Faust
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Movie Reviews of Faust
Movie Review: Gorgeous film but leave the sound off
Summary: 4 Stars
For the most part I have little to add to what others have written - it's a beautiful film, essential viewing, and it looks great on this DVD. BUT, as regards the newly composed score, although the composer has done a fine job matching the drama (perhaps a bit too closely at times) -- it receives an truly poor performance (by the Olympia Chamber Orchestra??!?) -- the strings especially are not able to play the music with any reliable degree of accuracy, which makes for many painful moments. (Some parts sound ok -- woodwinds, and solo harp especially.) This is really an unfortunate, even embarrassing mark against an otherwise fine release -- unless the goal was to recreate the sound of an under-rehearsed cinema orchestra sight reading a score circa 1926, in which case it succeeds.
Movie Review: Surprisingly good soundtrack. Good visuals. Iffy plot.
Summary: 3 Stars
This is the first silent film I've seen that has a fitting musical score. Amazon is unclear as to what version this is, so I'll just have to assume we're all talking about the Timothy Brock score (1995). It matches the plot and action note-for-note, unlike some other silent films that seem to feature a random mood piece in the background.
As far as the film itself, you will be blown away for the first 20 minutes. The visuals are downright chilling (especially the memorable entrance of Mephisto), and the plot is faithful to the original legend as it was penned by Goethe. But something happens halfway through that I'm not sure what to make of. Murnau turns Mephisto into a slapstick comedian (which one other reviewer has compared to a Laurel & Hardy... I'd say more Lou Costello, myself). The film never quite recovers from this, and it loses its dark edge. Adding insult to injury is the rather unconvincing romance thrown in.
It's definitely worth a watch for the music, technique and nostalgia. It helps also if you can avoid comparing it to the original legend of Faust.
Movie Review: Good Murnau film in parts, creaky in others
Summary: 3 Stars
The great 1920's German film industry turned out fantastic productions with world class directors such as F.W. Murnau at the helm. This one has a great beginning that features still impressive special effects. The story, however, is a a morality tale steeped in medieval thinking (angels, devils, etc.). The middle part is quite dull and slow moving. I fast forwarded through this one.