L' Atalante
|
Our Price: $55.43 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $12.96 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of L' Atalante
Movie Review: Beauty in its simplicity; what a truly wonderful film
Summary: 5 Stars
I normally deplore sentimental story-telling, but having just seen "L'Atalante" for the first time, I fully understand why this is ranked amongst the greatest films ever made. Straightforward & simple in its approach, with a minimal amount of dialogue, this movie still has an impact which anyone should be able to experience, even today.
Anyone who has suffered the trials of a new marriage can relate to Jean & Juliette, who both stumble early & badly, and suffer all the more because they realize they have made really poor decisions. The moment where Juliette returns to the moorings, only to find that the barge has left without her --- leaving an inexperienced country girl at the mercy of the big city --- has to be one of the most heart-rending moments I have ever watched in a movie. How magnificently done!
Michel Simon is quite amazing as Pere Jules, truly one of the most eccentric characters ever created on film. Simon does such a great performance as a drunk that I would not be surprised if he actually had tossed back a few before filming the scene.
How disheartening it is to know that nothing else would be forthcoming from the comsumptive Jean Vigo, dead at only age 29. But what a relief it is to know that this movie, which very nearly didn't survive intact, is still with us to be enjoyed.
Movie Review: Most romantic movie ever made
Summary: 5 Stars
Most of the well written reviews here talk knowledgeably about film matters about which I know nothing. What I do know is that this film is simply one of the most achingly beautiful, romantic movies I have ever seen. My husband and I first saw it 30 years ago, when we were dating. The quality was bad, obviously prerestoration, but we still just fell in love with the movie. There is a scene (and the other reviewers have spelled out the basic plot: village girl marries barge captain, they argue, separate, meet again) where the young man, missing his wife, swims under water and sees a fantasy of her -- well, that was so touching. And, yes, the scene where the couple thinks of one another is one of the most magical, love filled scenes in movie history. I have to comment, too, on the lovely quality of light in this film. [One odd point, has anyone else noticed how much the vaudeville entertainer, who flirts with Juliette, looks like Jim Carrey? We thought it just spooky since the movie was made 70 years ago!] So, this is a great valentine's day movie, for romance, or any day movie if you just love really welldone movies. We recently purchased the restored copy on DVD and were very pleased. The only thing I can think would improve it would be more extras.Movie Review: Sweet, sad, and beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars
Juliette, a woman in small-town France marries Jean, a barge captain. Within minutes, the newlywed couple start their life together on the barge L'Atlante, where the characters develop and the plot forms. Among the characters is Papa Jules, who is a charming, tattooed old roughneck with an affinity for cats (which are everywhere) who shares stories and tricks with Juliette, and earns the scorn of the jealous and uptight Jean. Docking in Paris, Juliette (played by Dita Parlo, one of the most adorable women ever to grace celluloid), a naieve country girl, is seduced by the culture and charm of the city, and her husband, an uptight bundle of insecurity, just cannot deal with her innocent flirtations. He abandons her, and the emotions start pouring out. The rest cannot be explained in words, you'll just have to see how it works out, as the narrative of the film is incredibly visual.
The cinematography is among the best you'll ever see in your life. Also contains one of the most erotic scenes ever put to film, though no sex is featured. May move you to tears. Essential viewing for film lovers.
Movie Review: One Time Wonder
Summary: 5 Stars
"L'Atalante" directed by Jean Vigo was made post-silent era, 1933. But it retains the photo story telling of cameraman, B. Kaufman ("On the Waterfront"). The lighting,overlaps, and F-stop tricks give this comedy of young love a romantic shimmer. Juliette (Dita Parlo, we see her again in Renior's "Grand Illusion") is a small town girl that falls for the boat Captain of a Seine River barge, Jean (Jean Daste). Michel Simon is the jester 1st Mate, a man who has lived life in a circus quirky way. Alas, young Juliette finds life on the boat as small as her village, so when they arrive in Paris, a series of events separate the lovers. The dialogue is not important, so the cinematography carries the story. The river and boat are dirty and worn, the rough industrial areas of Paris are ugly, and the unemployed rabbles of Paris are terrible. Dismissed as a trifling comedy when it first came out, by 1952, the New French Wave recognized Vigo's film as a masterpiece and a great inspiration. "L'Atalante" is now ranked in the top five best films ever made.Movie Review: a cruddy print
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, I'm halfway decent at French, so when I buy big French classics like this the first thing I take a gander at is the subtitle situation. Here, only English is possible, not French or any other language. There are also no dubs into other languages.
Fortunately, however, while the letters of the subtitles are white, the letters sport tiny black borders, allowing them to remain legible even when they appear against a whitish backdrop, such as snow or a bridal dress.
Why doesn't everybody just make yellow subtitles? Sheesh!
Anyhow. The extras are lame: you get to see a gallery of posters for the film and a bevy of still shots.
In short, what you're gettng is essentially the movie in DVD format, but nothing more worth mentioning. Don't be led into thinking this is a revolutionary transfer or anything. I can't see how anyone could feel that way.