I say "attempt" because it doesn't really work for me, but noble and beautiful because of the fearless creativity of Kenneth Branagh and Steven Fry in re-creating Mozart's opera with most of the original music.
Without any prior knowledge of the Masonic rites of Mozart's time it would be hard to comprehend any performance of the opera. Fortunately the music is so wonderful it usually doesn't matter. In this version the performance of the music is not at the level normally achieved by the best opera houses. The music is wonderful but at times the tempi seem rushed, as if to ensure the film doesn't exceed most viewers' attention spans.
The acting often struck me as somewhat amateurish, particular that of the two young lovers, Tamino and Pamina who were almost too strenuous in their declaration of love for each other, despite having first met minutes before. The portrayal of Sarastro however, was magnificent. Rene Pape, the operatic bass who played the part gave Sarastro a depth of humanity and dignity that one rarely sees nowadays. Branagh provides some intriguing hints as to the enmity between Sarastro and Pamina's mother, the Queen of the Night.
If you love Mozart's music, do see this film. If you don't enjoy classical music, give it a pass.
The acting often struck me as somewhat amateurish, particular that of the two young lovers, Tamino and Pamina who were almost too strenuous in their declaration of love for each other, despite having first met minutes before. The portrayal of Sarastro however, was magnificent. Rene Pape, the operatic bass who played the part gave Sarastro a depth of humanity and dignity that one rarely sees nowadays. Branagh provides some intriguing hints as to the enmity between Sarastro and Pamina's mother, the Queen of the Night.
If you love Mozart's music, do see this film. If you don't enjoy classical music, give it a pass.