly recommend seeing the director's cut and think you will appreciate it more having seem the American theatrical release first. The director's cut is not simply adding a lot more minutes, though it does that. It has a massively important storyline that was taken out of the theatrical release, a storyline that changes what we think of characters and their motivations. I've seen a lot of movies. Thousands. Cinema Paradiso remains my favorite. Another point: The film is set in a small town in Sicily (which you can visit), and at the start, the war (WW II) is already over, a point you understandably missed with all the emotional scenes (Toto asks his mother, if the war is over, why isn't his father back). So the escapism you noted is not from the war but from the hardship of poverty, a common condition throughout Southern Italy. I know life in a small, poor, Southern Italian town -- my wife was born in one and we have visited; each time, more and more homes and shops are boarded up. The church, school and the cinema were places where communities came together.
OMG! Someone finally had the sense to watch and react to this wonderful film. I think you are the first reactor to do so. Thank you Kai Oda! ❤ Looking forward to the rest of your IMBD journey.
So pleased to see someone react to this beautiful movie. It's been one of my favourites for over 30 years. It's a shame that you didn't watch the director's cut, although, you'd have cried a lot more if you had.
The director's cut of this movie isn't as bad as people often say. Honestly, in my opinion, the director's cut conveys the story in its entirety. However, people do not like impurity interfering with pure nostalgia. Even though that impurity is closer to the truth of life. After watching the director's cut, you will truly understand what the ending of this movie means. Like the priest who deleted the kissing scenes, Alfred also exercised the power to edit Toto's life. Therefore, Toto's tears at the end are not pure nostalgia, but regret mixed with resentment.
I couldn't ever get into Italian film. Tried pasolini and fellaini and always felt cold, so I put this one off for years. Had a free day and tried it and ended watching it 3 times that same day. Twice the directors cut and finally the cinema release. Wonderful film.
The neapolitan man actually "made eleven" ("ho fatto undici!") at Totocalcio. It's a gambling game where you try to predict the results of soccer games. If you get right all eleven matches you win a decent amount of money - proportional to the number of people who got it right, so the more upsets ad unexpected match results, the better. Not exactly like winning a big lottery, but it could've changed the life of a poor person back then. I guess they've translated it as "pools" 'cause it's very similar to the pools british gambling game, where they also bet on soccer.
One of the most beautifull and funny and heart fealing movie I ever wath! Ilove it ! Please try A vita e bella and french movies such as A very long engagement and Amelie Poulain
Because of this series, I've rented the director's cut on RU-vid, so consider yourself successful! That version adds almost an extra hour, spent throughout the film but mostly on [whoops! you're avoiding spoilers], adding even more bittersweet energy to the film. It doesn't include the bits where it cuts back to old Toto in his bed, though. I'm not the kind of person who usually watches movies like this, frankly I'm not the kind of person who usually watches movies just in general, but the film was very good. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen for most of it, and I really appreciate how skillfully the film implies as well as shows its story.
Never ever watch the extended directors cut. There are reasons why these scenes were cut. 1. It focuses more on the relationship with Elena and that storyline is already the weakest part of the film. 2. It turns Alfredo a bit into a villain and (for myself) ruins why I love this movie. The theatrical cut is perfect as is.
