The Magic Flute (2006)

20 out of 22 people found the following review helpful:

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The Magic Flute

A Customer from Lytham St. Annes, 15th April, 2008

My wife is a 'highbrow ' loving classical music and opera and that, is why I ordered this film, but after 20 minutes she turned the film off as it was not to her liking. She also plays the flute and I was very surprised that she felt this way about this film.

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7 out of 7 people found the following review helpful:

music

A Customer from wilmslow, 4th July, 2008

its a film full of singing and dancing so unless that is something you like watching its not for you im afraid i didn't find this film to my taste

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7 out of 7 people found the following review helpful:

Customer Review

A Customer from UK, 23rd June, 2008

Why only 4 stars.

The truth is that we enjoyed the DVD of the Magic Flute filmed at the Drottningholm theatre in Sweden more. Title: Die Zauberflote - Mozart [1989]'

This is a movie, with lots of CGI and special effects, camera angles etc. etc.

In general the cinematic work detracts or distracts from the essential basis: the opera as written. Just placing a camera in front of the stage at Drottningholm was more effective - you can concentrate on the opera itself.

In some places it is obvious that the singing was not recorded at the same time as the action (not because the lips don't sync - but because the ambience is not right).

The libretto is reworked by Stephen Fry in English, but on a DVD it would have worked just as well (if not better) to have it sung in German and allow the viewer to use subtitles.

The idea of the WW1 background works.

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7 out of 7 people found the following review helpful:

Visual treat

A Customer from Isle of Wight, England, 15th May, 2008

Found this a wonderful and dramatic interpretation of the opera. Only problem was with not being able to hear the words sung clearly enough, particualrly by the ladies - there are no subtitles to fall back on which is a shame as this would have enhaced the film for me. If you enjoy Mozart but are prepared to break with traditional representations, then this film is worth watching.

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Interesting production, terrible sound

A Customer from London, 19th March, 2010

I enjoyed this fun production. The acting was generally good but the sound balance was terrible! The orchestral sound was clear but voices distant and sounded as though in a bathroom which led to losing some of the libretto. The 3 ladies in particular were very unbalanced, 3rd lady dry and present but 1st virtually inaudible and washy. This was a shame as there was some very lovely singing.

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Not quite an opera, not quite a straight movie, but a wonderful mix

rosegirl from from Manchester, 21st February, 2010

Sadly after reading some of the other reviews I can see that this film falls between two stools. Opera buffs dislike because it is too filmic, and opera haters dislike it because it is too operatic. Its a pity, as the film on its own merits is wonderful. Stephen Fry's libretto is faithful enough to the original, yet sounds beautiful itself. Brannagh carefully follows the plot of the Magic Flute (such that there is) and yet adds some beautiful, sometimes surreal touches of his own, making sure it never looks anything other than a feature film. Sadly this is one of its weak spots, as the CGI at times looks a little cartoony. The leads are well cast, and give carefully nuanced performances that are sometimes theatrical, sometimes intimate depending on the mood at the time. Rene Pape especially holds everything together, as a statesmanlike Sarastro. I really enjoyed this cinematic version of Mozart's opera. Opera buffs may prefer to get a version live on a stage instead, or perhaps Bergman's version of the same work, which presents a much more staged, theatrical feel.

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Branagh's Magic Flute

A Customer from Kidderminster, 2nd January, 2010

Despite the less than enthusiastic reception by the critics I enjoyed this production of one of my favourite operas very much. Branagh's production captures the fantasy of the opera but also makes it relevant to today. Stephen Fry's English libretto works very well. Musically this was very good, although I found the Queen of the Night's first aria made less impact than I would have liked (although her entrance was spectacular).

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

A gallant flop

nibor from , 4th November, 2009

A nice idea which just didn't work. Setting a comedy in World War I wasn't really very clever since there isn't anything very funny about the thousands dying in the trenches, notwithstanding Blackadder. The film was muddled and desperately needed subtitles. Although the singing was in English the words, especially those sung by the female members of the cast, were largely indecipherable. The music itself was well played and the singers good, apart from their diction, but I'd prefer to see this wonderful opera in a more conventional setting.

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