Rating: 
Summary: zzzzzzzz Oh Okay I'm awake.......zzzzzzzzzzz Yeah Ok...zzz
Review: I would like to say that I agree with some of the previous reviewers on this forum that Julia Roberts is not much of an actress. Just a pretty face. I rented this and went into it with a open mind. I haven't seen Julia Roberts in any other movies. This is the first. Julia Roberts did not add anything to the part. Hugh Grant was okay. I haven't seen him in any other movies either. So this was a first for me to see him. Now, as for the film. The story was pretty much bland and it was difficult to hold my interest. The film is very much a boy meets girl/ boy loses girl etc.... and you're basic light, fluff love story. The only humorous portion was Hugh Grant's slob/eccentric roommate and even that was only mildly funny. From what I understand, this is the formula film that Roberts generally is in and she does not change much from that formula. There is not any pretty scenery, vistas or even witty/clever dialogue. I think women would enjoy this film more than men. After watching it, you come away from it feeling like you haven't watched anything of substance. The film does touch on the difficulties that Roberts (who plays a famous movie star) has being famous and contending with the press and gossip in the London newspapers. I think most people would be satisfied to watch this film once and leave it at that. Others might really find it a waste of their time, while I know some people will turn it off after 15 minutes. It's not the worst film I have seen, but it is far, far below the standards of a really good film. I wouldn't recommend this as a film to keep in your DVD library. It is a toss away film. Not bad, just sub-standard all the way around. (I don't see what all the fuss is about regarding Julia Roberts as an actress. I see just a pretty face. There's a lot of prettier women out there in the real world). Two stars folks.
Rating: 
Summary: It's been a long time...
Review: This is truly a lovely movie, and it has been a long time since a romantic comedy has been this enjoyable. This movie may remind you of "When Harry Met Sally" or "Sleepless in Seattle", where the couples are clearly meant for each other, yet have obstacles they must overcome. The acting and dialogue are superb! Hugh Grant, a world-famous actor, is completely convincing as an average bloke, while Julia Roberts goes by Anna Scott and plays herself, a "heavenly" movie star.One review of this movie called it "pure fairy tale." As long as you can believe that it is possible for an actress to truly be a "good person," that she may actually want to live a relatively "normal" life outside of her acting career and may want to start a family of her own, then this statement is false. One specific scene mentioned as difficult to believe was the initial kiss that takes place quite soon after they meet. However, there are two reasons why this scene is believable. First, it is quite obvious that she is impressed from the start with his wit, sensitivity, and honesty, especially compared to the other men who are falling over themselves when they meet her. Secondly, this kiss may be a sort of test. In a city filled with reporters trying to get a story and her pictures plastered everywhere, her life has to be secretive as much as possible. Perhaps she wanted to see if she would be reading about the incident in the next day's paper before she allowed herself to get too close. She gave him quite the opportunity to brag to his friends or family, but he does not. This movie is quite entertaining to watch the first, second and even fifth time.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I think all of the previous reviewers are crazy!!!!<br />This film was amazing!<br />If you like romantic comedies, you'll love it.<br />An amazing love story that is hilarious. Also, I want to defend Julia Roberts. She is not just a "pretty face." She has done some amazing work and is a dedicated and hard working actor. Cut her some slack!!
Rating:
Summary: EXTENSIVELY AMAZING
Review: i really love this film.It s my first dvd and it s a complete fun to romantic-comedy lovers.
The film is so sincere because it tells us the life.Life is full of miracles.It could happen next to us.
We cannot exist without dreams.After watching the film, i felt like i can do anything which i believe.
THAT 'S A FACT.
Watch it, i m sure you won't regret!
"The touch of your hand says you'll catch me whenever I fall"
Rating:
Summary: Julia Roberts' Best Role Since Pretty Woman
Review: There is a moment in Notting Hill when Julia Roberts, playing movie star Anna Scott, having found herself in the home of travel bookshop owner William Thacker (Hugh Grant) suddenly kisses him. And this is a hell of a kiss, folks, we're not taking a little peck here. Every time I saw this movie in the theatres, or have shown it on DVD to someone who hadn't seen it before, there's always been the same instant reaction: "Oh come ON." That just seems unbelievable to people. I bought it. Completely and in an instant. I guess that means I'm this movie's perfect audience.
