Solas

Rating:
Summary: outstanding film; technically horrible dvd
Review: "Solas" is -- hands down -- an outstanding film that paints a realistic portrait of some of the contemporary issues in Spanish culture. This version of the DVD, however, is totally worthless. For one, the presentation is a poorly mastered 4:3, with a large, distracting black bar running along one side of the screen. The sound is nothing special (2 channel), and it is impossible to turn off the subtitles, which is annoying if you speak Spanish and don't want to look at them. There are no extras beyond a few trailers. Overall, this DVD does not do this incredible film justice, especially when you factor in its relatively high cost. This is an unfortunate delivery system for a brilliant film.

Rating:
Summary: outstanding film; technically horrible dvd
Review: "Solas" is -- hands down -- an outstanding film that paints a realistic portrait of some of the contemporary issues in Spanish culture. This version of the DVD, however, is totally worthless. For one, the presentation is a poorly mastered 4:3, with a large, distracting black bar running along one side of the screen. The sound is nothing special (2 channel), and it is impossible to turn off the subtitles, which is annoying if you speak Spanish and don't want to look at them. There are no extras beyond a few trailers. Overall, this DVD does not do this incredible film justice, especially when you factor in its relatively high cost. This is an unfortunate delivery system for a brilliant film.

Rating:
Summary: A Major Success!
Review: An old woman visits her daughter in the city due to the illness of the father and, she changes both her daughter's life and another total stranger's...

This is an incredibly beautiful movie. The theme is a superb representation of the change in social interaction between people, may it be within family or with perfect strangers. The alienation and isolation of people in bigger cities and how it is different in small villages. It is a lovely story of human condition.

Also the movie can be a good representative of any Mediterrenean culture from Spain to Turkey. The social norms and values and the struggle of people within their social framework.

Only on thing that I have a problem with, and that is if you look at the cover picture or the image on the DVD, there is the young woman, about to kiss somebody (and you can't tell if it's a man or another woman), well I don't remember that scene, my DVD did not have it and it doesn't really matter. I think the smaller image with the mom and the daughter is a better representative of the movie.

Anyways... If you are after good quality movies, you should definitely watch this one.

Rating:
Summary: Movie Lover
Review: There are many good movies, lots who deserve to be clear winners among others in their time.

But this one is stunning, easily up there with some of the most profound, beautiful and simple movies ever made. This movie moves you.

Fabulous actors, just shows you how good a movie can get. No need for expensive equipment, big explosions to keep the viewer interested. You are glued because it's all happening right there and then in front of you ... Life ... is right there in front of you, powerful but subtle.

Hats off to those involved in its production, can't thank them enough, a true masterpiece.

Poor sound? did I hear someone complain? Myself, I did not find this problem, just used the stereo signal via an optical cable and it sounded fine, maybe not as good as DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1, but the stereo recording is good enough if your system is good enough to reveal it. Use good cables from your DVD player to your receiver and to your speakers and you will hear for yourself. I can't complain.

This movie joins Jean De Florette, Manon of the Springs, Malena, Ciao Professore, The Godfather, Amistad, Kolya, Unfaithful, Amelie, Il Postino, Mediterraneo, Un Coer En Hiver, Il Signor Quindicipalle, Schindler's List, Girl with the Pearl Earing, The English Patient, Indecent Proposal, Splendour in the Grass ... a select group in cinema history, all of which I happily have available in my house.

A must for anyone who can appreciate life, anyway it may be!

Rating:
Summary: Stunning
Review: There are many good movies, lots who deserve to be clear winners among others in their time.

But this one is stunning, easily up there with some of the most profound, beautiful and simple movies ever made. This movie moves you.

Fabulous actors, just shows you how good a movie can get. No need for expensive equipment, big explosions to keep the viewer interested. You are glued because it's all happening right there and then in front of you ... Life ... is right there in front of you, powerful but subtle.

Hats off to those involved in its production, can't thank them enough, a true masterpiece.

Poor sound? did I hear someone complain? Myself, I did not find this problem, just used the stereo signal via an optical cable and it sounded fine, maybe not as good as DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1, but the stereo recording is good enough if your system is good enough to reveal it. Use good cables from your DVD player to your receiver and to your speakers and you will hear for yourself. I can't complain.

This movie joins Jean De Florette, Manon of the Springs, Malena, Ciao Professore, The Godfather, Amistad, Kolya, Unfaithful, Amelie, Il Postino, Mediterraneo, Un Coer En Hiver, Il Signor Quindicipalle, Schindler's List, Girl with the Pearl Earing, The English Patient, Indecent Proposal, Splendour in the Grass ... a select group in cinema history, all of which I happily have available in my house.

A must for anyone who can appreciate life, anyway it may be!

Rating:
Summary: a wonderfully done movie purely made for poor people only
Review: this is a very profound movie but only made for financial poor people to watch. rich, successful, or born rich people won't appreciate this movie and actually won't give a damn. to the rich and successful, it's just a pathetic and hopeless movie, showing bunch of losers trying to get by daily. but to a poor guy like me, this is a very profound movie with no commercial gaining purpose when put into production. amazingly good acting by all of the characters, loving mother, disgusting tyranny father-a typical pig for lifetime, a loser daughter finally became a better single-parenting person, a wonderful grumpy old man with die-hard positive view of life. again, a movie for the poor to gain one inch more of hope during struggling, but definitely not a movie for the yuppies on higher social ladder.

Rating:
Summary: Movie Lover
Review: This was an exceptional movie. I saw it over six months ago and it still lingers in my mind. A wonderful tale of heartbreak and redemption, a story of creating the life you want--I would suggest this movie to anyone who likes foreign films.