3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marching to the beat of a different drum..., August 31, 2008
This review is from: Triumph of the Will [Triumph des Willens] Subtitled Edition - 1934 (Amazon Instant Video)
Awesome in scope, bold in execution, breathtaking in shear visual presentation...
this IS Ms. Riefenstahl's masterpiece, Triumph Of The Will. (Triumph des Willens)
Ostensibly shot as a "documentary" of the 1934 Nuremberg Party Rally,this film is propaganda at its pure and horrifying best. Techniques that were groundbreaking in
its day are still used by cinematographers around the globe today...whether it be for sporting or political events, to use in commercial ads and motion pictures...from Star Wars to The Lion King.
Although originally intended for German audiences, the film eventually made its way throughout "Occupied" Europe...and it's easy to see how so many Europeans (one may be surprised to discover that more than a third of the German Wehrmacht consisted of willing "foreign" volunteers) were inspired to take up the Germanic crusade for "western Christian values" against "eastern Bolshevik barbarism".
Given the age of the footage used, one shouldn't really complain about the quality of this film.
There are the obvious "skips" and artifacts that could perhaps be removed by modern digital re-mastering.
The sound does leave something to be desired, but then...that may have been the case even when the film was "new"...?
The commentary by Dr. Anthony Santoro, although informative at times, is just too monotone and dry.
And I'm not going to pretend to be fluent in German, but I also own this in an older VHS format...and the translating subtitles ARE subtly different between the two.
All in all, this is a very powerful film, and worth watching from an historical perspective.
Ohhh, and I have often wondered...
For all the footage that WAS shot, what ended up on the cutting-room floor, does any of it still exist...and what would this film look and feel like were this footage to be re-added?!?
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Greatest Example of Propaganda in History!!!, July 25, 2008
This review is from: Triumph of the Will [Triumph des Willens] Subtitled Edition - 1934 (Amazon Instant Video)
Quite simply stated, this is the greatest example of propaganda in the history of film making.
Leni Riefenstahl's masterpiece, Triumph of the Will is a cinematic milestone. Set aside your preconceptions, notions of political correctness, kick back with some nachos and enjoy the spectacle, pageantry, patriotism and just plain ole unmitigated evil of a bygone era. Yes, this is THE "documentary" of the events of the Sixth Nuremberg Nazi Party Congress in 1934, featuring a cast of thousands, mind blowing special effects, and show stopping musical numbers, as well as (of course) Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels, Hess, Goering and assorted other Nazi superstars of the day.
Get caught up in the wackiness as Hitler and Goebbels lead the German people around like neutered sheep on Thorazine. The brilliant camera work and editing, ratchet up the tension incrementally from the opening marches and speeches to the closing ones, creating a yearning and semi-religious awe for the realization of the full spectrum dominance of Nazi ideology.
The legendary cinematic genius Leni Riefenstahl creates in the viewer an irresistible excitement over the images of mindless obedience to patently psychotic leaders and vulgar nationalistic narcissism. But politics aside, one can't help but admire the energy and skill that went into this classic; the sweeping vision and the insight that are meant to lead the audience to an epiphany. Triumph of the Will pays off in sheer entertainment value despite the cliff-hanger ending.
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1.0 out of 5 stars
Stolen property! Bootleg! Horrible quality!, June 12, 2009
This review is from: Triumph of the Will [Triumph des Willens] Subtitled Edition - 1934 (Amazon Instant Video)
This download, brought to Amazon through the auspices of Triad Productions of Southgate, MI IS A BOOTLEG.
Quality if horrific, and it is also missing the final fifteen minutes of the film.
Triad Productions is a limited liability Michigan company, licensed by the state with an ID number of E0007N.
This is stolen property.
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