lspaiser

The movie is a classic and is the penultimate version especially with James Mason as Nemo and in spite of it's hokey parts. But what amazed me most it the video quality. The DVD version is thankfully not "modified to fit your (lo fi) screen." Nor is it 1.37 : 1 as IMDb states. Instead the aspect ratio is 2.55:1 which is probably equivalent to "Cinemascope." Viewed on your wide screen HDTV the width will have severe letter-boxing!

I chose to use some zoom to get almost 16x9 sizing. And although this is not a blue ray disk, using a blue ray player the picture quality compared favorably with HD movies. The vivid color and sharpness make watching it after seeing the VHS tape is like seeing a whole new movie.

The real life story of Desmond Doss is so compelling it should be seen by a larger audience. Unfortunately a documentary will never enjoy the popularity of a movie.

Only Spielberg could do it justice. Perhaps he will read this. I can only repeat what other reviewers have said.

I am not a Christian, I am not even religious, but I cannot fathom how so much luck could have been with any man. I actually consider it surreal. It makes me wonder !!!

Yes, I agree, everyone should see this movie, which is why I say Spielberg should make it into a drama and it should be given to schools - to churches and distributed freely.

It is too good a story to leave as a somewhat obscure documentary.

In spite of its "message" about the human spirit I did not feel this movie worked. I'm sorry to rebuff those who thought it was great including my favorite movie critic but I don't think the "message" in a movie make it rise above its trappings. If it doesn't look real to me it fails as a movie no matter how lofty it's message.

I didn't like it and here is why: This movie tries to be a lot of things it is not. At first it felt like Fellini – crazy Italians! But it is not.

Then it tries to be Phillie de Broca in "King of Hearts." But it is not.

And don't forget "Captain Corelli's Mandolin." which is about Italians during the war but takes place in Greece and is apparently a true story.

High ratings for all of the above – but alas not "Life is Beautiful." It's a sad story but the whole thing feels like a stage set which it is. Especially the prison camp which is too small and clean to be what it represents.

If you want to see a dark comedy about Nazis watch "King of Hearts" again. At least it is funny.

Or, if you want to get the message watch "Captain Corelli's Mandolin." After all, this is not a stage play; it is cinema, in a world where "Avatar" will win Academy Awards this year.

This movie also has all the hallmarks of a soap opera.

Who dies and who lives and why "and guess who shows up at the end" is one for the classic soaps.