Hey folks, Harry here with a look at Milos Forman's fantastic film AMADEUS, which has recently gone under a transformation of sorts... into a longer, more digitally sounding work for theatrical rerelease and the subsequent DVD treatment. I can't imagine it could even begin to sound half as brilliant as the remastered THE LAST WALTZ, but that's probably just me. But here we go....
Hey Harry et Al
I just wanted to give you guys my impressions of the new version of one of my absolutely favorite films of all time. Sometimes I think that costume drama is a more feminine type of sci fi...
Amadeus is film that has captured my imagination for as long as I can remember. My father brought home the award winning film when I could not have been older than seven. Its true, sometimes the relationships were too much for me to understand, however the glorious music, fantastic costumes and intense emotion held my childhood attention and wonderment. You can imagine my enthusiasm when I discovered that the film was being rerelease with additional and extended scenes. Having only experienced the film on video and on substandard television and sound systems, watching the film on the big screen was an entirely new experience. This is a feat in itself considering I‚ve seen the film hundreds of times. It has proven that there are some films that absolutely must bee seen in the cinema. Its like only seeing Star Wars or Pulp Fiction on video.
I could not help but draw comparisons between the two versions. The first noticeable difference was the addition of new sound effects. During the opening scene where two servants try to coax their master out of a bedroom, new noises create tension. This makes the story much clearer. Its easier to understand who‚s behind the door. Overall, the new additions to the film clarify the storyline. In the first version, there are few instances that give Salieri good reason to despise Mozart. In many cases, the viewer must draw their own conclusions. However, the new version makes context out of subtext. This is probably why this film is often referred to as intelligent, it trusts its audience. Fortunately, the new additions do not compromise the director‚s confidence. The story‚s subtlety remains intact throughout.
This isn‚t to say that one watches the improvements and wonders why they weren‚t included in the original film. Some scenes are redundant or not of the same quality in performance. There is a persistent amount of soft focus in some of the new scenes. The new inclusions put the film at over three hours. Even for a fan like me, that‚s a little more Mozart than I can take (almost like too many notes). However, the original film loses a substantial amount of context for Constanza‚s character. Mozart‚s wife seems little more than an opportunist. The new version puts a different spin on things: showing Constanza‚s love and desperation at trying to ensure the financial security of her family.
There is another aspect of Amadeus that translates much better on the big screen than it does on video. Amadeus was first written as a play. Some people may not see a large difference between plays written for the stage and screenplays written to be filmed. In plays, the characters convey most of their personality and conflict through dialog, while in film, that conflict can be portrayed through action. Oftentimes in film, the dialog is overshadowed by the visual image. Amadeus is very visual, but much of the characters intentions are conveyed verbally. When watching this film on video, especially without surround sound, it is difficult to absorb all of the film‚s stellar elements. Oddly enough, its like watching opera on television. You‚ve got to see it in person to get the whole picture.
Go out and take in this film. Absorb it, suck in all of the music, the characters, and the costumes. The more I watch this film, the more I love it. Even after last Sunday, I thought I had enough after three hours, but here I am a day and a half later, watching the original version again. I feel like I have more to appreciate. Amadeus is the biggest and most satisfying piece of cinematic cake. You can‚t even feel bad after. Its that good. Even worse than that, its got me wanting to see the opera.
thanks guys,
The Angiepie
