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-   -   Just watched "Casanova" and am homesick for Venice (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/just-watched-casanova-and-am-homesick-for-venice-629925/)

chicgeek Jul 10th, 2006 03:16 PM

Just watched "Casanova" and am homesick for Venice
 
If you are a lover of Venice, rent this movie. I rented it just for the scenery, but the movie is very entertaining. But the real star of the film is Venice-----it is entirely shot there, and the scenery is great.

There was even one scene that was exactly our view out of our hotel room! It made me so nostalgic and homesick, and brought back beautiful memories of such a magical place.

Maybe the film will give you a "fix" until you can get there again, too......

Shalott Jul 10th, 2006 03:27 PM

Funny, but all I could think of was how digitally-enhanced it seemed to me (in order to delete any signs of modern civilzation).
For me, other movies have better Venetian scenery, but I'm glad you enjoyed it.

europa Jul 10th, 2006 04:57 PM

I havent seen the movie but plan to.

What other movies are filmed in Venice?

thanks

Shalott Jul 12th, 2006 11:09 AM

There are many, but off the top of my head

"Summertime" Katharine Hepburn
"Dangerous Beauty"
"The Merchant of Venice" (Al Pacino)
"Only You" (Marisa Tomei)

europa Jul 12th, 2006 11:15 AM

thanks Shallot

anymore anyone?

gomiki Jul 12th, 2006 12:15 PM

"Wings of the Dove" by Henry James. Helena Bonham Carter was nominated for an Academy Award.

Huitres Jul 12th, 2006 12:19 PM

I didn't like "Casanova" as I have read the original memoirs of Casanova and the movie story line was completely incorrect/different. But anyway, the views of local area streets, the Grand Canal, and other spots were nice.

"Bread and Tulips" was filmed in Venice and IMO, showed a lot more of the local areas, canals, and everyday life. Now that was a good film!

chicagolori Jul 12th, 2006 12:25 PM

"Dont Look Now" with Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. Sort of a murder mystery creepy movie.

Dangerous Beauty is one of the best of the ones listed IMO.

RufusTFirefly Jul 12th, 2006 06:16 PM

The makers of the film Casanova did not present it as being a documentary with any degree of historical accuracy. It was made and presented as a work of fiction based on a historical character. As such, it was quite enjoyable fluff.

LoveItaly Jul 12th, 2006 06:20 PM

Hi chicgeek, like Hirtes I loved the movie "Bread and Tulips", do see it as I think you would really enjoy it!!

Statia Jul 12th, 2006 06:40 PM

Did anyone else just LOVE Oliver Platt's character in Casanova? DH and I are always reciting his lines at funny moments. He was so hilarious. :D

annw Jul 12th, 2006 07:30 PM

How funny--I just saw it for the first time last night--and loved the scenery, but also did wonder about the digital effects. And no aqua alta!

Nina66 Jul 12th, 2006 07:54 PM

On a friend's recommendation, we just rented The Comfort of Strangers (1989) with Christopher Walken, Helen Mirren, Natasha Richardson and Rupert (sorry forgot his last name).

It was an excellent, suspenseful film, and showed the back streets of Venice and very little of the Venice that most of us are used to.

It was hard to find as most of the biggies, Blockbuster etc..didn't have it. It was funny asking the seven year old clerks about a 1989 movie! One said, 'we never have stuff THAT old. Hmmmmm what does that make Gone With the Wind or Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid?

Chicagolori ... Don't Look Back was really really creepy, I watched most of it through my fingers!

Death In Venice with Dirk Bogard is a favorite of a lot of people. Personally I think the 'death' was from bordem - mine.

Nina

Bailey Jul 12th, 2006 08:00 PM

Yes to the Comfort of Strangers....haunting!! Rented it through Netflix.
The book is really terrific!

JandaO Jul 14th, 2006 06:14 AM

thanks for the suggestions. I plan to rent dangerous beauty if i can find it...

missypie Jul 14th, 2006 06:18 AM

The upcoming "Casino Royale" (new James Bond) must have scenes in Venice, because several of us saw them filming in early June.

Girlspytravel Jul 19th, 2006 11:51 AM

I just rented "Dangerous Beauty" it was pretty good, and I do have to agree about "Casanova"-it was much digitally enhanced-a harmless little romp, easily forgettable, however.

But the "Comfort of Strangers?" (just saw it a few weeks ago). Christopher Walken as a Venetian? Come on! (now I know where he got his "continental man" shtik on SNL). That movie did NOT work, even with a Herald Pinter screenplay-good shots of Castello and the Grand Canal though.

I really like "Summertime" with K. Hepburn-great shots of Venice in the 50's-Pensione Accademia, and several great shots of the newly restored Clock Tower-really good cinematography.

My favorite is still "Don't Look Now" the 1972 film with Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. Again, great shots of the Mercerie and the Cannaregio Canal- Sooo scary-love those supernatural thriller movies!

The next film I want to get is "Bread and Tulips"-I'm pretty sure I'll like this-as it is an Italian film, rather than a film taking place in Venice involving foreigners and the odd happenings to them in Venice-with creepy undertones-always the underlying theme of creepiness and decay...not like my lively, funky, cool little Venice at all!

starrs Mar 11th, 2012 12:24 PM

We just watched this last night. Completely agree with the "fictional fluff" comments above - and enjoyed the movie very much :-)

annw Mar 11th, 2012 10:12 PM

And then there's "The Tourist"!


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