a fictional Casanova
Added 12/27/2009
At the dawn of an enlightened age the legend of Casanova
is somewhat twisted by this happy ending romantic comedy.
The period costumes are very good and the acting is well done,
but like all such romantic rewrites much of the plot seems
pretty hard to believe? For example, Casanova is rescued from the church
who is about to hang him by his mother the actress and her
friend the actor. The leading lady is a fem-lib writer
well before such texts saw the light of day, because
the church backed the family as headed by men
and women had nearly zero rights in an court.
The antics of Casanova with his womanizing madee him somewhat of a hero in his
time to many of male population.
I think that rewriting history for a romantic happy ending
is probably good for Hollywood and bad for history?
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Worth seeing - light entertainment!
Added 12/26/2009
There are some reviewers who are disappointed that Shapespeare himself didn't write the script, or that Johnny Depp didn't play the lead role. To them I say "Be happy with what you get!"
This is a warm, amusing tale of a scandalous young man accustomed to using his rakish reputation to bed as many admiring young ladies as possible, and his efforts to thwart the authorities' attempts to control him.
It has the singular virtue that the viewer actually CARES about ALL the characters in the film, with witty dialogue, appropriately period music, and the stunning backdrop of Venice. There are worthy performances by all involved, the comedic foils of Oliver Platt and Jeremy Irons being outstanding.
Heath Ledger has a superficial resemblance to images of Casanova, and has an easygoing charm that is heartwarming.
The beauties he pursues are perhaps less engaging than the lively Sienna Miller, who plays his main love interest.
In real life Giacomo Casanova was an extraordinary man. He was highly intelligent and managed to mix in the loftiest circles in Venice, and later Europe as a whole. He was handicapped by an aversion to boredom, and perhaps might have been classified ADD in the modern era. He was later to say " I have insufficient character for my intelligence, and insufficient intelligence for my character". He saw no inconsistency between his Catholic faith and his life long dedication to the pursuit of sensual pleasure. His early career in the church enabled him to sidestep the moral censorship of the day, and he was always one step away from prison in his travels. He travelled the length and breadth of Europe as an entrepreneur, spy, and diplomat, seeking adventure and romance wherever he went.
Many of the episodes in this film reflect actual events in Casanova's life, including a rooftop escape (from the Doge's prison, not a nunnery as in the film) and show an interest in science (he rode in a balloon later, and had a career as an alchemist), music (he was a professional violinist, and his conversations with Mozart resulted in "Don Giovanni") and international diplomacy (he was frequently employed as an agent by authorities in Venice and Rome).
While being a man of many parts (one in particular being well endowed and in regular use), he was also a man attractive to men for his persona, and to women for his attentive wooing. He considered intelligence to be a woman's most lasting attribute, and in fact his one true love most delighted him by her conversation. Tragically, her death required him to continue the search.
After gaining and losing several fortunes (he introduced the lottery into France, and was an inveterate gambler), his retirement as a Librarian enabled him the leisure to record his autobiography. This, like Pepys' diary, gives us a fly on the wall look into his life and times. Though voluminous, it gives only an overview of his amatory career, as he refrained from causing offence to the many patrons whose generosity had supported him in his prime.
All told, this film gives a small glimpse into the younger life of Giacomo Casanova, and most importantly, everything in the movie COULD have happened, and probably did! Though the real man was no doubt more outrageous, the character portrayed by the late lamented Heath Ledger is much more to our liking.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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The Most Notorious Seducer the World has ever Seen.
Added 10/15/2009
In the style of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE comes the deliciously rousing romantic comedy CASANOVA. For the first time in his life, the legendary Casanova (Heath Ledger) is about to meet his match when the alluring Francesca (Sienna Miller) does the one thing the notorious lover of women never thought possible - refuse him. Through disguises, subterfuges and wit, CASANOVA manages to get closer and closer to Francesca. But he's playing the most dangerous game he's ever encountered. A game that will not only risk his life and reputation , but his only chance of true love.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Hilarious and Romantic with beautiful settings and clothing
Added 10/14/2009
Having watched this movie several times, I never fail to laugh. The costumes are beautiful and though the movie revolves around a seducer of women, a human side of true love and his determination to obtain that love, comes forth. Heath Ledger is fantastically entertaining as is Omid Djalili. Sienna Miller is that intelligent woman who knows what she wants and believes, and isn't afraid to speak of it. She is truly who all woman should strive to be. This is a movie to watch when one is in need of some romantic fun and a few laughs besides.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Movie Okay/Manufacturing Shoddy
Added 8/19/2009
I don't know from whence Amazon gets it "duped one too many times" copies of movies (this one said "Hecho en México"), but this one freezes up every 5 minutes or so. With a little fanagling, you can get it moving again... and you only miss a little of the scene it froze on... I think...
