Based on the 1791 opera "Die Zauberflöte" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, this is certainly a well made film but I can't say that I particularly enjoyed it. As far as opera is concerned, I am a complete philistine and this film did not nothing to change that, I'm afraid. I had never seen a full one on stage or on screen before this film and I am not inclined to watch another one after this. It felt far, far longer than two hours.
As with Richard Attenborough's worst film "A Chorus Line", I would never have watched the film if it had been made by one of my favourite directors, in this case Kenneth Branagh. His skill as a director is in evidence throughout the film, most notably the uninterrupted and extremely complex six minute take, and the decision to set it against the backdrop of the First World War was an interesting one but there was little else than I enjoyed about it. The singing was excellent but it was rather overwhelming since it accounted for almost the entire running time. Having just finished the film, I am pretty exhausted, to be frank.
Overall, it is not a bad film by any means but it was just not to my personal tastes at all. Hey, at least I can say that I gave opera a try! That box is ticked now. This is without a doubt my least favourite film directed by Branagh.
As with Richard Attenborough's worst film "A Chorus Line", I would never have watched the film if it had been made by one of my favourite directors, in this case Kenneth Branagh. His skill as a director is in evidence throughout the film, most notably the uninterrupted and extremely complex six minute take, and the decision to set it against the backdrop of the First World War was an interesting one but there was little else than I enjoyed about it. The singing was excellent but it was rather overwhelming since it accounted for almost the entire running time. Having just finished the film, I am pretty exhausted, to be frank.
Overall, it is not a bad film by any means but it was just not to my personal tastes at all. Hey, at least I can say that I gave opera a try! That box is ticked now. This is without a doubt my least favourite film directed by Branagh.