Reviews (1)

La mujer en Cuba
El retrato de Teresa (Pastor Vega, Cuba, 1979)

Pastor Vega desea presentar el cambio del papel social de la mujer en la Cuba revolucionaria. Su personaje central se llama Teresa, la cual desarrolla a su vez el papel de esposa, madre y trabajadora textil. Llevar a cabo todos estos roles es difícil para Teresa, pero no puede darse por vencida, es el brazo derecho del responsable de los eventos culturales en su trabajo. Sufre una crisis en su matrimonio, su marido no está contento con el trabajo de Teresa, se cansa de estarla esperando en la noche y decide irse a la casa de su madre, donde si es atendido "como debe de hacerlo una mujer". La madre de Teresa está en contra de ella por no luchar por su matrimonio, Teresa debe dejar el trabajo y regresar a su hogar. Pero por ningún motivo Teresa puede dejar su trabajo, por que esto le permite "ser ella misma". La mujer forma parte activa de la nueva Cuba. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Will Power
I've seen a lot of teenage movies, and this was the best. It's my new favorite movie. There are some really funny parts in this film and the whole thing is done really well. It's the best movie that nobody has seen. Sure some of the sexual references are numerous and sometimes disturbing, but it all adds to the fantastic ambiance. Jocks really are jerks, as shown, and somehow they always seem to get the girls. Kids with thick framed glasses are coming back and we want the girls, even if we have to spend months living on their front yards. This movie is just too good

a refreshingly honest teen comedy
I hate to bring up such manipulative teen romantic comedies as "10 things I hate about you", "She's all that", "Varsity Blues", "Down to you", "Boys and Girls", "Loser", and any other movie starring Freddie Prinze Jr that I have forgotten, but those films are under the impression that everyone in High School is a model, everyone drives around in sports cars, everyone carries a cell phone, and everyone speaks as if just out of Shakespearean times. "8 days a week", does not. Our hero is NOT beautiful, in fact, he is a genuine loser. Of course Keri Russell is beautiful, but yet she is not the everyday person, she is the object of the loser's affection. What I really liked about this movie is it's honesty in proving that nice guys do finish last. Even though it was a bit raunchy that doesn't detract from the movies charm and honesty about life and teenage love. Even though this film had only a limited theatrical release and was essentially straight to video with no big Hollywood models/actors, this proves to be the most genuinly sweet and honest teen romance out there.

Sigh
It was ok, but that was about it. As I think many people have said, it's for those who really like Keri Russel, but didn't test
her acting ability at all.

Oh, and it can be bought on DVD out of the UK at blackstar, and
maybe amazon.co.uk for those of you with multizoning.

Must See
You may overlook this film, thinking that it's your average everyday teen flick..... If you pass up a chance to watch "8 Days a Week", you are doing yourself a huge injustice. Not only is it brimming over with completely original and witty humor, it offers a different perspective on the people who surround us everyday, making you think twice before judging another's actions. Wonderfully written and executed, "8 Days a Week" is a must see for all ages.

INCREDIBLE
This is my new Favorite Movie. If you like this you'll probably also enjoy 100 girls. If you enjoy 100 Girls you'll probably also enjoy this. PLEASE COME TO DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Unique, but good
This movie is very unique, which is good. It gets boring watching the same Godzilla from Japan. Godzilla is much more flexible in this film. Don't listen to anybody who says this movie is a waste of time, because they're crazy.

Ehh....
While this is a moderately good monster movie, this is a horrible Godzilla movie. It's virtually identical to "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms". And another thing that bugs me about this movie is the total lack of research. In the film, the AH-64 Apache helicopter is shown as a one-man chopper with guns on either side of the cockpit. The real AH-64 is a two-man chopper with one machine gun mounted UNDER the cockpit. Also, the creature's claws are all wrong. Lizard claws are flat on the bottom, whereas the creature's are rounded, like birds. And whoever came up with that "within a year, these 200 babies could become 40,000" line should watch the movie again. The first one wasn't able to lay eggs until it was at least thiry years old. Thirty years seems like planty of time to hunt down and destroy those hatchlings. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Addams Family
Anjelcia Houston and Raul Julia are thee perfect Gomez & Morticia. (Tim Curry and Dayrl Hannah aren't as good) Christina Ricci plays the part Wedsnday to prefection. Jimmy Workman is Pugsly, and barley does anything. Lurch, well, is good. But you can never say good or bad about Lurch. (Same with Thing) Christphoer Lloyd is the only Fester (alive).

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am making a play in late october of it, entiled "The Addams Family: TOWN TROUBLE." It's before it's sequel, Addams Family Values. The storyline is that shortly after Fester arrives, the town thinks he's a monster. And the mayor and his wife, (not to mention the town) wants the Addams O.U.T. OUT! But the family has a trick or two up their sleeve, and they murder The Mayor and his wife. And Cousin Itt becomes Mayor, and allows Wedsnday to create chaos.

IT'S A GREAT FILM, NO DOUBT!!!!!!!!!

for fans only
this is the classic case of a movie that is only for fans of the tv show but the sequel is another story ... Read more

Reviews (505)

Very Good, but not quite great...
I hesitate to heap tremendous amounts of praise on this film. Its strongest point is clearly the exceptional characters. They make all the difference. The PLOT is, well, I don't know how to describe it. A bit disjointed I suppose, but still strong enough to pull you in. This movie isn't really about a story, it's about people being affected by the drug trade in North America.

Soderbergh's direction is excellent. The scenes in Mexico just LOOK hot because of that grainy yellow tinting. And living in San Antonio, near the border, I can certify that yes, that's genuinely how it feels down here. Often. The lack of steadycam shots gives it a "newsreel" feel to it. It will draw you in if you let it.

Now onto the characters. My favorite was Del Toro's. I just think the guy can act and he shows it to you here. His character faces the trials of loyalty, friendship and ultimately the choices between doing good and doing for yourself. Catherine Zeta Jones character was also captivating in her descent into the drug game. The characters I least liked involved the Michael Douglas storyline. While they were genuine and somewhat interesting, I found myself waiting for their scenes to end so that I could get back to the more intriguing developments. Also, I'm not quite ready to buy how easily it wrapped up near the end. A hint of optimism is good, but that was a little too much sunshine after a mostly cloudy set up.

Overall, it's a good film, and Soderbergh's Oscar for direction isn't a bad choice (though I still think it probably took more skill for Ang Lee to make people FLY). Watch it for the characters and the perspective on the drug "war."

A bleak look at the war on drugs
TRAFFIC is a great film. It showcases from many angles the world of the drug user and trafficker. Director Steven Soderburgh uses a wonderful cast, many different camera types, and many intriguing subplots that all somehow link to make this film great. If you enjoy fine acting, great directors, views from many locations, and just great films in general, buy TRAFFIC today.

TRAFFIC bases around the installation of a new drug czar, superbly played by Michael Douglas. How can he fight a war on drugs when his daughter is a user? This is the question the character seems plagued by throughout the film. This makes for interesting discussion. Meanwhile, two Mexican police officers are swept into helping ward off cartels in Tijuana. Benecio Del Toro is excellent in the role. There are other plots which call for wonderful performances from the likes of Don Cheadle, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Albert Finney. All in all, this film is well scripted and acted.

TRAFFIC, like any film, has flaws. It is tedious at certain points, sometimes the language is too excessive, and it seems to offer a negative message to youth. However, for its few flaws, it is still a wonderfully crafted and shot film. It was lauded because of that fact. If you need a great film to watch, I urge you to buy TRAFFIC today!

Flat out, lousy movie-making
This is a frustrating film for many reasons. Firstly the schizophrenia of the plotlines is poorly done and distracting. It merely further hindered me from actually gaining any sort of emotional connection to the characters (and that's counting the headstart the dialogue had given).

The themes of the movie are so apparent that they become oppressive. A previous reviewer encapsulated the film with the phrase: Drugs R bad, and while I can appreciate a noble premise like this, the way Soderbergh badgers the audience with the futility of the "war on drugs" and the affect that drugs have on addicts is devoid of tact and feels contrived to the point of nausea.

The characters are not well-developed either. Their actions are completely obvious. While this is not usually a just complaint about a movie, the lack of intrigue in the plot, the often cheesy dialogue, and the general lack of subtlety makes for an obnoxiously assuming film. It comes across not only snobbish to the layperson, but boring to the average movie-goer.

This movie really drags. This is an in-escapable fact. There were too many trifling scenes in this movie.

But that's just how it rubbed me. Although, I can see how many a pseudo-intellectual film buff could trick himself into gushing about how thought-provoking and "original" this film was, I can also see how many critics and sincere film-goers would like it as well. The message is certainly an important point of discussion regardless of how you feel on the issue, and the conclusions leave much to be debated (although, not about the film)

My main point is this: Unless you're interested in grinding your way through a movie with a plot that can be summarized in the political/humanitarian issue of the film, it's not worth seeing. If you're interested in drug-related issues, do yourself a favor and simply walk, don't run to your nearest bookstore and sift through the myriad of books on the matter. Heck, why not (since you're online anyway) look through one of the lists here at Amazon.com?!

Traffic, not your typical Half Baked
this movie ruled. the shaky camera and grittyness is awesome. but instead of some review on how it is an academy award brilliant film of substance abuse,etc i will tell you how cool it is, even if those cool parts glorify drug dealers.
i like the part where that girl is at the party and the kid topher grace from that 70s show is talking all philosophically cause hes so stoned. and the kid on the other couch is like 'im so high' and he passes out and they drop him off at the ER and the cop comes and he yells the F word. ya i cant say it cause of amazon.com policies. its also funny when he has to get that girl messed up in a seedy hotel downtown to get with her. and theyre like doing trashy drugs too, whats up with that? since when do private school seniors do heroin through their foot? man i thought it was all about coors light and weed. guess not.
the movie starts out cool too when benicio del toro is in the mexican desert with his highway patrol giant sunglasses waiting for this plane to go over them thats traffiking cocaine. hes such a mexican badass. and his buddy cop next to him is playing game boy. thats the first noise you here in this 3 hour plus long drug war epic: mario jumping over a green tube. i love it.
another great part is when don cheadle and that funny peurto rican guy luiz something shoot that drug dealer in a san diego chuck e. cheese place. and the clown gets scared and goes back into the kitchen.
o ya when michael douglas takes topher grace out of spanish class and the teachers like where are you going and hes like im taking seth on a field trip and he takes him to the ghetto to find his prostitute heroin junkie 17 year old daughter.
traffic is a great movie cause it has moments like this. stephen s. the director is a badass who makes movies like the limey and this and the writer is good too. hes like 21 and he got the oscar for best adapted screenplay. this movie rules for stoners, concerned parents and politicians alike.

Interesting look at drugs
"TRAFFIC" is three interwoven stories about the drug trade and its impact on people. It attempts toshows how drugs can affect everybody connected to the drug dealers and pushers eg. family. It works in a way, but not enough to make me feel empathy for the characters.

It's fast moving and engaging, but something is missing from this film. Big names like Zeta Jones and Douglas aren't enough to make the film great.

If you really want to see a film that tackles the subject really well but in a different light, may I suggest "Requiem for a Dream". The devastation of drugs is well told in this film. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Balbuena is the BOMB!!!!
I loved this movie!! It was hilarious watching Balbuena adjust to New York and its different culture. My family really uderstood where Balbuena was coming from, since they are immigrants also. And it was interesting for me to see how his character adjusted and became stronger throughout the movie. It was a beautiful transition, and I enjoyed it very much. I am going to order Part 3: bajo la Nueva Ley. I saw it in school and loved it also. Go watch it, its great!! But, when I saw it in school, I was the only one laughing because I understood Balbuena and all his inside jokes. I think this movie will probably only be funny to Dominicans and other latinos, but it will open the eyes to others from different cultures. It`s a wonderful movie!!!

Civilization?
This is an upside-down and witty look at U.S. culture as seen from the perspective of a poor uneducated Dominican Republic immigrant, determined to come to The City of His Dreams and Make His Fortune. In other words, Horatio Alger meets The Gods Must Be Crazy. When I saw this film I was unprepared for the side-splitting look at our culture from our hero's fresh and naive perspective.

Nueba Yol will tickle your funny bone in addition to opening your heart to a completely different point of view of American life. Our hero, contrary to his and most people's point of view, does not find the answer to all his dreams in "Nueba Yol" (or New York). Instead, as in The Newcomers, he has one mishap after another, some with wierd outcomes.

His fresh look at the underside of American life is very reminiscent of the quest theme in The Gods Must Be Crazy. Instead of a coke bottle that must be returned to the Gods, our protagonist wants to make his fortune in order to satisfy the creditors who have foreclosed on his home in Dominica. The quest for his fortune brings him in touch with the usual losers and street folks who share a strange wisdom with him and appreciate him in unusual ways.

I won't spoil the ending for you but it does have a funny and surprising one. This film provided myself and my friends with a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking evening.

