jdaniels-4

I can't say much more about this movie than what has recently been said about it here. Only that it's great to have it on DVD and also great that people are starting to take another look at what is one of Leone's more "low key" films but which is really right up there with the best of them. The story is told in quite a sobering, down to earth way, and perhaps because each point isn't driven home with a sledgehammer, the film is sometimes dismissed as a "lightweight". It does have some hilarious exchanges between the two leads but also tackles a serious topic (revolutions and their effect on people). The video release of this film (with sizable chunks of the story missing) couldn't have helped matters much. Watching it (almost complete) on DVD, you become aware of the great locations used, the great use of music, and the inventive way sound is used e.g. sometimes overlapping from one scene to another. Not to mention great acting! And also the great set pieces - any one of them could have been used by itself as a finale in a lesser film -Leone sure gives value for money! 10/10.

This film might have been able to get by on wonderful music and grandiose spectacle, but casting an American actor to play Mozart (and his chick) is a serious mis-service to history. The fact that many reviewers approve of this movie & rate it so highly is proof of this. I'm not against American culture per se (far from it) but the Americanisation of history in films (i.e. which gives the impression that many significant figures from the past grew up somewhere near Disneyland) is a terrible thing - it whitewashes cultural diversity & gives a totally distorted view of the world as it was, and still is. This cannot be overlooked. If an Austrian actor was chosen for the part (not Arnie) the film probably would have made less money so I guess that wasn't an option? Better to cast someone who appeared in "Animal House"? Instead of a "Directors' cut" how about a "Realistic cut"? Please explain?...well, if one of the characters in "Amadeus" had stepped out to buy a cheeseburger from Macdonald's or had switched on "MTV" at some point in this movie, it would not have seemed out of place - in what's supposed to be the story of an Austrian composer who lived in the 18th century! In other words, Houston, we have a problem!

This is not a great movie but it's quite a good one with an eerie atmosphere - ideal viewing for the early hours of the morning. I missed the beginning so had to catch up on what it was all about - but I could tell right away that those kids were up to no good. As another reviewer noted, if you're thinking of starting a family then avoid this film - you may be persuaded otherwise! Maybe the denouement doesn't explain much but hey, this is a horror movie. The characters that played Mr & Mme Worms were (I thought) hideous in the extreme & enough to give you nightmares. A quietly creepy and menacing film.