Rating: Summary: HAUNTINGLY POIGNANT Review: While most of the movie-goers will focus on the inevitable irony of Nicole Kidman starring in a movie produced by her erstwhile husband Tom Cruise, THE OTHERS directed by Alejandro Amenabar of Open Your Eyes fame scores beautifully with its elegantly controlled suspense and horror. Just when you thought Ms. Kidman's career has taken a backseat after the divorce, she slams critics with an intensifying performance as Grace, the mother of two children, Annie and Nick (James Bentley) subjected to a mysterious disease that forbids them to come under strong light. With the misty landscape of a British coast and a cavernous mansion, where Grace practises locking one door before entering the next to prevent sunlight from filtering in - the mystery sets in - even more so after a housekeeper Mrs. Mills with her motley gang steps in. THE OTHERS may lack the intrigue in the Sixth sense as a paramormal scarefest but it boasts an unexpected twist that justifies the slow pacing. The performance of Ms. Kidman as a forlorn wife waiting for the return of her husband (Christopher Eccleston) is sterlingly vulnerable and emotive. THE OTHERS after a slew of right-in-your-face horror gore offered by this summer's Jeepers Creepers and 13th ghost is almost acutely refreshing. With its seasoned acting and Amenabar's prudent directing, it more than compensates for the gloomy mood enshrouding the movie that tests the patience of the audience. However, when the ending is revealed, the melancholic tragedy of Grace comes out hauntingly poignant and judiciously rewards the audience for the wait.
Rating: Summary: Absolutely Brilliant! Review: This is the best horror movie I have seen, really really scary! DO NOT MISS IT!!
Rating: Summary: One of the best films of 2001! Review: I was blown away by "The Others"! It's one of the best made thrillers I've seen in awhile, right up there with "The Sixth Sense"! The suspense in this film is almost unbearable at times, and the thrills and surprises just keep coming out you. "The Others" is a first-class thriller; it manages to be terrifying without a lot of blood and gore, which is what many horror movies now resort as a result of a poorly written script. Nicole Kidman was dazzling and extremely convincing in one of her best performances yet. I defintely think that she is one of the best actresses out there! I was very impressed with how she went from being a courtesan in "Moulin Rouge" to a religious mother in "The Others". She is truly a very talented actress; one of the best actresses out there in my opinion! The costumes and effects were excellent! The "haunted house" set was perfect; foggy, dark, and mysterious; perfect for the story.
Rating: Summary: Surprise! Review: I saw this movie with no expectations at all, really. And was I up for a surprise! I saw it a couple of months ago and it is still with me, it always will be, I suppose. The story is about a woman who has fled to a big house in the country, to avoid the war (2WW). She lives in that big victorian house with her two children who have a strange disease which makes them intolerant to daylight(!). The children tells her about a boy who visits them at night and one day she herself hears strange sounds from inside the house. A piano playing... footsteps... doors opening and closing... Someone or something is there. Who are they..? And why are they there..? The story is pretty much a classical ghoststory. The set is wonderful, mist over the plains, moonlight, the old house, a fogotten cemetary... It all adds up to a beautiful and suggestive atmosphere. If you liked "Sixth sense" you'll love this! Nicole Kidman is great as the woman, she has a cool air about her and you keep wondering what her secret is. The ending is... something special! Prepare to be surprised by this quiet, beautiful and scaring movie!
Rating: Summary: Excelente film! Review: One of the best movies of ghosts ever made !
Rating: Summary: Great Twist at the end Review: After reading a few other reviews of this film, it seems that too many people are comparing it with Sixth Sense. Sure, the ending is very similar, but is conducted in an entirely different way and the storyline up until this point is completely different. The setting and characters could hardly be accused as similar, and the idea behind it, I think, is actually quite original. Once the film had ended, my thoughts did not immediately turn to Sixth Sense but made me think over the events and actually sent a shiver down my spine. I thought that the setting was very atmosphetic and was scary without resorting to mass-killing sprees and psychotics. I enjoyed the film because it kept me guessing until the end, and even after the conclusion had been brought to light I still had it rattling around in my head. The key to enjoying this film however, is NOT going into the theatre with thoughts of other films in your head... you sit down and think about the film itself, not the ones it is slightly similar to!!!!
