The Others

Rating:
Summary: A great old-fashioned haunted house story
Review: For starters, there are NO SPOILERS HERE. For some reason, a lot of reviewers here find it necessary to spoil the ending of the movie (including one who announces that she hasn't spoiled anything a few sentences after she does).

"The Others" is a wonderfully old fashioned movie, literally the sort of movie they don't make any more. While it is indeed a chilling, even scary, movie, there's nothing in the film that would keep it from being shown on network television. No nudity, no violence, just atmosphere and suspense.

Nicole Kidman plays a mother on an island off the coast of England in 1945. She lives alone in an old house with her two children, both of whom have a severe allergy to light, while they wait for the man of the house to return from the war. The household staff vanishes into thin air one night, and the mother has to put up an ad for new servants for this eternally dark and secluded home. When some arrive, all sorts of strangeness begins ...

It's a remarkable movie that, in 2002, is still frightening when devoid of all the splashy (and easy) special effects-reliant ways horror films have come to rely on. Compare this to "The Haunting," which was long on special effects, but mostly devoid of any chills. Instead, "The Others" has a chilling sequence with doors being open in a locked piano room, another with a voice in a child's bedroom and the sound of footsteps in an empty upstairs room.

Wonderfully acted, brilliantly directed, "The Others" is a must for fans of true horror films and those fans of modern gore-fests who, to paraphrase Dan Akyroyd in "The Twilight Zone," want to see something REALLY scary.

Strongly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: This is the Best Movie Ever.
Review: I loved this film, and the DVD is terrific. Widescreen really helps bring out the feel of the cinematography, and this movie is really all about "feel".

If you plan on seeing it, PLEASE do not let someone ruin the ending for you, it is THE greatest twist ever in film. Nicole Kidman was stunning in her portrayal of Grace, a mother dealing with two ill children, a husband gone to war, Nazi occupation, missing servants, and a "strange high house in the mist" to borrow a quote from Lovecraft. Through all of this she bravely soldiers on in the old way, a way that you'll not see again. If you have a grandmother who lived through the war, and still shows a strength of character, love and resolve, you will see traces of her in Grace. Her performance was moving even to me, a fellow that likes "guy" movies normally. I was not a Nicole Kidman fan before seeing this, but her performance made me one. Seroiusly folks, if I (again just a regular guy that normally likes action/ sci-fi films) could be moved by this film, it must be good. It is scary, but not bloody. The whole atmosphere of the film is one of suspense and waiting for the other shoe to drop. If you don't like to "get into" the characters and really analyze them, you will enjoy this movie as a haunted house tale. If you like to analyze and get into the characters and their motivation, you will enjoy it even more. It really demonstrates the fact that bad things often happen to good people.

To sum up my rambling, great haunted house film with a "who-done-it" element thrown in. The Others also has the best, most thought out and fully-fleshed characters in film. Get this movie or I will haunt you!

Rating:
Summary: Mother always says...
Review: ...when you are expecting of something, you are usually let down regardless of the outcome.
...when you are unbiased and expecting of everything--and essentially nothing at all--you are nominally satisfied with whatever you get...

...Well that is what many of the reviewers of this movie have fell victim to. They expected something like they've never seen before, and were let down. Although this movie does appear to lack a plot, the plot becomes finding the plot...that is where the "Suspense" genre comes from. Finding out what exactly is going on. The better suspense dramas are done without providing confusion.
Confusion usually comes by way of boredom and consequently, you are waiting for the end credits hoping that between then and now, the movie will have a meaning--much like what happened to me when I watched "Monsters Bash" (probably Halle's worst and best--for obvious reasons)
But getting back, this is a well done movie. The movie is about ONE thing. The point of the movie is to find that out. I don't really want to ruin it for anybody--because I hate when people ruin movies for me--but it really messed up my realities of the movie. It instantly screwed them up...and that's what's provided by any good mystery/suspense drama...
But, hey, what do I know...I am an audiophile anyways...:-)

Note: I only gave it four stars, because it became a bit rushed at the end, and the actors appeared anxious to get to this point... ...must've been a lot of practice or something to get the sequences right...

Rating:
Summary: Made me jump
Review: I love suspense but most of the time I just don't get scared. This is the first movie in a long time that has made me jump. I think the only one that has made me jump more is the 1940's flick The Uninvited.
Overall The Others is well acted, although the characters can seem a bit flat at times. The story has some lovely nuances that reminded me of classic black and white movies such as The Uninvited and Rebecca. However, in my mind the best thing about this movie is that it avoids blood and gore and relies on leaving certain details to linger in your imagination before they are fully woven into the film.
Perhaps the best thing about this movie...it kept me guessing.
I highly reccomend The Others especially to classic film buffs.

Rating:
Summary: This was a good movie that had some nice twists and turns
Review: I would have to say that The Others was a very good DVD. I felt that the film was good, sort of on the same lines as Sixth Sense. I fell that Nicole Kidman's acting was wonderful, and the story was well written and kept you guessing.

I think that the picture quality of this DVD was great, and the sound was also very good. I would suggest buying this 2-disc DVD for your collection. A great combination of a good film and high quality DVD.

