EI > DVD > Life is Beautiful (1997)

Reviews

DVD

Life is Beautiful (1997)
Movie rating:	10/10
DVD rating:	7/10
Release Date:	Nov. 1999
Running Time:	1 hour 56 minutes
Rating:	PG-13
Distributor:	Miramax
List Price:	$39.95

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Disc Details

Special Features: Interactive Menu.
"Making Life Beautiful" featurette.
Academy Award TV spots.
Theatrical trailer.
Widescreen presentation.
2 audio tracks.

Video Format: Widescreen (1.85:1)

Languages: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Italian (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Captions: English (yellow tint).

Casing: 1-Disc Keep Case

Review

Guido (Roberto Bengigni), A Jewish waiter has charm, wit and more self confidence than anyone who has ever existed. He woos the engaged and engaging Dora (Nicoletta Braschi) the woman of his dreams and wins her against all odds. They have a child Giosué (Giorgio Cantarini) and live happily ever after...

Or would if not for WWII. The film changes gears as Guido protects his son from the horrors of war and the concentration camps with his humorous imagination. A simple charming fable. Not to be missed.

The Disc

Miramax did a great job except they left out the commentary track. Writer director actor Benigni's commentary would have made this disc a 10.

Picture Quality: 10/10
Nice transfer from a film master.

Sound Quality: 10/10
While I found the dubbed version to be extremely annoying, the Italian soundtrack is excellent.

Menu: 7/10
Easy to navigate, gets the job done, but nothing special.

Extra Features: 6/10
The featurette is good. The English soundtrack is shrill. I wish there had been a commentary track.

The Final Word:
Great movie. Will warm even the most jaded heart.

Rusty White

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