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100You leave Cinema Paradiso with that feeling that's kind of like getting kicked in the stomach, but nice. It's one of those breathless, swept-away-by-a-movie experiences that you might have once a year, if you're lucky. [16 February 1990, Daily Notebook, p.E-1]
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100This film is sometimes funny, sometimes joyful, and sometimes poignant, but it's always warm, wonderful, and satisfying. Cinema Paradiso affects us on many levels, but its strongest connection is with our memories.
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100Cinema Paradiso converts you to the credo that art can indeed be holy.
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100Unapologetically sentimental, this movie is certain to melt all but the hardest of hearts.
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100It's a shining valentine to the movies--full of homages, collages and swooningly romantic Ennio Morricone music--and it gets right at the messy, impure, wondrous way they capture and enrapture us. [16 February 1990, Calendar, p.F-1]
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100Remain open to fantasies but not be consumed by them. These are good lessons for a would-be director. They are good lessons for everybody. And no recent movie has taught them with more patient sweetness. [Feb. 5, 1990]
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90There are films as lovely, but none lovelier.
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88Anyone who loves movies is likely to love Cinema Paradiso.
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80Just about everything you ever loved (or hated) about Italian films can be found.
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75Lovely “memory'' film. [2 March 1990, Life, p.4D]
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70A sweet, funny exercise in nostalgia, though it's also self-congratulatory and awfully calculating.
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70Tornatore is an able storyteller who knows the value of cute kids and easy emotion.
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70Tornatore has learned much from Fellini--especially in the long shots where someone suddenly appears close up. Let's hope he moves on to his own style. Meanwhile, he has given us a nice bask in Sicilian warmth. [Feb. 19, 1990]
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50A few moments of sly inspiration are not enough to carry an entire feature; along with the tears, it leaves behind an aftertaste of phoniness. [16 March 1990, Friday, p.H]
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50They don't make movies like they used to, and this Oscar-winning Italian-French co-production spends the better part of three hours proving it.
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50Originally a two-part film running about three hours, this treacle has been reduced by almost a third, though it still seems to run on forever -- a bit like life but much less interesting.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 19 out of 19
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Mixed: 0 out of 19
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Negative: 0 out of 19
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10
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CraigR.10
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10This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view.