Faerie Tale Theatre - Beauty and the Beast

Description

In order to save her father, a lovely young girl is forced to live in the castle of an ugly monster, ultimately discovering that beneath his frightening looks is a loving heart.

Customer Reviews:

beautiful, dazzling, brilliant FAERIE TALE!.......2004-10-26

FAERIE TALE THEATRE's production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST makes for dazzling family entertainment, with strong performances from lead actors Susan Sarandon and Klaus Kinski in the title roles.

Beauty's merchant father steals a white rose from the castle of the Beast (Klaus Kinski). As punishment, the Beast orders that the merchant return to the castle in 3 days, or else one of his daughters must go in his place. Beauty selflessly sacrifices her own freedom to release her father, and goes in his place.

Once in the castle, Beauty slowly begins to win the friendship and trust of the Beast, who hides a gentle and kind heart beneath his frightening exterior.

Directed by Roger Vadim and co-starring Anjelica Huston and Nancy Lenehan as Beauty's jealous sisters, this version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is based on Jean Cocteau's celebrated French movie classic. Highly-recommended.

Darker than you might expect..........2003-09-18

Faerie Tale Theatre has produced some odd episodes over the years, but none more so than this disturbing revisioning of Jean Cocteau's film classic as directed by, um, Roger Vadim. Vadim is best known as the director of visually stylish but empty-headed films like Barbarella and ...And God Created Women. It goes without saying that this is an attractive episode, perhaps one of the most beautifully realized in the series. Vadim has borrowed many of Cocteau's gothic flourishes, and the sets and costumes (especially the look of the Beast) are straight out of that version. However, for all of its visual power, this is an underwhelming adaptation. Klaus Kinski as the Beast is inspired casting, and he lends the part a solemn gravity. Susan Sarandon, on the other hand, seems to be channeling Catherine Deneuve here. She's more Belle De Jour than Beauty, all frigid detachment and blank expression. This makes her final declaration of love for the Beast completely unconvincing. The fault lies just as much in a script that never fully develops either character or their relationship. The Beast remains pitiable and elusive to the last, and it's little wonder Beauty never seems to see him as anything more than a creature. The plot meanders, and Vadim lifts moments from Cocteau's version that, taken out of context, are more confusing than inspired. In the end, however, perhaps this should be enjoyed simply for the atmosphere Vadim has created, no small feat in a television production of this scope.

I LOVE ALL OF SHELLY DUVALL'S FAERIE TALE THEATRE!!.......2003-02-08

As a child, I loved watching Faerie Tale theatre movies. I never watched this movie until I bought it. I have a goal of getting all of Faerie Tale Theatre's collection. Susan Saradon is a wonderful actress espcecially in her performance of Beauty and the Beast. I recommend watching more of this collection

Average customer rating:

Beautiful and thought-provoking.
a mediocre follow-up to il Posto
Incredible
Simple Yet Gorgeous
Fell Short of My Expectation

I Fidanzati - Criterion Collection
Starring: Anna Canzi , and Carlo Cabrini
Director: Ermanno Olmi
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000093NR2
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Description

Ermanno Olmi's masterful second feature is the tender story of a young Milanese couple whose strained relationship is tested when the man accepts a new job in Sicily. With the separation come loneliness, nostalgia, and, perhaps, some new perspectives to rejuvenate their love. Olmi's deep humanism charges this moving depiction of ordinary men and women, and the pitfalls of the human heart.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and thought-provoking........2006-05-08

Criterion provide an 18 minute interview with Olmi, recorded in 2002, and the articulate and charming director provides insight into the genesis of his film - the industrialisation and economic boom in Italy in the 60's saw an upheaval in traditional customs and family life, especially in the poor agricultural areas, such as much of Sicily (where part of the film is set); in the story this backdrop is counterpoised against the personal changes wrought upon a couple, separated by these circumstances. They begin in stubborn silence and end in a heart-warming blossoming of articulate expression of their emotions and aspirations - the change sweeping through the nation has had its effect upon them.
*
Olmi speaks of his interest in presenting time in a novel way; he hopes to dissolve the distinctions between past, present and future, and segue from one to the next seamlessly, expecting the audience to intelligently follow his cues, and in so doing suggest the internal flow of time for his protagonist. I think he succeeds, and the film becomes, if anything, more realistic through this fluid depiction of time.
*
The cinematography is wonderful, whether in its intimacy, or in its handling of spectacular views of industrial plants. So too the pacing of scenes, the opening in particular being a joy of accumulated surprises, the tension building until the viewer is as eager for the musicians to play as the would-be dancers upon the screen.
*
Again in the interview, his collaborator speaks of Olmi's technical mastery of all aspects of film-making, his complete and utter disregard of commercial success, and his adherence to a policy of being honest with himself. He made documentaries of the working people, and early on committed himself to the production of quality informative material for television, even when the latter meant interfering with, the more lucrative, ventures into feature film.
*
So here is a work of art from a master film-maker - utterly engaging and formally accomplished, with insight into the social situation of his country at the time, told through the guise of a satisfying traditional love story. Criterion provide their customary perfect transfer and the mentioned bonus material. Every bit as good as, and very much a companion piece to Il Posto, I Fidanzati is something of a neglected masterpiece.