GREAT STORY!
I think "Nueba Yol 1" should be a Primetime television sitcom on Spanish TV and English TV. It gives you that certain familiarity and good feeling that comes from a popular weekly show. Everyone should see "Nueba Yol 1". Just for the sheer fact that watching a heart-warming person like Balbuena in action makes us all smile at ourselves. I can hardly wait to see "Nueba Yol 3" (No 2)

Excellent Entertainment and Fact
Balbuena is the hero of this latino immigration story. The bilingual script is just too funny. If you have ever heard Burger King called burberging, then you will laugh a lot ! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Spanish cinema veteran Vicente Aranda, best known for such art-housefare as The Lovers and Libertarias, first hit the international scene in 1972 with this sexy vampire thriller. Simon Andreu is a young and inexperienced new bride whose violent nightmares are invaded by a mysterious woman in white. Her husband (Dean Selmier), who at first appears sensitive and consoling, has a tendency for rough lovemaking, and his practical jokes show a strange, sadistic streak. Andreu discovers a vandalized portrait of her husband's ancestor, Mircalla Karnstein, a young bride found a century ago lying next to her dead husband in a blood-soaked wedding dress. Mircalla's mysterious phantom soon emerges from Andreu's dreams and enters her world. This twist on Sheridan Le Fanu's story "Carmilla" (which also inspired Carl Dreyer's Vampyr and a host of erotic horrorfilms in the 1970s) suggests that this vampire is less an agent of evil out tocorrupt the innocent maiden than a physical manifestation of the maiden's own subconscious sexual fears and fantasies. The mysterious blood-spattered bride rises from her grave like an avenging devil. Her "official" entrance, buried naked on an empty beach and breathing through a snorkel, is one of the most memorable images in modern horror cinema. It seduces Andreu, too, unleashing her repressed psychosis in a bloody homicidal frenzy. Aranda'sstyle is earthier than French or British vampire films, less a dream world than a world invaded by nightmares. It's handsome and accomplished--spooky, edgy, sexy, and startlingly violent. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Spanish Gothic
"The Blood Spattered Bride" is a pretty decent specimen of the European Gothic cinema. The story develops a bit slowly, but is handsomely mounted and photographed. The "female rage" theme is explicit and disturbing. The actresses playing Carmilla and Susan are quite attractive. The film handles their lesbian relationship with a restraint that is rare in Euro-horror items.

This is some fine Spanish horror.
Aside from tombs of the Blind Dead/Return of the Blind Dead, there isn't much to choose from when it comes to horror from Spain. Blood Spattered Bride is one of the finest exports of the genre from Spain. It is a movie about revenge and pre-emptive revenge driven by the engines of rage, paranoia, male domination and female escape. Most of this movie achieves a dream-like sequence, and at times, stupor. There are never any boring moments, except for the love trysts in the first fifteen minutes of the film or so. My two favorite scenes are of Miralla's first appearance in our young bride, Andreu's, dream, and then of Mircalla's first corporeal manifestation . . . on a beach . . . naked . . . buried-and breathing through a snorkel! Aranda has succeeded in telling a very unsettling story about vampirism. By the end of the film, you will be so unsettled by the characters of Mircalla and Andreu that you really won't care whether there were vampires in the film in the first place, because you will have discovered far worse.

brilliance
yeah well, i wanted to watch it because of the genre and boy was I pleased!yeah it was good, didn't really get much of the plot, or anything else for that matter, kept my eye out for a bit of the..you know...action

A sexy vampire, it is boring.
This is a one of Vampire film, which is not a brilliant and cruel horror work. However, it has a stable script and well-organized screen. Actually, it was not interesting, but it is a well-made horror film. I have no idea about the director of this film, I have never heard before, but it is worth to see. It has some specific scenes, which are erotic and sexy. If you like an erotic horror film, this film is good. Generally, it is nothing special, just using sexy vampire and pretty bride with lesbianism.

Probably For EuroHorror Fans Only
This is a subtle and atmospheric version of Sheridan LeFanu's Carmilla, in which the director is far more interested in detailing the failing marriage of his two principles than in using it as an excuse to string together the usual exploitation elements so beloved of EuroHorror fans. Director Aranda takes his time over telling the story of a marriage beginning to crumble almost before it has begun. Appearing almost in the first scene, Alexandra Bastedo's seductress is always in the background, orchestrating the transformation of love and affection into alienation and hatred. Far more profound than the film of Jean Rollin, this nevertheless delivers the requisite gory murders and naked ladies lying in coffins that fans of that director will probably enjoy.
An amusing 'Combo' trailer included on this disc pairs the above with the somewhat less than subtle 'I Dismember Mama' - and its worth two minutes of anyone's time. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

"But I have no regrets."
In "Live Flesh" police partners David (Javier Bardem) and Sancho (Jose Sancho) respond to a call that shots have been heard in an apartment building. They stumble into an argument between a wealthy young woman, Elena (Francesca Neri), and Victor (Liberto Rabal)--a man she's trying to brush off.

Almodovar--the master storyteller of the bizarre twist of fate--picks up the tale 5 years later. Victor is released from prison, and David--now a paraplegic--is married to Elena. Elena has cleaned up her act and devotes herself--and her money--to an orphanage. Victor is bent on revenge, and David, although physically at a disadvantage, wants to protect his wife.

In the midst of all this unfinished business between Victor, David, and Elena, are David's old partner, Sancho, and his beautiful wife, Clara (Angela Molina). Victor's passionate, erotic affair with Clara complicates matters.

No one can begin to make a future until coming to terms with the past, and all five characters collide as blame and retribution exact a heavy cost. "Live Flesh" marks a departure for Almodovar from his usual comedies, and this film deals with some rather painful issues while subtly criticizing the Franco regime. "Live Flesh" is an extremely solid, unflawed Almodovar film--replete with excellent performances from each of the five main characters. Almodovar always creates the most intriguing female characters, and Clara was particularly complicated and interesting to watch. Victor's character was also extremely well done--when he's released from prison and returns to the abandoned hovel he calls 'home', he is immediately a much more sympathetic character.

Almodovar films launched Antonio Banderas into Hollywood, and Javier Bardem was soon to follow the same career pattern. Penelope Cruz appears in a small role as Victor's prostitute mother. Nudity, adult themes, erotic sessions--in other words ... Almodovar--displacedhuman

A brilliant erotic thriller
Almodovar here shucks his tendency to blend campy sexuality and what he calls "screwball drama" for a strong work that instead fuses intense, real eroticism and the violence of a thriller into a powerful drama of fever-pitch emotionality.

Victor, born on a bus in a more typical Almodovar opening sequence featuring Penelope Cruz as his mother, is a loner and a man on the edge. He stalks Elena, a junkie-prostitute-drug dealer and forces his way inside her apartment. When two cops subsequently bust her for possession, they don't count on Victor, there with her, who pulls a gun on the cops in a scene that ends with one of them being paralyzed from a shot to the base of his spine.

Victor is nabbed and sent to prison. On his release, he discovers that Elena, whom he still lusts for, is now married to the paralyzed cop. And of course Victor cannot leave well enough alone.

It's the interplay of the second cop, the second cop's wife, Victor, and Elena that brings the emotional fluids here to a boil. The story development including surprising revelations establishes a momentum that results in a climax more than worthy of the preceding events, and that more than justifies the label of thriller for this film.

Lust, jealousy, murder, betrayal--all the juicy stuff that thrillers are made of--are, in the hands of a unique Spanish director, given a searing life of their own. It's truly a wonder to see this perfect mesh of out-of-control emotions, Spanish culture, and dazzling eroticism.

A brilliant film. Although All About My Mother is superb, it is more a return to Almodovar's sensibilities. Live Flesh is unique and is even unique for Almodovar. This makes it really special.

another reason i love modern european cinema
Besides just simple good film-making, I've figured out WHY European dramatic cinema is better than that found in the U.S.

