Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-21 06:06:15

The movie bored me

It had great special effects and tons and tons of great reviews, but I honestly could not get into the story. It bored me from the very beginning. I thought the acting was very flat--almost like reading lines. Very monitone. It just didn't have any flair, I thought. I know everybody will disagree with me, but I checked it out and I was disappointed. Yawn!!

2012-05-20 23:59:26

Very Entertaining...Great Quality The whole family enjoyed

This movie has a very well written script, excellent acting, engaging story. It's long, but you can watch it in segments because of the story structure. I watched it over and over and enjoyed it each time.

2012-05-13 15:49:41

Arabian Nights: Vanessa-Mae's debut as an actress

I ordered the video Arabian Nights simple because my favorite artist Vanessa-Mae is in it for her debut as an actress. Vanessa-Mae is a well known and celebrated violinist. However, seeing this movie I find it very entertaining. Costumes, music and special effects are very good and functional. Acting performances are good in general, but remain a little flat because of the fairy tale type setting. Dialogues are short all the time. What about the role of Vanessa-Mae? I think she made a very good choice for her acting debut. She is convincinng as the beautiful princess Zobeide. I think Vanessa-Mae can devellop herself into a good actressa. This means, if she has the ambition to do so.

2012-05-12 22:32:03

How did this get on broadcast TV???

Someone down at ABC-TV must've snuck this one on-screen while the studio execs were off golfing...it's an incredible piece of work! It is creative and daring and light-years ahead of the drivel the networks usually show.There were a number of pleasant surprises (aside from the ones mentioned in all other customers' reviews you will see here): - I really enjoyed the unexpected interplay between Arabian, Asian, African, European -- probably what was actually happening in the Middle East at that time, but never depicted in film.- There are hilarious touches of modern humor slipped into the dialogue, including little jabs at movie cliches (you'll have to listen carefully!). - As Scheherezade learns storytelling from a street-storyteller, *we* also learn those neat little secrets...and then see them in action.

gandalf_a_1999 2012-05-12 05:47:56

magical tale

This movie with its many popular tales told throughout was incredible. Don't let the length put you off as it almost did me. In the end I felt it could have been longer it was that enjoyable. Thepopular tales of Ali Baba and Aladdin, along with a few other I didn'trecognize were fantastic. Each story was able to flow into the next using characters from theprevious story, until the last 2 tales after Aladdin.(The only smallmiscast was that of Aladdin, Lee, while his acting was believable, didnot seem to strike me as an Aladdin.)Each tale has a point, coming together in the end.Spellbinding entertainment.

2012-05-11 22:32:16

This movie is Amazing!

This rendition of the classic tale is so convincing you feel as though this could have actually happened. The insane king, the woman who faces death to save him, and of course, the magical tales beautiful woven into a wonderful film. The shots and special effects truly transport you to the time frame of the story. Filled with action and an incredible acting cast, this is a wonderful movie. The only way this movie could have possibly been improved would have been cutting the un-realistic and long flying carpet scene. Other than that, this is a great adaptation of the book and worth every minute!

2012-05-11 05:44:51

Once a night isn't enough!

This review is from: Arabian Nights (DVD) Very close to the original tales of the Arabian Nights. Not an obnoxious amount of CG. Both my wife and myself enjoyed the movie.

HenrySarkissian 2012-05-10 18:09:48

How NOT to make a movie

What a waste of good stories, and a waste of everythingelse.I watched this movie off the air,so there isn't much to complainabout,but I would have been just a much entertained, if I had sat in my room andtwiddled my thumbs instead.On top of all that incompetence, on the night it premiered in LosAngeles, they kept running at the bottom of the screen a message abouttheirprogramming, which became more and more obnoxious as they kept repeatingit.Is this really what all that hoopla was about ?

2012-05-02 19:46:37

Arabian Nights

A really Cool Movie. Initially before watching, I had the impression that TV movies were not that great.... I was wrong. It had great CGI effects, story line and theme. Yes, TV movies cannot compete with Big Screen in budget.. but with Cable bills rising... more people are staying at home.This movie was nice.

2012-05-02 01:10:28

The Finest TV Movie Ever!