I've heard the attitude from numerous people, "Oh, Julia Roberts plays the biggest female movie star in the world. What a stretch. She's just playing herself." They do her a disservice. Frankly I'm amazed Julia's performance in Notting Hill didn't get an least an Academy Award nomination. But then crowd pleasing romantic comedies aren't good Oscar bait. Or is that this woman has given us so much extraordinary work over the years we take her for granted? Watch the scene where Anna's talking to William in his bookshop, late in the film, trying to convince him to give her one more chance. Julia's totally believable as a woman hoping against hope she can salvage the best thing she's ever had in her life, even as she sees it slipping away. Admire the dignity, the barely concealed pain, as she realizes it's not going to happen. Truly, this is the work of a master actress at the height of her powers. During this scene Julia Roberts as Anna pulls you in, you're just dying inside right along with her.
Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant have immense onscreen chemistry. William is such a thoroughly decent guy, sweet and witty and charming though slightly bumbling, it's utterly believable Anna would respond to his genuineness. He's everything she's ever wanted in a man but never had. Not since Julia's turn in Pretty Woman with Richard Gere has she had a male co-star with which she's shared such perfect chemistry. Yeah, this is a mass appeal romantic comedy. And it does it very, very well. Notting Hill is on the short list of films I never tire of watching.
And in the end - as in Pretty Woman - the girl gets the guy for a wholly satisfying payoff.
Rating:
Summary: Can I give it 6 Stars?
Review: An outstanding romantic comedy, Notting Hill, brings to the screen the love story between an Englishman owner of a bookstore and an American movie star with all the ups and downs that that entails!
It is a film about human relations, hope and second chances, but most importantly about trust, love, and inner strength.
Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, and the rest of the cast, have outdone themselves with their performances, which are exceptional to say the least, especially Rhys Ifans' character who as Spike, steals the show! All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows (the chemistry is AMAZING)! Very well written and very well presented, the movie is without a doubt guaranteed to provide more than just a few laughs, not to mention a few tears. The film is simple enough, but does a great job of describing people's every day lives and the problems they face. It just goes to show that simplicity is often far better than complexity, when trying to present issues of a human nature.
The setting, the plot, the dialogues and the music are all wonderful!
In short, Notting Hill is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection!
Rating: 
Summary: Un lugar digno de visitar
Review: Hay un lugar en Inglaterra donde al parecer los cuentos de hadas todavía se hacen realidad: un lugar donde la actriz más famosa de Hollywood, una diosa cuya cara aparece en todas las revistas, periódicos y pantallas de T.V. posibles, se enamorará irracionalmente del dueño de una semi-quebrada librería, un simple y mortal inglés que la verá entrar a su local y a su vida como una especie de sueño mágico, demasiado bueno para ser verdad. Un lugar llamado Notting Hill.
Julia Roberts y Hugh Grant -como Anna Scott y William Thacker- se reunen por vez primera en esta encantadora cinta donde la sombra de la fama y la celebridad amenazan la posibilidad de una relación feliz entre dos seres radicalmente diferentes, y sin embargo, hechizados el uno con el otro.
El desfile acosador de los periodistas no ayudará a la pareja. El comportamiento afectado de los amigos de William tampoco, sin contar a su excéntrico compañero de habitación y la aparición repentina en escena del desagradable novio de Anna.
El peculiar humor inglés es explotado con éxito en Notting Hill, a través de escenás cálidas donde los amigos se reunen para compartir buenos y malos momentos. La ironía, los contrastes de los personajes, las expectativas y la dura realidad son confrontados de forma directa, sin máscaras.
Hugh Grant acierta con la interpretación de un hombre común, agradable y encantador en su propia y única manera; la misma que lo hizo famoso en "Cuatro Bodas y un Funeral". Está perfectamente claro porque una megaestrella se enamoraría de él. Con sutileza, William se las arregla para tratarla sin reconocer que sabe quién es Anna Scott, mientras halla la manera de hacerle notar que sí lo sabe.
