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DEPRESSING MOVIES
Favorite movies in Spanish from Mexico and Spain.
Reviews
Scarlett (1994)
No for the true GWTW fans.
If you really loved GWTW, you will find quite disappointing the story... And probably everything else. Those who may think this is just about a romantic story in the South, will be probably satisfied with this decent TV production (altought I consider an important miscast the choice for Scarlett). But, let me say that considering the novel, nothing good could came out of this.
I keep reading from other reviews that this version is not to be compared to the movie or we should think of it as a different, separate story or not paying any attention to the difference in the characters or/and actors playing the main roles. I wouldn't know. Maybe they are right, but as I said before, if you are a true GWTW fan, you certainly expect something with some coherence with the original one (or should I say, a little respect at least).
I've read GWTW more than 20 times and I can really appreciate the adaptation Mrs. Mitchell did for the film. It took me some time to understand how good the ending was: Scarlett knew for sure she was going to recover Rhett, since she always got what she wanted. But there was no kiss in the end.
Then Alexandra Ripley came to "fix" all this by showing us exactly how modern, perfect and mighty Scarlett could be. And, of course, describing in detail how exactly she gets Rhett back the way she wanted and even after having an important affair with someone else (I am not moralizing but the first two husbands were a different story. I bet nothing could have been further from Mrs. Mitchell mind).
The story between these points is, in my opinion, just a long and boring ride made up to tie ends, showing off costumes and scenarios just to give us an obvious and totally unnecessary ending.
If Margaret Mitchell could came to live again, she would die one more time at the very moment she'd find out what Scarlett became after GWTW.
Sure it's not fair to compare this to the original but this is not GWTW fault. Isn't it? Is it any good if I don't compare it to the original? Maybe. Sorry to say I don't really care.
I would expect little more compromise to continue someone else's (suberb) work, otherwise don't even try.
La ley de Herodes (1999)
Refreshing brave and funny movie
I am one of many Mexicans who got their eyes popped out when first saw in this movie things called by their actual name.
The story takes place with real names (historical, including presidents), real political parties names, all familiar situations for those who were born on this side of the Rio Grande. The trick is that it happens some decades ago, but still remains sadly fresh. No-one gets away with it in this movie: catholic church, society, politics and some others you should find out. All this happens in a comedy, and the comedy is actually funny.
It might be less significant for others, but still I recommend it if you are in the mood for this.
El infierno (2010)
Muy buena.
Muchos de mis conocidos no vieron esta película acusándola de intentar "justificar" el camino de un narco o de ser "una película más de violencia", algo que en estos momentos quizá estén ya cansados de ver.
Pero yo no ví nada de esto: En "El infierno" yo vi una película con un ritmo muy cuidado que entra a un mundo de violencia que es la realidad cotidiana de muchos mexicanos. Al igual que otros, comencé la película riendo, terminé casi temblando. El humor, que puede ser criticado, es una forma efectiva de hacer soportable el mundo en el que Luis Estrada nos introduce, exponiendo con simplicidad y realismo situaciones que son más complejas de lo que pueden sonar y donde a todos les toca su parte.
Luis Estrada, de la mano con Damian Alcázar nos presenta una tercera película de las que no creíamos posible en México, donde las cosas se llaman por su nombre y nos ponen a pensar a lo que hemos llegado o podemos llegar.
Contact (1997)
Más de lo que parece
Cuando estrenaron Contacto, un amigo dio su opinión quejándose de que "no había acción y jamás veíamos un alienígena". Por alguna razón, incluso quizá esa, no la vi entonces. Años después, otro amigo me la recomendó. Para entonces ya había leído un par de libros de Sagan, y muchas de mis ideas sobre la religión y la ciencia habían cambiado profundamente. Vi CONTACTO y comencé a entender que toda esa historia de los extraterrestres entrando en contacto con los humanos era solo una de las partes. En ese punto, por cierto, la película queda sin resolver del todo, y esto que molestó a varias personas no es más que consistencia en la posición de Carl Sagan de promover la ciencia sin contaminarla con lo que fuera su opinión o 'creencia' personal.
CONTACTO fue la única novela de Sagan, y aunque la película, por motivos comprensibles como evitar demasiados personajes o alargarse más de lo comercialmente aceptable, no es idéntica al libro, creo que lo que importaba sigue allí. Entiendo que Sagan aprobó la película antes de morir y probablemente no solo fueron méritos técnicos o actuaciones.
