Product ReviewsMarie Antoinette (DVD, 2007)

A beautify crafted time period piece with a modern spin

Third film, Marie Antoinette, had the same vision as her last two films but this time the film is a period piece and is telling a story of a famous historical figure of Marie Antoinette, the Austrian princess who became the Queen of France under King Louis XVI of 1768. The film mostly focuses on the naïve princess who makes a transformation into not only a Queen but a woman faces the challenges she conquers till her death. Kirsten Dunst did a great job showing us how ungrateful and empty headed Marie really was, you start to realize that Marie really didn’t care so much of the throne she simply wanted to live a lavish life and life for the moment. Though we see all of the negative flaws of her, we see the good heart for not only her children, but her friends, and family. Sometimes you get in a position you don’t really want but you try to make the best of it, but unfortunately no one wanted to see that which is why the monarchy crumble. The movie was good with the fabulous costumes and the great modern day music which I loved, there wasn’t much dialogue but the body language and mood of the actors showed otherwise.Read full review...

Different, beautiful, a visual masterpiece!

I've read many if the negative reviews of this film and it appears they are based on an unfortunate American standard of bio flicks or period pieces.
Since when do American audiences demand historical accuracy in motion pictures? This is film is not trying to replace some college level special studies course in French History, it is Sophia Coppola's "vision" of the story upon which it is based.
Sophia Coppola has inherited her father's mastery of the visual and her mother's keen documentary storytelling sensibilities.
This film won't do the thinking for you. So, if you miss the storyline, perhaps Borat is more your style.
Coppola had to make some concessions to accuracy, (like the use of clearly American actors to play 18th century French nobility) but this does not detract enough from the film to make it anything less than good.
Cinematographically, the film is a masterpiece, each scene could win an award in visual appeal alone.
Copploa's use of modern music is bold. I've always felt the harpsichord produces musical vomit, so hearing Siouxsie and the Banshees in its place is a welcomed alternative.
This movie is a success if only one viewer is inspired to find out more about the title character, her life, times or any other part of French or World history.Read full review...

The film revealed much about the title character that is unknown to the general public.

I learned much about this historical figure that I never knew before. The acting was great and the special features were great as well.

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Marie Antoinette

Lavish staging could not save this movie. The central character, Marie Antoinette, was portrayed by an actor who looked the part but failed to convey a believable screen rendition of the historical queen. An attempted french accent would have went a long way to bolster the character. Paltrow and Witherspoon displayed enough talent to accent their character in the Shakespeare in Love and Vanity Fair. Also, the director just didn't quite know the net effect of blending modern "rock music" to a historical staging of french royalty; it just didn't work, in bad taste. No wonder the french audience at Cannes loudly boo'd this picture, they were the critical viewers, after all who but the french knew best what works with their culture and what does not. Yes, we americans, who are so mindless and insensitive of other cultures, liked the movie, why not isn't it "cool". As long as we are entertained, why should be care if it denigrates them, those frenchie!

But, truthfully, I must admit that I liked it, more for the visual effects than the story. The real story, by the way, ended in a very gory chapter of french history and the director took the coward's way out and did not get into the dramatics of Marie's and Louie's bloody demise. Perhaps the audience in Cannes and elsewhere would not have been so upset and loud in their disapproval if the true ending had been enacted with the "exécution par la décapitation". Well, why not? the oblique distortion of the story in this movie could have been justified if Coppola had taken a sudden and very acute dramatic turn with the ultimate and shocking end of poor Marie and Louie.

R HillRead full review...

Standard Sophia

This film does some great things, but it is also a very difficult story in which to immerse yourself. I don't think I truly cared about the characters until at least halfway through the film, when the walls started coming down, and their various humanities were revealed. I realize this was intentional - a parallel with the rigid social system of court at Versailles - but it made the film difficult.

Then again, other truly intelligent things this film did made it difficult to view. When the movie began, I wondered if I had not accidentally popped in a copy of St. Elmo's Fire or The Breakfast Club. The music in this film is exactly what you wouldn't expect out of a period piece - it is more what you would expect from a Molly Ringwald movie. But, again, I understand why this was done: it was meant to jar the viewer, to make him/her/it uncomfortable. Just as Marie was forced to leave behind everything familiar in her world when she travelled from Austria to France, the viewer is forced to abandon the tropes and traditions of this genre. The music, the camerawork, the acting, the direction is all very post-modern and at times over the top.

I found it a challenge to rate this film, and I admit to switching from every number between two and five before settling (uncomfortably) where I did. Very appropriate for a movie that takes you so far out of your comfort zone.

To clarify my seeming ambivalence, I love the film; I think it is a brilliant addition to film theory, something that will stay with us for a long time. However, when reviewing a film for eBay, I also have to take into account the entertainment factor. How entertaining was this movie? Was it something you could turn off your mind for, and view while you relax from a day of having to concentrate for the sake of your livelihood?

No, this film takes effort - effort you might not havein you at the end of a long day at the proverbial coal mines. Just like Lost in Translation, another brilliant film by Sophia Coppola that requires your every attention. It's not a story for any but the most precocious children/teens, and even most adults will have switched to the action movie they also rented before the film is halfway through.

