Tale Of Tales [Blu-ray]

These tales all focus on characters getting what they want and the price paid for their desire. Initially I found how the movie skipped between different stories a bit disorienting. I think skipping back and forth prevented me from getting too involved because the minute I got really into one story, another would suddenly pick up again.The brutality of these stories keeps with the original source work although some of the dialogue is pretty predictable and stiff.The ending image is beautiful and ominous. Achieving what we desire is a delicate balancing act, which can destroy us at any moment. The world is full of both miracles and horror and most of them inextricably linked.I'm a bit surprised by all the negative reviews. I found this movie thoroughly enjoyable and look forward to watching it again.

I personally really enjoyed it. It had a bit of many tales and folklore I'd absolutely recommend it.

Pretty good that's why I only gave it three stars.

Pretty, but lack of a gratifying ending

This film restores fairy tales to their proper tone, which is to say, something that Disney hasn't yet ruined. Anyone who has read the genuine "Grimm's Fairy Tales" will appreciate the darkness and realism of this movie. Poor Snow White, in the Disney version, she dances away like a simple little idiot - the end differs slightly in Grimm's: "just then, a pair of red-hot iron shoes were brought in...and these [the Old Queen] was forced to put on and to dance in them till she fell down dead". What would you do with a vicious stepmother who wanted to eat your heart? Alas, people like to paint life in pastels and are wont to admit that many of humanity's basest instincts are alive and well - and fascinating. This film shows the tragedy of intentions good and ill. With colorful characters, deft acting and beautiful photography, our weaknesses and strengths are shown in parables that impact each other. Not a film for the faint of heart or the hardened realist. Watch, listen, tremble and sigh that these fables are on the screen and not a reality. Or...?

Tale of TalesGreat cast and costumes, plot that goes nowhere.################SPOiLERS####################The darker side of fairy tales (and some of them are pretty dark to begin with) is explored to no comprehensible end by inverting some and a passing ref to others, with varying degrees of obscurity. No children are involved -- there's no Hansel or Gretel or Red Riding Hood.Expect refs to: Snow White, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Jack & the Beanstalk, Molly Whuppie, the Prince and the Pauper, Circe, Oedipus, Sleeping Beauty, Four Clever Brothers, etc. and typical fairy tale trials such as slaying the dragon, guessing something impossible to win the hand of the princess, a woman who must become young and beautiful to marry a king (and in so doing enrages her aged sister), a barren queen who cannot laugh.It ends with a coronation; so much drama must involve more than one kingdom and the survivors all show up at the end. The one who wins the game of thrones here is a silly but crafty girl who murders her husband, who won her fair and square, and does actually care for her. Even if he is the actor who was in The Hills Have Eyes. She just thinks he's ugly and a brute. And she proves she is too, inside.There are many grotesque moments, many pathetic and painful ones and very little joy. Men are portrayed as either young and handsome and useless, or rich, nutty, pathetic old pigs, and women as being interested in nothing but money and looks (their own). Only the gypsies represent a family loyalty that pulls together, and this weakness costs them their lives.In the end, the message seems to be Look Out for Number One. Kindness, charity and love are all repaid with : “And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all”.

There are three stories included here, each one worse than the one before it. The Queen of Longtrellis (Salma Hayek) devours a sea monster's heart (as instructed by a necromancer) so that she can have a son, Elias (Christian Lees) who has a twin brother named Jonah (Jonah Lees) who is the son of the maid. Any of this making sense yet? The queen doesn't want the two hanging out together. In the next story, the sex-addict King of Strongcliff (Vincent Cassel) hears the singing of a beautiful girl named Imma and decides that he has to have her, except that Imma's not beautiful at all. Upon discovering this, the king has his guards throw her out the castle window, at which point she unexplainably morphs into a beautiful girl (Stacy Martin), whom the king then marries. Any of this making sense yet? The third story has the King of Highhills (Toby Jones) growing a pet flea to an enormous size, and after it unexpectedly dies he offers the hand of his daughter Violet (Bebe Cave) in marriage to anybody who can identify its skin. Only a repulsive ogre (Guillaume Delaunay) achieves this. And no, it's not a handsome prince in disguise. It's an actual ogre. None of this makes any sense.

I was a little hesitant to watch this as I couldn't really piece together what to expect from the reviews. SO glad I decided to go for it. There are multiple stories that are each superbly told, all those wonderful elements of fairy tales (and more!), plus it'll keep you thinking about it for days. Yes, there's a bit of nudity but it's not that over the top in the grand scheme of the film. I'd highly recommend giving it a chance if this is a genre that interests you, I think you'll enjoy it!

This is a visual feast; beautifully filmed, set, directed, acted, almost totally there. The drawback for me was the writing as the stories don't hang together very well. If this had been made in a more 'episodic' way, or better yet like a 60s horror movie with multiple stories it might have fared better. The cast are brilliant, especially Cassell and Hayeck, and the support from the unknowns is sound too. Ultimately this is a treat for the eyes but don't bother about the story too much. I'd recommend Brotherhood of the Wolf as a superior alternative, but this will reward the time spent watching it regardless.It's not that the writing is poor, just that trying to run all the tales together doesn't work well, and the pacing of the film suffers because of it.

Brilliant classic independent low budget film. Culturally amazing! Read about the history of where these stories came from originally. An important cultural piece of work that finally does justice an ancient writer that never got the recognition they deserved.Three captivating stories, beautifully woven into a colourful and visually capitivating cinematic tapestry. Very bizarre and out of the ordinary. You wouldn't read these stories to your kids at bedtime, but as fairy tales for adults, it's a very special treat indeed.If you're passionate about film, don't miss out.I loved it.

I love dark fantasy. I have been on the quest to find more fairy tale stories similar to the work of "Guillermo Del Torro." Think, "Pans Labyrinth" and "Hell Boy 2." I don't know how I missed this when it was in the cinema but it is a beautiful dark tale of love, betrayal and growth. I highly recommend it.

A gorgeous and lush blending of three 16th century faery stories brought to life through beautiful locations in Sicily and Italy and the craftsmanship and artisan skills of dedicated Italian film makers. This film is given a vibrant treatment on Artificial Eye's blu-ray. One that gives detail and form to intricate costumes, detailed makeups and impressive practical creature effects. This is no empty Hollywood CGI fest with crazed camera moves and green screen sets; this film is truly a work of loveI resisted buying this film due to a few poor reviews and am sorry I waited so long. It is not subtitled and the cast is made up of British and European actors that all speak in English. This is really a Faery story for thinking adults, one that delves into human failings and obsessions whilst delivering a visually rich ride through a semi-mythical 16th century reality. It left me wishing there were more films of this calibre being released today. Just brilliant

this IS NOT for children under 17...this has 4 stories intertwined to make what seems to be like a strange film but comes to what is going on near the finish.....ok to watch.but obscene scenes and violence that NO CHILD should see..normally I recommend or don't recommend ….this if you like strange and weird is for you