CONTACTO habla de la naturaleza humana, de la búsqueda de la verdad, la soledad, de cómo los sentimientos nos humanizan y cómo el científico más honesto también puede fallar en su objetividad cuando estos se interponen. Habla también de la honestidad intelectual y a lo que esto puede llevarnos. Ninguna es una verdad profunda ni fuera de alcance y eso también es algo por lo que me gusta.
Eleanor Arroway es un gran personaje y Jodie Foster hace un trabajo notable interpretándolo.
No es una película 'dominguera', pero es seria, habla de nosotros los humanos y puede llegar a disfrutarse mucho, como me consta.
Bird Box (2018)
Surprise me a little, please.
I also don't understand what's fabulous about this film for some people. But at the end of it all -which is not so interesting or even scary- I do mind being played with raising my expectations and making me wait for SOMETHING with NOTHING at the end ink reward for being patient (several plot holes).
This could serve as a resource for a theatrical piece (better written and shorter) but I expect more when I see a movie.
How good are film resources if they are not going to be used? What good is it that today we can put almost anything on screen that was not possible before if we are not finally going to use it and in addition we call it "what is different about the movie"? Is this the new kind of twists and turns in the plot, that there is actually no explanation whatsoever?
Life (2017)
It could have been...
I had no great expectations of being impressed by this film. But it was OK acted, the tension was good, the effects were convincing and seemed more a scientific possibility than others sci-fi movies I've seen. Also, I do appreciate a movie to be effectively serious. So, everything seemed good enough for me until a point where (maybe) a producer thought that the final part could be "improved". Then came some incoherence and a cheating but quite predictable ending. It could have been better.
The Bridge (2013)
Yes, promising
Pretty early to declare it is great, but so far so good. Hopefully I won't be disappointed later.
At this point I have no reference to the original version but I think I can give my opinion of this one by itself.
I wasn't a fan of Bichir, but my appreciation on his acting is growing lately since I saw him in A BETTER LIFE. I like the serious approach of sensible subjects for Mexicans (even when I try to see this as a fully fictional story), but I also like they are not afraid of showing some realities of the Mexican-American border and the way some Americans see Mexicans and vice-versa.
I will be expecting for the next episodes.
Contact (1997)
Más de lo que parece
Cuando estrenaron Contacto, un amigo dio su opinión quejándose de que "no había acción y jamás veíamos un alienígena". Por alguna razón, incluso quizá esa, no la vi entonces. Años después, otro amigo me la recomendó. Para entonces ya había leído un par de libros de Sagan, y muchas de mis ideas sobre la religión y la ciencia habían cambiado profundamente. Vi CONTACTO y comencé a entender que toda esa historia de los extraterrestres entrando en contacto con los humanos era solo una de las partes. En ese punto, por cierto, la película queda sin resolver del todo, y esto que molestó a varias personas no es más que consistencia en la posición de Carl Sagan de promover la ciencia sin contaminarla con lo que fuera su opinión o 'creencia' personal.
CONTACTO fue la única novela de Sagan, y aunque la película, por motivos comprensibles como evitar demasiados personajes o alargarse más de lo comercialmente aceptable, no es idéntica al libro, creo que lo que importaba sigue allí. Entiendo que Sagan aprobó la película antes de morir y probablemente no solo fueron méritos técnicos o actuaciones.
CONTACTO habla de la naturaleza humana, de la búsqueda de la verdad, la soledad, de cómo los sentimientos nos humanizan y cómo el científico más honesto también puede fallar en su objetividad cuando estos se interponen. Habla también de la honestidad intelectual y a lo que esto puede llevarnos. Ninguna es una verdad profunda ni fuera de alcance y eso también es algo por lo que me gusta.
Eleanor Arroway es un gran personaje y Jodie Foster hace un trabajo notable interpretándolo.
No es una película 'dominguera', pero es seria, habla de nosotros los humanos y puede llegar a disfrutarse mucho, como me consta.
La ley de Herodes (1999)
Refreshing brave and funny movie
I am one of many Mexicans who got their eyes popped out when first saw in this movie things called by their actual name.
The story takes place with real names (historical, including presidents), real political parties names, all familiar situations for those who were born on this side of the Rio Grande. The trick is that it happens some decades ago, but still remains sadly fresh. No-one gets away with it in this movie: catholic church, society, politics and some others you should find out. All this happens in a comedy, and the comedy is actually funny.