Julia Roberts realiza una labor admirable dándole vida a un personaje que se le asemeja mucho, al menos en lo que respecta a su estatus como celebridad. Teniendo la oportunidad de convertir este rol en una parodia de ella misma, optó por crear una Anna Scott con ciertas similitudes a "Julia Roberts: actriz super famosa" pero a la vez diferente y no por eso menos creíble. Sabe como plasmar en pantalla ese "carisma" que hace a la gente congelarse de placer en su presencia, a la actriz ególatra, temperamental y hastiada del acoso periodístico, a la vez que nos muestra "una chica que sólo quiere ser amada".
La contribución del reparto secundario ayuda a la narración de la historia y la creación de una perspectiva realista donde podemos imaginarnos perfectamente al mundo donde un Willian y una Anna se enamoren.
Divertida y mágica, con su elegante nostalgia, Notting Hill es un lugar que vale la pena visitar. No dejen de ir a este vecindario. No se arrepentirán.
Rating:
Summary: Whoopsidaisies!
Review: I first saw this film when it was released in May of 1999. I saw it as an instant love comedy classic combining the taste of Noel Coward as well as the subtle wit of Four Weddings and a Funeral. There was something original about this tale, something that just made the entire movie-going experience monumental. I was very impressed with both the talents of Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, and newcomer (that would eventually make a name of his own) Rhys Ifans. I loved the modern fairy-tale story that Richard Curtis created (and would soon repeat again and again with success) and felt that the chemistry between Grant and Roberts could not have been done by anyone else. America's sweetheart coupled with Britain's poster-child was immaculate. This was a near perfect film that could be rediscovered again and again.
Sadly, I still haven't bought this film, but when my wife and I chose to rent it the other day, I was curious to see if the emotions and excitement that I felt when I initially watched it would survive in the year 2005. Sometimes films have this uncanny habit of becoming dated and musty with age. The jokes seem to be less funny, the characters seem old (because Hollywood may have recycled them in other films), and overall the film just feels like 1999. As I watched this film again, the first time in several years, it became obvious early on that it did not age in any way. The jokes still had me rolling around in my chair with laughter, the quirkiness of the characters still redefined Britain, and Julia Roberts still shined in one of her best roles to date. It was impressive to see how well preserved Curtis was able to keep this body of work.
The characters are what preserve this film so well. I do not think that Hollywood has ever recreated Rhys Ifan's Spike, and if it has it was not as memorable. Hugh Grant is an awesome screen presence with his quick tongue and insecure personality. I have always been a fan of Hugh Grant's work, and am constantly impressed with the resume he has built. Julia is, well, Julia. While some will argue that she plays the same character over and over again, I would have to agree. She is a typecast character, but in Notting Hill it works. She is supposed to play herself, and she pulls it off with the greatest of ease. I did not see this film as a stretch for Julia, but an opportunity to show the world what Grant has to offer. He successfully built this multi-dimensional character that believed in love so deeply that once it was given to someone, it could never be taken back. You don't see that sort of theme in the cinema today. Even the cheesy "boy and girl" line was not as bad as other films. I thought that it fit perfectly and gave Grant a reason to continue. Nothing could be as bad as "You had me at Hello". To see a cheesy romantic comedy last through time is due to the work of Richard Curtis' screenplay and some amazing (yet simple ...which is why this film works so well) direction of Roger Michell.
Overall, I felt the story was bold and imaginative. The characters were played with so much respect and dedication that it felt almost real. It was a love story that has lasted the test of time due to the huge talent and simplistic themes. I laughed through this film again in 2005 just as hard as I did in 1999. That says something about a film if it can still evoke the same emotion nearly six years later. I am impressed with this movie, and with everyone involved. Go see it if you haven't yet, I know you will not be disappointed.
Whoopsidaisies!
Grade: ***** out of *****
Rating:
Summary: Clearly the best romatic comedy in years
Review: I am a woman who loves mysteries and thrillers, yet I found this movie extremely enjoyable. I would not have chosen to watch it had I not been on an airplane at the time and it was the only option. I am so glad I did! I have watched it many times and still enjoy the smart dialogue and the cast of zany characters. The roommate is the best! Even if you don't normally like romantic comedies, take a chance and watch this one. I am pretty sure you will have a good time and want to watch it again.
Rating:
Summary: Julia Roberts is overhyped
Review: Would have done better if they had used another actress besides Julia Roberts. She can't act. Has anyone else noticed that she's the same character in every movie she acts in.
|