Rating: Summary: Very Thought Provoking....... Review: This film must be seen. Over-shadowed by Harry Potter and slated by many in the papers, I thought this an excellent, atmospheric film without the needless blood-shed and violence found too often in such film. It is mainly built on suspense and aided by superb acting by Nicole Kidman who will surely get an award for her role as the secluded, helpless mother in a weird house with only the motley crew of servants (including Eric Sykes). There are parts in the film where the heart stops and, by the end, leaves you thinking which is a sure sign you've seen a good'en. It can be enjoyed by all (not sure why it is a 12).
Rating: Summary: The Others Review: "The Others" is, in essence, a typical ghost story. Swirling mist, eerie green light and mysterious piano playing all contribute to creating an effective ambience in which the characters experience strange going-ons. Grace, played by Nicole Kidman, lives in a large isolated house on the island of Jersey in 1945. Her two children suffer from an allergy to light, doors are kept locked and curtains drawn in Grace's attempt to protect Anne and Nicholas from the sun's rays. (As a result much of the film is in dim light and the suspense is built up with the fumbling of keys trying to get in and out of rooms.) When three 'visitors' turn up at the house Grace receives them in and is grateful that they can now take the place of the servants who "mysteriously disappeared a few days ago". Unfortunately not all her problems are solved when she discovers there are 'intruders' in the house. The Others is not a bad film, on the contrary, the acting is faultless, the atmosphere suitably chilling and certain touches in particular are very effective; such as Grace's frantic search for the intruders to the backdrop of her daughter's bible reading, and the beautiful image of Grace as she stands against the wrought iron gates. The story line does, however, lack the structure and definition which have made similar films (namely The Sixth Sense) so memorable. The film seems to waver somewhere in the middle and as it nears the end the audience are almost craving a final momentous twist. When delivered, though, it fails to give the 'punch' that is expected and leaves the viewer less than satisfied.
Rating: Summary: Well....It was Okay....I guess........... Review: I usually do not watch movies, specially suspense ones but I was invited so I had to watch this movie. It seemed as if I had already seen the movie before. To me it looked like it pulled a lot of ideas from other suspenseful movies and put them all together to make one movie. Nicole Kidmans acting was pretty good, although I have seen her do better roles. I guess this was just not her movie. Besides her I would say that 75 percent of the rest of the actors were horrible and not believable. Its no wonder that they are not popular. The plot (up until the end) is very predictable. The end is very unpredictable, but very similar to another movie I was dragged to see. I will try to give you a brief summery of the movie that wont give away much. The movie starts off years ago. I think it was the 1940's. Three people are walking up to an old house . Around them there is a lot of fog. They are servants and they are looking for work so they go to a big house that sits alone around a large gate. Then a lady opens the door and hires them . She has peculiar rules around the house. The blinds must always be drawn. And when you open one door you must always close it immediately when you reach you destination. (...) The lady keeps the children very well disciplined. If they disobey a rule the lady makes them read the bible. A few weird things happen and they suspect ghost. If you like what you hear then by all means, watch this movie! I just gave it three stars because it is not my kind of movie. Some people like it. Its all about your opinion. Thank you for reading this.
Rating: Summary: Slick Take On a Classic Genre Review: I'm not going to repeat the praise of other 4/5 star reviews, although everything they say definitely stands. I'd just like to say that 'The Others' proves that the genre of the 'haunted house movie' can be replicated with real panache in the 21st century. The slow, suspenseful build up, sometime shocks, twists and turns follow the conventions of the genre very stylishly. Anyone who felt this film 'plodding' probably doesn't appreciate the slow build up of suspense required to be effectve with this kind of story. Go and see it, and the best advice I can give, is don't bother trying to guess the twists in the tale, just allow yourself to sit back and be entertained. Another piece of advice is: don't read any of the negative reviews here before you see the movie, because from what i've read on these pages, many of those who didn't enjoy it seem determined to selfishly reveal vital plot points to people without considering that this totally ruins a movie for most of us.
|