Movie DVD Store (UK) - Mozart's Don Giovanni / Raimondi, Opera de Paris, Maazel [Deluxe Edition] [1979]

	List Price: £24.99 Our Price: £11.98 Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Manufacturer: Second Sight Films Ltd. Starring: Ruggero Raimondi, Kiri Te Kanawa, José Van Dam, Teresa Berganza, Edda Moser Directed By: Joseph Losey
Average Customer Rating:
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Audience Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over Binding: DVD EAN: 5028836031321 Format: Box set Label: Second Sight Films Ltd. Manufacturer: Second Sight Films Ltd. Number Of Items: 3 Publisher: Second Sight Films Ltd. Region Code: 2 Release Date: 2008-02-18 Running Time: 169 Studio: Second Sight Films Ltd. Theatrical Release Date: 1979
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Editorial Reviews:
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Mozart at his best! Comment: This long overdue DVD release is simply perfection. Yes, there is a bit of nudity and some of the camera angles and staging could have been more inspired but the restored picture looks as if it could have been filmed last week and the sound quality is perfect. To hear it in 5.1 is breathtaking, it is almost better then viewing it live. This is the best version of Don Giovanni on the market and one of the greatest opera films ever made. Sadly, as other reviewers have observed there was a fault on disc 2 which made me reluctantly return my copy in March. However, having just re-purchased it, I am delighted to see that this fault has now been fixed and you can enjoy the whole film as the director intended. Buy this, you will not be disappointed. Other great opera films on DVD which are must buys are the latest version of Mozart's Magic Flute, directed by Kenneth Branagh; Rossini's La Cenerentola (Abbado); Puccini's Tosca starring Angela Gheorghiu & Ruggero Raimondi (from this Don Giovanni) and Puccini's La Boheme from the Sydney Opera House directed by Baz Luhrmann (a live performance, but the best version of this beautiful opera available). Customer Rating: Summary: Don Giovanni Comment: I have waited so long for a Region 2 DVD of this film to be released, having previously owned it on VHS, with dodgy sound and a pretty grainy picture. I cannot recommend it highly enough - the picture is so clear and the remastered sound is a revelation. I guess it finally sounds something like it should have done in the first place. It's quite simply my favourite film version of any opera, and I'm so happy to have it in DVD at last. My only slight complaints about it are in the presentation of the edition - to call it 'deluxe' is stretching things a bit - I would expect a booklet of some kind with it - but in the end the film speaks for itself. Love it! I didn't have any problems with manufacturing errors as some other reviewers did - this almost put me off from buying it, but I'm so glad I did. I haven't had time to watch the special features disc yet - something else to look forward to for another evening! Customer Rating: Summary: Poor packaging and presentation Comment: I give this 5 stars on the basis of what I have read about the actual film but I did not even get around to viewing this disc and this is because of an echo of the previous reviews. As soon as I unwrapped this disc from the cellophane and noted the silly way they have created for holding the discs I became concerned. This was borne out as soon as I turned over to the playing surface of Disc 1 and noted two distinct scratch marks just about at the point where the disc would have been inserted into the packaging where it is (loosely)held by a plastic side retaining lug and which I suspect caused the damage. I immediately returned the set to the shop and obtained a refund. One other point to add to those mentioned in the other reviews...there is not even a single sheet paper insert of chapters,scenes film information etc. that you would quite properly expect in a deluxe issue. Back to the drawing board on the presentation and packaging please DVD maker/distributors! Customer Rating: Summary: superb sound remastering but . . . . Comment: I will not comment about the film itself because it's beyond reviews, I will focus on this edition. I agree with the previous reviewer that some more care should have been taken on the packaging. When you read "Deluxe Edition" you expect a deluxe edition. I received the set here in South America with the discs of Act I and Act II dislodged and therefore I thought that the problems with the sound in Act II were due to the journey and movements of the dvds during the trip. I see now that the problem is manufacturing and not "delivery". One other thing: for Opera lovers there is a major problem: incredible as it may sound in the XXIst century, this edition has English subtitles that CAN NOT BE REMOVED from the screen!!!! You have to watch a masterpiece with annoying subtitles interfering. Incredible! Furthermore: they should have had the care of inserting a menu with Italian subtitles for those who enjoy Opera in that language. No other subtitles available, I suppose this set is intended for sale in the UK only. The bonus features are very short and there was no need for a third disc. A very good feature about the sound mixing! Customer Rating: Summary: Buyer beware - Great sound but faulty second disc Comment: I owned this DVD in its previous 'tinny' sounding incarnation. This remastering has achieved the sound track this film deserves. The surround sound is magnificent, with every detail enhanced with tender loving care. It is unfortunate that there are now two discs, one per act, instead of just one, as before. The packaging is also poor. A 'trendy' new way of holding the discs does not hold them secure and they are prone to become dislodged and scratched. There is a third disc with three documentaries, which is a big bonus. Unfortunately, I have now returned my copies three times because the second disc (Act 2) has a fault in manufacturing. About ten minutes into play time the sound cuts out for a number of seconds. If the next discs I received have the same problem I will cancel my order and wait for the fault to be corrected before buying this. Buyer beware! Its such a shame because this film version of the opera is magnificent. I have therefore awarded it five stars despite the manufacturing fault. More Reviews