Description

The nuts and bolts of the irresistibly danceable music called Tejano are pop, rock, polka, R&B and Latin influences.To millions of fans there'sanother vital ingredient:the dynamic singer Selena.Vibrant and tuneful, Selena is the story of the Grammy Award-winning South Texas singer whose life tragically ended just as she was taking Tejano where it had never gone-into mainstream America.Pulsating with Selena's voice on the soundtrack and made with the participation of her family, the film brims with authenticity.It excitingly recreates the early life of a little girl who dreamed big, hit the road in the band bus named Big Bertha and whose concerts became electrifying events.In the title rose, Jennifer Lopez is herself electrifying.Edward James Olmos, Jon Seda and others also shine in "a poignant, heartwarming movie that deserves a standing ovation" (Jules Peimer, WKDM-Radio/New York). ... Read more

Reviews (166)

More Tribute Than Biopic
Jennifer Lopez does a great job of portraying the lovely Selena, even though the only resemblance that Jennifer and Selena have is due to race, not feature. However, this movie isn't about Selena-the-human-being or even Selena-the-star. This the sanitized, Disney view of the life of a young, fast-rising star whose life was cut short in her prime. Now, I'm not saying that this is a rotten movie at all. It's actually a good movie. It's well written, well-acted, and you can't tell that Ms. Lopez is lip-synching. However, you're not going to get a clear picture of Selena-the-person from this movie. I love Selena as much as the next Selena fan, but I would have liked to see a movie named Selena that's actually about Selena, not just what her dad thinks is appropriate. Playing down her murder was not good, because how is someone going to get a clear picture of the mourning that went on all over the United States when they don't see all the things that came out after? How does one get a picture of Yolanda the Fruitcake if they don't see how fruity the woman is? We know what we lost. It would be nice if this movie at least showed us the why. Selena's memory would not have been damaged if this had been in the movie. Like I said, I like this movie as just a movie, but as a biography it falls short.

Lopez at her very best!!!!!!!
I actually didn't see this film until about 6 months ago when it was on tv late one Sunday night. After watching it i was very impressed and went out straightaway the nexy day and purchased a copy on dvd for myself. Jennifer does an outstanding job portraying Selena, so good in fact that whilst i'm watching it i actually forget it's JLO and think it's the real Selena! She perfected Selena's dance moves right down to a T. The Astrodome recreation is perfect and very close to the real thing. I like the film because every scene builds on from the previous one. Every stage of Selena'a life is documented including her most triumphunt moments such as when she won the Grammy, when "Como La Flor" went to number 1 etc. I highly recommend this film to any Selena fans out there- go out and buy yourself a copy right now, you won't be disappointed!!!

Selena
The movie really touched me. Today I'm 26 years old and I didn't know Selena until I watched the movie. Pray for us Selena from up high in Heaven. Selena I think you know what I mean.

Portrait of a superstar
Many know that Selena is my all-time favorite performer and this film is a beautiful (thought not thoroughly accurate) tribute of the slain Grammy-winning Tejano Queen. I don't usually enjoy Jennifer Lopez performances - acting OR vocal - but this being her first breakthrough role she does quite well; this 1997 film came out before her diva-esque image took over and she became a glitzy woman who won't tip bellhops after carrying up some 20-something bags.

the angel selena
this movie makes me sad! selana was a beautiful singer just becoming popular when i was in junior high then she was tragically killed and her star burned out as fast as it came the movie shows the hardwork of her life growing up traveling and singing with her family only to finally hit it big find love marriage and soon a baby but sadly she was killed by a lunatic obsessed fan jennifer lopezs best acting job by far is in this movie she becomes selena from her gorgeous smile to her funny infantile manner and beautiful voice this movie shows u who selena was an angel ... Read more

Reviews (3)

BT
I saw this movie and it was horrible, but the spell of the plot kept you watching no matter how much you wanted to turn. they have picked a perfect title for this movie because one glimpse of this flick, you are hooked. The movie, itself is only two stars,but the way they keep you in the movie gives it a five.

