Customer Reviews

Melies the Magician

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this DVD because I am a fan of silent era films and especially people like Melies and Winsor McCay. Sadly though, this DVD is utterly ruined. Someone thought it was a good idea to super-impose a gawd-awful white logo in the lower left hand side of the film, creating a distraction and a nuisance. I recommend against buying this DVD because it will encourage others to pull this nonsense. Would you like to see a beautiful restoration of Star Wars with a nasty Lucasfilms logo on top of it??? Didn't think so.

Personally, I enjoyed this DVD, especially the rare Melies color films. A joy to watch. Also his very early film with his four heads talking on a table. The color tinted films are quite delightful too.

As for the narration, Melies granddaughter (whose voice you hear) made it clear that in the days before titles were used in silents, people like Melies verbally narrated the action in such films to their audiences. Gives you a kind of "you are there" feel.

But in either case, lovers of Disney and fantasy films in general should flock to this, as Meleis was the grand master who strarted it all. Great to watch with kids too (aside from the hanging scene in "Blue Beard").

The DVD begins with the doctumentary and the shorts later. I suggest actually watching the documentary because of the insight you gain into the creator and the work he put into this shorts. As the shorts go they're like the early signs of cinema, fuzzy, but imaginative. Melies has some quirks too like all the stuff he does with his head. His material is limited as the documentary explained he burnt most of his films in a panic. But what is there shows why he is considered to be one of cinema's early greats. The documentary leaves something to be desired which is why I only rate this as a whole as 3 stars. Other reviewers complain about the same things as I did, how the narration on the shorts were unnecessary. But I liked how it didn't target to the average viewer. Sure I know nothing about this guy but I liked hearing about his magic and editing tricks. One thing the documentary does right, is its presentment of how Melies was a passionate busybody. It made me feel guilty for my lazy behavior.

All I can tell is that the documentary is boring, and the form how the short films are articulated with the structure of the presentation makes me wanna cry, because for starting, the short films are played with the voice of an old lady who's explaining the film (i believe i can understand it by myself), and this voice over is un-remouvable. And the editor sometimes puts plans of the pianist playing, letting me the impression that film has not passed completely. The only thing good is the films of this visionaire.

The picture was terrible and the sound didn't work well. Maybe you should check out Duran Duran videos instead.