Schubert: Piano Sonatas

Advantages: Excellent physcological study of character.
Disadvantages: Grim, brutal, shocking scenes of a sexual nature.

...Haneke is well known for implementing the shock element into his films. He likes to leave his audience felling unsettled. Cinematography is brilliant with subdued colouring reflecting the drabness of Ericas life, and the greyness of the storyline. I have watched this film a few times now, and with each viewing I am stunned by the perfection of Isabelle Hupperts performance. Annie Girardot as the mother also gives a strong, convincing performance with the elements of smothering, and control in the right balance. In my opinion, I think this is a great film. It won many awards, and well deserved accolades. The Piano teacher has a very basic storyline,contains subtitles, and is very graphic in it's content, so it will not be to everyones taste. The musical score is brilliant throughout with the of sonatas Schuman, Schubert Bach... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A great film to watch, a very emotional film which is gripping to watch..
Disadvantages: none

...The film, The Piano, is a film that tells a story about a young woman’s journey from oppression to freedom. The main character, Ada McGrath (Holly Hunter), is sold off in marriage to marry Alisdair Stewart (Sam Neil) and is thus sent away from her home to New Zealand. She is accompanied by her 9 year old daughter, Flora (Anna Paquin) and her beloved piano. When Ada arrives on the beach of the New Zealand coast she is dressed in black dress and bonnet standing beside her beloved piano (her daughter on top), Ada provides a stark contrast with the vast backdrop of the crashing sea and grey skies. Ada has not spoken ever since her lover was killed by lightning. She communicates through her piano and sign language, understood by her daughter. The way in which she uses the piano reflects her mood in a very strong and clear manner... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Okay selection of songs
Disadvantages: re-make of several songs not that good

...Sonata Arctica is a power metal band hailing from Finland. In one decade, they have managed to produce 4 albums (up to 2006), 2 compilations and a DVD. In 2005, they also released a compilation called The End of this Chapter, then a year later, they release this CD. Why, I wonder. Perhaps the songs on the previous compilation wasn't enough to satisfy the fans so they made another one, or distro label wanted to line their pockets further. This CD compromises of songs from all the albums pre-2006. There are two songs that have been re-made but all other songs remain untouched; it is for this reason why it isn't suitable for big fans of Sonata Arctica, they may have already got other albums that contains these songs anyway. The track list are as follows; 01. The Ruins Of My Life 02. 8th Commandment 03. Don't Say A Word 04. Victoria... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful