The Red Balloon Released by Janus Films in association with the Criterion Collection DVD with Red Balloon (G) +Movie Reviews

Childhood Memories

Katherine L. Weber, CPA | 12/16/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Amazing. Just a few days ago I was thinking about a film that I saw in elementary school (Fairfield Elementary School, Long Island, NY). It was about a little boy and a red balloon that escaped his grasp. I was trying to remember if the film had spoken words, and I thought that it did not. I was thinking about how it was such an unusual film, and how unusual it was that I should remember it almost 30 years later. I made a mental note to some day find it.Tonight, I sat here browsing Amazon, and I just fell upon it. The Red Balloon. I must have it. Funny, I can't remember if it made me laugh or cry. I just know that it is a memorable part of my childhood, and if I have an opportunity to recapture some little memory of a more simple time in my life, then I must seize that opportunity.To all the other "kids" out there who remember this film... I'll see you on the playground."

FIVE STAR FILM - ZERO STAR DVD... what a shame!

Paulo Leite | Lisbon, Portugal | 03/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This film is an absolute work of art! It tells the beautiful story of a young boy and his only friend: a big red balloon. Their friendship is true and the living balloon follows the little boy wherever he goes. They play with each other, trust each other... they are together for good!A very simple and beautiful story... one that makes you remember how good it is to be a kid. ...all the possibilities... all the imagination and the innocence we lose when we grow up. This film will touch everyone who sees it.The only problem is the print they used for this DVD. Absolutely horrible! Full of scratches and marks... (there are silent films in better shape!) it seems someone dragged the film stock on a street to make it look bad. I cannot believe such an important film had such a lack of caring. The soundtrack is also bad and the rich Technicolor is gone. I was lucky enough to see this film on the big screen during the seventies and... believe me... it was beautiful. Nothing like this.I knew this print was bad because I read the other reviews, and yet, I bought it because I felt I must have it (for I love this film). But it was still shocking to see how bad a bad print can be.I think this film is a masterpiece and I will buy it again if this is ever restored and released again... but this is an european film and I do not see that (restoration... or a new print) coming soon. So I bought it anyway - think like this: not even in France this film is available... go figure why!A beautiful film that is worth every scratch... but it is a shame... Films like this one should be seen over and over and I am sure if it was to be rereleased it would be a success. Perhaps one day someone like Criterion (who for once released it in Laserdisc a looong time ago) will take this film and give the treatment it deserves.By the way, the DVD comes with an american animated cartoon : "The Pincushion Man". It is about a ballon-like city with ballon-like characters. The print is equally bad. It is an early thirties "silly symphonies-like" color cartoon produced by Castle Films. The film is nice and it leaves you wondering about how many great films are there left to rot. ..."

A touching evocation of childhood fantasy and escape.

fb@odn.de | Herzogenaurach, Germany | 11/23/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't remember the first time I saw this wonderful film, but I know that I will watch it many times more. I think it is one of the most moving, evocative stories about childhood that I know. It is, in my opinion, an authentic vision of childhood retreat into an inner world that is free of mean parents, bullies, and scornful teachers. The last scene is a great symbol for the escape from the loneliness and pain of growing up that many children experience. I believe that adults as well can surely empathize with the little boy in the story as he tries to make his way in the world that seems so cruel. This film is a real classic."

Great Film - Terrible DVD

Katherine Gross | Altadena, CA United States | 03/03/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"It's a shame that such a classic film has been RUINED by the people who produced this DVD - and I use the term "produced" lightly. It appears that "they" simply found the worst possible 16mm print of the film (probably from a school or library), digitized it and mass produced these discs for the film's nostalgic fans - willing to spend their money to own one of their favorite films in digital format. Alas, the result looks and sounds like you're watching a bad film in a classroom - terribly scratched images, pops, dust - I think I even saw a piece of Scotch tape go by. How is this even acceptable?In these days of remastering and the ability to make a film look at least decent without massive expense, it's an embarrassment to the film makers that their classic has been brought to the DVD market with such disdain. Was an original print unavailable? If so, couldn't a few dollars be spent to clean up the only print apparently in existence?The film doesn't even end - during the final moments, it suddenly cuts out - and segways into a very politcally-incorrect cartoon from the same era.This DVD is not worth what it is selling for on Amazon.com. Let's hope somebody with an eye for quality rescues this classic from the company currently producing this disc. And soon!"

Up, Up & Away ~ A Beautiful Tale Set In The "City Of Lights"

Brian E. Erland | Brea, CA - USA | 04/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Synopsis: Young French boy discovers a red balloon on the streets of Paris. When he discovers the balloon is too large to take on the bus he decides to walk to his destination. His new acquisition is soon noticed by a group of bullies who desire the balloon for themselves and a chase ensues. Will the boy get away with his balloon intact? What eventually happens is both bittersweet and unexpected. It's truly the stuff from which delightful day dreams are made.

Critique: For me, the charming little '56 French film `The Red Balloon' carries with it fond memories of grammar school. Whenever it was too rainy outside for recess the student body would be gathered into the cafeteria to watch a short film or a couple of cartoons. Without question the film most requested by the young audience was `The Red Balloon.'

It had been at least forty years since my last viewing of this childhood classic. I'm happy to say that it still possesses all the charm and childhood wonder as it had upon its initial release fifty years ago. Looking at the streets of Paris as they were in the mid-fifties is a delight all its own serving as a mini-time capsule of a more innocent, naïve time in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

`The Red Balloon' is waiting to enchant a whole new generation of viewers! This is definitely a film that belongs in every child's DVD collection."

Search - The Red Balloon (Released by Janus Films, in association with the Criterion Collection) on DVD

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