Hottoceame The Age of Commercialism

VividSimon Simply Perfect

Donald Seymour This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

h-abdollapuri I not only have problem with this movie but in general with many similar movies with the similar theme that try to show successful nice family-oriented men as boring husbands who their wife cheat on them. Is this how women are? If so, then no man should get married. I mean what is the point of getting married if your wife prefers a jobless weird charming guy over you? Moreover, this movie promotes a valueless life style in which humans should not have any value and they should do whatever they like to do. This is sickness. We humans stop ourselves from some short-term joys (like drinking too much sugar drinks) to make our life healthier in long term. Of course drinking Coca is enjoyable but it is not worth the problems which come after it. Then, why having the same values for life is boring? Of course sleeping with every single attractive people could be physically enjoyable but what about the long-term happiness in our life when we need to feel happy deep inside?This movie is pure sickness!

oOoBarracuda I finally found a Woody Allen film that didn't take place in New York that I enjoy. Vicky Cristina Barcelona isn't the first non-New York set Woody Allen film that I've liked, but it's one of only two. I've discussed this at length elsewhere so all I'll say here is Woody Allen just doesn't seem as comfortable behind the camera if he's working out of the country. Match Point is an obvious exception, as there is little to complain about regarding that outing. Anyway, the 2008 film written and directed by Woody Allen followed two best friends spending the summer in Barcelona. Starring Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall as the pair of best friends, Vicky Cristina Barcelona explores unconventional relationships and the extent one can be fulfilled by sharing love.Two best friends that seem to be polar opposites plan a summer in Spain together before one of them is to wed. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) has always searched for a grounded love and a partner she can depend on as she is conventional in all aspects of life. Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) has searched for a love that will set her soul on fire, one that is exciting and unpredictable. Their expectations have led them down different paths, Vicky will soon marry when she returns home, Cristina, who is single again after being hurt in her previous relationship. After a chance meeting with a Spanish painter, Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) he invites the girls to travel with him on his private plane to a remote island. Ever the risk-taker, Cristina jumps at the chance for unprecedented excitement and intrigue. Vicky is much more hesitant, even attempting to talk Cristina out of going. They both eventually board the plane with Juan and make it to the island. Cristina becomes ill and it is Vicky that has a romantic evening with Juan. Feeling guilty and conflicted, Vicky leaves the island leaving Cristina and Juan to fall in love. Cristina believes she may have found the excitement in love she's been looking for, that is until Juan's ex- wife re-enters their lives.Social constructs and conventional love are explored in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Woody explores what it means to love someone that also loves someone else. Living together in an open relationship and the dynamic of three people that love each other so much that they can't survive without each other but struggle to survive the terms of their relationship provides an interesting character and another fine example of the exploration of the psyche that Woody Allen is so proficient at. The score and cinematography are gorgeous and I'm so happy that the excellent Woody Allen script made a triumphant return. I recently read an interview with Woody Allen in which he lists guilt as a motivating factor to accomplish the things he doesn't want to do, which I found interesting considering the guilt Vicky felt after cheating on her husband filled such a huge part of her character arc. It's always interesting to learn more about a filmmaker and then be able to see more of them in their work than before. Vicky Cristina Barcelona is certainly not the first film of Woody's where guilt has played a large part but it's interesting noticing it after learning that guilt plays a huge factor in his own life."Life is short, dull, and full of pain."--Maybe Woody is right, but his films certainly help me cope with that.

tstudstrup Do not believe the 7 stars this movie gets. I'm guessing this is enjoyed by Americans that are too lazy for subtitles and they accept this politically correct lame attempt at copying Pedro Almodovar. The reason I compare the two directors is because this movie takes place almost entirely in Spain, it has Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz in it. And the plot could have been fun had the master Almodovar directed it. Let's pretend that this was actually made by Almodovar. No annoying narrator. The two American girls would have went with Javier on his friends plane without Hall judging him and turning him down. They would have had sex in a passionate threesome and the girls would have shown their tits (or in Rebecca Halls case, lack of tits) and Javier would have sucked on them. Penelope would have shown up and one of the girls (Hall) would have ended up dead. And the others would have buried her and maybe gotten away with it. There would have been lots of Spanish dishes with references to sex. The characters would have acted immorally. Sex and lust and desire would have been what have driven the story forward. And it would have been fun to watch. In Allens movie the so called sex-scenes are reduced to kissing, one time in slo-mo (what the hell Allen??) And after the sex which is always skipped the women cover up their tits from the man they just had sex with. Oh and apparently in Spain artists are rich and successful. As one of Javiers artist friends own a small plane. And of course Javier can fly it and lives in a very nice villa and he has a sportscar. It's ridiculous. And don't even get me started on the fact that Scarletts character just accepts it when Javier brings home ihis psychotic ex girlfriend who tried to kill him. A normal girl would have packed her bags and left. But not only does Scarlett stay. The three of them eventually becomes lovers until Scarlett gets restless for no reason at all, except that that is how her character is suppose to be and leaves them. So Hall can come back into the Picture with Javier.Come on, Allen, that's just poor writing. It's also bigot and racist the way Spanish people are portrayed as irresponsible passionate people who only care about sex and never about the consequenses. Yes that is also how they behave in Almodóvars movies, but its in a bizare yuniviverse and it's pure comedy. This movie however tries to come off as a serious drama. Where the uptight Americans in the movie are the ones acting like people should be acting. The fact that Javier and Cruzes characters have that love/hate relationship, Means that they will never be happy. According to Allen. But at least they have passion and are alive, unlike the boring Americans. What made it possible for me to suffer through this snooze fest, is the stunning Johannson and absolutely beautiful Cruz. The chemistry between Javier and Johansson and between Javier and Cruz is amazing and very real. Hall, however, is too tall, flat chested, boring and annoying and the kind of woman I would slap around as she's judgmental bitch from the get-go of the movie. Her character was not needed and had she not been in in the movie, it would have been more fun. Also the fact that Hall and Johansson are best friends as they're complete opposites, is not believable. Also they're clearly at different stages in their life and Hall seems to be 10 years older than Scarlett. Avoid this and watch Jamon Jamon instead by Almodovar. And also with Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, only with passionate sex scenes, Spanish food, horny people behaving irresponsibly and lots of fun.

SCManCA I do find the character of Vicky irritating though. As she moves from one guy to the next. I know the point is that she doesn't know what she wants....or thought she did. But why the Ben character then? She's got a husband who she supposedly loves. She meets a Spaniard and begins an affair with him. Which creates her confusion. But then Ben too? What's with his presence in the movie? I think her brief involvement with him is what makes her confusion rather irritating.