Arabian Nights on DVD (2000)

Jonathan Gear from Lyme Regis, England , 19/10/2004

Fantasy and magic have attained a greater respectability since the works of J.K.Rowling & Philip Pullman, and the movie version of the Lord of the Rings. It is therefore appropriate that these earliest and most magical stories should be retold for a new generation. Forget pantomime preconceptions, or Disney Americanisation, this plays the story for real; the evil sultan is not evil because he is foreign, corrupt and strange, but is a real human in a real psychological predicament. While aimed at a family audience (overtly erotic stories are omitted) there are sexual themes (jealousy and lust) that remind us of the nature of the original stories. You may feel you know these stories, but the telling is so fresh too make them new; they are told with a gentle humour in magnificent settings and the special effects are state of the art, but not allowed to overwhelm the story telling. Although only a small fraction of the stories are told (and of those that are, Aladdin is a later incorporation), having several stories tied together by the drama of a storyteller fighting for her love and her life, makes this an epic movie. Highly recommended.

  9 out of 10 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Wigan, Lancs , 25/07/2005

This is a very well made film, good story and good acting, i can recommend this for a great night's family viewing.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Shef', England , 25/10/2006

I love Hallmark's ancient history series of 3 hour films. This includes Cleopatra, Odessey, Jason and the Argonauts and Hercules (while Helen of Troy is not one of theirs but a similar vein). This was great, well acted and visually excellent. I hope Sinbad and Robin Hood are given the treatment sometime soon as these need decent modern adaptations.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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MikeandJulia from West Yorkshire , 12/11/2004

Oh dear....my intentions were good (to watch the film thus supporting a relative who stars in the film) however I just couldn't sit through it!! Sorry James!

It started like a strange Bollywood movie and probably finished that way too but I wouldn't know, because I didn't get that far! Not quite sure what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't something along the lines of an Asian Twin Peaks! Watch only if desperate.

  2 out of 7 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Shef', England , 25/10/2006

I love Hallmark's ancient history series of 3 hour films. This includes Cleopatra, Odessey, Jason and the Argonauts and Hercules (while Helen of Troy is not one of theirs but a similar vein). This was great, well acted and visually excellent. I hope Sinbad and Robin Hood are given the treatment sometime soon as these need decent modern adaptations.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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