So horrible it's funny
I saw this movie late at night at a friend's house. Imagine every single stereotype about drugs you've ever heard wrapped up into a low-budget flick. This is that movie. It's so bad it's hillarious. The lingo is great, too. This movie has great kitsch value, and would be a great thing to watch while you're sitting around with your friends, smoking a blunt or drinking. It's definitely entertaining, but only because it's so bad.

So bad I can't stop watching.
Have you ever seen a movie so sorry that you actually get a kick out of watching it over and over? Well that's what you get with this one. There was no real plot and many of the sequences were so stupid they were almost unreal. How can the police buy drugs from a crack house, letting them know what's going on, yet they can't bust in until the exchange is made with the supplier? Ahhhh Hollywood. Dialogue? Forget it. Take away the F word and half the script is gone. Feminists would have a field day with the misogyny in this film, with scenes like Annie being raped, Melissa being pushed into a scalding shower naked and when BT takes advantage of a drug dazed Melissa. In spite of it I find myself watching it again and again for kicks, like video junk food. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

GREAT MUSIC...GREAT BIOPIC...
This 1997 film, well directed by Gregory Nava, was the film that propelled Jennifer Lopez on to stardom. She is nothing short of sensational in this film. She is Selena!

The film recounts the brief life of Selena Quintanilla Perez (Jennifer Lopez), a life that was built around her father's broken dreams. Her father (Edward James Olmos) had himself had a band in his youth called "Los Dinos". Now a married man with children, his dreams have stalled along the wayside. When he realizes, however, that his young daughter has some musical talent, he builds a band around her, "Selena and Los Dinos", and begins living vicariously through her.

Under the watchful eye of her martinet father, years of forced, musical practices and life on the road follow. Loving, possessive, and controlling, he succeeds in almost losing her, when she marries her guitarist without her father's permission. They reconcile, however, and he places Selena on the path to stardom, a tejano sensation on the cusp of becoming a crossover musical star. Unfortunately, her path crosses that of a fan, Yolanda Saldivar, whom Selena befriends, only to have her be the one who cuts her down in her prime.

Jennifer Lopez is sensational as Selena, big booty and all. She charms. She beguiles. She entertains. She is every inch the star. This has been her best role, and her performance is stellar. She should have won an award for her performance, because she most certainly deserved one for her portrayal of Selena. It is unfortunate that her acting career has been downhill ever since.

Edward James Olmos is perfect as Abraham Quintanilla, the father who pushed his daughter to heights that he had dreamed for himself but had been unable to reach. His performance is powerful and rich. He, too, should have had his award calibre performance acknowledged in some way, as it was close to perfect. Mr. Olmos is a wonderful actor who deserves more recognition than he has gotten, thus far.

All in all, this is an interesting, absorbing film with some great music. No wonder Selena was a hit! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Remembering the Alamo and Riffing on its Legacy
Mendiola has really done his homework on this film. While the casual viewer would undoubtedly enjoy this as a fun and captivating adventure, it also appeals to Chicano/a scholars and Texas history buffs. The film really captures the racial and political milieu of San Antonio, playing with character types ranging from the pretentious Chicana graduate student to the organic intellectual dishwasher and iconoclastic San Antonio 'hippy pachuco' headbanger. Cutting across class lines and riffing on the S.A. tourism industry's commodification of Tex-Mex culture, the film explores the legend of Gregorio Cortez and the legacy of the Alamo battle. Watch it and simply enjoy or probe deeper into the plot catalyst by reading Americo Paredes' short book on the legend of Gregorio Cortez and Richard Flores' book "Remembering the Alamo." Great viewing when paired with John Sayles' "Lone Star" or J. Leher's "Viva Max."

Good and interesting film
This film is a perfect example of Mexican American Postmodern Films. . . it has everything double-codings and contradictions, hybridity, ironic relationship towards history, oppositional stance, and incoherent narrative! I loved this film because of the story line . . . I loved the heavy metal rocker and the brainy Chicana student. Also, the location of this film was great . . . San Antonio, TX . . . what a beautiful city. Overall I really liked it and I would recommend it to all.

Good Latino Cast!
Why I rented this DVD. I remember Jesse Borrego from the television series "FAME" and I have not seen him act in a long time. And then I like Jacob Vargas (Selena, My Family/Mi Familia [1995], Next Friday [2000] and the WB tv series "Greetings From Tucson"). Jacob Vargas is one of my favorite Latino actors. Vargas plays "Miguel". Jesse is a dishwasher and Miguel is a cook. They work together in the same restaurant. Miguel has never been outside of San Antonio, except for going to SeaWorld. So Jesse takes him for a ride on an adventure. They look for some buried treasure, but on "Come And Take It Day", the hunt for buried treasure turns into tragedy. A small film, but easy to watch. ... Read more

Reviews (166)

More Tribute Than Biopic
Jennifer Lopez does a great job of portraying the lovely Selena, even though the only resemblance that Jennifer and Selena have is due to race, not feature. However, this movie isn't about Selena-the-human-being or even Selena-the-star. This the sanitized, Disney view of the life of a young, fast-rising star whose life was cut short in her prime. Now, I'm not saying that this is a rotten movie at all. It's actually a good movie. It's well written, well-acted, and you can't tell that Ms. Lopez is lip-synching. However, you're not going to get a clear picture of Selena-the-person from this movie. I love Selena as much as the next Selena fan, but I would have liked to see a movie named Selena that's actually about Selena, not just what her dad thinks is appropriate. Playing down her murder was not good, because how is someone going to get a clear picture of the mourning that went on all over the United States when they don't see all the things that came out after? How does one get a picture of Yolanda the Fruitcake if they don't see how fruity the woman is? We know what we lost. It would be nice if this movie at least showed us the why. Selena's memory would not have been damaged if this had been in the movie. Like I said, I like this movie as just a movie, but as a biography it falls short.

Lopez at her very best!!!!!!!
I actually didn't see this film until about 6 months ago when it was on tv late one Sunday night. After watching it i was very impressed and went out straightaway the nexy day and purchased a copy on dvd for myself. Jennifer does an outstanding job portraying Selena, so good in fact that whilst i'm watching it i actually forget it's JLO and think it's the real Selena! She perfected Selena's dance moves right down to a T. The Astrodome recreation is perfect and very close to the real thing. I like the film because every scene builds on from the previous one. Every stage of Selena'a life is documented including her most triumphunt moments such as when she won the Grammy, when "Como La Flor" went to number 1 etc. I highly recommend this film to any Selena fans out there- go out and buy yourself a copy right now, you won't be disappointed!!!

Selena
The movie really touched me. Today I'm 26 years old and I didn't know Selena until I watched the movie. Pray for us Selena from up high in Heaven. Selena I think you know what I mean.

Portrait of a superstar
Many know that Selena is my all-time favorite performer and this film is a beautiful (thought not thoroughly accurate) tribute of the slain Grammy-winning Tejano Queen. I don't usually enjoy Jennifer Lopez performances - acting OR vocal - but this being her first breakthrough role she does quite well; this 1997 film came out before her diva-esque image took over and she became a glitzy woman who won't tip bellhops after carrying up some 20-something bags.

the angel selena
this movie makes me sad! selana was a beautiful singer just becoming popular when i was in junior high then she was tragically killed and her star burned out as fast as it came the movie shows the hardwork of her life growing up traveling and singing with her family only to finally hit it big find love marriage and soon a baby but sadly she was killed by a lunatic obsessed fan jennifer lopezs best acting job by far is in this movie she becomes selena from her gorgeous smile to her funny infantile manner and beautiful voice this movie shows u who selena was an angel ... Read more