Customer Reviews

Malena [VHS]

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

The European release of this film was 106 minutes. This version was cut down to 92 minutes for North American audiences, both to make it more acceptable to short attention spans and to eliminate some of the scenes that included nudity. For those of us who are capable of sitting still for 106 minutes and who are not horrified by the nude body employed in the presentation of a film such as this one, this is nothing less than insulting. Serious viewers of film should be able to see films as the director intended them to be seen, and should not settle for this sort of censorship.

Malena is rich and beautiful film, starring the very fine Monica Bellucci in the title role. It is essentially three films in one, it contains the story of a woman who lost her husband to war, the coming of age of a young boy and also how Facism and war affected the Italian people.

Alot of other reviewers have summed up the plot and made valid comments, so I will only speak of the horrid DVD presentation. Being a huge fan of both the film and Bellucci, I wanted the single best DVD version and I'm afraid to say that this one is far from it! Miramax claim to be an independant and artistly geared studio, yeah right, they have dramaticly censored MANY great scenes from this film. Anyone not as repressed as the suits down at Miramax HQ should look into purchasing the NTSC Korean 2-Disc release. It is the ONLY completely uncut (a few minutes short than the Italian DVD due to PAL to NTSC conversion) DVD with English subtitles. The Italian disc is uncut but doesn't contain English subtitles, so it would only be good for Italian Speakers. Believe me once you see just how much this DVD is missing (over 13 min shorter than Korean NTSC, 16 min shorter than Italian PAL) you will be glad you put in the extra effort to get a real Malena DVD.

PS to the reviewer who thought that the beating of Malena scene was unrealistic or over exagerated for the film's sake, read a histroy book some time! Women who "went with Germans" were beaten, had their heads shaved and sometimes even killed in towns all over Italy and France the second the town was liberated.

Malena is a fine film. Sadly, you will not be able to see this film in the U.S. as Mirimax/Disney Home Video has heavily censored it for DVD release in the U.S. Monica Bellucci is a beauty, but to fully appreciate her in Malena, you'll need an Italian import of this DVD and a region-free player.

Malena is truly a great film. It works on so many levels. I have a relative who doesn't usually like foreign films but had to admit this is a great one. Its funny, its sad and it has a message. The story of the beautiful Malena is one that is heart-breaking. Malena is a beautiful woman whose husband is fighting in World War II and is left alone in this town. She is subjected to constant rumours and harassment by the men and women in their village.

Renato is the young boy obsessed with her. He is also the only person who knows the truth about her and knows she doesn't do the things people say she does. Malena wasn't dating everyone, she was sewing for people into the night, carrying her husband's picture and dancing to their favorite music. The sad thing is that Malena has to become what everyone had labeled her once word got back that her husband was killed. Women refused to sell her food and she had to sleep with men to survive. There is a scene towards the end that really upset me. This movie shows how rotten both the men and the women were to her. Malena shows how dangerous lies and assumptions are to a person's standing in their community and their own self-respect.

Malena is a very funny movie at times. There are scenes with Renato that made me laugh out loud. However, its a film that goes deeper than many out there. I would have to say this has become one of my all-time favorites. A beautiful, thought-provoking film.

"Malena," written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, is a visually beautiful story set in Sicily during World War II. The film tells the story of Renato Amoroso, a young adolescent boy whose heart and hormones are both racing out of control. The object of his attention is Malena (well played by Monica Bellucci), a stunningly beautiful young woman whose husband is off fighting in the war.

Giuseppe Sulfaro is very touching in the role of young Renato; his soulful eyes communicate more than pages full of dialogue ever could. The film has some uproarious comic interludes as Renato's father tries to deal with his horny son. Also amusing are the parodies of genre films that take place in Renato's imagination. The film is beautifully enhanced by the exquisite, Oscar-nominated cinematography by Lajos Koltai. And the sweet, melancholy score by the legendary Ennio Morricone (another Oscar nomination) helps tie the film together.

Overall, "Malena" is a well-made story of sexual awakening, social ostracism, and inner strength. Although at times the film seems a bit lightweight, I found it to be entertaining and touching. Fans of Italian cinema won't want to miss it.

