| Product: |
The Bridges of Madison County (DVD) |
| Date: |
26/05/03 (92 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Film is great
Disadvantages: DVD is nothing special
I have already written a full review on the video version of this film, but as I recently treat myself to the DVD version, I thought it was only right that I let you know whether or not the DVD is worth it. There can't be many of you out there who have not at least heard of the film or book of this love story.
**THE FILM**
Basically, the film is a love story about a relationship that was never meant to be between travelling National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood), and homely farmwife Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep). The story is based in the 1960's, and depicts a chance meeting between the two characters when Robert arrives in Iowa to photograph a famous set of bridges. The chemistry between the two is apparent from the first moment they meet, and as Francesca's husband and children are out of town, there is no physical presence to prevent the two from embarking on a passionate short lived love affair. Their time together makes Francesca realise that she has not been living her life for her, and having Robert pay so much attention to her makes her reassess her life and goals. The personal revelations are not one sided. Robert never expected to meet someone who could awaken him in the way Francesca does.
The bond between the two develops quickly, and overpowers them both. Robert knows he has to leave Iowa, but he asks Francesca to leave her family and come with him. Does she? You really did not think I would put in a spoiler that big did you??
The story carries on many years later when Francesca and Robert are dead, and their affair is relived through the eyes of her adult children who are going through some of her papers and diaries shortly after her death, and they also find that the information they are presented with makes them look at their lives, and decide whether they are living them in a way that makes them happy. They also rethink their memories of their mother, and try to deal with the f
act that she was not the docile wife and mother that they remembered her as, until the really look deeper and realise what a brave and loyal woman she was, and someone they should be unreservedly proud of.
Clint Eastwood is not really one of my favourite actors, but in this film he smoulders in every scene, and the emotion portrated just by a look is more strengthened by the fact that he was also the director. As an avid book reader, I am pleased to say that this is actually a film which has not lost any of the magic given to the story by the book by Robert James Waller. Eastwood and Streep are at their best in these roles, and neither of them have gripped me in the same way in any of the countless roles they have played before or after this film. They made me connect to the characters, and I felt every ounce of pain they did, and the story had a real impact on me because the performances were warm, and most importantly for this story they were wholly realistic. The film is 2 hours and 15 minutes long, and more than half of that is certainly tear jerking, heart rending viewing.
***THE DVD***
There are subtitles available in English, French and Spanish on the Region 2 version I have, and I am afraid to say that the extras on this DVD are virtually non existent. From the main menu, you can view details of the cast members, and this is purely pictures of them with their names and a small biography on each of them. You can view the producers notes, and all they are, are screens full of notes from Clint Eastwood. It is hardly gripping stuff, and finally there is something called a film flash, which is Warner Bros way of promoting some of their other releases. The scenes are well indexed which is a definite plus point.
I was so disappointed with the DVD, and had I not been actively changing my video collection over to DVD, I would have been furious at paying out for a carbon copy of something I already had. Stick with the video unless y
ou are streamlining like I was.
Summary:
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Last comment:
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NikkiH - 27/05/03 Thanks for the comments. The DVD is good for the film alone MRSCANADA, but how can you say it was worth it for the extras? |
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