Customer Reviews

Total Eclipse (Widescreen/Full Screen)

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This is a great movie and is by far Leonardo DiCaprio best performance yet. He should of won an Oscar for his harrowing portrayal of 19th Century French poet Arthur Rimbaud. Rimbaud was a literary genius at the age of 16, who wrote wonderful and obscure poems about sex and death among other topics.

His intense and volatile relationship with fellow poet Paul Verlaine was often times disturbing and mad. Verlaine had trouble accepting the fact that his friend, confidant and lover was extremely gifted and more successful than he ever was.

Arthur Rimbaud was a merciful and shrewed young man who found pleasure in getting his way all the time and making other people look ridicule (especially the ones he did not like). Verlaine's young wife could not tolerate him and blamed him for making her husband abandon her for long periods of time. Verlaine would always come back to his wife but found Rimbaud so irresistable that he always ended up doing what he wanted and would succumb to his every need be it emotional or sexual. Arthur always knew had to get Paul wrapped up around his finger and got him to do whatever he wanted atleast most of the time.

This film is highlated by great performances from the entire cast and once again it is DiCaprio's remarkable performance that makes this film extremely interesting to watch. I don't think this movie is for everyone especially the ones that only think that a good movie is not good unless someone or something gets blown off. DiCaprio's character goes thru many changes in his appearance especially when he is dying of a terrible disease (I'm sorry but I can't seem to remember which one) his character is both physical and emotional and he plays it with incredible strength and emotion.

If you are a serious movie collector this is a "must have" for your collection. I love everything about this film and is one of my favorite movies ever. I gave it a 5 star rating because that as high as it goes but I would give a 10 rating because it has all the ingredients a great movie suppose to have. Watch this movie and it will leave you breathless. Superb and beautiful all the way through.

I must say that this was an excellant film all around. The quality of the production and the acting was outstanding. DeCaprio did a fantastic job, in fact the best acting I've ever seen him do to date. I was totally impressed with the story and I could not find one poor performance in the film. The script is based a true story with damatic additions I'm sure, however it was a very enjoyable film if only for the chance to see what I believe is some of the finest acting I've ever seen. This is a fantastic investment and a must for the video collection. Be aware that most of the film deals with subject matter best viewed by adults because of sexual content,implied sex acts and nudity. This is not a film for narrow minds or prudish thinkers.

an astonishing film. one i wont soon forget. i love how leo dicaprio has a special ability to play any type of character he chooses!

Total Eclipse does a fine job at painting a portrait of a beautiful, disturbed genius. However in actuality some of Arthur Rimbaud's photos from his childhood show a less attractive poet.

Much dialogue was taken from Rimbaud's own writings, so don't expect that he actually told Verlaine one day that "Love needed to be reinvented." This is simply a line from his "A Season in Hell" and the verse that proceeds it says that he does not like women. Then again we will never know some of the amazing things that Rimbaud said in his daily life, but from his poetry the director takes the best of what he wrote and almost makes it seems as if he said the phrases to Verlaine one day while drinking absinthe.

One who is truly familiar with Rimbaud should expect the movie to contain sadomasochism and sexual content. I've read other reviews that said the movie contained too much. Denying Rimbaud's role this would make the movie a fairy tale as thankfully the director knew that Rimbaud experienced these things and wrote of them.

Lastly, just expect to see a small portion of Rimbaud's life in the movie. He had other companionships and childhood friends which were more interesting than Paul Verlaine. I do appreciate this film and the viewer should expect to be shocked. Or as Rimbaud would say "Then why would you suppose that I intended you to be?"

Only Leonardo DiCaprio would do a film like this. He stands in the nude, and has several...encounters with another man played by David Thewlis. After seeing DiCaprio in this movie I was not surprised that his [orientation] has been questioned over the years. (Some say that he is "friends" with Tobey Maguire and Edward Furlong...hmm?) The only thing that caught my eye was Leo. The film is too bland and boring for me. The only thing that kept me interested was seeing another shot of the hot young Leo, while trying to ignore Thewlis' unwanted shots. You should see Leo's face in the erotic bedroom scene, it looks so real (maybe it is). The thing that dissapointed me was seeing Thewlis while Leo was going at it. I just tried to forget about Thewlis and focus on Leo. If you are a teenage boy like me, there is also a hot chick for us in this movie by the name of Romane Bohringer she plays Paul's new wife. Also look for the african girl he gets with in the end.

You have not lived truly until you have seen and EXPERIENCED "Total Eclipse." It is not the kind of movie you can watch again and again, but it's one you will remember forever. Granted, there are some scenes that are difficult to watch (i.e., the scene where David Thewlis is examined to prove he committed sodomy), but there is enough beauty to this film to justify the five stars. To see the absinthe-inspired relationship between the two poets is most intriguing. A fascinating film. After seeing it, I had to go out and get a book of poetry by Arthur Rimbaud (DiCaprio's character). Amazing stuff. In short, see this movie and then buy Rimbaud's work to fully flesh out this fascinating individual. You will not regret it.

A very powerful and poingnant film which will linger in your heart long after watching it. A love story between two poets which is unruly, sometimes even unbearable, yet exquisit and imbued with soulful passion. I watched the film several years ago but still remember its strong impact to my heart! It is unforgettable & it's the best DiCaprio's film which I have even seen.

The best Leonardo Dicaprio performance, period. This epic drama is what film-making is all about. One of the best movies I have ever seen.

This is the most extraordinary and powerful movie I have seen so far, not afraid to use these strong phrases. For several years after I watched it, it still captivates and the strong impression doesn't weaken, unlike with other your "typical" blockbuster movies. The best role DiCaprio has played.

Leonardo diCaprio did a good job in this movie. He was almost believeable. The movie got a bit weird at times overall it is a good movie to have in your archive. The movie explored the "daddy" thing and the I'm gay but I still love my wife syndrome that some of us still like. Anyway it is a good movie and it attest to what you can become when you are damaged.