a mediocre follow-up to il Posto.......2004-11-30

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

"I Fidanzati" or "The fiancèes" is often regarded as a sequel to "Il Posto" even though they are different in many ways.

In this film the relationship of a soon to be married couple in Milan is challenged when the man gets a job in Sicily.

This film is not as good as Il Posto, but still has some nice material.

The Criterion DVD has a theatrical trailer and an interview with Director Ermanno Olmi and Tullio Kezich who worked with Olmi on some films.

This film is not good to view by itself and should be seen with Il Posto.

Incredible.......2004-05-13

Ermano is one of my favorite Italian directors. The whole movie is really great. Ermano Olmi is one of the few directors that can take a plain story and make it more interesting than the biggest hollywood film. Just as long as you don't think like the average big hollywood production viewer.

I love how this film starts and I love how it ends. Some incredible cinematography. Especially with the scene in the beginning where the main character is walking through the factory with the tarantella music playing in the background. Another great part of the film is the street party in Sicily. It amazes me how Ermano Olmi was able to direct the scenes so perfectly with such a tight large drunken crowd.

Simple Yet Gorgeous.......2003-08-26

I had never even heard of Olmi before getting this film, which is odd since I've been exposed to many other italian postwar directors. Therefore, I FIDANZATI (The Fiances, or The Engaged) came as a complete surprise to me. The storyline, sometimes slow and wonderfully hypnotic in places, centers around the life of a construction worker who takes a job in Sicily and moves away from his fiance in northern Italy. It's the classic romantic "abscence makes the heart grow fonder" storyline that is usually trite and banal. But somehow, amazingly, Olmi manages to pull it off, mainly through the great performances of the two leads and the brilliant editing towards the film's conclusion, where they read letters and thoughts to one another in a way that distorts past, present, and future. Highly recommended, as is Criterion's new editon of Olmi's IL POSTO.

Fell Short of My Expectation.......2003-07-12

I love classics and foreign movies. So, I was looking forward to the release of this DVD with great anticipation. The movie, however, fell short of my expection. It's a good movie, but not a great one. The director seems to have a thing for pigs. That's what I remember the most after watching this movie. Enough said.

Average customer rating:

we need a english dubbed version region 1

Ah Kam
Starring: Michelle Yeoh , Sammo Hung Kam-Bo , Ken Lo , Hoi Mang , and Micheal Lam
Director: Ann Hui
Manufacturer: Japanese Import
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000X97C4
Release Date: 2003-11-25

Customer Reviews:

we need a english dubbed version region 1.......2005-04-02

i would like to see this movie in the english dubbed version. we miss the movie reading the subtitles...

Average customer rating:

Kabuliwala
Starring: Chhabi Biswas , and Balraj Sahni
Director: Hemen Gupta
Manufacturer: Yash Raj Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000056N4K
Release Date: 2004-05-06

Average customer rating:

Homesick
Starring: Various Artists
Manufacturer: Militia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0002V7SB6
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Description

Track List:
1. A Static Lullaby "Lip Gloss and Letdown"
2. All-American Rejects "My Paper Heart"
3. The Beautiful Mistake "This Is Who You Are"
4. Rufio "White Lights"
5. Copeland "Walking Downtown"
6. Fall Out Boy "Dead on Arrival"
7. Every Time I Die "Ebolarama"
8. 18 Visions "You Broke Like Glass"
9. Sick Of It All "Relentless"
10. Big Collapse "Pull Out The Guts"
11. Acceptance "Permanent"
12. Armor For Sleep "Dream To Make Believe"
13. Thursday "Signals OVer The Air"

DVD:

DVD

DVD