Open Your Eyes (Abre los ojos) (Permanent Midnight) (1997)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jan Marc M

  
  Open Your Eyes is a mischievous and confusing fantasy playing with reality. Leading and puzzling, The Hollywood remake Vanilla Sky in 2001 can only dream on imitating the subtle approach to the idea in the original Open Your Eyes. An eye-opener.

• Gregory D

  
  This is definately a film one should watch with the American version. Seeing Cruz act in the same script as a different character is very rare. Being able to view the same scenes done with different cinematography is also interesting. The movie is strange and sorrowful in any… More
  This is definately a film one should watch with the American version. Seeing Cruz act in the same script as a different character is very rare. Being able to view the same scenes done with different cinematography is also interesting. The movie is strange and sorrowful in any language.

• Cassandra M

  
  Abre los ojos......abre los ojos.... open your eyes.....open your eyes.... This is how the movie begins... I saw Vanilla sky first so agree that that may have spoilt somewhat the power of Abre Los Ojos, which I believe is a more fly-on-the-wall insight into the film compared to… More
  Abre los ojos......abre los ojos.... open your eyes.....open your eyes.... This is how the movie begins... I saw Vanilla sky first so agree that that may have spoilt somewhat the power of Abre Los Ojos, which I believe is a more fly-on-the-wall insight into the film compared to Vanilla Sky. However, as with any foreign language film, I feel it is almost impossible to entirely "get" the sentiment/meaning of the film unless you can understand/hear it in the original language. I can speak Spanish pretty well but I was unable to pick up any particular memorable quotes, without the aid of the subtitles. (and subtitles can be very loosely translated). For example, I'm not sure "f**k buddy" and "the sweet ain't as sweet without the sour" from Vanilla sky would truly represent the intended meaning if translated to Spanish. Perfect cast for this role. And then there is Penelope Cruz. I knew that she is a great actress...but now I know that she is brilliant. She is so beautiful in this movie you want to die lol And she did a excellent job too. She played fantastic. Overall, I thought Abre los Ojos was a more gritty and realistic version of the story. Contrastingly, I enjoyed Vanilla Sky because of the pop culture references and the soundtrack and the cheesy Hollywood moments.

• Lady D

  
  I hadn't realised that Vanilla Sky had been a remake when I'd watched it, but shortly into this film, it became very familiar. Interestingly Peneleope Cruz plays the same role in both versions of the film and the similarities do not end there, as pretty much the whole… More
  I hadn't realised that Vanilla Sky had been a remake when I'd watched it, but shortly into this film, it became very familiar. Interestingly Peneleope Cruz plays the same role in both versions of the film and the similarities do not end there, as pretty much the whole film is like for like, just on a smaller scaled budget. I always find a remake interesting when it originates from a different language.

• Alice S

  
  It's difficult to rate the original now without comparing it to the remake. It deserves credit for the wildly fascinating and mind-blowing concept. However I didn't get a full sense of the characters and their motivations for hurting each other, falling in love, or… More
  It's difficult to rate the original now without comparing it to the remake. It deserves credit for the wildly fascinating and mind-blowing concept. However I didn't get a full sense of the characters and their motivations for hurting each other, falling in love, or succumbing to vanity. The score is too blatantly "thriller" and detracted from the eerie, ethereal quality of dreams and nightmares.

• Greg S

  
  After a handsome playboy suffers a disfiguring accident, he finds it increasingly difficult to distibguish reality from his nightmares. Well-scripted mindbender has emotional depth and carries the viewer along to a conclusion that successfully ties up loose ends. In Spanish with… More
  After a handsome playboy suffers a disfiguring accident, he finds it increasingly difficult to distibguish reality from his nightmares. Well-scripted mindbender has emotional depth and carries the viewer along to a conclusion that successfully ties up loose ends. In Spanish with subtitles.

