MovieChat Forums > Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1990) Discussion > Had potential, but.....

Had potential, but.....

posted 18 years ago by davidgoesboating
32 replies | jump to latest

I've just watched Cinema Paradiso, and I'm amazed that it is held in such universal regard.
Yes, it was a good film. It kept me very interested for the first half, and had several good moments. I loved the character of the priest, and Toto as a young kid also.
HOWEVER... the last hour was some of the worst cinema I've seen in a long time. It was simply painful to watch. Hollywood sappy sentimentality mixed with an indulgent homage to the film itself. Not only was the ending poor, it showed up a major flaw in the movie... that the storyline didn't really have any purpose. The film started out as a really enjoyable homage to movies, halfway through became a teenage love story, and then ended up as a sort of character piece. It was a shame especially because Cinema Paradiso had so much potential... there were plenty of good scenes early on, and if they had downplayed the sentimentality a bit, it would have been quite moving.
It's not the first time I've watched a film that looked like it was going to be really good but turned out disappointing, it just surprises me that apparently the only people who don't love this film are trolls. Surely there are other serious film viewers out there who share my disappointment in this movie.

[–] GyroBoy 18 years ago

Dear Lord, please save us from the wannabee 15 yo NY Times movie critics.

[–] davidgoesboating 18 years ago

why? Better a 15 yo wannabe movie critic than a 15 yo troll (of which this site has more than its fair share). I'm 17 anyway ;)

[–] vkacholia 18 years ago

I think the point here is that different cinema appeals to different types of people....Even I thought that the movie was mediocre but i appreciate that there might be pseudo intellectuals who would love the movie ... mostly cause its been so critically acclaimed!

[–] davidgoesboating 18 years ago

I agree, there would be a fair amount of people who simply love this film because they are supposed to, but i'm more fascinated by the ones who just genuinely loved this film, which would probably be the majority. As far as I could see, it was flawed, and I'm amazed that few others seem to share this belief... it makes you question your own views when the majority disagrees, BUT you never know, the majority is not always right.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] davidgoesboating 18 years ago

Actually, that's a good point. While I can appreciate nostalgia, at the same time I don't really rate it that high, so I can see what you're saying. All the same, I don't really think the main thrust of the film was the problem, it was how it was executed. But, give me 20 years or so and I might come to love it... who knows?

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] tana_ricky 17 years ago

you made a great comment. Your comments are full of wisdom.

Indeed, some of the kindest people are those who experienced pain, loss, suffering. They know enough not to inflict them on others.

Cinema Paradiso is one of the greatest films i have seen, certainly my favorite. Has one of the most heartbreaking finale in cinema.

[–] LeTsBaNd2geTheR23 17 years ago

Even though I'm only 18, I still enjoyed every aspect of this movie. The message of the importance of the cinema in people's lives clearly transfers to the audience and we too can find appreciation in beautiful films such as this. Although I haven't experienced life, I've had my share of choices to make and I believe as I grow older, the movie will become more sentimental and hold higher connectivity with the course of my life... but I'm proabably not like every teenager in the world either, and I have been fortunate to travel internationally and live in different countries and cultures.

PS-I absolutely love the music in the movie. Ennio Morricone is sheer brilliance and everytime I watch the final scene I can't help but cry.

[–] hurrdurrimashurr 17 years ago

It wasn't a horrible movie but I didn't like it very much either. I definately think its because Im young and didn't relate to the film. If your young, Unless you love old movies, you will think this movie is not that good.

[–] Arthrikus 17 years ago

Quick question, do any of you take Italian at high levels (such as IB or AP) or speak it fluently?

Ideas are Bullet Proof

[–] DoctorJA 17 years ago

David:

The reason you really weren't into it is because (as it DATo said), you are too young to have had the life experiences to truly appreciate it. Put it on your shelf, and every five (or so) years, take it down and watch it. THEN, when you are in your 30's or 40's, you'll be blown away by it. You seem like a very articulate and intelligent young dude (Thank God there's at least ONE of you out there who's not into acting like a punk, or listening to that rap-crap!). Trust me...

[–] scantan 15 years ago

I'm 34 and I didn't like it that much. I just watched it last night (The 2 hour version) and it seemed like a movie in search of an edit to me. Not trying to rain on anyone that did like it, but it was overlong for me, without reason.

Plus, the ending was telegraphed from like the 10th minute. Who didn't see that clip thing coming from 2 hours away?

Again, a lot of people like it. Just wanted to post that not everyone over 30 did.

[–] blacknyellowsquid 9 years ago

I'm 34 and I didn't like it that much. I just watched it last night (The 2 hour version) and it seemed like a movie in search of an edit to me. Not trying to rain on anyone that did like it, but it was overlong for me, without reason.

Plus, the ending was telegraphed from like the 10th minute. Who didn't see that clip thing coming from 2 hours away?

Again, a lot of people like it. Just wanted to post that not everyone over 30 did.

Yeah. Didn't love it either. I'm 30. I was wanting to be blown away, so maybe my expectations were too high. I thought everything was too heavy handed and sentimental. But the sentimentality in the end wasn't really deserved because it never once let up throughout the whole film, if that makes any sense. If' they'd saved the sentimental nostalgia just for the final scene, it might have had more of an impact. But the whole movie was like *hitting you over the head with a wooden board* THIS IS SO SENTIMENTALLLLL. then at the end LOOK STILL SENTIMENTAL, FEEL NOSTALGIC NOW BECAUSE WE'RE RECAPPING HOW SENTIMENTAL IT ALL WAS. I was like woah pump the brakes there a little and give ME, the viewer, a chance to develop those feelings so that by the end, I too shall feel the sentiment.

I can definitely appreciate melodrama and things being over the top, but this just NEVER let up so it felt kind of manipulative. And I found the whole "cinema" love thing heavy handed too, though I guess that was the point.

I also thought it was pretty corny in the beginning.

I did like Alfredo and some of those moments (I saw the cut version). The only moment I felt a tinge of sadness was when he was leaving on the train and they were all waving goodbye. The priest waving his hat got me more than anyone else, haha.

And yes, like the above poster...as soon as the wife was like "Alfredo left you something..." I thought, well it HAS to be those clips of people kissing that'd he cut out and "gave" him (though kept them) years before. Because what else would/could it be lol.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] qtandem 17 years ago

In my own humble opinion, Cinema Paradiso is an overrated film.
I never found it 'painful to watch', as you say, and I didn't find anything cheesy in it either. Philippe Noiret and Ennio Morricone's score were great and it's a beautiful story.
However, it's obvious that it's not as good as other Italian films such as Fellini's Amarcord, for example.
But don't get me wrong. It's nice to watch it every now and then.

[–] bajaman 17 years ago

"However, it's obvious that it's not as good as other Italian films such as Fellini's Amarcord, for example."

qtandem i completely agree with you!

i couldnt help but compare this to Fellini's Amarcord as it examined the filmmakers town/parts of his life growing up....

i believe Cinema Paradiso is extremely sentimental and evokes many tears and "Awws"...(i shed tears with Cinema Paradiso fyi...) but it does not delve into the human psyche much which, imo, merely makes it a very well made love story brimming with points of nostalgia......

i understand that Toto was forced to chose between love and success, and that his choice to leave home was not a particularly easy one as he is obviously very fond of his town...but such choices are not enough to intellectually sustain a mind for 2 hours...

Whereas Amarcord illustrates the thoughts and worries of the people in Fellini's hometown, Cinema Paradiso simply shows a boy and his love for movies and an eventual girl, an unsuccessful old man who serves as Toto's "guide"/fatherly companion, and the lover and mother of Toto (who are rather 1 dimensional)...

the townspeople are not shown unless they are watching a movie or romping around claiming that the "Square is mine" like the crazy man does repeatedly....

because the storyline is so focused and compact, i did not end up feeling like i knew the town at all---i only knew the few characters we were supposed to know-- and for this reason i think that its simplicity is its downfall as a movie like Amarcord covers the town and its people and the lives of more than just the central characters very well...

all in all the music is amazingly beautiful, visually it is rather beautiful and i liked the movie as a whole....i just cant help but claiming that it is overrated IMO when there is a movie out there called Amarcord which brings to life the ENTIRE town and engages the audience with unique and interesting views on life--whereas cinema paradiso drowns the audience with emotions and feelings..

good movie but too focused on a character whose climactic moment is returning to his hometown after making the decision to leave...

feel free to ask questions about what i mean---dont just reject what i say...because i will clarify.....i have many thoughts on the movie so i will be happy to answer your questions if i didnt make sense...

[–] viggysbagel 17 years ago

I gotta sign off on the previous unfavorable comparisons to Amacord. And, being a film about cinema, I was dissappointed as to how little the movie actually examined the medium itself, or how the movie-house fit in to the larger social milieu of the town, but I suppose that would have been a different film. For what it is, a scmaltzy, nostalgic elegy for the lost innocent wonder and magic of movie going, its perfectly fine. But its hardly the masterpiece so many tout it to be.

[–] cockeye991 17 years ago

Well, I personally think that "classics" like Citizen Kane and Casablanca, which are more acclaimed critically than cinema paradiso, are overrated. So there you go.

Oh, I loved CP, btw.

" Who wants to eat the girl ? "

[–] puzzow 17 years ago

It's not just sappy at the end, the entire movie is a sapfest-- it's a nostalgia piece. The storyline does have a purpose- it is the love of film, and this theme is constant and unifies all parts of the movie. Sentimentality may not be your cup of tea, which is fine. The film is definitely sentimental, unapologetically so, and if you accept that this is just the nature of the film, then you can see that it does what it does wonderfully and beautifully.

[–] rkg87 17 years ago

Yeah, it was a nice film. I was expecting it was going to be some crappy movie since it got all these good reviews and it was in subtitles (Haha, sorry). But I was pleasantly surprised! I just saw the 3 hour cut of the movie and have no complaints. 8/10. I liked it more than The Godfather and a lot of movies in the "Top 100."

[–] twiggy232 16 years ago

i completely agree with the op!

in fact i just posted a similar topic after looking through many others and finding that everyone loved this film!

[–] onepotato2 15 years ago

I loathe this movie which is like an Edna Ferber remake of Amarcord. It's sentimental schlock. The terrific ending (the splice reel of kisses and love) is desperate for a better movie.

This crap is about as subtle as a cinderblock dropped on your toe. It's the perfect companion piece to the equally schlocky Life is Beautiful.

[–] MoneyMagnet 14 years ago

It wasn't my kind of movie. It was too loud, cartoonish, disjointed and obvious for me (the director's cut). Sure, Alfredo was a wonderful character and the last scene was great. But I agree that the final hour was just dragged out and talky. I also agree with the original poster that the movie didn't seem to know what it wanted to be. I found myself actually confused in spots. Apparently someone must have agreed with me because they chopped out most of the last third of the film...

I guess you have to be Italian to really like it.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] bhousemadrigals 14 years ago

I doubt if some of the reviewers on this thread have the maturity or attention span to appreciate a movie full of adult themes, include that of love at first sight or unrequited love. The film maker is looking back on his entire life, and some of you are barely wet behind the ears in your experiences of life. Your comments are as if you've never had your heart broken or been hopelessly in love with some who was out of your reach. Until you have, you'll probably never appreciate or understand how great this movie is nor understand how different it is from most American films that require a short, superficial attention span. You're getting a history of a small European town after WW2 here, in addition to everything else, for those who haven't caught on to it, and that takes time to develop. Try the move in 10 or 20 years and you'll probably have an entirely different take on it, and like or dislike it for the right rather than wrong reasons. It's also hard to imagine anyone not appreciating the music in this classic Italian story, either. Not to mention, to say how ridiculous is it that the film had "potential" when most viewers who understand such emotions as unrequited love feel that it far EXCEEDED it's potential in realizing two incredible love stories--Alfredo and Toto... Toto and Elena--and the love the town had for each other.

[–] DrLenera 14 years ago

I couldn't have put it better myself Bhousemadrigals!