Arabian Nights is a spectacularly lavish fantasy!Based on the 1001 Arabian Nights that Schiharazade told the sultan every night to keep him in suspense and keep him from executing her! The story is marveously played out. It does not suffer the burden of being a TV movie and lacking the budget and grand scope of a movie but instead acts takes advantage of the fact that it is a TV show! Originally on television the story was divided into two separate two-hour parts, told different nights. But on DVD it plays just as a movie would, with lavish, larger-than-life sets that needed to be just right for the movie to succeed. And succeed the movie does, marvelously in fact.Telling 5 main stories in addition to the main story that's being played out. The stories are, in order: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (An expertly told adaption of the classic arabian tale with fine acting and even a twist ending that will please everyone), The Sultan's Jester (An amusing story that I had not heard before about a court jester who accidentally chokes on a fishbone and dies, the people who he was dining with, thinking that they had killed the Sultan's beloved jester, leave the body at the door of a doctor who also believing he'd killed the jester, brings him to another person's house and so on, all and all an amusing, well told tale), Aladdin and the Magic Lamp (The longest, biggest and most lavishly told of the 5 tales, Aladdin recounts the tale we all know, but a seemingly different, more authentic, and interesting version. Look for John Leguizemo of Moulin Rouge, and Collateral Damage as the genie), Never Tell the Same Joke Twice (A very interesting and seemingly new tale that ties the two main characters in the real story into this story. A tale that has the sultan playing jokes on one of his particular citizens by having him go from a drunk to waking up as the Sultan and then back and forth. All and all very amusing and even funny), The last story, surely one of the best, is a magical tale that tells the story of three brothers who go out on a quest to find the greatest gift on earth. A tale of love, hope, and brotherhood. Spectacular), abrubtly after this story ends we are thrust into a battle between the sultan and his evil twisted brother bent on revenge. The sultan uses something from each one of the stories told to him by the beautiful Schiherazade to fight the battle.The running time for the entire film is just under 3 hours.The time moves fast though, and the virtues of having this movie on DVD are clear once you see it on the disc. One wishes they could have recorded a commentary for the movie but alas, there is none as it is a TV movie. All in all a spectacular epic fantasy!

2012-04-27 18:18:38

Absolutely delightful!

First, a caveat: this is not a film for purists. The actual tales on which the film is based are far more sensual and involved. The film takes a great deal of liberty with the original tales, so one ought not expect a "faithful" reproduction.That said, I must say that I found this film to be an absolute joy to watch. The sets and costumes are wonderful eye candy, and the stories (prior caveat aside) are a great deal of fun. The script is tightly written and the acting excellent. The tale of Aladdin is particularly well done and humourous (John Leguizamo was the perfect casting pick for the roles of the two genies). Very highly recommended for everyone (though with a warning to prudes: there is one very brief scene, a bath, in which the camera-work doesn't quite manage to obscure a rather "revealing moment" for Dougray Scott).

2012-04-27 03:11:31

Some of the greatest stories ever told.

The caliph has issues. His previous wife plotted with his brother to overthrow him, driving him to the brink of insanity. The law decrees that he must take another wife to keep his throne, yet now he completely mistrusts women. His intention is to comply with the law then have the wife executed after one night.So, he marries the beautiful Scheherazade, whose only only hope of avoiding execution is to tell stories, and hook the kings curiosity.So begins her deadly nightly flirtation with death, and she entrances the king with healing stories which may have something to do with his real life, stories which have now become legend of the 1001 nights. Stories scuh as Ali Baba and the 40 thieves. Who can forget the infamous, 'Open Sesame' password which reveals all the treasure. Yet the real saving grace is Ali Baba's wife Morgiana who spots the dangerous bandits, and saves Ali Baba, providing an example of a loving and faithful wife, and helping bit by bit to dissolve the king's rage and restore his faith in women. In this almost three hour movie, we also also Aladdin and the magic lamp, and other stories. John Leguizamo gives the performance of the movie as the sarcastic genie of the lamp. I enjoyed Alexei Sayle as the hunchback jester BacPac, and the story of the lowly drunk who looked like the Caliph and wanted to be the sultan, and the magic carpet story. Excellent performances by Dougray Scott, and Milli Avital in the lead roles, and Rufus Sewell as Aladdin. I definitely prefer this the earlier Arabian Nights (Universal Cinema Classics) starring Sabu which focused on only one story, yet is also worth seeing.Amazing stories. Amazing movie. Given the price and the quality you cannot go wrong. I also highly recommend Thief of Bagdad (1940) starring Sabu, recommended by Roger Ebert, a film adored by accomplished directors such as Scorsese, Lucas, and Coppola. [...]

2012-04-25 07:59:16

The effects are awsome!

We first saw this on cable and decided we had to have it on DVD. Arabian Nights is a terrific story well told in this modern adaptation. Get your own copy, you'll be glad you did.

2012-04-24 21:24:23

How to Tell a Good Story

The beautiful Scheherazade must quickly spark the sultan's interest in her stories; her life depends upon it; and so she sparks your interest too. She tells 5-stories; each about 25-minutes: "Ali Baba and the 40-thieves"."Back-Back the Sultan's Jester" "Aladdin and His Magic Lamp""The Sultan Plays a Prank on a Beggar""Three Competing Princes Seek a Wonderful-Item to Gain the Throne". There is also the main story of Scheherazade, the Sultan, and the Sultan's evil brother. This 3-hour film moves quickly; though I watched the final story the next day.Filmed on location in Morocco and Turkey; lavish sets and costumes; good special-effects; and a little humor from John Leguizamo as the genie of the ring. The writing on the face of the lamp-genie is Solomon's-Curse imprisoning him in the lamp as a genie until the day a master of the lamp chooses to set him free.This film shows a lot of thought, and was well done. I read these stories first from books; the books and your imagination are better than any film could possibly do.

