Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

...acceptance. When the passionate Captain Corelli (Nicholas Cage) is given accommodation at Dr. Iannis's home, the relationship between Corelli and Pelagia is somewhat frosty, but over time a bond between them forms which grows into a romance. Everything seems to be going well, especially as news comes through that the Italian leader, Mussolini, had surrendered to the Allied forces. The Italian forces are over the moon, and can't wait to go home. ...
...Treasure) plays the music loving Captain Corelli, who has a huge passion for opera and also his mandolin. We are treated to numerous operatic renditions of Puccini from Corelli and his army colleagues as well as some truly beautiful mandolin pieces. Cage's performance as Corelli is one of his best; he delivers each scene with perfect sentiment even when the script gives him some very over the top romantic lines. Penelope Cruz (Vanilla Sky) plays ...

christianfilmcritic 05.02.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

...billeted with local families. Enter Captain Corelli, who is put with Pelagia. And this is where the film really starts to go wrong. First of all, whoever cast Nic Cage should at the absolute least be made to actually read the book - and failing that, shot alongside the scriptwriter, who's managed here to come up with the worst piece of film writing since Titanic. Cage is a very fine actor, but a romantic hero he is not. Every time he sat prettily ...
...men, between the passionate, musical Captain and the loyalty and social stigma which binds her to the childhood sweetheart she no longer loves, is something she expresses mostly without saying a word. It's just a shame that the costume designers felt the need to signal in every single scene that she's peasant girl by tying bits of cloth over her hair and making her chop fruit or do rustic things in fields - the poor girl spends the entire movie with ...

ImogenW 07.05.2001 (05.05.2001) · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

...difference. Nicolas Cage plays Captain Corelli who is a very attractive and well-educated Italian occupier who is more interested in music than war. The part is played well enough for the audience to start to fall in love with him. John Hurt plays Dr. Iannis, the wizened old Greek man who is Peligia father. He plays the part in a convincing manner, I could believe that he was the greek doctor who has the wisdom for the whole island. The setting ...
...a major part with the captain being a musician. We have troops of soldiers singing together no matter what they are doing be it in the washroom, on the beach or travelling around in jeeps. Then there is the Mandolin playing of the captain which there is far too little of! One thing I would criticise in this film is the fact that the Italians although they are occupiers seem to be more like friends but the Germans are a totally different breed of ...

mjbarkley 15.02.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

...leader of this army is Captain Corelli (Nicholas Cage), who uses Pelagia and her father’s home as his own. Pelagia is not impressed and is not at all accommodating to Captain Corelli’s presence in her village. Captain Corelli has a foreign sense of humour, but in actual fact is harmless enough. Pelagia is not impressed that Captain Corelli frolicking amongst the waves with topless Italian women, when the Greeks’s are fighting for their lives. She ...
...and shows loving fear when Captain Corelli is injured in an explosive accident. She is finally overcome with fantastic love when, Captain Corelli finally gets out his mandolin. The war is becoming a more and more serious issue, and it is quite possible that this sad circumstance will tear their love apart. OPINION The scenery included in this film was beautiful. I think it gave a splendid atmosphere to the whole film- almost dreamy! It was quite ...

louloutrixabelle 09.06.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

Captain Corelli's Mandolin is based on a best-selling novel and is directed by John Madden (Shakespeare In Love). On a greek island life is wonderful with a big sense of community where everybody lives in peace. Backed by beautiful scenery on a clifftop lives Doctor Iannis (John Hurt) and his plain but alluring daughter Pelagia (Penelope Cruz). Her affections are won by a simple young fisherman Mandras (Christian Bale) who has plans to marry her. ...
...homes of the islanders. One captain corelli (Nic Cage) arrives at the home of Iannis and Pelagia and meets some hostility. Meanwhile Mandras is away fighting the war. Eventually romance blooms between Corelli and Pelagia which leaves Mandras out in the cold. All the while the war rages on and things get hostile. From the look of the trailers you get the impression that this is an epic love story. Yes it's a love story on paper but it's far from epic. ...

