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From Amazon.co.uk
Arguably the greatest of American films, Orson Welles' 1941 masterpiece, made when he was only 25, still unfurls like a dream and carries the viewer along the mysterious currents of time and memory to reach a mature (if ambiguous) conclusion: people are the sum of their contradictions and can't be known easily. Welles plays newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane, taken from his mother as a boy and made the ward of a rich industrialist. The result is that every well-meaning or tyrannical or self-destructive move he makes for the rest of his life appears in some way to be a reaction to that deeply wounding event. Written by Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz, and photographed by Gregg Toland, the film is the sum of Welles's awesome ambitions as an artist in Hollywood. He pushes the limits of then-available technology to create a true magic show, a visual and aural feast that almost seems to be rising up from a viewer's subconscious. As Kane, Welles even ushers in the influence of Bertolt Brechton film acting. This is truly a one-of-a-kind work, and in many ways is still the most modern of modern films this century. --Tom Keogh
Review
Over 70 years since it was first released, Orson Welle’s Citizen Kane is a movie with a huge wealth of critical acclaim behind it. Not all of that was apparent when it was first released, but since then it’s been a film that’s regularly appeared in lists of the top ten films of all time. With good reason too: this is masterful filmmaking, all the more impressive given that Welles himself, who also stars in the film as Charles Foster Kane, was only 25 when he made it.
This new Blu-ray release presents the film in crystal-clear 1080p, and the digital restoration is superb. There are far more modern films that haven’t looked this good on Blu-ray. Furthermore, there are supplements that dig into the film itself, and what happened since. So, Barry Norman presents a really interesting feature entitled the Anatomy of a Classic, while Ken Barnes delivers a commentary track that delves just as deep. A particularly welcome inclusion on the disc too is the infamous Orson Welles 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds, which caused widespread panic on its original release. You also get a feature looking at the difficulty in restoring the film in the first place.
Citizen Kane remains a genuine masterpiece, and it’s to the credit of the Blu-ray that it respects that, presents the film strongly, and takes the time to properly explore it as well. That’s just what a good Blu-ray should do. --Jon Foster
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful
By martyn cros
Format:Blu-ray
The UK Universal Bluray is a different print from the the USA Warner BD.. release... the UK release is hugely inferior in picture quality with much print damage and poor contrast.....The USA release is completely free of these problems and is a superb presentation...The Region 1 release is Region Free.....
107 of 120 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
It goes without saying that this movie is a 20th century masterpiece from a cinematic and dramatic genius. Being a film that undoubtedly gains through repeated viewing it would seem a natural for the new digital medium. However this DVD release is marred by the quality of the print which looks like it could do with some serious restoration but more importantly by the abysmal quality of the DVD digitisation. It appears suspiciously as though this disc was produced from a 30 fps NTSC video master and standards converted to 25 fps PAL frame rates, badly. Consequently the viewer is almost constantly aware throughout the movie of the 'jaggies' caused by the TV interlace which is very prominent on edges, excessively so during movement. Frankly this not good enough for a 35mm movie of this importance and particularly so on a high priced DVD. It's release in this condition would seem at best cynical and at worst insulting to both the audience and the work of a great filmic artist. As if to underline the cheapskate nature of this release the disc lacks any additional supporting material in the form of interviews and documentary footage. This is all the more bizarre given this was such a controversial movie and one which led to the dramatic and untimely end of the directors Hollywood career. If you're a fan or even an ordinary movie goer and think you're going to enjoy the benefits of digital quality with this magnificent film you'll probably be disappointed. If it wasn't for the power of the movie story telling this disc would be practically unwatchable. Looks like the money grubbing bean counters have won out once again. Disgraceful.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Cricklade
Format:Blu-ray
Whatever you do, DO NOT BUY THE UK VERSION.
I was very pleased to receive the remastered version until I watched it. Quite possibly the worst remastering attempt ever. In the restoration documentary someone refers to the fact that it would be too time consuming to clean up every frame of the film. On one level I can see his point, however when you're dealing with a film of this importance, I think it deserves that level of respect. The print is dirty & has scratches throughout. The grade is awful.
In complete contrast (pun intended), the US release is a dream. The print is great, as is the grade. Someone clearly has spent time on every frame.
I am returning my UK version to the production company, not the retailer, to ask for a full explanation of why they bothered to release this absolute mess.
The US version may be more expensive but you'd be better off burning the money you'd waste on the UK release......and that is exactly what they should do with their masters of this rubbish. Orson Welles would be disgusted.
Great film though!
I was very pleased to receive the remastered version until I watched it. Quite possibly the worst remastering attempt ever. In the restoration documentary someone refers to the fact that it would be too time consuming to clean up every frame of the film. On one level I can see his point, however when you're dealing with a film of this importance, I think it deserves that level of respect. The print is dirty & has scratches throughout. The grade is awful.
In complete contrast (pun intended), the US release is a dream. The print is great, as is the grade. Someone clearly has spent time on every frame.
I am returning my UK version to the production company, not the retailer, to ask for a full explanation of why they bothered to release this absolute mess.
The US version may be more expensive but you'd be better off burning the money you'd waste on the UK release......and that is exactly what they should do with their masters of this rubbish. Orson Welles would be disgusted.
Great film though!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Lousy picture on the Blu-ray
Citizen Kane [Blu-ray] [1941]What a disappointment!! Couldn't believe that this was a Blu-ray. Compared to the Region 1 2-disc special edition from a few years back, this is... Read more
Published 13 days ago by NGH Garlick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic film by the great Orson Welles.
Film subtitled in English.
Sound and vision good.
One for the collection here, especially with the Special Edition as it contains insights about the making and... Read more
Sound and vision good.
One for the collection here, especially with the Special Edition as it contains insights about the making and... Read more
Published 18 days ago by F. J. Pyne.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unmissable!
Initially snubbed on its release, Orson Welles' Citizen Kane is now regarded by many as the greatest film ever made. Read more
Published 23 days ago by D Brown
1.0 out of 5 stars
What are Universal and the BFI up to????
Amazon have done their worse with most of the reviews in this page. Most of the positive ones refer to the excellent two disc DVD NOT the appalling Blu Ray actually for sale whose... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Adrian Drew
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the world's great films
Orson Wells was 'le enfant terrible' of the film industry. He created a masterpiece, filming from different angles and taught the world how to make a film. Read more
Published 1 month ago by ira j coe
1.0 out of 5 stars
No comment
I have no recollection of ever purchasing this dvd. So I am not able to comment on this dvd. Maybe, one day I may purchase it.
I like Orson Welles. Read more
I like Orson Welles. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Karim
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice
Exactly as described. They arrived very quickly. The price, also, was very good. I hope I can find again similar things to buy
Published 2 months ago by AGELIKI BELECHAKI
1.0 out of 5 stars
Universal Insults UK Viewers Again
It goes without saying that the film is a classic - but we in the UK have been seriously short changed by Universal with this Blu-ray. Read more
Published 3 months ago by SteveJC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good
I was looking for this film for a long time. Very good purchase. Matched perfectly my expectations. Arrived on time
Published 4 months ago by Maria Cristina Alves da Silveira Ribeiro
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent film
I bought this film for a friend. It arrived both swiftly and well packaged. My friend loved it. Very pleased with this purchase
Published 4 months ago by Bex & James
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