2012-04-18 01:33:53

FANTASTIC TALE OF FANTASY AND HISTORY

This review is from: Arabian Nights (DVD) People Need Stories More Than Bread Itself--Show Us How to LiveI originally bought this video because of the tie-in to a writing exercise that I was doing. Sheherazade marries the Sultan Schahriar, because she loved him even as a child. She becomes the storyteller, and that is the message I wanted to send to the students; that the simplest thing can become an opening for a writing. Sheherazade sees a beetle walking across the floor, and the next thing you know she comes up with the evil thief bearing a tattoo of a beetle.... and her creative imagination transforms into a fascinating tale. I did not see the originally presented mini-series on cable, but now I wished that I had. The video is just extraordinary.John Leguizamo is quite captivating as his role as the genie of the lamp, but also as well as the ring genie. I have seen him in dramatic roles, and could barely recognize the comical side of him. The introduction of the genie of the lamp and his relationship with the possible "blood relative" of his counter ego ring genie was so well done, I could not help myself watching it over and over. He is a genie and could stop the rain in an instant, but he pulls out a wrench from his "pocket" to turn off the rain.The special effects are spell bounding - and would be thought preserved solely for big-screen. I think the settings are nothing short of exquisite, and allow you to be transported visually to another time and place. If some night you feel the need to escape the overwhelming stresses of reality and daily life, I recommend this for both its insights, messages, and its splendor.

Elizabeth Van Pelt 2012-04-17 08:52:13

Visually beautiful and creative story treatment

This was a fabulous production. No movie can do justice to the entirestoryof "Arabian Nights", but this did an admirable job. The visual effectswerestunning and the actors were well cast. The way the production moved backand forth between the stories and the storyteller's (and listener's)situation was very creative (reminded me of "The Neverending Story"). Thehumorous sections and modern jokes were unexpected, but fun and notoverdone. My only complaint was that the end came too soon -- after 4hoursI still wanted more.

2012-04-15 21:51:24

Disappointment

I watched Arabian Nights on television and I loved it. I loved everything about it: the storyline, the acting, the scenery, the costumes, everything. I was so looking forward to getting this video. I was so disappointed when I realized that the editors of this movie cut out crucial scenes that were inclued in the televised movie. It's basically a choppy mess. Some of the edited out portions were subtle but I knew where the cuts were. A good movie should flow smoothly. For example, the story about Amin the beggar and Abrashield were entirely cut out. That's a crucial part of the movie. It's when the sultan realizes what his brother is doing to him. Without that part, the scene doesn't make sense. Two stars for this video, no stars for the editor.

tedg 2012-04-15 13:02:49

In the Lamp

Spoilers herein.One key to master storytelling is the art of folding. That includes allsorts of techniques of overlapping narrative, spanning from overarchingmetaphor to stories within stories. It is an ancient technique, as oldas any story we know. It is especially present in the 'Arabian Nights'stories, signified by what's inside the lamp.The writer of this film understood the singular advantage of thematerial and made changes to emphasize the folds: the warring geniesplayed by the same actor; the many bleeds between the framing story andthe inner stories, and most particularly in the outer framing layers.The whole thing could be what we see from the magical giant, or whathis wife whispers in his ear, or how the interloper makes love... orwhat the teller in the market tells, and that's well before you getinto Scheherezade's double nesting: telling the story to her kidsand/or telling to her husband.Once you have that, you have a success. Add in some beautiful faces(Vanessa Mae), some lush (but somewhat comic) costumes and reallysuccessful locations, and you've got something that works, even in theface of imperfect directing and pacing.One thing that's wonderful about these stories, the originals, is howthey cover the 'orient.' This is extended here in referencing locationsan peoples in various Arabian locations plus, Persia, Africa, China,even Tibet. Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

2012-04-14 22:35:05

Never EVER tell the same joke twice....

This review is from: Arabian Nights (DVD) What are you to do when you're married to a husband who is a pathological misogynist who wants to kill you because he believes you're out to assasinate him? Why, you tell him stories to keep him pre-occupied, of course.This is an enchanting, delightfully well done DVD which tells the story of Sheherazade. In the movie you will find dazzling tales and wonderful storytelling as she does what she can to ensure that hubby does not kill her. The stories are varied in their content and are sure to keep his attention (as well as yours!).Mili Avital is wonderful as Sheherazade; her dark, exotic beauty & regal composure make her perfect for the part. The cast also includes several reputable actors who have a background in theatre (always a + in my book). The great Jason Scott Lee is a fabulous touch in his role as Alladin.Purchase this film & travel back in time to a wondrous & mystical time. Artisan has put together another top-knotch winner here; one that is not only exemplery, but a movie the whole family can enjoy. I would also recommend giving a listen to the Sheherazade musical score written by the Russian composer Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov. This is one of the most beautiful, poetic, visually entrancing feel-good movies I've seen in quite awhile.

2012-04-14 11:00:00

good view

This review is from: Arabian Nights (DVD) This is a good story with a thinking lady. She asks a story teller to help her and he does. Worth the watching.