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Orlando Reviews

1992

60
from 3749 members

Sally Potter's dazzling adaptation of Virginia Woolf's classic novel is the tale of the apparently immortal Orlando, who begins an epic quest for love and freedom in the court of Elizabeth I as a man, and completes the search 400 years later as a woman. This journey takes Orlando across the frozen river Thames in pursuit of a .. Read more

Starring	Tilda Swinton, Billy Zane, Lothaire Bluteau, John Wood
Director	Sally Potter
Genres	Romance

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Critic's review of Orlando
View all critics' reviews (6)
- "...[Swinton is] a stunning found object: She looks so much like a painting of English nobility come to life that she helps root the film in a mythical historical past..."
- 10830
- - Entertainment Weekly
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Orlando
View all members' reviews (26)
- - 21
  - 1
  Evocative, exotic and thought provoking film
  
  Orlando is a beautiful construct of stunning imagery woven around a fantastical tale.
  
  It tells the tale of an androgynous being called Orlando who ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 303779
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - johnnyfraudster
  - greater london
  - 20 May 2004 at 16:50
Most recent members' reviews of Orlando
View all members' reviews (26)
- - 0
  - 0
  Orlando Details 1992
  
  This film disappointed me although the sets were magnificent and the acting really good. I had hoped for a more fulfilling story through the film. I thought the... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1122586
- - a customer
  - 30 May 2012 at 22:27
- - 2
  - 0
  Four sumptuous centuries in 90 minutes
  
  Lavish, sumptuous, playful, stunningly shot, with some divine music, and with two intrigueing cameo performances by Jimmy Somerville and one by Quentin Crisp. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1032620
- - Sleat
  - 70 reviews
  - 23 Aug 2011 at 12:33
- - 0
  - 9
  Orlando. Wuz says Dreadful
  
  Having read some Critics and reviews I had high hopes for this film
  
  However only managed to watch for about 50 mins before switching to synchronised ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 979058
- - Wuz
  - 16 reviews
  - High Wycombe
  - 04 Apr 2011 at 21:29
- - 0
  - 7
  SELF INDULGENT OR WHAT?
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  I'm open to any kind of cinema that is different, imaginative, unusual or a little idiosyncratic. 'ORLANDO' was all of these things; it was also one... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 947696
- - TimBeckerley
  - 40 reviews
  - London
  - 18 Dec 2010 at 15:48
- - 2
  - 2
  BOrlando is a good title by 2muchemistry
  
  Cinematography beautiful, costumes, sets, photography and locations brilliant - story and dialogue complete rubbish. Poor actors did the best they could!
  
  Report this review
- 914032
- - kimpeluffo
  - 2 reviews
  - London
  - 12 Aug 2010 at 22:11
- - 1
  - 3
  Orlando Pants
  
  Didnt make it to the end on this one I am afraid. Just bored and uninterested and all those other words I could use but can't even be bothered to type them... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 899023
- - buffyrules
  - 202 reviews
  - southend on sea
  - 15 Jun 2010 at 19:13
- - 3
  - 0
  Irritating flick
  
  Fab costumes and scenery but quite tedious. Especially found Orlando's habit of flicking his/her head round to talk to camera quite irritating.
  
  Report this review
- 885935
- - lindaw
  - 9 reviews
  - near Milton Keynes
  - 23 Apr 2010 at 13:45
- - 0
  - 0
  Surprising!
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  I had wanted to see this film for a while, but had not anticipated liking it so much, as anyone I had spoken to who had seen it seemed to dislike it intensely.<... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 756376
- - Shelley21
  - 25 reviews
  - Wimborne, Dorset
  - 12 May 2009 at 15:58
- - 4
  - 0
  Borelando
  
  My partner told me that this was a really dood film, so I couldn't believe my disappointment when I was actually faced with it. Not only does it feel ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 606515
- - 2muchemistry
  - 6 reviews
  - Salford
  - 31 Jul 2008 at 23:51
- - 1
  - 0
  Rented this to coincide study of book...
  
  Despite a fantastc cast, I found this film to be very dull. I am one for allowing films to take their course and for giving them a try, but I found this ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 529463
- - saraharyan
  - 9 reviews
  - London
  - 21 Feb 2008 at 19:39
View all members' reviews (26)

- - 21
  - 1
  Evocative, exotic and thought provoking film
  
  Orlando is a beautiful construct of stunning imagery woven around a fantastical tale.
  
