This movie didn't received a 5 star rating in my list because it was not in Spanish. For those who do not know this already, El amor en los tiempos de cólera is a novel from Grabriel García Marquéz a price Nobel winner from Colombia. His work is know for his amazing narrations using magical realism and the elegant description that will make you part of whatever he is narrating. It didn't seem ok to me that such vast language as his original work, got lost in the simplicity of English. Must of his cast are Spanish speakers, and even though everything was well executed it lacked the exquisite sensation provided by the romance language which gave birth to such and amazing fiction.
Okay, first of all, I want to point out some of the movie's actors, which happen to be of my favorites too. Javier Bardem : Probably one of the best actors of our time.He's capable of doing anything, in its best way! Giovanna Mezzogiorno : Her remarkable performance in Facing Windows is enough for every actor! Catalina Sandino Moreno : The wonderful sensation of 2004, with Maria Full of Grace. John Leguizamo : Great, underrated actor. and the list can go on like this, but sadly, the combination of all these great actors plus a great director, Mike Newell, has turned into a disastrous movie.Specially the first half is intolerable! It's made into a cheap love movie, which made me laugh hard, when I was supposed to feel for the characters! The story, is nowhere near Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "100 Years of Solitude" as well.(I've not yet finished the book.)
It could have been a masterpiece yet the adaptation was trying so hard to follow the book that missed the essence and failed to depict the atmosphere of the era.
It took 22 years to transfer the Oprah-endorsed and much-loved literary romance to the big screen; however, even at 138 minutes, their still seems to be holes in the story...
The plot jumps several years at a time with no indication of how much time has passed. The characters age through the use of makeup and prosthetics, but the South American heat is not kind to this classic movie effect which makes it look sloppy at times. And although the story is charming, the translation moves too quickly through their lives causing the narrative to appear incomplete...
For a full DVD review, visit: http://www.popjournalism.ca/magazine/2008/03/18/new-on-dvd-march-18/
However I dislike this Gabbie's novel just like most of his works in the last two decades, the adapted film makes it seem as a great masterpiece and an eternal sign of fidelity. If there are sentimental, melodramatic hints all over the book, the film turns to be a silly love folly like Bollywood melodramas - or even worst their Iranian counterparts before 1979, mainly referred as FILMFARSI... Indeed a European director can not see the storyline, when confined in the bonds of rationality... Then even a remarkable one like Newell can spoil a brilliant cast to give out their worst perfs ever...
one of my favorites books...actually more than a book.. the movie skips like others book-based films, importants parts of the history, but is ok in order to not make a 4 hour long movie, i guess you should read the book to enjoy the movie... and even if you wont see the movie YOU SHOULD READ THE BOOK
i loved it.. if you have read any of the author's books than you won't have the tolerance to watch. parts of it was funny .. lil bits were dragged out.. but it was worth watching.
Started skipping through after the first quarter. It seemed lifeless. Too strange to see Javier Bardem as a romantic lead after No Country for Old Men...
This film had potential but was easily destroyed by the poor concept and bad execution. The make-up was pathetic, the directing was just average, it seemed like it was done by an amateur filmmaker who just graduated film school. I have problems with the language they spoke. Its supposed to be in Colombia where people speaks Spanish, not choppy and unpleasant English. The plot of the film really did have potential but it was butchered by the people who was behind it. It ended up just like those generic love stories that knows no borders.
But on the other hand, at least the lush visuals and colorful landscapes at least upped the films ante even for a little bit. It felt like you are just watching the film because of the rich texture of the landscape, never minding the unfolding plot.
Javier Bardem loses his mop top bowl cut and takes on a charming young man of 20th century Colombia. His performance is quite okay but his chop socky accent is just too painful to hear. Female lead Giovanna Mezzogiorno and Benjamin Bratt were just okay.
"Cholera" is an okay film, I enjoyed the rich background but the make-up was just pathetic. 2.5
Moves a little slowly, but in the end, it's worth the watch. Heartwrenching to see Florentino (Javier Bardem) as he pines away for Fermina, the love of his life, trying to find solace in the arms (or beds) of hundreds of women. He carries a torch for his love over a period of more than 50 years after she jilts him and marries another. (WOW!)
I'd say this one is mostly for the ladies, though my husband enjoyed it, also.
Was a pretty good love story. I just don't see that someone would wait that long for love when they were jilted in the first place. I didn't really care for that point of the story.
Decent movie but long! It was worth watching but if you want a better love story set in the cholera time watch "The Painted Veil". 53 years and 600ish women is a little excessive... Skip this one.
Man this was such a long Movie! Wow...I never read the Book so I wasn't even sure what this was about. Seen some previews and it looked interesting...! It was pretty good. Very romantic how this man had the patience to wait that dang long to be with the love of his life, but I could've done without all the senseless sex scenes. Other then it...it was OK!
Basiclly romantic dribble, but decently made romantic dribble. If you're looking for a romantic film Love in the Time of Cholera would probably be a decent choice.
Seems like this movie lasts forever. First 40 minutes I was still hoping that Newell will bring the audience to somekind of climax or the point of the story (I haven't read the novel so I completely clueless). The next 40 minutes I was still awake an waited for the turning point and that Newell will redeem his fault in the awful first 80 minutes, but the credits came out, I was shocked that I have spent 2 hours (2?It felt like 4?!) watching about a silly grandpa waited for the love of his life, and I adore Bardem's acting, he made me completely don't get what this movie about. All his desperation and silly cries made me sick and unhonored this movie. By the way, the song by Shakira eased my pain, but not too much.
this movie was umm..pretty gross.LOL, nah seriously this movie centers this guy who turns out 2 be a complete psycho obsessed guy who cant let go of his long-ago crush, that is despite knowing she has moved on with her life (married n all), and knowing that she doesn't want anything 2 do wit him, he still haunts her. The other downside of this film is when they start showing how he dealt and the events that followed after his depression...Well "shockingly" he turns out 2 be a complete man whore.lol, Yea,.this movie had excessive unnecessary nudity--which i found 2 b complete downer. Overall, i totally don't recommend this movie :(
Antes que nada debo admitir que no leí el libro asi que no tenia tantas espectativas sobre esta pelicula. No es mala pero no me impresionó, me parece que le faltó un poco a las actuaciones y especialmente, en cuanto al maquillaje.
if you have read the book when you were very young then you must have pictured the characters in your mind, it's nice to see how the director pictures them,of course the big star is gabriel garcia marques,I also enjoyed the sound track.
MCT:July 22, 2008
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