utero 09.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

...exactly two hours in length Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is, for most people, twenty minutes too long. Those of you hoping for a love story set against the exciting backdrop of bloody warfare and the daring escapades of the Greek Underground Militia may find it to be two hours too long! This is a film about people and spends it’s time looking at how love, honour and loyalty can set a community apart. It is set on the Greek island of Cephallonia ...
...Cage is the Italian army captain that takes a shine to Cruz when the Italians occupy the area. John Hurt is the worldly-wise Doctor who is father to Cruz. Cage is stuck with an Italian accent that is remarkably similar to that offered by Gavin Richards in Allo, Allo! Cruz is a bit of a cold fish as the love interest and there is very little evidence of any chemistry between them. John Hurt ‘hams’ it up with great enthusiasm throughout ...

shaun 07.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

...have to put up with Captain Antonio Corelli (Nicholas Cage). They don’t like his presence but unlike the other soldiers and officers he seems a little friendlier, especially with his passion for the Mandolin. When Pelagia’s fiancé (Christian Bale) heads off to fight the war the relationship between Pelagia and Antonio starts to really flourish as the circumstances bring them closer together. The rest of the story focuses on their relationship and ...
...Cast ***** Captain Antonio Corelli: Nicholas Cage Pelagia: Penelope Cruz Dr Iannis: John Hunt Mandras: Christian Bale I thought this was a very touching love story and a very good movie. It is adapted from a book written by Louis De Bernieres and although i have not read it i did find this film to be very good. I picked this up thinking it would just be a war film but was very surprised when i found out it was romance but that did not put me ...

Southernboy 12.05.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

...the book, I really would. Captain Corelli's Mandolin is my favourite book of all time and anyone who has read it will appreciate it's magic. However, the film did disappoint me a bit. It's a good film, there's no doubt about that. It's well written, the acting (ignore the accents) is excellent and some of the casting is fantastic, especially John Hurt as Iannis and Penelope Cruz as Pelagia. The action is set against the beatiful scenery of Cephallonia, ...
...have been one of the best films I've ever seen. It wasn't. The plot has flaws and jumps, which while perhaps only obvious to those who know the plot of the book, irritated me a bit, and seemed not to make as much sense as they could. Nicolas Cage was also not the best choice of actor to play the Captain. His accent was shaky at best, and seemed to cover a wide European range before finally settling on a bizarre Cockney-French. But there was a single ...

eechey 12.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

Captain Corelli's Mandolin. A role for Nicholas Cage to play the reluctant soldier, a mandolin slung over one shoulder, and his good nature carrying his squad of Italian Soldiers into Greece. The movie begins before the war, showing a portrait of two lovers, one of which is Mandras the freedom fighter or partisan. This love between Mandras and Pelagia is soon interrupted with Mandras going off to war. He promises to marry her when he comes back ...
...he is warmly welcomed by the audience as a charming, rogue-ish character, with a distinctly pleasant manner. He falls in love with Pelagia, and she for him after initially fighting his charms. The story progresses further, but I don't want to give much more away. The music is provided in part from the mandolin, which has a wonderful musical score. It is moving, and fits perfectly with the action. I have fallen in love with the music so much, that ...

eaglesas 08.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

...War 2. Italian army Captain Corelli (Nicholas Cage) arrives on the island and is billeted to stay in the home of widower Dr Iannis (John Hurt) and his only daughter the beautiful Pegalia (Penelope Cruz), who is about to get engaged to local fisherman/communist freedom fighter Mandras (Christian Bale).The inevitable love triangle ensues with both men trying to win her favour. Half way through the film Italy pulls out of the war, leaving the Italian ...
...German Captain Gunther Weber (David Morrissey) is forced to make a difficult choice between his loyalty to his country and his friendship to Corelli. In the end he follows orders with dire consequences. This film seems to work better as a war film than it does as a love story. The battle scenes are well done and the scenery itself is a joy. The music is good and there are a few genuinely funny scenes. Nicholas Cage tries hard but I think was miscast, ...