• Christopher M

  
  I'm glad that it's been several years since I saw Vanilla Sky (the American remake), and that it wasn't especially memorable, because having forgotten most of the plot I could enjoy the original without having to compare them (as such I won't compare them in this… More
  I'm glad that it's been several years since I saw Vanilla Sky (the American remake), and that it wasn't especially memorable, because having forgotten most of the plot I could enjoy the original without having to compare them (as such I won't compare them in this review, either). The beauty of this film is that, along with the excellent script, it's made exceptionally well in that: although certain points of the plot do get somewhat complicated, the director never allows the details to overpower the essence of the story, or to convolute the beauty of what is on screen. Indeed, though there is science involved and it's somewhat of a mystery film, it remains very ethereal and exists on a higher plane than the typical thriller/mystery fare. The film stars Eduardo Noriega as a very dashing, wealthy man who, after finding the love of his love (in the form of Penelope Cruz, who played the same role in the remake), is involved in a car crash and has his face, which for him is his livelihood, largely destroyed. The film raises a ton of questions in its running, but has the good sense to answer them to some degree, but also to leave the film very much up to interpretation. Such ambiguousness really permeates the entire film and gives it an existential twinge. As I said, the film is often exquisitely beautiful, and the soundtrack matches its aesthetic very well. The acting from both leads (and several of the supporting actors) is top-notch, though I had the same problem I've had with every film starring Penelope Cruz: she's just so damned beautiful I'm often in danger of being distracted from the rest of the film completely! My own fault, though. So this is a great film, and since I can barely remember anything about Vanilla Sky, I think it's pretty safe to say the original is very much superior.

• Curtis L

  
  Sceen for sceen Vanilla Sky took from this movie. It was an EXACT copy, and even used the same actress (Penelope). I therefore must give this one better praise because I HATE tome cruise.

• Jennifer X

  
  I don't really like scifi, and I'm pretty positive Vanilla Sky, its English counterpart, would be a complete failure, but for its genre, this is a pretty darn good movie. It explores the more emotional themes in the beginning and makes me genuinely care about the characters,… More
  I don't really like scifi, and I'm pretty positive Vanilla Sky, its English counterpart, would be a complete failure, but for its genre, this is a pretty darn good movie. It explores the more emotional themes in the beginning and makes me genuinely care about the characters, while taking on a Lynch-esque twist in the second half ala "bending reality" which is kind of creepy, kind of cool, and kind of confusing.

• Elvira B

  
  BEFORE Cameron Crowe and Tom Cruise butchered this movie turning it into pop-culture-infused-sentimental-nonsense as "Vanilla Sky", this movie was good. It still is. Three reasons to see it: a) The Hitchcockian atmosphere within the scifi plot b) Eduardo Noriega's… More
  BEFORE Cameron Crowe and Tom Cruise butchered this movie turning it into pop-culture-infused-sentimental-nonsense as "Vanilla Sky", this movie was good. It still is. Three reasons to see it: a) The Hitchcockian atmosphere within the scifi plot b) Eduardo Noriega's performance, yeah he reacts to things like normal people would c) Penelope Cruz doesnt act like the girl out of someone's wet dreams. Her character is actually believable.

• Drew S

  
  An extremely strong thriller. The movie is visually lackluster and paced a little bit slowly (nothing really happens for the first 35 minutes), but it picks up extremely well past that point. It's difficult to keep your head above the plot as it starts to unravel, but rewarding… More
  An extremely strong thriller. The movie is visually lackluster and paced a little bit slowly (nothing really happens for the first 35 minutes), but it picks up extremely well past that point. It's difficult to keep your head above the plot as it starts to unravel, but rewarding nonetheless. And hey, you get to see some Penelope Cruz tittays, so it's not a total loss even if you don't like the film.

• Megan S

  
  so basically this is the movie that Vanilla Sky was "based on." no. Vanilla Sky, took this movie, redid it in english, added english actors, kept penelope cruz and then called it a new movie. are they allowed to do that? it was exactly the same movie. but i liked the spanish… More
  so basically this is the movie that Vanilla Sky was "based on." no. Vanilla Sky, took this movie, redid it in english, added english actors, kept penelope cruz and then called it a new movie. are they allowed to do that? it was exactly the same movie. but i liked the spanish movie way better. there were a few extra scenes and stuff that were in it so that i wasnt totally confused at the end like i was when i watched vanilla sky. plus i dont like tom cruise.

• Ross C

  
  Infinitely better than the American version (Vanilla Sky) this was the first movie for years to give me nightmares!

• Michael G

  
  Slightly better than Vanilla Sky.

