Orlando [Blu-ray] [1992]

I have watched this film many times since its release in 1993 so finding it on DVD is a bonus. It's beautifully made and acted and so akin to my impression of the book. Love Tilda Swinton.. she is well cast as Orlando and the gorgeous costumes and sets/locations are just magical, especially the scene of the frozen Thames. Set to the angelic voice of Jimmy Somerville {music also written by the fabulous directer Sally Potter} it is a haunting atmospheric film that still holds it's place in the 2020's despite being nearly 30 years old. Be good if it was digitally 'cleaned up' a bit to sharpen the image but otherwise no complaints.

I really enjoyed this movie. Tilda Swinton is amazing in it.

I had some issues with my order, which turned out to be my fault. But the entire time Rarewaves bent over backwards to help and correct - what was ultimately my mistake. Honorable and professional.

I first saw this film when it was released in the early 1990s and I only bought the DVD after recently reading Virginia Woolf's book on which the film is based.Tilda Swinton excels as Orlando, and Potter's film will give you so much to talk about. One thing I picked up on from re-visiting it is that Charlotte Valandrey's character (Princess Sasha) from the 1500s and Billy Zane's character (Shelmerdine) from the 1800s reflect Orlando's sex change from a man to a woman - but in reverse. That is, Princess Sasha (who is Orlando's lover) appears reincarnate as Shelmerdine (who is also Orlando's lover) later in the film. The characters of Sasha & Shelmerdine look so alike in the film despite their different sexes.The 'Making Of' documentary as well as the interviews with Sally Potter which came with my DVD are really excellent and are well worth watching. They shed so much light on why Potter made the film in the way she did as well as highlighting the catalogue of problems she experienced when making it.One negative comment I have is that a lot of the humour from the book is lost in the film. I laughed out loud at various points in Woolf's book (I never realised she had such a dry/wicked sense of humour!) - but there are few laughs in the film. But this is a minor quibble. Overall 'Orlando' easily gets 5 stars from me.

Mainly Virginia Wolfe from Book; after reading.

A very good transfer, not perfect with very minor speckles on and off throughout and occasional dirt marks on dissolves and fades, but still absolutely the best the film has looked at home. Contrast can be variable but this is an accurate presentation of the source and some scenes are beautiful in the way that only celluloid can be. The film displays without issue in 1:1 pixel mode which is a plus. The sound is LPCM 2.0 only (ignore the box which states there is a DTS-MA 5.1 option, there isn't) but this mixes well to Pro-Logic surround and has a surprising level of bass throughout. Ms. Swinton's amazing voice is reproduced wonderfully.For my part Orlando is the best British film of the last twenty years and this disc is essential, flaws and all.

The packaging was not ok...it was open at both ends, so anybody could easily have removed a movie or two along the way!! There should have been tape or a string around it to hold it together. But the movie was great, as expected!

Love Orlando and Sally's interpretation of Virginia Woolf's book. Glad Sally brought this story to the public in her way. Sad that Virginia's life came to an abrupt end and delighted that after all those years her considerable intellect was highlighted by Sally in this artistic form. The film is visually beautiful and hauntingly nostalgic. Thought the unsual choice of Quentin Crisp as Queen Eliz.1st. worked extraordinarily well and loved Jimmy Sommervill's musical renditions which, again, were so appropriate for the reign of Eliz. 1 since women's voices were not considered suitable for musical productions of that era.