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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this one!!!, July 24, 2004
For years I have been familiar with the dog-eared 1978 reissue version of Munchhausen,apparently pieced together from different 16mm prints, from annual showings at Harvard's Carpenter Center, but this new DVD is a revelation.It almost looks new. The color is clear instead of blotchy, the image is clean instead of liney, and scenes that I had read about but not seen are now back in the film.The '78 edit had some crude jump cuts, which are smoothed over and repaired in this version,taken from an original negative that was perhaps only found some time after the previous restoration had been completed.The picture quality is amazing,the reds particularly vivid.Thanks to the F.W. Murnau foundation we can finally see what Munchhausen looked like in 1943, or at least a close approxamation.Contrary to reports, Munchhausen HAS been released on video in the U.S. previously, in a disappointing transfer [probably a 16mm print copied through a film chain]by an outfit called 'Video City'in the early 80's.But a few things about Kino's liner notes:Erich Kastner was a banned author, but he was not Jewish.Kino stresses that Munchhausen was not classified 'politically valuable'but that didn't matter very much:many films otherwise approved were not, and Munchhausen played right up to the German surrender.The bonus animation is also quite impressive, also with brilliantly preserved color.Other bonus clips will give you a glimpse of Nazi-era[and after]diva Marika Rokk, who just died at 90.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
MUNCHHAUSEN, January 3, 2007
I saw this movie when I was about 11 or 12 years old, in occupied Belgium.I only saw it once but I was so enthralled with the story, images remained in my mind for over 60 years. Hans Albers was perfect..those eyes. I remember his flight riding a canon ball but especially the scene where he shot the two remaining ties of the air balloon simultaneously. WOW! I have been looking for this movie for years, but it was never available, until now. I must say that I enjoyed it as much as when I was a little girl. The special effects are absolutely awesome. Amazing what one can achieve without "computer generated". The costumes are fabulous, and so is the scenery.
I never knew it was Joseph Goebbels pet project, and he doesn't bother me. It is not about the Nazi war machine. The movie is a fantasy from a children's book. The only thing I noticed this time was the costumes and head gear for the sultan/emir etc were totally ridiculous, made everyone look grotesque (which was probably done just for the reason that they were : Untermenschen), and the village fair in St.Petersburg was full of drunken Russians, kicking women, tearing the place apart. So much for Nazi subtlety.
For a movie salvaged from almost total destruction, they did a fantastic job, it took a long time , but it's worth it. Enjoy the storyline, the actors, the costumes, the glorious Agfacolour, and Hans Albers' mesmerizing performance. Take the time to watch the introduction by the Director of the Murnau Foundation and all the other extras. The german dialogue was a little hard to follow, but there are subtitles.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Emil and the detectives", September 23, 2004
Some of you might remember German author Erich Kaestner, famous for his lyrics, a novel "Fabian" and his childrens books: Emil and the detectives, Das doppelte Lottchen ... He wrote under pseudonym Bertold Buerger ("Bert Citizen") the script and all those wonderful funny dialogues. Look out for the famous Wagnerian operasinger Leo Slezak and all the other UFA-celebreties. It's a true all star vehicle in wonderful Agfa-colour. Except Russia all szenes were filmed on location: Venice and Canale Grande - Wow!
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