rvalera Reviews

Gothika (2003)

Huh? Is this a 'Horror' Movie????

[2/10 · 11 January 2004]

When I saw the spoilers-----I mean the TRAILERS of the movie, I thought it

would be somehow close to 'The Ring' in Drama, Horror stuff and Creepiness. Sorry but none of the above.

The movie is by itself a horrific attempt to horrorise the audience (Hollywood style, which by the way is by fast takes and appearances of someone in the

screen while making noisy effects, so to scare you; in my opinion an extremely crappy way to do it.)

The story is 'ok', though not good. The camera shots are 'good' The acting is (sorry fans of these actresses) AWFUL, including Hale Berry,

Robert Downy and Penelope Cruz is a HUGE mistake to this movie; you could

have saved a lot of money by taking some other actors. Why I say that? The

reason is that Robert Downy does not give a credible performance in this movie, maybe is not his mistake... but thats it....... Penelope has an awful accent which does no good to the already BAD sound (the vocal mix is awful), and her

character has absolutely nothing to do with the way she behaves (I'm saying this because in the begining of the movie she appears as some person and then

changes drastically). Hale Berry is a good actress on herself, but she did not had to do this film, as it looks like a 'Horror style Hip Hop Video' (particulary on the scene she caughts fire... if you havent seen this movie, you'll see what I mean; since I dont want to spoil it)

The SFX, as always in Hollywood are good

I think that the director is to blame, films like this have to be a little more Suspense and Dramatic, and less....shall I say 'noir'?

Now on to the beautiful details: 1. Psychiatric Hospitals are NOT like this (this one looked like Bill Gates build it to himself!!!!) 2. What's with all that unnecessary blood, gore and violence? 3. Actors should never look straight at the camera 4. The audio mix IS NOT good, you could fairly hear a world, forget

understanding Penelope Cruz 5. The microphone was visible more times than any other film I can remember;

even B-Movies are more careful in NOT showing it 6. There's no way there could be a huge hole on the road (again, I'm not telling more, since I dont want to spoil it)

Finally a recommendation if you read this comment: DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE, DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY If you want to watch this movie, either watch it free (I dont know how) or have someone to lend it to you (when available) or buy the bootleg. Please let

Hollywood know that this kind of 'bad movies' are not welcome in the Hollywood market. For Christ's sake, Hollywood has a lot of money, but they don't know

what to do with it so they produce this 'thing'?

I'll give it a 1 out of 10

Pafnucio Santo (1977)

Surrealism to maximise visual pleasure

[9/10 · 29 December 2003]

This great, almost impossible to get flick is a film made by one of the masters of Surrealism: Corkidi -better known by his masterpiece Angeles y Querubines (which I haven't got the pleasure to watch)

Corkidi helped one of the greatest filmmakers alive in the history of cinema, Alejandro Jodorowsky to shoot his films, remarkably, El Topo.

This movie does not centre in one theme only, but in a lot of themes; thankfully not at the same time (Although in a whole it is, after reflecting about it).

So much of what I can remember from this movie: Adam and Eve in paradise, ashamed of themselves and their naked bodies; whilst asking you and everybody else not to be ashamed of; also referring to cultural background and social morale.

Since the beginning of the movie, you'll feel hypnotised by its great photography, extremely well exploited angles and takes, along with beautiful sites.

Loosely, Corkidi refers to Mexican Story and 'era related' themes.

The movie was divided in different parts, so you get the feeling you are reading a visual book, which every chapter was named according what happens next.

He [Corkidi] puts his own personal view to history of Mexico and mixes his personal feelings about Spaniards [who went there and conquered], particularly when Pafnucio goes to talk to Hernan Cortez (which is in a Pig Corral, representing Spain so it seems]).

When you watch this film, you'll also feel that you are actually watching a Modern Opera (Personally I do not like Musicals, but this movie kept me entertained, and must say, this is not a Musical, although, there is a lot of it on it).

Finally I would like to point out that Corkidi wants Mexicans to acknowledge, know and love their country, and compares it with other countries, including USA, whilst presenting a really different and great journey thru time and space. Done with very low budget, but great creativity, this movie gets a 9 out of 10 to me; you wont need to love Surrealism to love this movie.