Luckily for parents who would like to expose their children to a more thoughtful film, the gossip about Kirsten Dunst doing some exposing of her own is a whole lot of unsubstantiated hype (you see her rear end, and then there are some shots of her semi-sheer cotton night dresses from the waist up - nothing you wouldn't see twenty times per issue of Cosmopolitan or Maxim). There are some adult themes, as well, but the discussions circumlocute or euphemize; much talk there is indeed about keys and locks, and other suggestive, but easily seen as innocent, topics.

In the end, the decision is up to you. If you love films that take a little effort and pay off in the end, then this is a great choice for you. If you just want to be entertained, try Little Miss Sunshine, or The Guardian, because Marie Antoinette is not the film for you!Read full review...

Another Mixed Up Movie....

... unfortuntely.

The opening sequence had Tina exclaim 'Paris Hilton of the day' !

The movie kept having modern day music interspersed within it,
ruining it for us.

According to the Bonus Features this was because the writer/director
Sofia Coppola wanted the young generation of today to want to watch
this movie.

Well it didn't work. Using modern day music in 'A Knight's Tale' did,
but this sure didn't.

Kirsten Dunst was right on in her portryal of Marie Antoinette. She looked
the part and acted the part.

Others in the movie did their part also to right the movie, including Rip Torn, and Jason Schwartzman, but the blame for this movie not hitting the mark is the vision of the writer/director.

We both lasted through the movie, only because we didn't have any other
new DVDs to watch last night!

For Kirsten Dunst fans this movie is OK. For those that like period pieces
the costumes are beautiful and the scenes are stunning inside the real
Versaille.

However, this movie is not one to watch to enjoy other than that,
another film where the writer/director is allowed to run with their
vision that makes it almost unwatchable for others!

There should be a Warning Label for these kind of movies!Read full review...

Beautiful.

Marie Antoinette has always interested me. My husband and I rented the movie this past Valentine's Day (much to his dismay :)) and we both ended up liking it more than we expected. In my opinion, it seems to slowly drag on toward the beginning and go too fast toward the end, and they unfortunately leave out the most famous part of her story (her demise). With that said, my favorite aspect of the entire movie has to be all the aesthetics. I lost count of how many times I said "those designs are amazing." They make up for anything I disliked in the slightest, and I would recommend it based on that alone. The soundtrack (which is a mix of 80s and classical music which perfectly blends into the movie) is a definite plus.Read full review...

Marie Antoinette (2007, DVD)

I'm going to begin by saying that this is by FAR one of my favorite movies. I am bothered by the reviews stating how bad the film is based on its historical inaccuracy and music choices. In response, i would like to say that the manner in which this film was directed an produced was complete and utter genius, and i am prepared to back-up my opinion. First of all, (and let me state that I myself am French), French history has a vainglorious and gruesome tendency and can turn-off many viewers/readers. I personally find it to be downright frightening at times. The true facts are not displayed word-for-word in the film to spare us from the endless, confusing, and overwhelming events that took place during the Life of Marie Antoinette. There is just not enough film to display the true madness that lead to her destruction and the death of those dear to her.

The way in which Sofia was able to transport the viewer to a new style of historical place and time was simply breathtaking. The modernization of such an incredible moment in history enabled us to see the world as Marie Antoinette did. It was bright, fun, colorful, and delicious to see her world brought to life. It allows the viewer to relate to Marie Antoinette as if she were a person, and a girl at that, and not the arrogant monster of a queen that the people made her out to be. It showed the OTHER side of her life...the personal struggles and her reactions to the confusing and pressured life that she was born into.

I think the film is a feast for the eyes, the soundtrack is amazing, great cast/design/costuming, and Sofia & Kirsten have out-done themselves this time.Read full review...

'Marie Antoinette' and The Life Of A Rock Star

Beautifully set and costumed, this movie shows a royal court of ill repute! It was done somewhat lightheartedly, with Kirsten Dunst being a very modern-feeling Marie Antoinette. The music altered between classical and rock, which worked if you accepted this movie's unexpected mood and the fact that Marie Antoinette lived like a rock star. Dunst felt like a modern girl transplanted to Louis XVI's time. Louis XVI, acted by Jason Schwartzman, seemed perfect as the meek King that he portrayed.

Rated PG 13, our 14 year old son watched it with us and it was not overly uncomfortable. The entire movie, however, is based upon the very important role of this couple in bringing an heir to France. There were the beginnings of some sexual scenes, one a little stronger than others and Dunst appears unclothed but, with the exception of seeing her backside once, all private areas were always covered. There is, however, an adulterous love affair and a lot of partying.

Watch this movie for a peek at the extreme way the nobility may have lived at that time. Enjoy the lavish sets and costumes. Do not expect a typical historical drama.Read full review...

I Love this movie and I recommend it !!!

I decided to buy this movie because I had saw it at TV and I liked it. The part that I dislike most about this movie was the ending because the real story of the character " Marie Antoinette " was that she was beheaded in the real life and this movie do not revealed that moment when she was beheaded by the french people and because the ending of the movie was very incomplete. The movie is good and I like it but the only problem is that it do not show some events that happened in Marie Antoinette's real life. The part that I liked most was when she was crowned as the queen of france. Otherwise, I recommend this movie because is good, I like it and it have some modern things like the music. I hope that this review can help you !!!Read full review...