alecshort 23.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is an epic about love and war based on the novel by Louis De Bernieres. Pelagia (Penelope Cruz) is the daughter of a rebellious doctor (John Hurt) who lives on a Greek island. Sheltered from the outside world, the islanders world is rocked by the outbreak of WWII. Pelagia’s beau rushes of to fight against the Italians and she is left longing for her lover. As the war continues, Hitlers advance continues and ...
...turns up on the island with his singing troop and, over time has the locals warming to his honesty and optimism. As Pelagia falls for his charms the memory of her lover gets more distant every day. It’s a beautifully shot film on the gorgeous island and the cast fit in nicely. Penelope Cruz is perfect for the role, Nicolas Cage is a bit too old for a romantic hero, but still gives a great performance. The problem is that the characters don’t ...

TallPaul73 08.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

...flollow. The written version of Captain Corelli's Mandolin received great praise and sure enough, the film has now followed. Having not read the book myself and turning up at the cinema to find that the olny film showing was this one with a rather suspect title. I decided to shell out the few pounds i had that day & see the film. The film started pleasantly enough and proceeded to tell the story of the arrival of Italian Captain corelli (played ...
...including his romantic influences on one young girl (Penelope Cruz).Without giving too much away (don't wana spoil the film for you now do I?)Corelli's Italian regiment is sent to this small town in Greece during the Second World War alliance between Italy and Germany.The arrival of the hedonistic Italians is met with mixed responses from the townsfolk. As the historical battle events begin to occur, the relationship between the musically talented ...

tootsierollaway 13.07.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

Having read the book, I was sceptical about a 'Hollywood' adaptation. A friend dragged me along and I settled down to become an armchair critic. Surprisingly, and pleasingly, I became nothing of the sort. The movie, although slightly long and drawn out (2+ hours and a numb bum sets in), was entertaining, educational and enjoyable. I even shed a tear at the end... John Hurt, Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz acted very well. Hurt played the Doctor ...
...the film and lightened the mood on a number of occasions. The film captured the setting of the book. It was just as I had imagined it, and although the storyline differed a number of times from the book, it was enjoyable to watch and reflected the romanticism between Corelli and Pelagia whilst not forgetting the harsh reality of the war around them. If you've read the book - go watch the film with an open mind. But if you've seen the film and ...

Natalie 26.06.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

...Pelagia, played by Penelope Cruz, Captain Corelli, played by Nicholas Cage and the swarthy, taciturn Mandras, played by Christian Bale. Cephalonia is occupied by the Italian army, which includes Captain Corelli, who prefers music and the pursuit of wine, women and song to war. Corelli stays at Doctor Iannis's house, the doctor is played by John Hurt. Pelagia is his daughter and she is training to become a doctor. She is engaged to Mandras, who goes ...
...the gentile Corelli, with his love of music and opera. Things turn nasty when the Germans invade and most of Corelli's comrades are killed, Corelli survives and is nursed back to health by Pelagia and Dr. Iannis. We see Corelli escape and return to Italy. Pelagia receives a record of his music and we don't see anything more of Corelli until 1947 when he returns after Cephalonia is hit by an earthquake. This is a long movie, but we really enjoyed ...

Mikew79 13.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)

I was lucky enugh to see a preview of this film a few days ago. What did I think? Well, first of all it looks great. The scenery is magnificant and the direction very good. Expect a few Oscar nods for these technical categories next year. However, when it comes to the acting, I would say an Oscar is a long way off. Nicholas Cage is pretty good, but then again he's a brilliant actor, who does not usually have to try very hard. But in this film, he ...
...right. But he tries so that's one thing. Penelope Cruz is awful in this film. Her accent is all over the place and pnce you see that armpit hair, it's hard to concentrate on much else. Sure, she's a stunning girl, but you expect more from a lead than what she brings to the film. Would I recommend it? Yes and no. Yes, if you have seen everything on at your cinema and fancy something new. Yes, is you want to see breathtaking scenery. Yes, if you want ...

mambono5 07.05.2001 (06.05.2001) · Read full review
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Review of Captain Corelli's Mandolin (DVD)