Irreversible (2002)

Irrepeatable, Incredible!!!....Astonishingly Excellent

[10/10 · 17 November 2003]

Noe (the director) must have had a really bad time trying to figure out how to tell a love story, scare the hell out of everybody and keep an eye on detail....

This is the first time I see a Noe's film, but I must say: It's incredible!

This movie makes Pulp Fiction and The Exorcist look like 'Mickey Mouse and Pluto go hunting' cartoon! (with all due respect to all fans of these aforementioned movies, I am also a fan of these movies)

If you really want to see some special stuff, you are searching in the right place; forget about Freddy Kruger and all that stuff, if you really want to feel the creeps, watch this movie, I mean it! Most of the time Sci-Fi and Horror go together (in stores, I dont know why), this movie gives you some serious horror using one of the most uncommon themes: REAL LIFE!!!, Real Life drama is something creepier than any Horror movie, and here Noe proves it!

Watch this movie, you will not regret it

Caution: This movie can be dangerous for the Epileptic. Caution: Extremely strong scenes, I MEAN IT!!!!

Now that you have been warned go and watch it..... what are you still reading here?......! GO TO WATCH THIS MOVIE NOW!!!!!!

;o)

Lucía, Lucía (2003)

Superb, just Superb

[6 August 2003]

I just finished watching the movie, I saw it at the blockbuster store and didn't want to rent it because I thought it was really bad, however, I just rented it anyways.... I am not going to tell you what this movie is about, but what I think about the movie (I have never studied cinema or anything, so, please tae this just as a comment from an excentric person)

This movie has the lost mexican touch from the seventies, with the political yell from this decade (2000-2009). Funny indeed, but also dramatical and

superficial, with the magical mexican touch of surrealism (which Jodorowsky

excelled in his films, shooted in Mexico, like El Topo and Holy Mountain)

The political yell I am referring here is the one that has come out in cinema in mexico this decade, in movies that include: La ley de Herodes (Herodes' Law)

among others. It is NOT a Hollywood movie, so please do not expect a huge budget movie

with huge SFX, instead a more tight budget movie, with a nice story to tell

This movie is once again the reflection of the mexican society:

First of all: The magic and beauty of the unbeauty that comes from surrealism, which is the same as Mexico and it's people, how they live and think, which is a surreal way of thinking, and as most of us think surrealistic, the mexican culture and society tend to be more surreal (giving you a fantastic photography of the horrible but beautiful)

Secondly: The political yell; this is because of the oppression and corruption mexican people had to suffer all these years, where they just work oppressively receiving nothing but LESS buying power and MORE frustration (this is related once again to surrealism), where only a few are priviliged (this is a lot more notable when you go south of America) Political screams is an escape valve to that oppression, and this movie is one of that kind

If you have had the chance to see mexican cinema, this is a nice example (not the best, though) to watch it. I may just dare to say this movie is a lot like the french cinema, only with less introspectiveness (as the french cinema tends to be [not all of it of course, but it's a cultural thing, which gives a flavor to each cinema of the world])

Well... all in all this movie is a Superb, with brilliant direction and photography, however, not very appreciated by some critics..... ...by the way, I almost forgot to tell you, I loved the way the movie begins

Amar te duele (2002)

Mexican Reality at its best

[10/10 · 17 November 2002]

This movie is like the Mexican, updated, upgraded version of Romeo and Juliet; but it is developed in today's world, with normal and very life-like situations The movie does not fall in the extremely, novelistic kind of love, but discribes true, normal-life life; it's just like THIS happens in today's Mexico, there is a HUGE gap between the rich people and the poor people in Mexico; this movie excels in showing this GAP, shows the current rascism that exists and unmasks the really dangerous people.

• I would like to appoint that the name of the movie is "Amar te duele" (love hurts you) and not "Amor que duele "Love that hurts you", please check this one out. "Amar te duele" is a word game, which is in my humble opinion, an extremely

nice addition; besides the normal translation of "Love hurts you", it also means "Loving you hurts" and "To mars it hurts", the last phrase refers to a song (which is in the movie's soundtrack) that begins saying "I will love you from here to Mars". The soundtrack is great featuring excellent latin music exponents.

I will give "Amar te duele" a 10 out of 10, two thumbs up!