Product Details

• Actors: Richard Harris, Monica Vitti
• Directors: Michelangelo Antonioni
• Format: PAL, Import
• Language: Italian
• Subtitles: English
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: BFI
• DVD Release Date: October 21, 2008
• Run Time: 117 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001DFINIM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #312,559 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relief is on the way, March 26, 2010

By 

M. Cunningham "wisdom:)" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Desert [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

I can't believe all the animosity in some of these reviews. No problem for me that other region product is sold on Amazon - it should just be stated in the product info. Some folks do have equipment to play region 2 and/or B, and Amazon is the most reliable way to source it. In this case it was probably an oversight - due to the seller Moviemars who has a checkered reputation and will not disclose such info, even if you call them. More importantly - Criterion is releasing the title on blu-ray - so settle down everyone - don't get p.o.ed at Amazon. They're just the conduit, not the source of the media. No need to be cranky with them - and if there's a mess up, they usually take care of the problem and represent the consumer's interest admirably. I have never had a complaint with their excellent customer service. And ... I'm not a shill, just a satisfied customer.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you CAN see it.., February 15, 2010

By 

Zippo "Zippo" (Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Desert [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

As all other reviews correctly state, this is a PAL, import, version of Antonioni's "Red Desert". As there is no US release right now of this amazing movie, I just want to point out that IF you have hardware that can play this disc (remember: both the DVD/Blue-ray (etc.) player AND your TV!), it is a very very good transfer. In and of itself it is a beautiful film (especially if you enjoy stark industrial landscapes), Antonioni's first color film, and this edition finally does Carlo Di Palma's photography justice. There is also an informative commentary track and a small booklet with some good insights.

A great edition IF you can see it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing images, just wish the human side was quite as strong, February 12, 2011

By 

K. Gordon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Desert [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

Breathtaking images, for the first time Antonioni's career in color. I'd be happy to have still frames from this framed on my wall. But the acting and writing didn't match the power of the images for me, at least on first viewing.

Monica Vitti is a housewife losing her mind, who quickly (and without clear reason) obsesses a badly dubbed Richard Harris, who is visiting Vitti's husband on business. What makes this less powerful for me than L'Venturra and L'Ecisse is here the characters talk a lot more, and a lot of the dialogue is stilted and false sounding; way too full of `meaning' when the images are already so symbolic. And while Vitti is a good actress, she's not Liv Ulmann or Meryl Streep. But where it fails as drama, it's amazing as storytelling through images. Every time everyone shut up, I was immediately drawn back in.