(2013-05-18 15:57:38)

Quo Vadis - Blu-ray Info

Version: U.S.A - Japan / Warner / Region FreeAspect ratio: 1.33:1VC-1 BD-50 / AACS / Advanced Profile 3Running time: 2:54:27Movie size: 33,75 GBDisc size: 36,71 GBTotal bit rate: 25.80 MbpsAverage video bit rate: 22.28 MbpsDolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbpsDolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbpsDolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbpsDolby Digital Audio German 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbpsDolby Digital Audio Italian 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbpsDolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbpsDolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbpsSubtitles: English SDH, Chinese (traditional and simplified), French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, JapaneseNumber of chapters: 45#Audio Commentary#Documentary: In the Beginning Quo Vadis and the Genesis of the Biblical Epic (SD - 44 minutes)#Theatrical Trailers (SD - 6 minutes)

(2013-05-18 02:47:31)

A major problem...

This review is from: Quo Vadis (Two-Disc Special Edition) (DVD) The acting and script are EXCELLENT. But there are some "minor" issues that some people may have problems with, such as baptism that is not immersion and hinting at the possibility of married people still being married in heaven (see Matt. 22:23-30). Furthermore, it is a little vague on exactly who is going to heaven and who is not. And there is a MAJOR PROBLEM: at one point in the movie Peter receives a message from Jesus that includes a statement along the lines of "or I will come back and be crucified again." This is a major theological problem, as the one crucifixion of Christ was sufficient (see Hebrews chapter 10). Such a shame for an otherwise excellent movie.

Rodrigo_Amaro

(2013-05-18 15:45:05)

The History Lesson You Won't Learn at school

1951's epic "Quo Vadis" makes a mix that survived through many years tocome: take a historical and important event, include real personalitiesand introduces in a likable way fictional characters whose purpose isto make people and audiences relate with. I don't know exactly if thiswas the first film to do such thing but after "Quo Vadis" many filmsfollowed this tread: "From Here to Eternity", "Pearl Harbor", "Titanic"and the list goes on and on. These are epic films, with some historicalfacts balanced with a love story. Robert Taylor plays Marcus Vincius (don't get confused, he's thefictitious son of the historical Marcus Vinicius), a general whoreturns to Rome after a battle and disagreeing on the way Nero (PeterUstinov) the great Emperor of Rome was conducting the army. Then he metLigia (Deborah Kerr) the beautiful daughter of the deceased king of theLigians who is kind of a hostage living in the city, and Marcus fallsin love for her but he doesn't know that she's Catholic which causesclashes between them.While the love story tries to resist conventions Nero gets bored, heneeds the love of the people, desperately for making a powerful andimportant act, something for which he'll be remembered besides killinghis mother and his wife. And the decision made by him is set Rome onfire and built a new city, bigger and better. The opposition appears onthe form of Nero's best friend and Vinicius's uncle, Petronius (LeoGenn), a liberal and respected man who uses of his wisdom and hispopularity in Rome to dissuade Nero of such hateful acts. But wealready know that Nero went ahead anyway, set fire on Rome singing hisverses, blamed the Christians for the act, killing them on the arena bythrowing them to the lions, and another horrible acts.When the movie is all about the historical subject goes perfectly well(even if it's not totally accurate the movie is still great to see) andI salute Ustinov and Genn's performances, who carried the movie verywell. Ustinov's brilliance appears by making a repulsive historicalcharacter likable in many parts of the film. He's a cruel villain buthe shows us a level of humor that is beyond belief, even while burningthe city down, and I think that many humored portrayals of villainswere derivated of his great performance. The performances and the wholemise-en-scГѓВЁne made a wonderful epic film and more than that a story tobe told and seen. I enjoyed the story because of its drama, its way to tell somethingabout the power of faith (a little bit propagandistic when it comes topresent Christianism) and the power of love (between Marcus and Ligia),friendship (that fells apart between Nero and Petronius, but Nerodidn't predict that) and to give value to those things. Also theadventure was great to see (the fight between the giant and the bull).If a lesson can be taken with "Quo Vadis" is that everything thatPetronius said became truth, not only for that era, not only for thepower of Christianism but to many others, and leaders and dictatorsstill haven't learned that lesson: trying to destroy a people, theirculture and their religion will only make them stronger, and the evilone who does that is defeated, known as the most evil leader to exist.That was a lesson that Nero learned, Hitler learned and many otherslearned or will learn. While I praised the movie while it was true on the other hand thefictional romance slowed down the movie and it was something I didn'tcare much (except for the final moments between the couple after theCatholics arrest). Taylor and Kerr are enjoyable together but it's notwhat you can call of a wonderful acting, there are good moments betweenthem and some weak moments too.Nominated for 8 Oscars and winner of none, "Quo Vadis" is a good epicfilm directed by Mervyn LeRoy ("Mr. Roberts" and "Little Caesar"), oneof the most important films ever made in the 1950's and a must see forthose who enjoy great and historical epics. 8/10

(2013-05-17 23:26:16)

They don't make movies like this anymore

This review is from: Quo Vadis (Amazon Instant Video) Totally entertaining but also informative on both a historical and spiritually provocative basis. This movie, together with "The Robe" give a view of the early Church that we don't get in movies anymore. It exemplifies the texts of the Acts of the Apostles and tells a story version of the early church. It bears witness to two sayings of the early church which explained why it was able to grow so fast despite being constantly persecuted and suppressed. The two sayings? "See how they love one another" and Tertullian's "the blood of martyrs is the seed of faith".

(2013-05-17 14:37:53)

Very Good movie about Ancient Rome and early Christians

This review is from: Quo Vadis (1951) [VHS] (VHS Tape) I recently purchased the video Quo Vadis and watched it twice. I enjoyed it very much. It is a good movie from the 1950's and it protrayed the sufferings of early Christians under Nero. It is too bad that Hollywood doesn't make films like this anymore.It would be nice to have this film put on DVD.

(2013-05-17 07:21:29)

Replaced the VHS that was damaged

This review is from: Quo Vadis [VHS] (VHS Tape) The previous VHS had broken andthis was a replacement for it. Always enjoyed as an historical, good, very good.

toonnnnn

(2013-05-16 16:04:05)

Nero and land of flames

A few spoilers.The story of good verses evil is told in full growntechnicolor,I watch this film every couple of years and it brings backmemories of when I saw the film the Essoldo in Hartlepool with my mum andaunt happy days.The acting is won by Peter Ustinov as Nero and by Finlay Currie as abelievable St Peter,Robert Taylor is at best ordinary and you get thefeeling Deborah Kerr is just going through the motions.The most expensivefilm of its time its box office succes heralded in a series of bibicalspectaculars.The crowd scenes are great and overall its entertaining despite being over50 year old,Iwould love to see this on dvd with lots of extras and perhapsinterveiws from the surviving cast,I would like a hollywood remake of itto.8/10

(2013-05-16 06:31:32)

Real entertainment,just the way it should be.

After watchin Quo Vadis at least a dozen times it is still one of my favourites. It's fun and despite it's length it keeps up the pace to the very end. Okay, it is historically ridiculous, squeezing years into a few days, but what the heck, if I wanted history I wouldn't watch a movie. An excellent cast, Ustinov in one of his best parts, plenty of uncomplicated action and a story line that is simple enough that you can walk off halveway if you have something to do and pick it up effortlesly halve an hour later. Just the ticket for an autumn day when it's raining and you're bored.

Ian Nathan

(2013-05-15 00:36:52)

Enough large-scale spectacle scenes to outweigh the inevitable religiose sludge that creeps in between them.

Ignacio Martinez-Ybor

(2013-05-14 09:45:13)

S&S Classic Holds Up Well

This sword and sandal epic survives much better than others filmed aroundthat time. The decor, costumes, and art direction certainly have not beenmatched by anything that followed, including Spartacus, Ben Hur andGladiator. The music is top drawer Miklos Rosza. Peter Ustinov gives theperformance of his life. Deborah Kerr is luminous. Robert Taylor seems a bitstiff and a bit aged for the part, but is otherwise ok. Everyone else isfine. The lumbering sanctimoniousness which afflicts all these epics whendialogue turns to religion is certainly no worse than any other and wearslighter than most. The script is certainly more bearable than Ben Hur (whichI find one of the most overrated films of all time) and The Robe (otherwiseknown as The Bore). Quo Vadis has moments of sumptuous cinematic fun in thesame way as de Mille's earlier Cleopatra (Claudette Colbert), e.g. Nero (andus via the camera) looks through gem-colored lenses at his guests at somepalace feast or another. Cinematically it implies greater voluptuousnessthan anything ever shown. Pagans are always so much more interesting thanChristians. Fortunately, we spend a lot of time with Pagans in this film.Like the de Mille, Quo Vadis holds up well and is well worth seeing. I hopethey do a thorough reconstruction if they put it out on DVD.... the originaltechnicolor remastered must be awesome.

(2013-05-14 04:32:01)

Wonderful.

This review is from: Quo Vadis [HD] (Amazon Instant Video) Another sandals and swords classic. Along with Quo Vadis The Robe Ben Hur The Ten Commandments - this was an era that respected The greatest story ever old. Sadly a by-gone era.

(2013-05-13 22:11:05)

Outstanding

This review is from: Quo Vadis [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) A great DVD transfer was done on this one. This is one of the all time Biblical Epics that Hollywood ever released.

(2013-05-12 21:42:47)

Great

This review is from: Quo Vadis (Two-Disc Special Edition) (DVD) My husband requested this DVD and I was happy to have found it at such a great price at Amazon. I do not like this particular genre of movies, but he loves it and watches it over and over.

Mike D.

(2013-05-12 14:40:18)

Wonderful

I saw this movie as part of my Junior Church history class. I thought it was a wonderfully accurate rendition of Christian persecution, and Peter Ustinov was the best portrayal of Nero ever, period.

(2013-05-12 00:57:01)

Magnificence

This review is from: Quo Vadis (Import All Regions) (DVD) This film is a statemen of magnificence, the pomp, the casting, the marvelous acting, and the gracefully written script, all bear witness to the creativity of mid 20th century Hollywood. This movie is simply delightful, the viewer should be prepeared for depth of dialogue, spectacle, lengthiness, and creative character interaction. This film is highly thought provoking, and therefore not light fair.

Thomas Pfaff

(2013-05-11 16:07:03)

Sequel to film from 1932 as well as 1924

One thing you won't find anywhere I looked is that Quo Vadis was doneas a movie called "The Sign of the Cross" by Cecil DeMille in 1932. Whyhe changed the name I have no idea. Perhaps he changed the story enoughto merit a name change. DeMille also had something called a BUDGET toworry about. The 1950s version had a big budget no doubt.Anyway the 1950s version is a good film. The 1932 version is worthseeing as a compliment to this one. Both versions were recently playedon a TV channel I watched. The 1950s version fits more into thegeneration of that time, with Christian beliefs being openlypopularized in America. How we have changed. The 1932 version is morelike a drama but also has the same basic messages as the later film. Ijust found the earlier film more tender [but just as meaningful]. Thereare no lions or violence as opposed to Quo Vadis 1950 which is violent.I really noticed how much more loquatious the 1950s version is. It isLONG and probably doesn't need to be so. Granted, Quo Vadis 1950 was ahigh-budget film with lots of perky special effects. I could take it orleave that.

(2013-05-11 01:37:16)

Highly Recommended!

This review is from: Quo Vadis (Two-Disc Special Edition) (DVD) We just watched Quo Vadis. It is outstanding. The production quality, acting, plot, and photography are far beyond any current movies being made. The story of a Roman general who falls in love with a quiet and beautiful Christian woman, who interacts with Paul and Peter, and who finally becomes a Christian himself, and the inclusion of the actual words from the Bible make it a "must have" for any Christian family, and likewise a movie that has been "blacklisted" by secular and anti-Christian networks and television stations. If you want your family to see this, you have to buy it on your own, just like the other classic Christian films, "Ben-Hur," "The Ten Commandments," "El-Cid," and others. The portrayal of the evil Emperor Nero is the best I have seen. What a pleasure to see this versus the absolute stinking trash many of the broadcasters are putting on now! I give this my highest rating for a movie.

lucy-66

(2013-05-10 14:39:46)

If the Romans had had trains, they'd have run on time

That Roman triumph looks familiar - of course, it's a Nurembergrally! And the architecture, isn't that Milan railway station? And Nerois a whinging carpet-biter with a limp-wristed salute. When I firstsaw this movie aged about 11 I fell in love with Peter Ustinov. Bythe way, the studio suggested he was too young for the role. That'swhen he cabled back that if they waited any longer he'd be tooold.

L. Denis Brown

(2013-05-08 23:36:45)

If you have not seen this film, there should soon be a long promised DVD to rent or buy.

