Casanova [2005] [DVD] | ![Casanova [2005] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51K6F789MPL._SL160_.jpg) | Actors: Peter O'Toole, David Tennant, Rose Byrne, Rupert Penry-Jones, Laura Fraser
Studio: Warner Music Vision
Category: DVD
List Price: £17.99
Buy New: £8.16
as of 22/11/2009 10:20 GMT details
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New (11) Used (3) from £7.99
Seller: brrwarenhuis
Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 3578
Format: PAL, Anamorphic, Colour, HiFi Sound
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 172 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5050467837027
ASIN: B00097HUKM
Release Date: May 23, 2005
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
 Yet another lover of Casanova emerges April 15, 2005
russell clarke (halifax, west yorks)
54 out of 58 found this review helpful
Rushed into the shops after its recent screening on B.B.C. Four and One this version written by Russell T Davies sees the classic tale of a charming philanderer brought bang up to date with copious amounts of contemporary wit and energy. It's filmed with vertiginous glee, in fact, at the risk of being arrested by the pun police I'd say it goes like the clappers.brThe old Casanova , played with salacious zeal by Peter O Toole, relates his life story to an enraptured Servant who gradually teases out of him the fact his tale of numerous conquests isn't merely a saga of unmitigated lust (Though it's undoubtedly that as well) but has moments of genuine affection and yes god dam it ..Love. Casanova in his pomp is portrayed excellently by David Tennant as a witty charming chancer with the gift of the gab and a smile to make women melt. Events don't always follow the course he intends and though he raises to the very top of Venetian Society, meeting the love of his life, Henriette, along the way and nearly succeeds in wooing her till her wealthy Fiancé sees to it that disgrace follows and so he has to flee and head for pastures new including Paris and London. brAny cast that features the luscious Dervla Kirwan and the excellent Nina Sosanya has a lot going for it but throw in superb cameos from Matt Lucas , Freddie Jones Simon Day and an enrapturing performance from Laura Fraser as Henriette and it would be hard pressed to make this less than watchable . But with stylistic flourishes in the filming , which may annoy fans of more traditional costume dramas , and the decidedly modern vernacular of the script this is costume drama for the 21st Century and to this viewer it's all the better for it. The one surprise is the lack of sex, or rather the lack of graphic sex which is something you would expect from a modern drama but this is a tale told with a twinkle in its bawdy eye so the less than serious, almost saucy postcard approach should really come as no surprise. brNormally I'd rather gargle with brick cleaner than watch some stilted period drama but this was almost a revelation, pacy, funny, colourful and fiendishly entertaining. With this and the return of the excellent new Doctor Who, suddenly T.V. is watchable again.
A Winning Combination September 26, 2006
Haraheart (Lancs)
38 out of 41 found this review helpful
I enviously watched the trailers for Casanova when I didn't have access to BBC3 - I thought it looked like an exciting, colourful romp. I waited everso patiently until it was repeated on BBC1 and was not disappointed in the least.
br /Peter O'Toole is brilliantly cast as the older Casanova, remembering his past and all the women he had ever loved. His portrayal was poignant and sometimes a little scary, but as his quest for Henriette comes to a close you really do feel sorry for the man with so much potential having become a fairly lowly Librarian and object of ridicule.
br /Laura Fraser is stunning as Henriette - the kind of enigmatic and beautiful woman we all strive unsuccessfully to be! Rose Byrne is the picture of innocence and amused shock at the older man's tales. Both women play their parts beautifully.
br /Russell T Davies' writing was already known to me to be something special, my particular favourite being 'Queer As Folk'. Again, he manages to give us a lively tale with great one-liners, action, punches and sex - lots of it. The way he explores Jack's fears over falling in love with Bellino is brilliantly done and he doesn't shy away from controversial topics (In fact, such topics are becoming more mainstream and less hidden thanks mainly to people like him).
br /And finally ... how could I review this without mentioning David Tennant? I can't. That man is such a talented actor, he makes every part his. He is quirky, cheeky and devillishly charming. A previous review said that RTD wanted to steer away from someone conventionally handsome for the part - maybe David Tennant isn't conventionally handsome, but I certainly wouldn't kick him out of bed!
br /This is a must for any fan of Russell T Davies or David Tennant; they are a winning combination as Doctor Who's tenth incarnation only proves.
Russell T. Davies has nothing to declare but his genius December 30, 2005
24 out of 26 found this review helpful
Casanova is a sparkling, bawdy, comic, heartbreaking romp of a period drama that puts most of the bewigged and powdered TV offerings to shame. The plot rattles along at a breakneck pace, much like Casanova himself as he escapes from boudoirs and prisons alike, and we follow Casanova#x27;s journey from young buck to ... old buck, albeit one who hankers for his true love and not simply womankind in general. pI had wondered how the licentious and not necessarily likeable #x27;real#x27; Casanova would transfer to screen. While RTD takes a few historical shortcuts, and fleshes out the character to render him more palatable, these all contribute immensely to the plot (Casanova himself would relish the reinvention). Casting David Tennant is a masterstroke - I read in an interview that RTD had consciously chosen to avoid the conventionally handsome leading man types, in order to emphasise that Casanova attracted women by means of his personality rather than purely his looks. DT is perfect - sexy, funny, and full of energy. pThe supporting cast are also typically fabulous - I think it#x27;s impossible to watch Casanova and not fall for Henriette too (Laura Fraser has a smile to die for). The role of Bellino must have been an actor#x27;s dream as the character constantly evolves and Nina Sosanya captures every aspect - from young aspirant singer to a dissolute, attention-seeking libertine. The score is also beautiful - the best soundtrack I have heard for a long time - I#x27;d go so far as to say that this boxset is worth buying for that experience alone. pAll in all, I can#x27;t recommend this series enough. Thank you Russell!
Incredible April 23, 2005
22 out of 24 found this review helpful
This is a fantastic new take on the old story; fast paced, witty and entirely engaging. The tale is told by "old" Casanova (baudily played by Peter O'Toole) with extended flashbacks to the antics of his younger self (David Tennant). Tennant is utterly convincingly as the cheeky young lover (with the exception of a few suspect wigs) and the excellently choreographed dance sequences are mesmerising. Even friends who are not normally interested in anything that does not contain phasers and transportation devices thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic drama.
Fantastic February 6, 2007
R. Barlow (Localtown, Lancashire)
22 out of 24 found this review helpful
Finally! A period drama that isn't swamped with earnest-looking actors in ruffs or boring to anyone who doesn't know the original text off by heart. Casanova shines with colour and comedy, while the drama left me counting down the days until the next weekly installment.
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br /An aging Casanova, meticulously portrayed by Peter O'Toole, tells a young serving girl about his bawdy exploits from his youth. All this seems a bit superfluous, though, to the mighty David Tennant and the dashing, handsome Casanova who took the 17th Century by storm. Tennant steals the whole mini-series; being completely gorgeous didn't hurt, either. The story itself is quite sad, as Casanova never did get the girl, but any melancholy is soon drowned in the costumes and liveliness of the script.
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br /The only (pathetically minor) quibble about it is that they kept the ad breaks in, repeating bits of the episode you've just seen before starting on the next one, which is a bit annoying when you continue from half-way through an episode and know what's just happened. Quibbling aside, this is a fantastic program and definately worth buying - just don't take it as historic fact.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
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