Dark Habits

Rating:
Summary: BEWARE!! THIS IS AN EDITED VERSION!!
Review: I must foremost thank Wellspring, the distributor of this film, for releasing this Almodóvar masterpiece on DVD..however..I am not sure who was behind this release..but, being familiar with the original release of this film..I was shocked and perplexed for the fact that this DVD issue is an EDITED version, cutting off approx. 15 mins of this film. I dont know WHy they did this, or what...I felt they cut off some important scenes..

#1..Yolana Bell's opening number, where we first see her performing..she did a song called "Dime" (which is in fact, a Spanish version of Morris Albert's "Feelings")

#2. a conversation among the Redeeming sisters and a redeemed girl from the past, where they run into each other on the Sister's outdoor stand, where they sell cakes, flowers and peppers.

#3. The Sisters' explaining to nuns from their mother chapter, that they had been robbed, talking it over the punch bowl. Also cutting off a funny line, where the sisters gossip over a younger nun, saying that "she's far to pretty for this vocation, but time will take care of that"

#4. A small bit of Sister Rat From Sewer's opening speech before Yolanda's performance for the Mother Superior's birthday party. in this DVD issue, they go straight to Sister Rat talking on stage, completely taking out her peeking out from the curtain and quieting down the crowd.

but ultimately, I am happy that this movie saw the light of day AGAIN, it had been out of print on video for years..so, its a great buy, but be bewared that it's edited. If u have never seen this movie before, then it wont be a problem. Hardcore fans like myself might have a problem.

Rating:
Summary: "There's much beauty in physical deterioration."
Review: In director Pedro Almodovar's Spanish film, "Dark Habits" night club singer Yolanda (Cristina Sanchez Pascual) takes refuge in a convent following the heroin overdose death of her boyfriend. The Convent of the Humble Redeemer is a haven for fallen women, and lately the convent has drifted into hard times. The Convent's nuns, Sister Rat, Sister Snake, Sister Damned and Sister Manure are entirely corrupted by every human vice. Pornography, narcotics and extortion are part of every day life in this unconventional convent. Yolanda becomes involved in the politics of the convent and also in a scheme to extort money from an aging Marquise, the convent's former benefactress.

Yolanda is a very typical Almodovar hard-luck heroine--tough, yet vulnerable--a survivor above all else. And Almodovar's sardonic yet generous worldview is clearly present here. It's interesting to note that this is essentially a film full of women--with a token priest and a boyfriend thrown in for good measure. Many of Almodovar's great leading ladies are here--Carmen Maura, Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, and Chus Lampreave. "Dark Habits" is a black comedy, but there are undeniable social criticisms here too. Just as "sin has a bitter and dark taste" this film is not a light comedy by any means. The plot, while a little thin, explores the nature of sin in its many manifestations. "Dark Habits" is an early Almodovar film. That means it's low budget and not mainstream. While the sexual content of the film is relatively mild for an Almodovar film, many viewers will be offended by the film's attitude towards religion. Die-hard Almodovar fans will enjoy the film--although it's certainly not his best. For those new to Almodovar, I recommend beginning with "All About My Mother" "Women on The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" and "Talk to Her."--displacedhuman


Rating:
Summary: Sad Release
Review: It is amazing that after all these years wating for such a great movie on DVD it finallly comes out with some scenes deleted... plus the DVD transfer is not so great... avoid this and go for the VHS, it contains the complete movie and quality is about the same...

Rating:
Summary: The Pleasures of Pedro Almodovar
Review: Perhaps it is because Spain is the place of origin of the Surrealism movement in art that has propelled Pedro Almodovar's career. But whatever the genes or historical influences, Almodovar is one of the most consistently creative and outrageous directors working in the industry today. The public has become aware of his gifts through his recent tender films (All About My Mother, Talk To Her, etc) but this zany romp dates back to 1983 when he was able to take on anything and create parody (Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down, Matador, etc).

This time around it is the Catholic Church he examines. A convent exists for women in the throes of desperation (drugs, prostitution, other crimes) and the Sisters all bear humiliating names (Sister Rat of the Sewer, Sister Manure, etc) as per the design of the order. The hilarity comes form the sub-vocations of the nuns which include dealing and using heavy drugs, writing pulp novels, voyeurism, etc. Even the Priest affiliated with the convent is more committed to sewing gaudy dresses than tending to his parish. The story is slight - a victim singer takes refuge in the declining convent and helps to salvage its support from a stingy and wealthy widow of their main source of financing. Things just get crazy, zany, and at times ridiculous, but you just can't help liking this batch of ladies. A refreshing romp!

Rating:
Summary: If you love this movie, the DVD is not for you
Review: Sadly, this release has been edited. Four to five scenes have been deleted and, for the life of me, I cannot understand the reason behind these cuts. The scenes in question did not contain any material that could be offensive to anybody. Maybe the studio has plans to release the "Director's cut" in a few months, thus hoping, that all of us idiots would go out and buy it again.

Rating:
Summary: If you love this movie, the DVD is not for you
Review: Sadly, this release has been edited. Four to five scenes have been deleted and, for the life of me, I cannot understand the reason behind these cuts. The scenes in question did not contain any material that could be offensive to anybody. Maybe the studio has plans to release the "Director's cut" in a few months, thus hoping, that all of us idiots would go out and buy it again.

Rating:
Summary: Old School Almodovar
Review: Seeing that Almodovar's new movie (La Mala Educacion) has to do with the catholic church, I felt it appropriate to go back and see this old one. Glad I did. Very funny film.
Though the dvd quality is not that great (and several scenes have been deleted), the film still stands up to the test of time. A drugged out singer takes refuge in a convent run by nuns with serious issues. These nuns do heroin, drop acid, read trashy novels, and even have lesbian tendencies.
The acting is great, the women (most of whom you are familiar with if you've seen other Almodovar films, Carmen Maura, Marisa Paredes, etc)do a fine job, they created a very charming and entertaining group of "sisters."
While this is not the best Almodovar film, it is still a funny ditty that is better than 95% of the films that come out these days.

Rating:
Summary: dark satire that shows a humorous side to Spanish religion
Review: While this movie dragged a bit and is slightly cheezy, there is definitely deeper meaning in it. A tiger in the church? Mother Superior snorting coke? It's all messed up in a truly creative way.