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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a fictional Casanova
Added 12/27/2009
At the dawn of an enlightened age the legend of Casanova
is somewhat twisted by this happy ending romantic comedy.
The period costumes are very good and the acting is well done,
but like all such romantic rewrites much of the plot seems
pretty hard to believe? For example, Casanova is rescued from the church
who is about to hang him by his mother the actress and her
friend the actor. The leading lady is a fem-lib writer
well before such texts saw the light of day, because
the church backed the family as headed by men
and women had nearly zero rights in an court.
The antics of Casanova with his womanizing madee him somewhat of a hero in his
time to many of male population.
I think that rewriting history for a romantic happy ending
is probably good for Hollywood and bad for history?
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Worth seeing - light entertainment!
Added 12/26/2009
There are some reviewers who are disappointed that Shapespeare himself didn't write the script, or that Johnny Depp didn't play the lead role. To them I say "Be happy with what you get!"
This is a warm, amusing tale of a scandalous young man accustomed to using his rakish reputation to bed as many admiring young ladies as possible, and his efforts to thwart the authorities' attempts to control him.
It has the singular virtue that the viewer actually CARES about ALL the characters in the film, with witty dialogue, appropriately period music, and the stunning backdrop of Venice. There are worthy performances by all involved, the comedic foils of Oliver Platt and Jeremy Irons being outstanding.
Heath Ledger has a superficial resemblance to images of Casanova, and has an easygoing charm that is heartwarming.
The beauties he pursues are perhaps less engaging than the lively Sienna Miller, who plays his main love interest.
In real life Giacomo Casanova was an extraordinary man. He was highly intelligent and managed to mix in the loftiest circles in Venice, and later Europe as a whole. He was handicapped by an aversion to boredom, and perhaps might have been classified ADD in the modern era. He was later to say " I have insufficient character for my intelligence, and insufficient intelligence for my character". He saw no inconsistency between his Catholic faith and his life long dedication to the pursuit of sensual pleasure. His early career in the church enabled him to sidestep the moral censorship of the day, and he was always one step away from prison in his travels. He travelled the length and breadth of Europe as an entrepreneur, spy, and diplomat, seeking adventure and romance wherever he went.
Many of the episodes in this film reflect actual events in Casanova's life, including a rooftop escape (from the Doge's prison, not a nunnery as in the film) and show an interest in science (he rode in a balloon later, and had a career as an alchemist), music (he was a professional violinist, and his conversations with Mozart resulted in "Don Giovanni") and international diplomacy (he was frequently employed as an agent by authorities in Venice and Rome).
While being a man of many parts (one in particular being well endowed and in regular use), he was also a man attractive to men for his persona, and to women for his attentive wooing. He considered intelligence to be a woman's most lasting attribute, and in fact his one true love most delighted him by her conversation. Tragically, her death required him to continue the search.
After gaining and losing several fortunes (he introduced the lottery into France, and was an inveterate gambler), his retirement as a Librarian enabled him the leisure to record his autobiography. This, like Pepys' diary, gives us a fly on the wall look into his life and times. Though voluminous, it gives only an overview of his amatory career, as he refrained from causing offence to the many patrons whose generosity had supported him in his prime.
All told, this film gives a small glimpse into the younger life of Giacomo Casanova, and most importantly, everything in the movie COULD have happened, and probably did! Though the real man was no doubt more outrageous, the character portrayed by the late lamented Heath Ledger is much more to our liking.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
The Most Notorious Seducer the World has ever Seen.
Added 10/15/2009
In the style of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE comes the deliciously rousing romantic comedy CASANOVA. For the first time in his life, the legendary Casanova (Heath Ledger) is about to meet his match when the alluring Francesca (Sienna Miller) does the one thing the notorious lover of women never thought possible - refuse him. Through disguises, subterfuges and wit, CASANOVA manages to get closer and closer to Francesca. But he's playing the most dangerous game he's ever encountered. A game that will not only risk his life and reputation , but his only chance of true love.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
