Blood & Sand

Rating:
Summary: Incredible movie!
Review: This is such an incredible movie, at least as good as any movie of today. People who complain that silent movies are boring or obsolete clearly haven't watched any or seen an incredible one like this. There are enough periodic text blocks on the screen to convey what's going on or what someone just said to follow along just fine, and the rest of the time yoiu can follow along by watching the interactions between the characters, facial expressions, and body language. Some silent movies may be overacted, but this one isn't; maybe people of today have just forgotten how to process emotions and a story through nonverbal channels, or what a truly expressive face looks like.

This was the first Valentino movie I saw, and now I like him even more. He looks even more beautiful in motion than he does in still pictures, and you can appreciate that he was more than just a stunningly beautiful face. So many modern-day actors don't have faces that are that expressive, nor can they convey emotions like tenderness, lust, sensuality, sexuality, anger, shock, surprise, etc., through their body language and other nonverbal cues. The wedding night scene, when Juan goes to find the nervous Carmen, holds her from behind, and sweeps his hand out, is incredibly erotic; I find it much more thrilling than a graphic sex scene. The brooding sexuality and all that's left unsaid and undone leaves so much more to the imagination, and being as old-fashioned as I am, I feel that less is truly more. The scene where he gets down on his knees and begs Carmen for forgiveness as he holds her and rests his head against her side is also very tender and moving. And so much of the character he plays wasn't acting; he really was that caring, gentle, tender, emotional, loving, and passionate in real life. His heart and soul were just as beautiful as his face.

The ending is incredibly powerful, emotional, and chilling as well. The whole movie stays with you for a long time. They really don't make movies or actors like that anymore.

Rating:
Summary: Wow.
Review: Whoa. I have got to say. "Blood and Sand" was the very first slient flim I didn't have to sing the "boring" song for. I mean, the acting was great, the screeplay was awesome (considering it was based on my favorite book.). The directing was good, too. In fact, there was nothing wrong with it-only the slience! It's true. Even the young people, I think, would like it.