It might be less significant for others, but still I recommend it if you are in the mood for this.
El infierno (2010)
Muy buena.
Muchos de mis conocidos no vieron esta película acusándola de intentar "justificar" el camino de un narco o de ser "una película más de violencia", algo que en estos momentos quizá estén ya cansados de ver.
Pero yo no ví nada de esto: En "El infierno" yo vi una película con un ritmo muy cuidado que entra a un mundo de violencia que es la realidad cotidiana de muchos mexicanos. Al igual que otros, comencé la película riendo, terminé casi temblando. El humor, que puede ser criticado, es una forma efectiva de hacer soportable el mundo en el que Luis Estrada nos introduce, exponiendo con simplicidad y realismo situaciones que son más complejas de lo que pueden sonar y donde a todos les toca su parte.
Luis Estrada, de la mano con Damian Alcázar nos presenta una tercera película de las que no creíamos posible en México, donde las cosas se llaman por su nombre y nos ponen a pensar a lo que hemos llegado o podemos llegar.
District 9 (2009)
Excelente!
Si alguien fuera a ver esta película por efectos especiales no saldría defraudado: Interacción creíble entre CGI y personajes, efectos a plena luz de día, bajo fuertes contrastes y en primerísmo plano. La acción también es trepidante y sorpresiva.
Pero "Sector 9" tiene mucho más qué aportar. La historia va creciendo en sentido y profundidad mientras se desenvuelve y nos lleva de un interés inicial mínimo hasta una identificación total con el personaje de Wikus. No supe en qué momento, pero hacia el final pude notar lo inmerso que estaba en la situación y el personaje.
Ampliamente recomendable y para mirarse en más de una forma.
Dos crímenes (1994)
A funny Mexican story, closer to contemporary reality than "Walk in the clouds" or "Like water for chocolate"
I expect much from Sneider now he's filming "Arrancame la vida". This because "Two crimes" (correct translation of the movie's name) was delicious.
This novel written by the Mexican Jorge Ibargüengoitia and published in 1979 (or before), is a great dark comedy.
Funny and unpredictable, delightful and well acted, the movie presents characters real and familiar to any Mexican. Sneider understands and respect the story, all the twists, the humor, the rhythm and dialogs of the author. By doing so, he succeeds in keeping the viewer's interest through all the movie. Go see it!
Don't pay any attention to the horrible title in English: "Kissing cousins"
Scarlett (1994)
No for the true GWTW fans.
If you really loved GWTW, you will find quite disappointing the story... And probably everything else. Those who may think this is just about a romantic story in the South, will be probably satisfied with this decent TV production (altought I consider an important miscast the choice for Scarlett). But, let me say that considering the novel, nothing good could came out of this.
I keep reading from other reviews that this version is not to be compared to the movie or we should think of it as a different, separate story or not paying any attention to the difference in the characters or/and actors playing the main roles. I wouldn't know. Maybe they are right, but as I said before, if you are a true GWTW fan, you certainly expect something with some coherence with the original one (or should I say, a little respect at least).
I've read GWTW more than 20 times and I can really appreciate the adaptation Mrs. Mitchell did for the film. It took me some time to understand how good the ending was: Scarlett knew for sure she was going to recover Rhett, since she always got what she wanted. But there was no kiss in the end.
Then Alexandra Ripley came to "fix" all this by showing us exactly how modern, perfect and mighty Scarlett could be. And, of course, describing in detail how exactly she gets Rhett back the way she wanted and even after having an important affair with someone else (I am not moralizing but the first two husbands were a different story. I bet nothing could have been further from Mrs. Mitchell mind).
The story between these points is, in my opinion, just a long and boring ride made up to tie ends, showing off costumes and scenarios just to give us an obvious and totally unnecessary ending.
If Margaret Mitchell could came to live again, she would die one more time at the very moment she'd find out what Scarlett became after GWTW.
Sure it's not fair to compare this to the original but this is not GWTW fault. Isn't it? Is it any good if I don't compare it to the original? Maybe. Sorry to say I don't really care.
I would expect little more compromise to continue someone else's (suberb) work, otherwise don't even try.
La ley de Herodes (1999)
Refreshing brave and funny movie
I am one of many Mexicans who got their eyes popped out when first saw in this movie things called by their actual name.
