For Film Lovers Everywhere: A Cinema Paradiso Blu-ray Review

Released by: Arrow

Release Date: February 23rd, 1990 (Theatrical)
                        March 21st. 2017 (Blu-ray)

Region Code: REGION FREE

Run Time: 2h 35m (Theatrical Version)
                   2h 53m (Director's Cut)

Audio: LPCM 2.0 (Italian)
             DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (Italian)

Video: 1080p (1.66:1 Aspect Ratio)

Out of the fire of love come ashes. Even the greatest love eventually fizzles out.

THE FEATURES ⭐⭐⭐

Disc #1: Theatrical Version

A Dream of Sicily (54m 45s, HD)

A nice overview of director Tornatore career, but it barely touches upon Cinema Paradiso, which is a shame because it is the film that Tornatore is best known for. Still, anyone who wants to see what other films the director has done, this is the documentary for you.

A Bear and a Mouse in Paradise (27m 26s, SD)

This is a proper making of, touching all of the key points of the film, while also talking about the different releases of the film.

The Kissing Sequence (7m 1s, SD)

This feature is kind of like the show that use to be on the Sundance Channel or the Independent Film Channel called “Anatomy of a Scene”, where a scene would be broken down into its parts to see what made a scene special. This feature does just that with the scene that ends both versions of the film. We get to see what it took to make this scene so special.

25^th Anniversary Trailer (1m 40s, HD)

Audio Commentary with Giuseppe Tornatore and Millicent Marcus

Marcus is the lead in this commentary track. Tornatore, who was recorded separately, chimes in every now and again, in English, to give us his take on certain areas of the film. Marcus falls into the trap of narrating the film more often than going deeper into the film. The track can be a chore to watch because of this.

Disc #2: Director’s Cut

Director’s Cut Trailer (1m 24s, SD, 1.33:1 AR)

This is the trailer that appeared on so many of the VHS releases during the 90’s. I remember seeing this trailer any time I rented a Miramax film. This trailer brought up a ton of memories for me.

THE PACKAGING N/A

I can comment about the packaging because this is a review copy of the film. I get the discs and a press kit and that is it. Knowing Arrow, this release will come in a 14mm clear U.K. standard case, housing both discs as well as a booklet that contains “archive stills, behind-the-scenes photos, and posters”

There is also a Barnes and Noble exclusive cover:

Both discs are REGION FREE

THE PICTURE ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scanned in 2K and presented in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio, Cinema Paradiso looks amazing. I remember watching this film back when it first hit dvd and I always thought that the film could have looked better and now it know that it can. The film displays a lot of detail especially in close-ups. The colors pop and skin tones are correct. There is even a sense of depth in some scenes. Both versions of the film come from the same transfer and there is no sign of any DNR or other digital manipulations to the transfer outside of repair.

THE SOUND  ⭐⭐⭐

The film is presented in its original language of Italian with the option for a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track or the film’s original 2.0 track in the form of a LCPM track. The film sound great in either format with the 5.1 does opening up the world that the film takes place in, but I think that that purists will go with the original 2.0 track because that is how the film was recorded.

THE FILM ⭐⭐

I remember when Cinema Paradiso hit the U.S. market. The American film critics went crazy over this film. Siskel and Ebert loved the film and talked about it all the time and I was a big fan of Siskel and Ebert, so I had to track this film down to see what was the big deal.

Sadness came over me when I found out that the film was only released in subtitled version with no dubbed version in sight. This was during the time of VHS and, thus, no multiple language tracks. 

Keep in mind that I was a kid when this film came out and was scared at the thought of having to read an entire film. Of course my mind has changed on this, but I was an uninformed kid who wanted to watch films in English.

It wouldn’t be until the film was released on dvd in 2003 that I would get the chance to see the film 

that I had heard of all those years ago.

Back then I did not like the film and I still have the same feelings today about it. I love that this film is about the love people can have for film and how going to the theater can change someone’s life, but I never really identified with any of the characters.

The film is well written, well directed, and well acted. So why do I not connect with film? I really do not know. I have seen both versions of the film a few time, even owning the special edition dvd that was released in 2006, and I can not get into the film. I like the nuts and bolts stuff with the priest that rings a bell every time he thinks that a scene or a shot should come out of the film, but the rest of the film falls flat for me.

I really want to like this film. As a film lover, I believe that I am supposed to like this film. Maybe that is why I don’t like it. Maybe my mind is not letting me like the film because it is trying to revolt against me. It is like how everyone LOVED Titanic when it was in theaters and when it hit VHS, but once the dvd came out, people started hating the film. My mind has done some strange things in the past, so I don’t doubt that one bit.

Regardless of what I say about Cinema Pardiso, check it out, especially if you are a film lover. I am sure that you will connect with it more than I did. It does seem that film lovers jump all over this film, so if you fit the bill then watch the film. I am sure you will love it.

OVERALL ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Arrow has given us a great blu-ray. Both versions of the film get their own disc, with the theatrical 

version of the film getting the special features. The picture quality here is amazing and the sound quality isn’t half bad either. While Arrow has not created any new special features for this release, they have included most of the features that were available on the special edition dvd  that was released in 2006. If you are a fan of this film then this package is a no-brainer. If you are on the fence, then give the film a try. You may love, you may hate, but you won’t be in the same boat that I am in.