What does everyone think about the movie "the piano?" I think it was the greatest movie ever created. The soundtrack for it is brilliant. I bought the piano music for it, and it's the most fun and beautiful sounding music to play. Micheal Nyman is an awesome composer.

The way she feels about her piano is the way I feel about mine. I hate being seperated from it for too long. The essense of the movie is so wonderful, creepy, dark, mysterious and incredibly interesting. And Holly Hunter does an amazing Job. The concept of speaking through a piano instead of with words was really orginial.

If you havent seen it, I have some info on it at my piano site: http://www.angelfire.com/rock2/thepiano/piano.html Only the second link works so far. Just click on "see more of it"

Another awesome piano movie is "Shine." =0)

-- Zeldah Hanson (slw@cape.com), July 25, 2001

Answers

Well, I've never seen the movie, but I definitely agree with you on the music. I bought the book about a year and a half ago. "The Heart Asks Pleasure First" is one of the few songs I can play and/or listen to over and over and never get tired of. Great stuff!

-- Andrew (superfriend2k@yahoo.com), July 25, 2001.

I'd agree it was a great movie with the exception of the grahpic nudity. It would have been suitable for all audiences otherwise. It is not a movie I'd recommend to my children or piano students.

-- Smith (noname_poster@yahoo.com), July 27, 2001.

Why is the nudity part such a bad thing? You make nakedness out to be some evil thing to be ashamed of.

-- Zeldah Hanson (slw@cape.com), July 29, 2001.

Graphic nudity is not something I would subject children to. If you were a piano instructor, would you teach your students in the nude since you're so unashamed? Just a thought. ;-)

-- Pianist (noname_poster@yahoo.com), July 30, 2001.

No but I dont think nudity in a movie is so bad. In that movie it's has to do with the art of it, because that movie wasn't afraid of anything.

But just because there is nudity in the piano I dont think it's a reason to not recommend it. Although, I think anyone who has a real love for the piano will find that movie anyway, and not watch it for the nudity but for the passion for piano.

-- hanson (slw@cape.com), July 30, 2001.

I loved the movie, but I don't think it's suitable for kids. The scenes near the end were much too intense. But WOW.

-- Michele Bernstein (mlbernst@hevanet.com), August 05, 2001.

I would never take my kids to a movie that has nudity in it.

-- Music Educator (noname_poster@yahoo.com), August 12, 2001.

No, I agree, definitely not suitable for kids. Despite the title 'The Piano', I think the film isn't so much about pianos as about people and relationships - interspersed by the odd bit of piano playing, obviously!

I'd also recommend 'Shine', which I love. Then you have Immortal Beloved, which I think is an absolutely fantastic movie - they treat some of the sound to emulate the way Beethoven heard his music through his impairment.

Not so much a piano movie but an excellent piece of film is Bach's 48, produced by Euro Arts and the BBC. Recently screened here in Britain this set of DVDs features performances of Bach's WTC interpersed with some talky bits about the pieces and with some shots of the work that goes into building Fazioli concert grands; bass string winding, action regulation etc. This DVD set is reason alone for people to buy a DVD player! Absolutely marvellous!

-- Dave Lodge (mauve_mojo@hotmail.com), November 11, 2001.

I thought the piano music was too simple. Progressions, harmony--the whole shebang. I write better.

-- Keri McDaniel (keri_mcdaniel@yahoo.com), December 18, 2001.

Michael Nyman should have his hands removed from his wrists. He is a ponce and a second rate "composer" at that. Also, I know it is a very good possiblility that I may get e-stoned for this(not of the plant variety) but is David Helfgott really that a good pianist? I have no idea what he was like before his breakdown but after falling for the hype I listened to his recording of Rachmaninoff's 3rd concerto... I have never listened to him since. Nice film though. Listen to Martha Argerich instead.

-- Bah Humbug esq (Bah Humbug esq@nonmail.com), February 18, 2002.

We must remember that music is absolutely, extremely, and in all other ways SUBJECTIVE. How one feels about a certain composer, or piece of music, or type of music is only one's OPINION and nothing more. For example, I am one of the few people who doesn't like a large portion of classical music mainly because I feel composers were so limited to certain forms, movements, etc. It simply doesn't move me the way some other music does. This does not, however, mean that other people can't enjoy it.

I just hope that by saying this, I will not be subjected to any kind of dismemberment. ;-)

-- musician (noname_poster@yahoo.com), February 19, 2002.

"I just hope that by saying this, I will not be subjected to any kind of dismemberment. ;-)"

Your hands are safe... for now!

(I ignore me, I was in a particuarly spiteful hump at the time)

-- Bah Humbug esq (noname_poster@yahoo.com), February 26, 2002.