The story takes place with real names (historical, including presidents), real political parties names, all familiar situations for those who were born on this side of the Rio Grande. The trick is that it happens some decades ago, but still remains sadly fresh. No-one gets away with it in this movie: catholic church, society, politics and some others you should find out. All this happens in a comedy, and the comedy is actually funny.
It might be less significant for others, but still I recommend it if you are in the mood for this.
Corazón de melón (2003)
Sad, pathetic and boring film
It is expected for a movie to have a minimal level of story, characters, acting, technical aspects or even a point. This one fails to comply all of these. It was good to know that "Corazon de Melón" was classified under COMEDY because I knew then I was supposed to laugh. When you are watching it you are not sure if this is supposed to be a drama, a fantasy, a comedy (far too lame, anyway). I've seen these actors doing much better in other stories.
Movies like these are the reason why Mexican cinema was dead for so many years. But this makes me appreciate more to del Toro, Iñarritu and Cuaron (and others still rising) who are REALLY trying (and succeeding) to make movies.
Scarlett (1994)
No for the true GWTW fans.
If you really loved GWTW, you will find quite disappointing the story... And probably everything else. Those who may think this is just about a romantic story in the South, will be probably satisfied with this decent TV production (altought I consider an important miscast the choice for Scarlett). But, let me say that considering the novel, nothing good could came out of this.
I keep reading from other reviews that this version is not to be compared to the movie or we should think of it as a different, separate story or not paying any attention to the difference in the characters or/and actors playing the main roles. I wouldn't know. Maybe they are right, but as I said before, if you are a true GWTW fan, you certainly expect something with some coherence with the original one (or should I say, a little respect at least).
I've read GWTW more than 20 times and I can really appreciate the adaptation Mrs. Mitchell did for the film. It took me some time to understand how good the ending was: Scarlett knew for sure she was going to recover Rhett, since she always got what she wanted. But there was no kiss in the end.
Then Alexandra Ripley came to "fix" all this by showing us exactly how modern, perfect and mighty Scarlett could be. And, of course, describing in detail how exactly she gets Rhett back the way she wanted and even after having an important affair with someone else (I am not moralizing but the first two husbands were a different story. I bet nothing could have been further from Mrs. Mitchell mind).
The story between these points is, in my opinion, just a long and boring ride made up to tie ends, showing off costumes and scenarios just to give us an obvious and totally unnecessary ending.
If Margaret Mitchell could came to live again, she would die one more time at the very moment she'd find out what Scarlett became after GWTW.
Sure it's not fair to compare this to the original but this is not GWTW fault. Isn't it? Is it any good if I don't compare it to the original? Maybe. Sorry to say I don't really care.
I would expect little more compromise to continue someone else's (suberb) work, otherwise don't even try.
King Kong (2005)
Bad joke from Jackson
Couldn't agree more with all the negative comments most people has done about this (length, plot holes, poor CGI, etc.). Just add these up to the list...
1. During the development of characters at least three times I seriously felt like I was watching Saturday Night Live. That orphan's story and other lines seemed so on purpose for something that kept me expecting (Was it all about making us feel bad when he died?)
2. Can you imagine an action scene that goes for so long that you begin to check you watch and yawn? Come and see it in King Kong.
3. Previous versions explained well enough how can a girl end up feeling sympathy for a monster, but looks like this time King Kong was killed (leaving a perfect corpse) right on time before we could see a wedding (or serious affair) between a giant ape and a girl.
4. I sincerely expected more from a 200 millions budget movie in CGI. The absurd and long scene of the chase through the canyon looked so sad in some parts that you could bet Jakson filmed it with the actors bouncing up and down on a mattress with a background projection on a sheet.
Jackson, you are good, but we all fail sometimes.
Dos crímenes (1994)
A funny Mexican story, closer to contemporary reality than "Walk in the clouds" or "Like water for chocolate"
I expect much from Sneider now he's filming "Arrancame la vida". This because "Two crimes" (correct translation of the movie's name) was delicious.
This novel written by the Mexican Jorge Ibargüengoitia and published in 1979 (or before), is a great dark comedy.
Funny and unpredictable, delightful and well acted, the movie presents characters real and familiar to any Mexican. Sneider understands and respect the story, all the twists, the humor, the rhythm and dialogs of the author. By doing so, he succeeds in keeping the viewer's interest through all the movie. Go see it!
Don't pay any attention to the horrible title in English: "Kissing cousins"