Like James Cameron's film 'Titanic' with its $200 million budget (aninvestment which has already earned Twentieth Century Fox and ParamountPictures a return of the order of $900 million gross), 'Quo Vadis?' isgenerally recognised to be a 'Major Hollywood Epic'. What constitutes amajor epic is a matter of judgement, but perhaps one test is whetherthe Studio concerned gave the producer a virtually unlimited budget,after a warning that the film created has to generate earningssignificantly more than the total cost of production or "you are out onyour ear". (By comparison, for a minor epic the producer wouldtypically have a free hand over all but the largest expenditures, whichwould have to be referred back to the studio heads for approval, andmight therefore decide to re-use sets created previously for a majorepic, or utilise footage created during the production of an earlierfilm.). Historically Demille was one of the most prolific creators ofepics and he had a mould into which his projects had to fit. They hadto include a number of daring or even risquГѓВ© sequences which wouldensure the film was widely talked about, and would achieve exceptionalattendances when screened. The overall stories had to have a religious,or at the very least strongly moral, theme which would leave typicalaudiences with the feeling they had seen something worthwhile whichthey should recommend to their friends. Finally there had to be anumber of almost unbelievable sequences, created by the special effectsdepartment, to ensure the film concerned continued to receive ongoingattention. Many of his films made in this mould were not onlyfinancially successful but remain regarded as classics today; howevernone were exempt from criticism over historical or textualinaccuracies. Directed not by Demille but by Mervyn LeRoy towards theend of this same period, Quo Vadis fitted almost perfectly into thesame mould. Although not released until Hollywood was coming underpressure from colour TV, its release proved that the small screen stillcould not compete with large screen productions, and it finished up asthe second largest grossing film released by MGM. Biblical subjectswere often chosen for major epics, and 'Quo Vadis?' was based on areligious novel written by the Polish Nobel Prize winning author HenrykSienkiewicz; which remains essentially true both to biblical accountsand early Christian traditions.What can we say about such an epic over half a century after it wasmade? There should soon be a long promised DVD version which willencourage many younger viewers to see it for the first time. Big screenpresentations are preferable, but today are few and far between. Can wehelp those contemplating buying the DVD? Quo Vadis is essentiallypro-Christian propaganda and, as with any such film, viewers reactionsto it will be closely tied to their religious beliefs. But everyprospective viewer can be assured that there are several outstandingacting performances, even though none won Oscars. These include PeterUstinov as Nero (a Golden Globe winner), Leo Genn as Petronius - theoriginal author of 'Satyricon', Robert Taylor as Vinicius and FinlayCurrie as St. Peter. This viewer can also be assured that many of thespectacles and special effects are still stunning today, even whenlimited to the small screen (somehow modern computerised specialeffects never seem quite so real as the original Hollywood style ones).He can also be warned about historical inaccuracies, which should havebeen avoided, and departures from the original novel, which are usuallyregarded as legitimate in a work created for a different medium. Acynic might tell him that Roman banquets are believed to have been muchmore decadent than is shown here, and historically we know that theRomans would never have tied a beautiful captive to a stake in thearena for public entertainment without stripping her first. Also theChristians being burnt at the stake to illuminate the proceedings hadnot, in accordance with normal Roman practices, been dipped into tarfirst, so the illumination would probably have been rather poor. Butthese are minor consequences of the Hollywood production code for thisperiod and should have little bearing on either his enjoyment of thefilm or his ability to mentally visualise the full horrors of thescenes featured. Finally we need to warn him that other versions of thesame story co-exist with this 1951 film, and that each of them isregarded as the best by some viewers. In 2001 there was a major Polishversion that some reviewers regard as much closer to the originalnovel. One of several TV versions was a 6 hour mini-series produced inItaly in 1985, and there were two early silent versions made in 1902and 1912. Both of the latter would probably be hard to find today, butthe 1912 version appears to have been of considerable interest.Following current trends with other classic silent films, perhaps itwill be re-released coupled with this definitive 1951 version, as thelong awaited deluxe DVD. I certainly hope so.The bottom line is that this film provides one of Hollywood's greatestspectacles, it has first rate acting and is both enjoyable andsatisfying to watch. It is also a classic to which other movie loversfrequently refer. There are plenty of things about it that you may (andare free to) criticise but, if you have not seen it, you should plan torent or buy either a copy of the VHS tape now, or better the longpromised DVD when finally released.

(2013-05-08 12:55:18)

NOT A WIDESCREEN FILM

This review is from: Quo Vadis (Two-Disc Special Edition) (DVD) It bares repeating that this film was made before the invention of Cinemascope or any widescreen process. So, I don't want to hear anyone complaining about this being a "Full Screen Version". That is the only way it can be viewed. Also, even though Miklos Rozza's score is not as dramatic as Ben Hur, or any others he composed during this time period, there is obvious similarities to Ben Hur. Close to the end of the film, the march he used at the end of the Chariot Race of Ben Hur is exactly duplicated note for note. Also, throughout the film, those with a good ear will notice other similarities to Ben Hur.