The Magic Flute on DVD (2006)

* * * This review contains spoilers * * *

A customer from Lytham St. Annes , 15/04/2008

My wife is a 'highbrow ' loving classical music and opera and that, is why I ordered this film, but after 20 minutes she turned the film off as it was not to her liking. She also plays the flute and I was very surprised that she felt this way about this film.

  13 out of 14 people found this review helpful

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A customer from UK , 23/06/2008

Why only 4 stars.

The truth is that we enjoyed the DVD of the Magic Flute filmed at the Drottningholm theatre in Sweden more. Title: Die Zauberflote - Mozart [1989]'

This is a movie, with lots of CGI and special effects, camera angles etc. etc.

In general the cinematic work detracts or distracts from the essential basis: the opera as written. Just placing a camera in front of the stage at Drottningholm was more effective - you can concentrate on the opera itself.

In some places it is obvious that the singing was not recorded at the same time as the action (not because the lips don't sync - but because the ambience is not right).

The libretto is reworked by Stephen Fry in English, but on a DVD it would have worked just as well (if not better) to have it sung in German and allow the viewer to use subtitles.

The idea of the WW1 background works.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Isle of Wight, England , 15/05/2008

Found this a wonderful and dramatic interpretation of the opera. Only problem was with not being able to hear the words sung clearly enough, particualrly by the ladies - there are no subtitles to fall back on which is a shame as this would have enhaced the film for me. If you enjoy Mozart but are prepared to break with traditional representations, then this film is worth watching.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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baron from London , 26/05/2008

who is the film for? if you know and love the opera the convolutions of setting it in the trenches are embarrassing and laughable. if you are new to the opera you will be alienated for ever. branagh is on a pointless ego trip. why one star? because the singing and acting are pretty good especially the lovers amy carson and her beau. overall, very disappointing.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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A customer from wilmslow , 04/07/2008

its a film full of singing and dancing so unless that is something you like watching its not for you im afraid i didn't find this film to my taste

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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baron from London , 26/05/2008

who is the film for? if you know and love the opera the convolutions of setting it in the trenches are embarrassing and laughable. if you are new to the opera you will be alienated for ever. branagh is on a pointless ego trip. why one star? because the singing and acting are pretty good especially the lovers amy carson and her beau. overall, very disappointing.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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