This movie isn't one that should be taken for granted.These kinds of movies don't come along so often.The performances are subtle, but nevertheless powerful.Infact, the main characters barely speak, and yet they are able to leave a profound effect on you.Monica Bellucci, is a wonderful,talented actress, and her performance as Malena, a stunningly beautiful woman in a small Italian village during the second World War.Women are fiercly jealous of Malena, and men look upon her as nothing more than a sex object.Malena overcomes much sadness and lonliness, but in the end,is able to find solid ground once again.Giuseppe Sulfaro plays Renato, a young teen boy whose lust for Malena proves to be much more than a childish crush throughout the movie.This is a movie which is heartbraking and hilarious at the same time, making you laugh through your tears.It's sad that this movie didn't get as much acclaim as it deserved, because everyone should see this movie, there's something wondeful here for everyone.It's also nice to see a movie where there isn't any of the "Hollywood" presense.The people look like real people, not barbie and ken cutouts,and the story is real, it's no fairy tale,and it's not a predictable movie.I reccomend it from the bottom of my heart.

I love Love stories (even if it's not that cool...) and this is an especially magical one.

The movie tells the platonic love between 12 years old Renato that falls for beautiful Malena - the town most attractive woman. The one who men admire and women envy and hate. It is told from his point of view and with the background of the last years of Mussolini rule and the first years of WW2.
The story is beautiful tale that mixes up the sad reality with the boy's imaginary dreams.

It runs between cruel gossip and people lies and the true that lies underneath and is seen only to the eyes of the innocent boy.
I felt so involved in the film that I wanted to stop it sometimes and rewrite the scenes as it was so painful. The balance between the innocent boy point of view, the painful beauty of Malena and the evil and vicious of the village people is treated by the director (Giuseppe Tornatore) very gently so after all you left over with bitter-sweat taste but with the powerful emotional experience.

Monica Bellucci is amazing as sensual Malena and Giuseppe Sulfaro is unforgettable as Renato, the 12 years old boy. Giuseppe Tornatore is a great fairy tales weaver and he follow the same great story of Cinema Paradiso with this great new love story.
Tornatore is so great with creating the exact atmosphere and paying attention to the smallest as biggest details, you can actually FEEL the movie.
Purely a magnificent poetry.

Hey, first of all, Let me see the REAL MOVIE deserves five stars. But for this, It deserves two, and a lecture to the american distributors.

I watched the movie and it turned to be the American Version (that means, the clean version). The Original version includes the extended passionate scenes of Malena and Amoroso, deleted by the inquisitorian hand of Miramax Films. Disney did it again.

How come we expect the real deal if they cut boobs and butts when they are part of the story? Actually, you cannot mess with Monica Belluci's body, probably the most beautiful in Italy. So we movie lovers expect an apology.

Miramax and Medusa films have to release an unrated version, I'm getting tired of scissors in movies, as Giuseppe Tornatore protested in "Cinema Paradiso". I'm pretty sure he's very angry with what they did with this beautiful movie.

This lovely and heart-wrenching movie was made even more special by the fact that the two main characters barely speak (well, one of them IS the narrator). I had never heard of the beautiful actress Monica Belluci (Malena) but now look forward to seeing her perform again. She was exquisite and spoke volumes with just her facial expressions.

Giuseppe Sulfaro played Renato, a young boy feeling the first stirring of his sexual awakening who falls in love/lust with the beautiful Malena. His acting was very touching, especially when he goes to the church and lights a candle every day to try to ensure that Malena will come to no harm.

This coming of age film about love, jealousy, ostracism, and hate during four tumultuous years of World War II was filmed on the coast of Sicily - and what beautiful cinematography it was. The score was also magnificent, befitting the gorgeous setting.

Tornatore, director of "Cinema Paradiso," combines the best of the best in this, his seventh feature:

-The beauty and sensuality of italian model, turned actress, Monica Bellucci (Malena), who demonstrates that models can be good actresses.
-The ingenuity of young Giuseppe Sulfaro, who was in charge of the very likeable character of Renato Amoroso, the boy that falls in love with Malena's beauty, which takes him through a trip that ends up as he's turning into a man, and perhaps one of the most ethical ones in his town.
-An incredible cinematography that exploits the natural beauty of Siracusa, Italy, which combined with the beauty of the music put together by master (and long-time musical partner of Tornatore), Ennio Morricone, makes the movie the most delightful trip for the senses.

In general, if you loved "Cinema Paradiso" and/or "Life is Beautiful" you'll deeply enjoy this movie and its story.