Customer Reviews

Life Is Beautiful (La Vita E Bella)

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Before I listened to this, I held Edward Scissorhands in high esteem as the most beautiful score of all time. Life is Beautiful proved otherwise. Nicola Piovani made a charming score with heartfelt themes while still retaining the Italian nature of the film and its controversial subject. There are two innocent-sounding main themes that make up the film, one which is a deep somber theme for the theme of the film, and the other which is a light-hearted charming theme for Benigni's character. Both are used equally in the film and with great effect. Besides listening to the wonderful themes, I enjoyed listening to the Italian-influenced music, such as "Grand Hotel Valse" or "Grand Hotel Fox", which create the time and place of the movie without being intrusive. The music throughout the film is happy but tracks such as "La Notte Di Fuga", "Il Treno Nel Buio", and "Il Gioco Di Giosue" still remind the listener of the Holocaust-influence in the film. After the dark music, the CD ends with an absolutely moving rendition of the main theme, the best rendition of it in the whole film. Anyone who holds foreign films and their music in disregard should see Life is Beautiful. It's the perfect marriage between music and visuals, and it is not the same without Piovani's wonderful score.

The musical score form the movie, 'Life is Beautiful', is something to be treasured. I bought this CD only 3 days after I saw the film. The music has a way of envoking such powerful emotions, and it truly does make you(well me atleast)feel that life is beautiful.

I was so moved by the film & the music that I chose to walk down the aisle to Bon Giorno Principessa. Its a beautiful piece of music

Sometimes a soundtrack album emerges that is worth buying for one theme alone (like Jean de Florette / Manon des Sources), but this album has TWO of these tracks: "Buongiorno principessa" and "La vita e' bella" Both superb! A complaint some have about this album is that the themes seem to linger on during the entire album... They do, and it's BRILLIANT! Note: in Europe a new version of this album has come out, with a vocal song (in English) added to it. Interesting?

After seeing the film, I knew that I had to get the soundtrack, and I wasn't disappointed at all. I like the entire CD, although Buon Giorno Principessa, the first track, is especially moving. All in all, brilliant orchestration by Nicola Piovani. I would not, however, buy the soundtrack without seeing the film.

Piovanni made a masterpiece with this soundtrack. This music won the Oscar of Best Dramatic Music in 1998. All the tracks of the CD have a special feeling. Through the seventeen tracks the CD shows a great range of feelings. It serves to create a perfect atmosphere for an Italy of the SWW. Next the highlights of the soundtrack:

*BUON GIORNO PRINCIPESSA shows a lethargic, romantic and beautiful theme for the movie, the solo of guitar are really nice. This is one of my favorites.
*LA VITTA E BELLA, well this track is a masterpiece, the main theme of the movie. It shows a colorful atmosphere, it demonstrates a pretty sense of the italic provinces of that time. It is wonderful, and it is one of my favorites.
*VIVA GIOSUE is a really nice variation of the main theme, with a little bit of innocence feeling. This variation appears also in IL GIOCO DI GIOSUE and GUIDO E FERRUCCIO, this second with a piano addition really nice.
*GRAND HOTEL VALSE, this is the first dancing track of the CD. This waltz uses an orchestra, so the music is more colorful, also it has a bit of magnificence. The track has a very good rhythm, and it is one of my favorites.
*GRAND HOTEL FOX, the second dancing track, a really good fox trot. This melody initiates the dance in the Grand Hotel. Is a really nice piece, it has all the elements to be an excellent track. This is another of my favorites.
*ARRIVA IL CARRO ARMATO is a piece that gives a winner feeling. It is a march variation of the main theme. Also it serves as a tribute to the American soldiers that ended the cruelty of the fascism. The innocence feeling appears again, one of my favorites.
*VALSE LARMOYANTE is another masterpiece of the CD. It is a more lethargic and romantic variation of GRAND HOTEL VALSE, with more string instruments. The opening with the violins is really beautiful and romantic. It is marvelous and beautiful, one of my favorites.
*L'UOVO DI STRUZZO (DANZA ETIOPE) this track makes a really oriental atmosphere. It is so colorful and beautiful, and the magnificence appears again. It is one of my favorites.
*KRAUTENTANG, this track shows a German march. It makes a really Germanic atmosphere. It is a really good track, and one of my favorites.
*BARCAROLLE, the Offenbach's piece has a good arrangement.
*ABBIAMO VINTO, the final track in the CD and in the film. It is a variation of the main theme with a peaceful and hope sense. The first part is really moving, and the second part is the main theme. It is a masterpiece and one of my favorites.

La banda sonora de "La vida es bella" es lo que es, una banda sonora, hecha "ex profeso" para la película, a la cual acompaña perfectamente. Perfecta mezcla de música popular italiana, música sinfónica (llamada clásica); una pista operística y otra pop muy bien interpretada, en inglés, por la cantante israelí Noa.

I thoroughly enjoy this soudtrack, but let's give credit where credit is due. Like several other Italian composers, Piovanni learned his trade and took his style from the master -- Ennio Morricone. If lovers of this album want to discover even greater examples of this style, they should make a point of purchasing some Morrione film scores. Suggested: Cinema Paradiso, The Untouchables, The Mission, or any of the various collictions, including With Love, Main Titles, etc.

The music on the CD, Life is Beautiful, brings you back to all the wonderful scenes in the movie. Its beautiful and haunting theme is represented well in the many variations. The music is very soothing and relaxing. A must have for any fan!

Like the movie, the sountrack to Life Is Beautiful was extremely powerful and moving. Listening to it, it is amazing that the entire sountrack is based around two themes which are varied in such a way that it sends chills up your spine. If you loved the movie, you will love the soundtrack, and the movie moments you remember from it.