Thanks for the memories!

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

A collection of five stories as we follow The Red Violin through its lifetime spanning centuries. Each individual story is too weak to stand on its own. But have some patience to hold them in place for 2 hours, and trust that it will finally come together at the end.The film's fatal flaw is that I was unconvinced of the love between the violin maker and his wife. He seemed to live for his craft first and his family a distant second. She seemed to just get bored at home while he neglected her for his work. A more convincing relationship would have set a hauntingly powerful foundation for the subsequent stories. Instead the middle pieces remained flimsy until Samuel L Jackson glued it all together.The total sum is a solid film that falls short of its potential. Beautiful violin music is a common thread throughout. But it feels more the product of a skilled 17th century craftsman than the undying love between a husband and wife.

A perfect red-colored violin inspires passion, making its way through three centuries over several owners and countries, eventually ending up at an auction where it may find a new owner.I know precious little about violins or about Stradivarius and why his violins are considered the best in the world. But this story is told in such a way where you need to know nothing in order to appreciate that history. Everything is laid out here and in a much grander story arc than any real violin likely ever went through.Perhaps best of all was the casting of Samuel L. Jackson. He is the only real "star" in the cast, and his character is among the most complex. Though we go through several centuries and multiple countries, Jsckson's story really ties it all together -- like the moment in "2001" where the bone becomes the satellite, Jackson is the modern day counterpart to the violin's entire history.

All I can say is WOW! This is truly a masterpiece of cinema. I watched this on a whim one evening and I am so thankful I did. The story is superb, the acting is excellent, and the music score was just "outstanding"! This is the kind of film that true hardcore movie buffs revel in finding while having to sift through the so many bad ones made over the years. But if your lucky enough to find it then you will find that it does not disappoint! If only they made more films like this one. If anything you might come out feeling a little more educated in the art of classical music.lol But seriously folks this is a must see film for anyone looking for a very entertaining movie of substance. It has it all,.. sadness, happiness, danger, love, anger,etc....! it is truly one of the best! If you haven't seen it then you are truly missing out.

I am a movie fanatic with over 1000 titles in my private collection. I spend a lot of time on IMDb reading movie reviews to decide about what to order. This movie would rank in my top 5 favorites and the only one so far that I have taken time out to review like this. The story is so unique, incredibly well drawn, directed and acted and you have absolutely no way of guessing at what will happen next (this is one of my top criteria for great movies - that of being non-formulaic and unpredictable). The story begins at an auction house where a masterpiece antique violin is being auctioned off. The viewer is then taken back through the life story of the violin and the lives that it touched over 200 years. I have seen this movie several times and I never fail to marvel at my re-enjoyment of watching it. Great story, great acting, great music, unpredictable and unique. It doesn't get any better!! It amazes me that while this movie gets high marks and outstanding reviews that it isn't rated even higher.