Search - Wings of Desire [Special Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1987 DVD Release: 07/01/2003 Format: DVD - Black and White,Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, German Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 8 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 35 Genres: Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Heavenly Drama See Also: Wings of Desire [Criterion Collection], Wings of Desire [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander) are angels who watch over the city of Berlin. They don't have harps or wings (well, they usually don't have wings) and they prefer overcoats to gossamer gowns. But they can travel unseen through the city, listening to people's thoughts, watching their actions and studying their lives. While they can make their presence felt in small ways, only children and other angels can see them. They spend their days serenely observing, unable to interact with people, and they feel neither pain nor joy. One day, Damiel finds his way into a circus and sees Marion (Solveig Dommartin), a high-wire artist, practicing her act; he is immediately smitten. After the owners of the circus tell the company that the show is out of money and must disband, Marion sinks into a funk, shuffling back to her trailer to ponder what to do next. As he watches her, Damiel makes a decision: he wants to be human, and he wants to be with Marion, to lift her spirits and, if need be, to share her pain. Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire is a remarkable modern fairy tale about the nature of being alive. The angels witness the gamut of human emotions, and they experience the luxury of simple pleasures (even a cup of coffee and a cigarette) as ones who've never known them. From the angels' viewpoint, Berlin is seen in gorgeous black-and-white -- strikingly beautiful but unreal; when they join the humans, the image shifts to rough but natural-looking color, and the waltz-like grace of the angels' drift through the city changes to a harsher rhythm. Peter Falk appears as himself, revealing a secret that we may not have known about the man who played Columbo, and there's also a brief but powerful appearance by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Wings of Desire hinges on the intangible and elusive, and it builds something beautiful from those qualities. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Bruno Ganz - Damiel
Solveig Dommartin - Marion
Peter Falk - Himself
Otto Sander - Cassiel
Curt Bois - Homer

Wim Wenders' much-loved Wings of Desire receives the special edition treatment on DVD. MGM has done a fine job with this disc, right down the line. First, the 1.78:1 anamorphic image, though not perfect, shines above previous video transfers. Some shimmering is evident, but both the black-and-white and color segments of the film look startlingly good. Detail is perfect, especially during the black-and-white portions. The entire visual scheme elicits an emotional response, and it translates wonderfully on this disc. The new 5.1 Dolby Digital track doesn't stand up as well, but that's hardly surprising for a smaller film. Dialogue is clear, as are sounds effects (at least those that are offered). Still, it would have been nice to see some sort of enhanced soundtrack, especially with the use of the surrounds. But the disc really shines with the supplements offered. To begin with is a commentary track from Wenders and co-star Peter Falk. Next, a marvelous documentary, entitled "Angels Among Us," is not to be missed. Everyone from the director, the co-stars, the composer Jürgen Knieper, and Brad Silberling (director of the inferior remake, City of Angels discusses the making of the film and it's effects on the audience). In addition, 30-minutes of deleted scenes with commentary from Wenders are included, some which work well, while others make better use of the fast forward on the remote. Finally, along with a gallery consisting of two photos and an odd promotional piece for Wenders, is the German theatrical trailer and an interactive map of Berlin. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide