Cinema Paradiso (The Weinstein Company, $39.99)
Are movies about movies a good thing? In the case of this 1989 Oscar-winning Italian film, the answer is yes. This is an unrepentantly sentimental and nostalgic film that follows the life of Salvatore, or "Toto," as he grows up in the arms of his little town's only cinema. His bittersweet journey sweeps through time, from post-war Italy through to Salvatore's return home as a successful middle-aged film director.
Extras: Mediocre. The current "Limited Collector's Edition" of Cinema Paradiso is a three-disc set featuring the original U.S. theatrical release, a much longer director's cut and Ennio Morricone's movie soundtrack on CD. Director Giuseppe Tornatore provides commentary on movie, and appears in a Paradiso documentary. The hefty box set comes also includes postcard-sized reproductions of advertising posters and production stills from the movie.
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