Customer Reviews

Dark Eyes (Ochi chyornye) [IMPORT]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

You have to know Russian for this DVD. It's not in widescreen, which is sad because the film is so visually sumptuous. The word stunning is overused to describe the look of a film, but in this case it truly applies. But the major problem is that the Ruscico version that I bought is in Russian with no English subtitles. BUT, even that's not the worst part: when the actors are speaking in Italian, there is a "narrator" that verbally translates into Russian what they are saying. This is so extremely annoying that you can't even focus on the images, much less on the performances of the great cast that's in this film.

Another Ruscico DVD that I bought, An Unfinished Piece for the Player Piano (also not in widescreen), has a trailer of Dark Eyes with English subtitles, but I noticed, if my ears don't deceive me, that horrid little narrator is still in the background in certain scenes. Is he part of the original theatrical version? I would tend to doubt it because there is no way that Marcello would have been nominated for an Oscar as Best Actor with this soundtrack. Whenever he opens his mouth, in the current DVD version, he's drowned out by the Russian narrator. I can only say UGGHHH!!!! I appreciate the artistic merit of the great Russian movies; some are simply the greatest things ever brought to the screen in terms of aesthetics, and Ruscico is coming out with some awesome titles, but they should really consider putting them in widescreen whenever possible. We are living in the 21st century after all.

I recommend waiting for the translated version of Dark Eyes. The visual quality of the DVD is excellent--again, the thing that truly bothers me is that a gorgeous movie like this is in "standard" format; however, if we have to live with that, sobeit! But P-LEASE, I'm certain that Russian viewers can handle subtitles as well as anybody else. I mean, the DVD I bought isn't even dubbed. Or if it is, I haven't been able to figure out how to get that "possible" spec on the soundtrack because all the literature on the DVD is in Russian.

I know, I should have known better, and been a little more patient. Hopefully somebody at Ruscico will read this and consider some of my suggestions. These are only my opinions, of course, and I am not trying to be negative in any way, it's just that now I have a rather expensive DVD of a movie I want to see, and can't see it because I can't understand a word of it. And considering that it is soooooo dialogue intensive...need I say more?

I look forward to the subtitled version of this masterpiece, because Dark Eyes truly is a wonder to behold.

I bought this dvd because this is one of the most beautiful films I have seen in my life, and I a movies fan. Unfortunately this dvd is in russian and they do not tell you this. Do not waste your money if you do not speak rusian.

I agree with other reviewers. This is a great movie by one of the greatest modern Russian directors. Mastroianni is astonishing as always. Movie itself deserves 5 stars. I gave the overall rating of 4 stars because of the DVD package. There are no subtitles (I read the cover - Russin version only). Even though I understand Russian, listening to the behing the scene voice (by the way, it's Nikita's Mikhalkov's voice) is annoying and takes a lot from the movie appreciation. I totally agree that this movies deserves a standard treatment with the choice of languages and subtitles. The serious viewers are trained to read subtitles and treasure the movies the way they were intended. Can you imagine Fellini's, Kurasawa's or Ozu's movies with the director's voice behind the scene? I cannot!

I saw this movie long ago when it was released. Over the years, I searched for it, but never could find it. Recently (thanks to the miracle of universal format DVD) I was able to get a copy.

At my ripe age, this movie speaks to me. In my life, I have been very much like Romano (Marcello Mastroianni). I have been the fool and lout and I have been a sucker for many people, places and things. My naive and innocent romantic nature has been both a joy and a curse. This is an older thinking man's version of the Burt Reynolds movie The Man Who Loved Women.

I can't comment on the Truffaut original because I have not seen it yet, having only discovered it by deciding to contrast my impressions of Dark Eyes with vague memories of the Blake Edwards film. In any case they are all part of a genre that speaks to me, and I suppose to many men.

I am not so sophisticated in film, but to me this is a beautiful and touching story. It speaks for itself. All I want to say is how human and lovely the movie is. It makes me feel good about my life and my willingness to love. I don't wish to end my life like Romano, but I do respect his style and his resignation to his chosen fate.

This is a great swan song for the great Marcello. He was/is the quintessential Italian gentleman. He gives all aspiring gentleman something to reflect on, and this is especially clear in Dark Eyes.