They make more REAL honest movies about human behavior. Whereas in the U.S, a great percentage of films are juvenile comedies, trash pop culture flicks or shallow horror movies. The more you make the more likely you're able to turn out quality- and this film from Spain is no exception.

My Spanish cinema experiences are few, but I've enjoyed what I've seen... one of which being the wonderfully creepy movie: "The Devil's Backbone"

so, go order this or buy it, turn the lights down, pour your drink, and get comfy for a good quality movie...

and hey, it's one of Penelope Cruz's first movies!

Heady stuff that never compromises - typical Almodovar
"Live Flesh" begins with Victor Plaza being born on a bus in Franco's Spain in 1970 and ends, twenty six years later, with... well, I wont spoil the ending; but typically with Almodovar, it is fitting and poetic. In between, we follow Victor on his journey into manhood, as he learns the hard way about disillusion, betrayal, love, lust, life, death, and tragedy.

As a young man, Victor believes that a one-off sexual encounter with a beautiful Italian junkie is something more than it is, and pesters her to such an extent that she draws a gun on him in order to get him to leave. A struggle ensues. The gun accidentally goes off, and although noone is hurt, it brings the unwelcome attention of two policemen. Another struggle ensues. Another shot is fired. One of the policemen is paralysed from the waist down. From then on, all four of their lives become tragically entwined; with deception and misunderstanding leading towards bitterness and envy. Inevitably, the lies are stripped away, unwanted truths are revealed, and all the various dilemmas are resolved amidst a scene of emotional and actual carnage.

This must sound like heady stuff, almost melodramatic? It is. This is Almodovar, after all. There is the usual complex plotting that reveals the strains that pull apart and bring together relationships while the emotional lives of the characters are laid bare. There is the relentless drive to resolve the emotional dilemmas while avoiding sentimentality. In short, there are all the usual touches that one expects from Almodovar, including the wonderful acting from the cast. Wonderful! A film that will draw you back again and again and again.

Powerful
(Read above for storyline)

Another incredible film from Pedro Almodovar!
He never fails to tell the most incredible, tragic stories with warmth and genuine affection for all of his characters, no matter what they have done, or how they live their lives.
A powerful film and tragic film, with powerful performances from all the leads. ... Read more

Description

In haunting memories, a woman relives the disturbing summer of her father's death.Outside her father's bedroom door, the nine-year-old Ana hears him making love to his best friend's wife, then take his last gasp of breath.When, years earlier, her mother died of cancer, Ana blamed her father; now she blames herself for his demise.In Saura's compelling vision of the child's world, past and present blend imperceptibly.Fantasy and reality become one as dead characters take their place beside the living.Cria! is graced by two remarkable actresses: Ana Torrent (The Spirit of the Beehive) as the guilt-ridden girl and Geraldine Chaplin (Peppermint Frappe) as both the grown-up Ana and her deceased mother. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Saura's Masterpiece
Once upon a time, there was a dictator who ruled Spain whose name was Franco. While the most famous Spanish director, Luis Buñuel, left the country to work uninhibited in France and Mexico, and the next generation's most famous director, Almodóvar, was just an infant, Carlos Saura was the director who remained in Spain making films that were critical of the dictatorial regime but escaped the vigilant eyes of the censors because of their subtlety and his use of metaphor and symbolism. Cría is the product of this masterful director who dared to challenge the authoritarian government.
On the surface, it is the story of a young girl, Ana, who is obsessed with death because she witnesses the slow death of her mother from a painful disease; but she also witnesses the infidelities and hypocrisy of the adults that surround her: her father who dies while having intimate relations with a close family friend, an aunt who is left as her guardian who is incapable of affection, and a bawdy maid who doesn't know how to appropriately deal with this young girl.
When one views the film for a second or third time, he/she realizes that it is a scathing indictment of the treatment of women in traditional Spain, the Spain that Franco was intent on re-creating. There is the invalid grandmother, unable to speak, who symbolizes the forced silence of women or, at least, the failure to take them seriously during the Franco era. There is the mother (exquisitely portrayed by Geraldine Chaplin) who sacrifices her career as a budding concert pianist to become a mother and wife (again, the traditional role of the repressed Spanish woman). Her pleas for help and her insistence that she is ill are ignored by her (equally traditional)unfaithful husband because women and their concerns simply were unimportant. Finally there is the adult Ana who appears in a series of stark interviews who is also portrayed by Chaplin to demonstrate that nothing will change from one generation to the next. (The final scene reinforces this idea.)
Symbolism abounds in this film, and all of it leads to a moving description of the role (or lack thereof) that women occupied in Franco's Spain.
In short, along with the film "The Hunt" (La caza) this film remains one of Saura's masterpieces that withstands the test of time and proves to be an historical document of an era as well as a compelling drama in its own right.

Reality and imagination merge for orphaned Ana
"Cria!" tells the story of a little girl named Ana (Ana Torrent), who has lost both of her parents. However, they are still in her thoughts, so this captivating work from writer-director Carlos Saura merges her thoughts with reality. Ana continues to talk with her parents, especially her mother, also named Ana and wonderfully played by Geraldine Chaplin (yes, I was surprised to realize it was her in this film as well). Throughout this film you will be wondering what is real and what is imagination, although it is clear as to which is more important to Ana. It is nice to see that this film appears letterboxed and digitally re-mastered with new subtitles. However, if you can watch this film with somebody who knows Spanish you should get them to tell you the words of the song little Ana keeps singing, because it is that song which is her "cry" in this film. One of the strengths of this film is how Saura using camera angles to reflect the little girl's perspective on the world. This is an intelligent as well as an affective portrayal of a young child dealing with the loss of her parents. Originally released in Spain as "Cria Cuervos," this film won the Cannes Festival Special Jury Prize.

Exceptional!
The plot structure is emotionally intricate, with many subtleties and moments of serenity and passion. The cinematography captures the drama perfectly and the soundtrack weaves beautifully into the texture of the movie. Highly recommended.

A delicate movie about a lonely and sensitive child
Carlos Saura captured beautifully the loneliness, the desires and the fears of chidhood. His child heroine is complex and touching. An interesting view of innocence and the loss of innocence.

Beautiful movie
Carlos Saura is,unfortunately, not well known in the States. He doesn't deserve this. It's one of his most beautiful movie mainly because he knows how to direct a child in a story full of emotion. Geraldine Chaplin, the daughter of the Great Chaplin, who was Saura's wife at that time, is more than impressive. The atmosphere is captivating. And the title music, sang in Spanish (the movie took place in Spain) by an English singer, is beautiful and fits perfectly with the story. If you hadn't seen it, you had lost a magnificient work by the actors and the director. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Self Inrpisonment and suffering
Extramuros is a captivating movie that depicts the imprisonment of women in a social-financial and religious class system. This servitude for religion, purity and society become a compelling story that presents the boundaries of a human being. Strong characters, a well designed plot, Extramuros provides a view of societal limits in a very non ordinary fashion, bringing in more realistic and graphic documentary like scenes. Strong content, and graphic realities come together in this movie to make its audience aware of changes we need in society. ... Read more

Reviews (2449)

5 stars for DVD quality, 3 stars for the movie
I'm reviewing only the DVD, and not the movie itself, which was a bit of a stinker, in my opinion. Well produced, beautifully filmed, but very poorly written.

Anyway - this is an awesome and incredibly well done DVD. Lots and lots of extras. Great commentary by Lucas, the producer, the sound man, etc. Interview with the composer. Lots and lots and LOTS of background materials on the making of the film, and the entire process of putting it together from initial writing to final production, and the making of the DVD itself.

The image of the movie is *very* crisp and clean. The deleted scenes are a nice addition to the movie. I am very impressed (and surprised, to be cynical about it) that Lucas has given us the full-featured DVD the first time out, and not offered us one scaled down DVD version, only to offer us a better version in a year, and then the full-scale one a year after that, like he's constantly done with the VHS versions of his movies. Thank you, Lucas, for taking care of your fans this time, and not trying to pad your pockets a few times before giving the fans what they *really* want.

Quality-wise, this is absolutely one of the most loaded, best-featured DVDs I have in my collection.

(as a p.s. - after hearing Lucas' commentary, and talking about some things coming up in the next movies, I have realized that a few things I criticized about this movie actually make sense oin terms of the upcoming story-line. However, I still think that, overall, the writing for this movie was only a cut above old b-movies)

OK Movie, Great DVD
The Phantom Menace was probably the most heavily anticipated movie in history. It was the prequel to the original Star Wars series and George Lucas was taking the helm as director for the first time since Star Wars in 1977. The film was hyped incessantly and, of course, the final product failed to live up to the expectations. The Phantom Menace is not a bad film. It actually is absolutely amazing to look at and the special effects are incredible. The problem with the film is the plot. It seems disjointed as it bounces around from scene to scene. It seems that Mr. Lucas was to preoccupied with getting the film to look right than the actual story (which is what made the first Star Wars so great). Many people weren't happy with the casting of several roles, especially Ewan MacGregor as Obi Won Kenobi, but he does a decent job in an undeveloped role. Liam Neeson is commanding as Qui Gon Jin and Natalie Portman is quite good as Queen Amadala. The biggest complaint that most people had with the film was with the character of Jar Jar Binks and I won't disagree with most of what's been said about the annoying character. Mr. Lucas has previously shunned the DVD arena (American Graffiti is the only one of his films to appear in the format), but he goes about this release with a vengeance. The extras, including seven deleted scenes, are worth buying this DVD alone. Mr. Lucas spent an additional four million dollars on them and the money is well spent.

prequel?
in this one,there is a council of jedis who rule everything and keep the peace.yoda,ben,some black dude and on like that.a younger ben finds a little kid-who is called anakan and later vadar.that kid wins his freedom with bens help in a very cool pod race.ben recognizes the force in the little one and decides to train him as a jedi.the bad guy is darth maul who has a double bladed light saber-very cool.hes the coolest looking character yet.i think peple came down too hard on jar-jar.hes a dork but there have been a lot worse.the kids will like it.it is the 4th part but the first episode.everybody should go see this one because just anybody will like it.anakans mom was pretty nice if she cleaned herself up.this movie isnt as good as the tv says but they blow everything all out of proportion anyway.this movie is abselutely incredible though.i think the black dude may be in the matrix too.its good too.the special effects are good.after this there is one more.then there is an animated short film.there is also another one on the way next summer.

To Lucas: Eye of the Tiger, Man!!
To quote the famous lines by Apollo Creed from Rocky III, "You lost for all the wrong reasons, you lost your edge. Eye of the tiger, man!"
A good analogy when you think of it...

When Lucas made the first trilogy he was a relativly unknown up-and-comming writer/director full of desire and well, "hunger" to make his mark. That drive lead to the masterpieces of pop culture we know as ANH and ESB. By ROTJ his edge was already waning but thankfully it was the last one... or so we thought.

By the time TPM came out he lost it completely and produced a quite mediocre if at best ordinary film. Living like a king for the past 20+ years made him not "hungry and full of desire" but fat and content. He lost his edge.

Peter Jackson's LOTR Trilogy is so much better than Lucas' last 2 efforts for this same reason. Jackson has the "eye of the tiger"!

Lucas HAS to get his edge back. Most agree AOTC is better than TPM but not by much. Will episode 3 prove that Lucas got it back??

If only reality played out like the fantasy of Rocky III and Lucas brings home a REAL winner....

What drug was George Lucas on?
I love Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. I think that George Lucas should have stopped there. The two movies: The Phantom Menace and the Attack of the Clones....SUCK! What was George Lucas thinking? Jar Jar Binks needs to tossed off the face of the earth, and Hayden Christansen (while hot), needs to take some acting lessons. Not enough special effects in the world could make me want to see the third release. Poor acting and writing have made me want to run for cover! Where's the FORCE when you need it? ... Read more

Reviews (41)

great family entertainment
i love this movie as much as my children. we saw it two times in the theater and countless times at home.michael j fox is the perfect choice for the voice of chance the pup. i also love don ameche as shadow the older dog and sally field as sassy the cat.the movie is a great combination of humor and adventure, plus the scenery is just beautiful. even though i've watched the movie over and over,i always find myself crying at the ending.

Faithful pets overcome obstacles to reunite with family
This wonderful remake of the 1963 Disney feature rivals its predecessor in warmth and beauty. -- A family needs to relocate for a brief period, but cannot take along their 3 pets; a cat and two dogs. Left in good hands on a farm, the animals feel abandoned by their masters, determined to find them. The 3 pets 'escape' only to endure many challenges. Upon hearing what happened, the family begins a desperate search for their beloved pets. -- Of course, all ends well. This film does more than give a mushy account of a pet/master reunion; there are serious 'situations' dealt with honestly and with feeling. A stepfather at last is accepted by the children of his new wife. The ultimate triumph of this movie is the plea to NEVER LOSE HOPE!

One of the last great PG-rated movies
I haven't seen Homeward Bound in almost a decade (I eventually lost the VHS tape our family bought a few months after it hit theaters), but I have so many fond memories of it as a teen. I absolutely adored this movie back then, and I still do now. Homeward Bound is wonderful for all audiences, and it isn't something parents would hate sitting through. I've been going through all the movies I loved when I was young, and nearly all of them are entertaining for everyone, and didn't try to dumb anything down for their target audience. It's a shame that there's been a somewhat recent shift in what's "suitable" even for a PG movie. PG movies are much more tame than they were from before 1996. In this day and age, it seems that all G and PG-rated movies are made for the 10 and under crowd, but back before 1996 so-called "children's" movies were enjoyable for everyone from the kids they was meant to entertain all the way up to the adults who plunked their kids down in front of them. Homeward Bound was one of the last great PG movies that everyone could love. It's exciting, adorable, and funny. These are some of my favorite "edgier" G and PG movies that don't insult children by being too tame: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (1990), Beetlejuice (1988), Return to Oz (1985), Labyrinth (1986), and The Last Unicorn (1982).

Heartwarming Nature Adventure with 3-Hankie Finale!
This is the wonderful remake of the 1963 Disney feature "The Incredible Journey" and rivals its predecessor in warmth and beauty. Both are based on a true story.

A family needs to relocate for a brief period, but cannot take along their 3 pets; a cat and two dogs. Left in good hands on a farm, the animals feel abandoned by their masters, determined to find them. The 3 pets 'escape' only to endure many challenges. Upon hearing what happened, the family begins a desperate search for their beloved pets.

Of course, all ends well. This film does more than give a mushy account of a pet/master reunion; there are serious 'situations' dealt with honestly and with feeling. A stepfather at last is accepted by the children of his new wife. The ultimate triumph of this movie is the plea to NEVER LOSE HOPE!*****

Better than the second. 16th april 2004.
Seen both, the first is a little bit better than the second. They are both very similar so if you hated the first, you probably wouldn't like the second. It is about 3 pets sassy, chance and shadow who's owners have just left to go on holiday. The 3 pets are left with a woman for a few days until the father as finished what he doing over there. The pets don't feel safe, so they decide to run off in the forests and lakes to find there family. It is a dangerous world out there with the lions and bears and mountain lions. But they spend a whole journey to find them. Chance dosen't like the pound, none of them do but he is mad on not going in again. They end up going there eventually, they are found safe and sound by police officers that have reported about them. But still they refuse to go to the pound, especcially chance he pulls and pulls to not get into danger again when actually they are trying to help them. There family are worried, they head off home to the pound where they have herd thats where they are. But the only thing is, they manage to get away from the pound and when there owners come to pick them up, they arn't there. They head home. But there family manages to get home first and still they haven't found them. They bark and meaow[sassy the cat] and they know it is them they are home at last. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The film that officially signaled Disney's animation renaissance (followingThe Little Mermaid) and the only animated feature to receive a Best Picture Oscarnomination, Beauty and the Beast remains the yardstick by which all otheranimated films should be measured. It relates the story of Belle, a bookworm with a dottyinventor for a father; when he inadvertently offends the Beast (a prince whose heart is toohard to love anyone besides himself), Belle boldly takes her father's place, imprisoned inthe Beast's gloomy mansion. Naturally, Belle teaches the Beast to love. What makes thissuch a dazzler, besides the amazingly accomplished animation and the winning coterie ofsupporting characters (the Beast's mansion is overrun by quipping, dancing householditems) is the array of beautiful and hilarious songs by composer Alan Menken and thelate, lamented lyricist Howard Ashman. (The title song won the 1991 Best Song Oscar,and Menken's score scored a trophy as well.) The downright funniest song is "Gaston," alout's paean to himself (including the immortal line, "I use antlers in all of myde-co-ra-ting"). "Be Our Guest" is transformed into an inspired Busby Berkeley homage.Since Ashman's passing, animated musicals haven't quite reached the same exhilaratinglevel of wit, sophistication, and pure joy. --David Kronke --This text refers to an outof print or unavailable edition of this title. ... Read more

Reviews (332)

Excellent job Disney.
I saw this when it first came out in theaters back in 1992. I was only 7 or 8 at the time, and it just didn't appeal to me as much as The Little Mermaid or The Rescuers Down Under. I don't really know why, but having just getting the DVD in the mail, my view of the movie is completely different.

Beauty and the Beast really is one of Disney's top 4 animated films. How they managed to combine a massive cast of characters into the main plot is amazing. Beast is one of my favorite Disney characters after re-watching this. There's so much emotion inside of him. Anger, rage, pity, ambition, and love. You'll really care for him from the moment he appears on screen. Belle is possibly the most humble heroine to date. She doesn't see that she's beautiful, but just cares for helping others and reading books. The supporting cast is just as good. Gaston, the villain, is just a....well I can't use the word. You can bet your money you'll feel the same way. But the characters are just the icing on the cake. The story is what the strong point's always been. Disney did a great job adding so much more to it, whereas the original didn't focus on anyone but Belle and the Beast really. But I'm sure you all know the story, so I'll just get into the features on this DVD.

On the first disc, you get 3 different versions of the film- theatrical, work in progress, and special edition. The theatrical is what you saw in theaters or on the home video release. Work in progress is mostly drawings in black and white while the voices and everything else is put in. The special edition has a few lines changed here and there, and the added musical "Human Again" into the film. Personally, I hated "Human Again". It comes right after and before other songs in the film, making you want them to just get on with the story. Plus the animation in it really stands out since it's newer and has those annoying shadows on every character that you see in so many made for video animated movies. There's also a commentary track that adds a lot of depth and information, and a game that unlocks another game. People complain about the picture quality of the movie, but it's not that bad. On a scale of one to ten, I'd give it a 7.5.

The second disc has a well done documentary on the making of Beauty and the Beast, story origins of a few other Disney movies, art galleries, music videos, more games, and much more. Amazon lists that the Broadway Musical is on this, but it isn't. It's mentioned in the documentary, that's all. This sets the standard for extras on Disney special editions of their movies. It's too bad The Lion King has nothing compared to this. Either way, if you like Disney at all...or just movies, you should go for this while you can. It's a masterpiece, and getting harder to find.

A thinking girl's heroine
When I saw "Beauty and the Beast" in the theater, I had a rare and magical experience: I felt like a child again watching an enchanting Disney movie. In fact, "Beauty and the Beast" seemed even better than the Disney classics like "Cinderella" and "Sleeping Beauty" that were such a wonderful part of my childhood. The animation is absolutely gorgeous--particularly the waltz scene, which feels incredibly three-dimensional. The songs are beautiful, singable instant classics.

Despite the animated characters, I felt like I was watching an old musical. The movie opens with a scene reminiscent of "The Sound of Music," with our heroine, Belle, singing on a hilltop about wanting more out of life. The "Be Our Guest" scene, featuring a Lumiere (the Maurice Chevalier-inspired singing candlestick), dancing dishes and champagne corks popping like fireworks, reminded me of the Busby Berkely musical extravaganzas of the '30s.

A big appeal for me is that Belle is a much different heroine than the Disney princesses of my childhood. Belle isn't looking for a man to rescue her from her life of drudgery. She loves to read and longs for a more interesting life. She already has the "town catch," Gaston, wanting to court her, but she's having none of it.

Belle's escape from "her provincial life" begins when her father, a kooky inventor, doesn't return from his travels. (He has sought shelter from a snow storm in a spooky enchanted castle and is being held prisoner by the Beast.) Belle tracks down her father and, out of concern for his ailing health, takes his place in captivity. The Beast, who has been placed under a spell, wonders if Belle might be "the one"--the young woman whose love will return him to his original human form.

The enchanted furniture, candlestick, clock and dishes added lots of fun characters to the traditional story. Cogsworth, a stuffy clock, and Lumiere, the match-making candlestick are a great comic duo. Cogsworth's romantic advice to Beast about wooing Belle is especially funny: Give her "flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep."