• Deb S

  
  Abre los ojos......abre los ojos.... open your eyes.....open your eyes.... When spoilt, pretty boy Cesar (Eduardo Noriega) is disfigured in a car crash, his world falls apart. He can no longer take his adoration by women for granted; he seems to be having problems distinguishing… More
  Abre los ojos......abre los ojos.... open your eyes.....open your eyes.... When spoilt, pretty boy Cesar (Eduardo Noriega) is disfigured in a car crash, his world falls apart. He can no longer take his adoration by women for granted; he seems to be having problems distinguishing dreams from reality; and a usurper appears to have taken the place of his girlfriend. To cap it all, he's under arrest for his involvement in a murder that he cannot recall. Personally I wish I had not seen "Vanilla Sky" before this movie. First of all, Eduardo Noriega who incidentally looks a little like Tom Cruise is much more watchable than Cruise considering he spends a good part of the movie hidden under makeup and mask. He portrays the aspects of Cesar cocky, suave, and later confused and desperate, perfectly. Spanish superstar Penelope Cruz always makes good eye candy, though she more than holds her own throughout the film (acting wise). The directing by Alejandro Amenábar was one of the highlights of the movie. He creates a perfect atmosphere and knows how to build up the story and the characters perfectly. What really fascinates me is that you can't tell whether César is dreaming or is he awake. What is real and what's not? Would it have seemed so obvious if I didn't know the twist already from watching Vanilla Sky? I guess I'd be more than flattering myself if I claimed I'd still see it coming. The fact it is accompanied with subtitles is also, quite oddly, a good thing, because you pay more attention to a film you're reading, than one you're watching.

• Justin F

  
  Firstly, I really like the story and concept behind this film and secondly, im one of the few people (it seems) to like the remake also (Vanilla Sky) as I saw that before this. Open Your Eyes is less glitzy and polished than its hollywood remake but this doesnt make it less. You can… More
  Firstly, I really like the story and concept behind this film and secondly, im one of the few people (it seems) to like the remake also (Vanilla Sky) as I saw that before this. Open Your Eyes is less glitzy and polished than its hollywood remake but this doesnt make it less. You can see this film in different ways (depending on the individuals perception) and thats exactly what I like about it. I saw it as looking at how important we regard our physical looks. How would being disfigured change how we see ourselves and how we would react towards others? Possibly with suspicition and self pity just like the main character as physical appearances are probably more important in todays world than ever before. It is also about how only having met someone twice in your life doesnt stop some of us from forming a romantic (unrealistic) view thats so rose tinted that the earth itself would end up looking like the planet Mars. Forming opinions and judgements of people with little or no evidence whatsoever. I preferred the ending in Open Your Eyes as whilst it is essentially the same I felt a little more compassion for the lead role in this when compared to Vanilla Sky. Maybe that was because there was more to dislike in Cruises playboy like depiction? My advice is to watch it (either one) enjoy, and tell me what you see in it?

• Bill C

  
  Its really hard to watch this one after Milli-Vanillie Sky. Vanilla Sky is auch rip-off of this film, its makes this one hard to watch. The only saving grace of this movie is the relationship of Eduardo Noriega and Penelope Cruz is more organic. The production costs are 1/10th and you… More
  Its really hard to watch this one after Milli-Vanillie Sky. Vanilla Sky is auch rip-off of this film, its makes this one hard to watch. The only saving grace of this movie is the relationship of Eduardo Noriega and Penelope Cruz is more organic. The production costs are 1/10th and you end up with a similar and some ways a better product. I would not recommend this to anyone who has seen Vanilla Sky unless you are in lust with Penelope Cruz.

• Donna D

  
  Wow! What a brilliant movie with an intriguing storyline. I didn't know this was compared to Vanilla Sky, but if so, I would stick with this version more because it was well written and directed. Actor Eduardo Noriega's performance is outstanding. I love it. :)

• Daisy M

  
  Although the plot was confusing at times, the story was between dreams and reality. Most of the time I was not sure if what I was watching was really happening or whether it was a nightmare. Eduardo Noriega's acting was so good it's beyond belief, and so was the… More
  Although the plot was confusing at times, the story was between dreams and reality. Most of the time I was not sure if what I was watching was really happening or whether it was a nightmare. Eduardo Noriega's acting was so good it's beyond belief, and so was the "disfiguring" makeup. There was so much I liked about this film. First of all, the script. The dialogue between Sofia and Cesar at first meeting was so natural and believable. The four main characters were absolutely charming and have a connection between each other that is rarely seen in films. This is either good casting or good acting, or maybe a bit of both. As the story unfolds I was completely absorbed. I may not be fully aware of what was happening at times, but I was convinced that an explanation will come in the end. One question: was Vanilla Sky a remake of this Spanish Movie? Still they had different endings, or am I wrong?

• Alex F

  
  Really weird, as everybody says. The weirdest thing, though, is that Noriega doesn't suck.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings