Reviews & Ratings for
The Cave of the Golden Rose (TV) More at IMDbPro »Fantaghirò (original title)

13 out of 17 people found the following review useful:
The best movie, 23 February 1999

Author: robinhut(robinhut@yahoo.com) from Malacca, Malaysia

I'm now 19 years old and I've watch many movies. But, I think that Cave of the Golden Rose (Fantaghiro) sequels are the best movies I've ever watched in my life!!! It has the best storyline, the best music and special effects, and most important of all, it has the best actress, Alessandra Martines. She really brought up the fabulous Fantaghiro character with full of emotions and feelings. Personally, I think that Alessandra Martines is the most beautiful actress in the world. Whatever she do in Fantaghiro; whether she smile, she cry, she was angry, or whatever, she is so beautiful that I watch over the movie again and again. Honestly, until now, I've watched Fantaghiro for 7 times, Fantaghiro 2 for 5 times, Fantaghiro 3 for 3 times and Fantaghiro 4 for 8 times. I am still searching for the last sequel, Fantaghiro 5 but I still couldn't find it. Wish me luck.

7 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
I Love This Show!!!!!!!, 23 May 2005

Author: oh_doroubo (oh_doroubo@yahoo.com) from Petaling Jaya, Selangor

My most favorite is the first movie. Fantaghiro is truly my inspiration of my dream princess in my book.

Although I prefer watching it in Italian but TV2 only had it in English. I want to buy the full movies but it is rare in Malaysia. Maybe I go to Italy and went through all their DVD stores.

I watch this... when I was 7 or 8.... the TV2 made re-runs every year but it stop when I was about 10.. sad...

The perks in the first movie is when Fantaghiro disguise as a man. My favorite part is at the swimming competition, when she wore a lot of clothes and made a desperate sigh. So cute.

Although few awkward scene like, How come her hair grew long after she cut it? And how come the short hair style is the same through ALL the movies? And grew back LONG?!?!?!? She wear a wig or something??? After the first movie, the second movie seems nice but I don't like the puppet part and the White Witch actress had change.

In the third movie, I don't like Tarabas much and Romualdo part in the movie only in a few minutes.

What worst in the forth, THERE ARE NO ROMUALDO!!! My interest dull around Tarabas parts. Still hanging around with a married woman?? I accept if the producer gave him a love interest but Fantaghiro is Romualdo's!! I don't like much a lot of new characters as I prefer the old ones. As the movies grew, the lesser the original characters is.

There's a lot of voice castings, re-scene and so on.

But still, The Cave of The Golden Rose 1 is worth the full stars.

4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
The best film I have ever watched, 28 February 2001

Author: crystal khor (ithinkslim@yahoo.com) from malaysia

I first started to watch this show 2 years ago. After watching the first part I fell in love with this show. To me, it is the most touching and loving film I have ever watch. Recently, the show had been repeated once more and I recorded the whole 4 series and I never get bored watching this show. In fact, it is so touching that I have to use couple sheets of tissue paper to wipe of my tears. I introduce this to all my friends and my friends agree with me that this great film. I like the character of "Fantaghiro" so much and sometimes I wish that my past life was that interesting and romantic. And not forgetting "Romualdo" with that charming and handsome look of yours. It's killing me. Just joking! Anyway, to me, it is the best film I have ever see and will always be.

3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
I love fairy tales, 5 March 2005

Author: suspirito-azul from Chile

A beautiful Italian production that can take you to a far away time, filled with magic and romanticism. Great characters, locations and costumes. I would like to know if the story is based on a legend or something but anyway, it's great. The other 3 parts are also good, but not THAT good. If you liked this movie I recommend you to look for the other three parts and another movie called "Sorellina e il principe del sogno", starring Raz Degan (he is so hot) and Veronica Logan. Not recommended for too serious or pretentious people, it's just a fairy tale, but if you are like me and you enjoy dreaming of princes, kingdoms, horses and archery, then this movie is for you.

7 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Simply the best :), 29 January 2003

Author: movie_director from Milan, Italy

I'm from Milan and I saw the five episodes (in Italy Fantaghirò is divided in 5 movies) of this beautiful film at least ten times. It's so simple, but even so touching... It's a mix of romance and fantasy that only this director can make up! Great actors for great characters: if you want to see the most romantic-fantastic story ever played, well you MUST watch this creation!

Critique, 17 January 2008

Author: dravidian_sentinel

The Cave of the Golden Rose or Fantaghiro may hold a handful of cliché's found in the most popular of fairy tales yet somehow it also gives off a nostalgic appeal. Ironically, it is also unconventional at the same time.

Many portions may be predictable, maybe even to an extent far too surreal for a realist, a critic of the entire concept of love at first sight yet somehow all of these are balanced off by an "out of the box" storyline, a beautiful cast, a highly memorable soundtrack (Der Prinz un Fantaghiro as an example)and an often intelligently planted lighting.

Special effects and cinematography-wise, it may not compare to films that have been digitally manipulated such as The Lord of the Rings and all the others that have impressed us tremendously with three-dimensional graphics. It draws interest through its flowing narrative that is rather old-fashioned, episodic and reminiscent of chronicled epics. It's the sort that one would appreciate due to its ability to develop gracefully its main character, a trait that is a rarity to most films these days.

Recently we have come to know of female heroines who could parallel their male counterparts in a duel yet most of them lose their grace, their radiance, their ethereal majesty within their leather tights and lashing whips. Most certainly they have proved themselves to be worthy adversaries and valued allies yet we hardly see them employ that breathtakingly feminine charm that Fantaghiro has successfully maintained in an intriguing balance. I will not speak of it further as my thoughts might spoil your entertainment. ;) Overall however, The Cave of the Golden Rose is a masterpiece not meant to be described through words. It is the kind that is worthy of being experienced.

a magical phenomenon indeed, 6 October 2007

Author: charmed_halliwells from Malaysia

Never have I thought of writing a review which contains biased and partial opinions. Nevertheless, neither a typical review which scrutinizes the show's technical aspects namely the acting, directing and plot, nor one that appraises it from a literary point of view, would give you a comprehensive picture of what this show is truly about.

Frankly, I've seen an array of movies with a much more poignant plot and entrancing acting but have never given any a 9 out of 10 rating. Perhaps it is the concoction of a simple but elegant plot, casual and unexaggerated acting, beautifully coordinated music, a not too original but not too cheesy storyline, and a touch of magic which makes Fantaghiro worthy of a nine out of ten rating.

I believe if given a chance, all four installments (I don't particularly like the fifth) would make every child's day, arouse bittersweet memories in every teenager, and provide a perfect escapist fantasy for every adult who has long embedded in bitter reality.

Fantaghiro is indeed an enchanted piece of art -- a true magical phenomenon.

Fantaghirò cave of the golden rose, 12 December 2006

Author: laudejong

About ten years ago in Holland we saw the international production of Fantaghirò(cave of the golden rose and the sequel, of which I cannot remember the name right now) in English with Dutch subtitles as Saturday morning series. We loved it then and it's a shame there's never been a rerun. We tried to purchase the video or DVD in English with Dutch subs but they aren't out there(only a few smart as*es who have taped it from the TV are now selling these tapes for far too much money and in poor quality) so if anyone can help me get these series in English with Dutch subtitles on DVD(preferably) or video please contact me. If you've never seen the series, make sure you do, it's an international masterpiece! It's a blend of fantasy and romance which makes it fantastic to watch and dream away with it.

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