Gaston, meanwhile, wants to woo and wed Belle himself. He sings about his he-man attributes in one of the funniest ode to a redneck that I've ever heard: "I use antlers in all of my decorating," Gaston sings about himself.

When Gaston realizes that Belle loves the Beast instead of him, he stirs up an angry mob to head to the castle. In another twist on the traditional fairy tale ending, Belle ultimately rescues the Beast--not the other way around.

"Beauty and the Beast" is a delightful classic whether you are a child or a grownup who knows how to feel like a child at times.

Pure Magic!
Bringing this classic fairy tail to life is one of the best things that Disney has ever done. Every second of this film is full to the brim with wonder and magic. More than ten years after first seeing it, there are still some scenes that make me gasp at their beauty.
The movie provides all of the usual Disney elements of gorgeous animation, skilled voice actors, awesome original songs, and non-stop entertainment, but there's something special in the mix. We get one of the most believable and heart felt romances to ever grace the animated world. As a child every time I read a picture book of this Fairy Tail I found it impossible to believe that a woman could love a beast, but Disney found a way to make it happen. You truly believe that it's possible, and feel her pain when she thinks she's lost him.
In the classic Disney fashion, Beauty and the Beast brings along a message for the kids to learn. We see the value of intelligence and compassion, learn to look beyond the superficial, and discover that love knows no boundaries.

After A While One Doesn't Notice It Is Animated
It is quite rare for any animated film to be treated with the same respect as any other honored non-animated one. In BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale take the time-worn fairy tale of the outwardly loathsome beast who impossibly enough allows his inner nobility to shine forth sufficiently to cause the beauty to fall in love with him. Robby Benson is the voice of the Beast and Paige O'Hara is Beauty. Even for those readers familiar with the spoken tale or the revamped music video with Meatloaf as the Beast cannot help but allow themselves to be entranced with the seamless melding of sight to sound. The plot is simplicity itself with the Beast as the archetypal symbol of the rebirth of nobility long hidden by the evil spell of a unnamed wizard. There is nothing childish is the unfolding of the tale of Belle the Beauty who chooses to sacrifice herself in marriage to save the life of her doddering inventor father. Enter the Beast who is initially presented as the roaring brute that his tormenting wizard clearly intended him to be. Yet, as Belle ministers to his psychic wounds of self-loathing and his physical wounds incurred in defending her against a pack of wolves, the viewer can see a competing spell at work, one that is older than time itself--the power of love that the film's many songs allude to and function as as subtext that imbues it with timeless energy. There is, of course, some needed plot complications of unwanted attention heaped on Belle by the handsome but warped Gaston, who plots to snare Belle in marriage as firmly as he would stalk a reindeer for its antlers. As Gaston leads the villagers in an assault on the Beast's manor, one is reminded in reverse of the cliched villagers pounding at the walls of Doctor Frankenstein's castle, but in this case the attack in presented in comic tones that keep the real world of harm at bay.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has no down moments, with each fresh plot advancement heralded by stunningly effective animation and song. This film was a deserved nominee for Best Picture in 1991, and with repeated viewings, one may rest assured that the alternately gloomy and resplendent halls of the Beast will eternally resonate with the same cachet that gives Tara, Oz, or Rick's Cafe a ticket that allows the bearer to see just how awesome the human spirit can be.

The Beauty
This is a beautiful movie and is in a wonderful set. It has two discs with great behind the scenes stuff for Beauty and the Beast that you definitely wont want to miss out on.
The colors in this movie is beautiful and the music is lovely.
I really wouldn't miss out on this movie because it's a great film and a wonderful set. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Simplemente... un bocado para verdaderos cinéfilos
Una excelente y emotiva película argentina dirigida por Adolfo Aristaraín, que muestra unos bellos paisajes en conjunto con una perfecta fotografía. "Un lugar en el mundo" es una película de una historia sencilla, que emocionará y deleitará tanto por sus paisajes como también por sus grandes interpretaciones. La película trata sobre los recuerdos de infancia de Ernesto, que vuelve a San Luis, al interior de Argentina, un pueblo donde vivió su adolescencia. Ernesto es miembro de una familia de regreso del exilio; que no quieren volver a vivir a la gran ciudad sino tratar de reconquistar sus sueños y utopías haciendo su pequeño trabajo diario por la comunidad. Mario (Federico Luppi), Ana (Cecilia Roth) vuelcan sus sueños en sus trabajos como profesor y ovejero él y como doctora ella, pero a la larga se enfrentarán al cambio de los tiempos y tendrán que asumir la realidad de la construcción de su lugar en el mundo.

La película vale, además de por su belleza, por su fotografía, su dirección y sus excelentes actuaciones, por mostrarnos cómo cada uno de nosotros debe hacer ese viaje necesario para descubrir nuestro verdadero lugar en el mundo.

Magnificent, but virtually unknown
This film is a very well-crafted and frequently beautiful look at a family living in a rural area of Argentina, trying to keep their ideals alive. They had been chased out of Argentina by the fascist government some years earlier, and after living in Madrid and Paris, finally were able to return; but eschewed a "vegetable" middle-class existence in Buenos Aires, instead deciding to start a cooperative in a rural community, using collective bargaining to try to keep the local wool producers from being cheated.

Much of the movie focuses on how the 13-year-old son, Ernesto, is influenced by his parents, by Nelda, a progressive nun, and by Hans, a somewhat world-weary but big-hearted Spanish geologist. It also has a lot to do with what the title of the movie suggests: the importance of learning where your own place in the world is, where you can function, be happy, and feel that you are doing something worthwhile.

It's sad that this is still so expensive on VHS, and that there is no DVD version. In any case, a truly wonderful movie.

A Place in the World
This is a story of a group of idealistic men and women in their quest for utopia. The action takes place in the Patagonia, where they give their best to improve the living conditions of relegated people in that forgotten corner of the world. They create a sense of community that is threaten by more powerful and impersonal economical interests. The heroism of the characters during the conflict is shown in a very humane dimension. Every technical aspect has been treated carefully, and the Patagonia's landscapes are an invitation to contemplation.

This is one of the best films ever made in Argentina. It ran for the Academy Awards (nominated for foreign language film), and it surely had won it, but it was left out in the last minute on a technicality. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Dark Humor Gives the Film its Edge
As a North American, one is subject to films which are essentially shallow, mindless and repetitious. Rarely is there a film that comes as a surprise. However, Qué he hecho yo para merecer esto offers a completely different cinematic experience. Pedro Almodovar's use of dark humor in Qué he hecho yo is what I found most appealing. The film takes a peek into the lives of the members of a poor working class family and explores their many problems in a tragic but comic way. The film opens with a shot of an enormous apartment complex similar to "the Projects" of the United States defining the films dark aspects and the tragic situation of the family. Soon, the close up takes us into the tiny apartment which is decorated in humorously bad taste, "kitsch". This allows the audience to relax and laugh as it reveals the film's dark humor. Furthermore, the film deals with subjects such as prostitution, child molestation, adultery, murder, drug addiction, and poverty. What I found most interesting was the way in which Almodovar manages to poke fun at these issues. A North American film would never even dare to mention child molestation unless it suggested that the criminal would end up dead, however Qué he hecho yo presents a mother who allows her young son to live with his homosexual dentist after he makes advances towards the boy at his practice. Interestingly, it is one of the films funniest moments. Hence, the film is truly a must see for anyone wishing to escape the monotony of American cinema and who enjoys an unconventional dark comedy.

