Citizen Kane (Two-Disc Special Edition) Reviews

Orsen Welles co-wrote the screenplay, he produced the movie, he directed it, he starred in it, and Orsen Welles was only 26. At the time of its release, "Citizen Kane" was controversial, political, & an absolute breakthrough in filmmaking.

Welles's junxtaposition of the time sequence of the flashback scenes which comprise the bulk of the film is dramatic in & of itself, & his use of deep-focus cinematography, while not original but borrowed from slightly earlier German films, adds tremendously to the visual impact of many scenes. Deep focus (enhanced depth of field) also meant that Welles the Director had to work painstakingly to position each scene element for specific impact, unable to use focus to direct the viewer's eye.

This film has become so important in American culture that I've seen or heard indirect references to "Rosebud" many times in other genres. When you learn at the end of the movie what it refers to, you grasp its symbolism immediately (& you see where others got the idea of using this technique in other films). "Citizen Kane" may be in black & white, but its power will make you forget that quickly, as you become immersed in the story. The characterizations are true to the era, unlike the characterizations in more recent films about the same era -- another point that makes "Citizen Kane" a standout.

Rating: 5 - The Greatest Film Ever Is Going To Be A Great DVD
Yes I believe that "Citizen Kane" is the greatest film ever made, you know the reasons, you can read student's, professor's and critic's theses on why this is true, so I'm not going to type a long explanation.

Whether you agree with this or not, WB is treating the DVD release as if "Citizen Kane" is the #1 film of all time.

Here are the specs:

Video: 1.37;1 aspect ratio (fully restored from newly discovered pristine prints)

Audio: English mono track

Special Features:

DISC ONE -two full-length audio commentaries 1) director and Welles biographer Peter Bogdanovich 2) film critic Roger Ebert -the original 1941 movie premiere newsreel -a storyboard gallery -the original theatrical trailer.

DISC TWO -The American Experience documentary "The Battle Over Citizen Kane" (120 minutes; a $19.99 value!) -rare interviews with Orson Welles -rare footage from William Randolph Hearst's San Simeon Estate -Welles' historic "The War Of The Worlds" broadcast.

Rating: 5 - Groundbreaking (for 1941)
This is one of "the" great films, but not necessarily one of the most "liked" films, of all time. I'll admit, the first time I rented the film, I fell asleep, and it wasn't even competitive for the Oscar in 1941. But, to say the movie is boring, or that you don't like it, is to miss the point. Citizen Kane was not only a groundbreaking film for its technical aspects, but also for structure, story, and many other aspects. Take a look at a pre-Citizen Kane movie, and then watch Citizen Kane. Then, you can see the revolution that was Citizen Kane, both technically and artistically. Movies like Memento and Vanilla Sky (as one reviewer prefers) wouldn't have been possible without the changes that Citizen Kane started over 60 years ago! These things may not appear revolutionary to us today, but we need to watch the film in the context of 1941. I've watched Citizen Kane a number of times over the years, and every time I come to admire it, and yes, even to like it, more. I think you'll like it too, but you shouldn't expect to see things you've never seen before. Today's better filmmakers have adopted many of the best principles used in Citizen Kane

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Citizen Kane (Two-Disc Special Edition)