Reviews

Modern version of an old short story....lots of special ways of killing off each character....in gross/disgusting ways....

Old plot with very few twists...

Back in 1990, my children had been dealing with their oldest brother's disability, and the shunning that came from having a high-functioning autistic sibling *now called Asberger's Syndrome.* They were having difficulties with other youth, going out of their way to abuse them and their brother...and then this film came out.

It was a godsend, their eyes were opened and they saw the suffering of Edward Scissorhands, his attempt to live with a normal family, his dreams of the promised "normal" hands, that never materialized, and the final need for ostracizing, not just for the village, but for Edward himself, and those who loved him.

This film should be curriculum for any parent of a disabled child, who raise siblings with their child and have other children interact with them....to show what could happen in their society of friends...so they may choose people who have wonderful, accepting hearts...who can be around their brother/sister without feeling frightened or revolted. That they begin to understand why a great deal of parental attention goes to the disabled sibling...and the reasons why...protection and training ongoing,

This film is a classic, and I deeply appreciate Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Winona Rider, cast and crew...for this wondrous cinema...that suffering and shunning happens in life, but people are able to learn from this film, walk away...and become better people because of it. It worked for my family and their friends...perhaps it may work for others.

And was hooked....none of the actors over played their faces and yet their emotions came through and you didn't really need to word cards to know what they were saying....

McCoy was excellent as Lady Hamilton, her husband was also excellent as was her discoverer, it was a "pigmallion" type of story to begin with, then went on to show Lady Hamilton convincing the Queen of Naples to get supplies to the British navy to fight Napoleon, because the Queen was sister of Marie Antoinette and would have been guillotined had Napoleon succeeded in conquering the world.

Hardwick's Nelson was subtle and very strong, especially when Lady Hamilton was "not allowed to attend" his triumphant return party thrown by the royals of England, as they were known to be having an affair. He walked out and went off to the countryside (similar to Edward VI and his decision to abdicate, becoming Duke of Windsor.) The film is classic in all the best ways...actors actually acting, instead of depending on their dull voices to drone along. Such a treat to watch.

Delusional wealthy women running about Paris, grabbing up clothing that wasn't all that. When they finally did wear these pieces specially made for them, from what they saw on the runway, (modified) they still looked ridiculous.

Pitiful people who don't know what to do with their money....filling up rooms with hanging rags of material, the smell of moth-balls must be atrocious....(not in the closets...on the women, themselves.) Waste of effort by the film-maker. Looked like "America's Next Top Model" after they sell the product.

The loneliness of these women, who show up to look at each other in their outfits, is palpable.

They seem like clothing mannequins, themselves....only worth the value of the property....trophies....of the industrial age.

This film places you in the 17th century filth, so fully you can smell every smell in the theater. It was beautifully filmed, the cinematographer, costume-designers, set-designers all captured the background of this film. It was like a Bosch painting.

The acting was strong (the British accents were a bit strange, since it was sent in France.) Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman stole each scene they were in and made you believe. Ben Whishaw in certain angles, invoked the memory of Anthony Perkins in "Psycho." He was the total focus and was ably controlled. It felt like he was an "autistic/asberger's" person in a society that couldn't understand obsessive/compulsive/brain-disorders. His sociopathic behaviors hinted at the future "Jack the Ripper" mentalities.

The ending seemed "tacked-on" however, perhaps it was added due to not wanting to encourage the deranged from following after the character's bent. (Similar to Anthony Hopkins' wishes regarding Hannibal Lector.)

Very interesting and well-done film, but not for the squeamish.

It purported to be an "Eternal Love Story" so I went to the film expecting something spectacular about two people in love. Was totally disappointed that the film didn't deliver what was promised.

What this film is about, is a man in three life-times (reincarnations?) who decides that the "tree" of life is more important than a relationship with his love. Isabel/Izzy is left behind, while Tomas/Tommy/Tom is off chasing an obsession. Regardless of his being ordered by Izzy to find the tree of life/fighting against Mayans/cancer/memories, the character of Tom cannot see the forest for the "tree." His queen/wife begs for his attention, as she has accepted her own inevitable death, and just wants to share a few moments of quality time with him, (a walk in the snow, a look through a telescope, a read from her journal with feedback.) He refuses because in his hunt for the ultimate cure, his obsession develops, which leaves him with 1500 years of regret.

This is not a romance, it's a morality play. It has some pretty pictures, but the inner core of the script did not tell anything close to a "great love story for the ages." Wish the advertising hype had been honest.

This is a tragedy, Shakespearian in scope. It liberally uses "dark ages Christianity/Eastern philosophical" images, but there is no truth concepts gleaned from the actual religions. It's images are "Kung-fu" meets "2001-Space Odyssey in a culture cliché.

Perhaps it was the lack of funds and the push to finish quickly, that left the film filled with missing pieces of development. One wonders what was actually filmed and left on the cutting room floor or on the script page. Perhaps it could have been much better.

As is, it's empty, devoid, Dante's inferno. The advertising should have told more about it's "Death" themes. But I guess "hooking" an audience was of prime importance. Sad.

A well-written, tender loving story of a lonely woman who misses her long-time lover who has died, and mourns him caring more for his memory then her own life. This film is sweetly told by actors who really care for the tale and show it in every emotion they evoke and portray.

Do the dead re-visit the living, does life go on without horrific feelings of guilt and remorse? These questions are woven into a complex piece and answered so skillfully and compassionately, that one doesn't notice the time goes by so swiftly, the audience wishes it could go on forever. Alan Rickman gives a stellar performance along with his "dance partner," Juliette Stevenson. It may be viewed as simply a "chick-flick" but has such depth that even the male persuasion will be moved. Don't miss this cinema.