  It tells the tale of an androgynous being called Orlando who ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 303779
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - johnnyfraudster
  - greater london
  - 20 May 2004 at 16:50
- - 7
  - 1
  A visually stunning masterpiece
  
  Sally Potter has captured the essence of Virginia Woolf's surreal story in this visually rich yet verbally pared down film.
  
  I was captivated by ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 299284
- - JackyW
  - Norfolk
  - 08 Feb 2004 at 19:55
- - 6
  - 0
  Stunning, beautiful and surreal
  
  Surreal because of the fantasy in Virginia Woolf's tale of an androgenous being who fails to age after promising Queen Elizabeth I (played believe it or not... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 329284
- - snowyte
  - West Glamorgan
  - 02 Apr 2005 at 09:21
- - 4
  - 0
  Weird but Good
  
  This film was excesivly artie, but not to the point of incomprehension. It was haunting and left a strong impresion on me.
  
  Orlando is a young man in ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 15266
- - Laura Hunt
  - Surrey, England
  - 19 Aug 2004 at 09:14
- - 4
  - 0
  Borelando
  
  My partner told me that this was a really dood film, so I couldn't believe my disappointment when I was actually faced with it. Not only does it feel ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 606515
- - 2muchemistry
  - 6 reviews
  - Salford
  - 31 Jul 2008 at 23:51
- - 4
  - 2
  ????????????
  
  At first I thought this was a historical drama, then I thought it was a historical drama with a surreal twist, but eventually there are so many strange things ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 522537
- - wellplaicedsauce
  - 12 reviews
  - London
  - 05 Feb 2008 at 19:54
- - 3
  - 0
  Irritating flick
  
  Fab costumes and scenery but quite tedious. Especially found Orlando's habit of flicking his/her head round to talk to camera quite irritating.
  
  Report this review
- 885935
- - lindaw
  - 9 reviews
  - near Milton Keynes
  - 23 Apr 2010 at 13:45
- - 2
  - 0
  A work of genius
  
  Adapted from the novel by Virginia Woolf, Orlando is the story of a young man who wins the favour of an aging Elizabeth I. She commands him to never grow old ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 239133
- - Christine
  - Docklands
  - 01 May 2006 at 12:40
- - 2
  - 0
  Four sumptuous centuries in 90 minutes
  
  Lavish, sumptuous, playful, stunningly shot, with some divine music, and with two intrigueing cameo performances by Jimmy Somerville and one by Quentin Crisp. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1032620
- - Sleat
  - 70 reviews
  - 23 Aug 2011 at 12:33
- - 2
  - 0
  An incredible journey
  
  An incredible journey and extraordinary story telling make this a very special film. Sumptuous visually and beautifully realised tale of Orlando through the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 297792
- - Nic04
  - Surrey
  - 19 Jan 2004 at 11:52

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Critics' reviews
- "...[Swinton is] a stunning found object: She looks so much like a painting of English nobility come to life that she helps root the film in a mythical historical past..."
- 10830
- - Entertainment Weekly
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...This ravishing and witty spectacle invades the mind through eyes that are dazzled....[Swinton has] sweetness, gravity and intelligence..."
- 10832
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...ORLANDO straddles the genders while creating a new genre....A pace that this smashingly designed and photographed..." -- 3 out of 4 stars
- 10835
- - USA Today
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- There are lots of intellectual traditions vying for ascendancy in Potter's adaptation of Virginia Woolf's 1928... read more on Time Out
- 45248
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:15
- "...[Swinton] is flat out amazing in a performance that is destined to become legendary..."
- 10834
- - Rolling Stone
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...Sumptuous....With an adept star turn by Tilda Swinton..."
- 10831
- - Film Comment
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Orlando - Blu-ray
  
  Sally Potter's dazzling adaptation of Virginia Woolf's classic novel is the tale of the apparently immortal Orlando, who begins an epic quest for love and freedom in the court of Elizabeth I as a man, and completes the search 400 years later as a woman. This journey takes Orlando across the frozen ...

- - Buy
- Orlando
  
  Sally Potter's dazzling adaptation of Virginia Woolf's classic novel is the tale of the apparently immortal Orlando, who begins an epic quest for love and freedom in the court of Elizabeth I as a man, and completes the search 400 years later as a woman. This journey takes Orlando across the frozen ...