"No-Doz" are caffeine pills
In Pedro Almodovar's fourth film "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" Gloria (Carmen Maura) lives in a tiny high-rise flat in Madrid which she shares with her boorish, lazy taxi-driver husband, Antonio, their two sons--one is a drug pusher and the other is a teen male prostitute, and Gloria's selfish mother-in-law who hoards her own supply of mineral water and cakes in a locked cabinet. Gloria scrapes by with a pittance doled out to her by her begruding husband, and she cleans homes and businesses to supplement their meagre income.
Gloria exists to serve and clean up for those she lives with, but underneath that harried housewife exterior boils a woman of passion--the film makes that clear very quickly, but will Gloria ever have the opportunity to be more than an unpaid maidservant? Gloria looks around at the four walls of her squalid tiny kitchen, and wonders how her life got to this point. She copes with her miserable, joyless existence thanks to an addiction to caffeine pills, but when she runs out of tablets one day, Gloria explodes.
Almodovar films always include deep friendships and loyalties between women, and "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" is no exception to this rule--Gloria's best friend and confidante is Cristal (played with great good humour by Veronique Forque). Cristal is a chatty prostitute who dreams of going to America. Her free-spirited ways are a threat to Antonio who can't really contemplate a woman like Cristal--a woman who may rent her body out temporarily, but she still remains owned by no-one. Cristal is Almodovar's prostitute with a heart of gold. She finds extra work for Gloria, and Gloria's friendship with Cristal eventually leads to trouble. Some of the best scenes in the film involve Cristal--her open approach to life is hilarious, and some of the scenes with her clients are priceless--the professor who is doing 'research' and the exhibitionist who needs more than Cristal to make up an adequate audience. This is darker than some of his later films, and the bleakness may prove difficult for some viewers to see the film. But the comedy is there--black comedy, but comedy nonetheless. The juxtaposition of the television romances next to the squalor of Gloria's real life are marvellously laced throughout the film. Keep an eye open for the dentist who wants to "adopt" Gloria's youngest son, Miguel. Due to themes and language ... this film is not for the kiddies

Classic Almodovar
This Almodovar classic from the early 80's is an excellent dark comedy. Great characters such as the next door prostitute, the little redhead girl with telekinetic powers, the cheap grandma, the impotent policeman, the gay dentist, the two writers, and so on make for an interesting watch. Many classic lines are found in this one, like the newlywed who gets her face burnt from her husband spilling coffee on her "I'll never forget that cup of coffee" and "I'm diabetic? oh, I always forget at dinner time?"
This film is not really driven by plot, but rather by the characters' lives. Like all Almodovar movies, it is a piece of art, a meditation and a comical look at life, sexual orientation, coincidence, destiny and love.

"Wouldn't happen to have a whip, would you?"
In Pedro Almodovar's fourth film "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" Gloria (Carmen Maura) lives in a tiny high-rise flat in Madrid which she shares with her boorish, lazy taxi-driver husband, Antonio, their two sons--one is a drug pusher and the other is a teen male prostitute, and Gloria's selfish mother-in-law who hoards her own supply of mineral water and cakes in a locked cabinet. Gloria scrapes by with a pittance doled out to her by her begruding husband, and she cleans homes and businesses to supplement their meagre income.

Gloria exists to serve and clean up for those she lives with, but underneath that harried housewife exterior boils a woman of passion--the film makes that clear very quickly, but will Gloria ever have the opportunity to be more than an unpaid maidservant? Gloria looks around at the four walls of her squalid tiny kitchen, and wonders how her life got to this point. She copes with her miserable, joyless existence thanks to an addiction to "no-doze" sedatives, but when she runs out of tablets one day, Gloria explodes.

Almodovar films always include deep friendships and loyalties between women, and "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" is no exception to this rule--Gloria's best friend and confidante is Cristal (played with great good humour by Veronique Forque). Cristal is a chatty prostitute who dreams of going to America. Her free-spirited ways are a threat to Antonio who can't really contemplate a woman like Cristal--a woman who may rent her body out temporarily, but she still remains owned by no-one. Cristal is Almodovar's prostitute with a heart of gold. She finds extra work for Gloria, and Gloria's friendship with Cristal eventually leads to trouble.

Some of the best scenes in the film involve Cristal--her open approach to life is hilarious, and some of the scenes with her clients are priceless--the professor who is doing 'research' and the exhibitionist who needs more than Cristal to make up an adequate audience.

While "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" isn't my all-time favourite Almodovar film, nonetheless, I do re-watch it from time to time, and it really is a great film. It is darker than some of his later films, and the bleakness may prove difficult for some viewers to see the film as a comedy. But the comedy is there--black comedy, but comedy nonetheless. The juxtaposition of the television romances next to the squalor of Gloria's real life are marvellously laced throughout the film. Keep an eye open for the ... dentist who wants to adopt Gloria's youngest son, Miguel. Due to themes and language ... this film is not for the kiddies--displacedhuman--www.Amazon.com Reviewer.

Great dark comedy
Almovodar's Best! (Terrible first date movie, however, with the opening sex scene). Humor along the lines of "Eating Raul". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

best escenes of the any film
escenes lesbians with victoria abri ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Bunuel's only horror film
If Movies were food, CITY OF ANGELS would be a rice patty and PSYCHO would be a steak. But if nothing else, Bunuel's film THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL is the great saucy enchilada of cinema. Its distinctly Catholic humor could only come from the mind of Luis Bunuel, the most Spanish director of all time. Bunuel's later French films are mostly more subdued, but I like his Mexican films better. This is my favorite Bunuel film. The plot has already been described, so I won't go through that again. But I should say that I think this the closest Bunuel ever came to making a horror film. I think that the only thing that keeps this from being a horror film is the fact that there is nothing to keep these people from leaving... they're just too stupid and self-centered to get out. The only negative comment I have is that the video is of very poor quality. Not much has been done with the master, apparently; this is one movie that could use a subtitle-upgrade. They're hard to see because thay blend into the scenery, and the actors also talk for long periods of time without any subtitles. It's pretty irritating, but they manage to get the point across well enough. But of the film, nothing negative can be said, in my opinion. Bunuel was one of the most consistently creative directors of all time, and with films like this he managed to amass a truly unique body of work. He was the John Huston (AND the Marquis de Sade) of avant-garde cinema, and a true genius whose talents as a filmmaker are on a par with Michaelangelo's as a painter. So there!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
When invited guests arrive for an elegant dinner party and find themselves unable to leave the dining room, Spanish surreal master Luis Bunuel, enters the undeworld of human desires and relations, peeling the crust of the burgoeis thinking and emancipating t