Rating:
Summary: The Others
Review: This was actually a very intriguing movie about a mother of two children trying to take care of her family and estate. This was not easy as the children had a disease which made it so they could not be exposed to sunlight, all her hired help mysteriously disappeared one morning, and the father of the children had went to war and never returned. The movie left you guessing as to what was really happening in the life of this family and frightened for the outcome of the children. The surprise ending left you feeling slightly uneasy and thinking about how life can be. A very good movie.

Rating:
Summary: What a thriller
Review: This movie will keep you on the edge of your seat! Excellent story and cast . If you liked the 6th sense, you'll love The Others.

Rating:
Summary: Starts Slow, Finishes With a Bang
Review: If you're a fan of the old-time ghost story, where the suspense builds throughout the entire movie, then you'll really enjoy The Others. It's very much like The Sixth Sense, with a very stunning ending, although the buildup isn't quite as dramatic and the ending isn't quite as stunning.

Nicole Kidman plays the lead, Grace, perfectly. She starts out normal and very protective of her children. Her children are allergic to light, so the house is normally completely dark. As the movie progresses, Kidman begins to lose her grip on her sanity. She plays it perfectly, slowly losing it. It's an outstanding performance on her part.

The story starts out very slow, with three new servants arriving and basically having things explained to them. It does take a while for things to get going, around a half an hour. Up until then, be ready to sit through some rather tedious dialogue and exposition.

However, once things pick up, they really pick up. The suspense builds through several riveting scenes. Unfortunately, you probably know some of them from the previews, which gave away a couple cool scenes. But there are some unexpected twists, right up until the last twenty minutes, when there are two huge shocks.

The lighting is very well done, keeping the mood perfectly dark. There really is no humor in this movie, so be ready for a somber, if not downright depressing movie. For you special effects junkies out there, this isn't the movie for you. The only real special effects are some fades and some bad green screen work, which looks extremely fake. But, despite the fact that there's a feature on the effects, there's really no need for them.

Overall, this was a very good film. The beginning was slow, but if you can stand the wait, the rest of the movie more than makes up for things.

Rating:
Summary: Should Have Earned Nicole Kidman the Gold
Review: Films that deal with the supernatural, whether in direct or implied terms, are more often than not disappointing, in that they rarely manage to deliver on their promise. Moreover, films of that same school touted as being 'scary,' as well, are usually even more of a let down; so a film that can truly bring a supernatural theme to fruition and be frightening-- joltingly scary even-- in the balance, is one to be celebrated. 'The Others,' written and directed by Aleiandro Amenabar, is a film to be celebrated. Unlike most films of the genre, this is a true sojourn into regions beyond the known that actually takes you to that final destination. And when your mouth is so dry you can't swallow, and the palms of your hands have gone clammy cold with sweat, you'll know you've arrived; that Amenabar has succeeded in taking you to that place where few filmmakers dare to even attempt to go. By the end of the film, it's clear that when Amenabar makes a promise, he keeps it.

The Channel Islands, 1945: World War II has ended, and in a picturesque country mansion, the mistress of the manor, Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidman), is at the end of her tether; she has not heard from, nor about, her husband, Charles (Christopher Eccleston) since he went off to war, and all of her servants-- including her children's nanny-- have inexplicably disappeared without notice and without a trace. Caring for her two children, Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley), without help, is beginning to overwhelm her, as they suffer from a rare disease that makes them vulnerable to light any brighter than the essential amount of candlepower, a condition that demands the utmost vigilance on the part of their caretaker. And at the moment, that means Grace, alone, in a house by necessity shrouded in darkness.

Help arrives, however, in the form of Ms. Bertha Mills (Fionnula Flanagan) and her companions, Mr. Tuttle (Eric Sykes), and a young girl named Lydia (Elaine Cassidy), in response to an add placed by Grace in a local newspaper. All experienced in service, they are the answer to Grace's immediate problems, and she puts them to work immediately. But it soon becomes apparent to Ms. Mills and the others, that something is amiss in the household; something to do with Grace, who seems to be having trouble coping. Still, there's more: Anne insists that she has seen 'others' in the house, including a young boy she calls 'Victor.' And, according to Anne, Victor claims that the house belongs to him and those with him. The real problem, though, is the fact that no one else can see him. Only Anne. And it's about to take Grace to the very edge of what's left of her sanity. If, indeed, there is any left at all by that time.

More than a supernatural thriller, what Amenabar has created here is a gem that stands out from among the rest because of it's sheer purity and brilliance; a diamond with it's own unique cut that dazzles the mind and the eye with it's perfection. From the opening frames, he sets a deliberate pace and begins to sow the seeds of doubt and question, opening that Pandora's Box of enticement that allows you to consider that otherworldly devices are actually at play here. In the quietude of the atmosphere he's so deftly created, he winds the tension slowly and subtly until the wheel can turn no more, and just at the point at which others films would fail because they simply cannot deliver on the promise of what has preceded, he hits you with the reality of what is happening, and in a way that will jar your senses. He does not manipulate and he does not play games; he quite simply and directly delivers one of the best endings ever filmed within this particular genre, especially, and moreover, one that will stand against any of the best from any category. Because, regardless of genre, very few films have ever delivered so well on what has been promised as the story unfolds.

Nicole Kidman was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in 'Moulin Rouge' this year (and deservedly so), but her portrayal of Grace Stewart is the one that should have put her at center stage and clutching the gold on the big night. Her presentation of Grace is introspective, subtle and reserved; understated and convincing, she fills the screen with a dark charm that is reminiscent, and yet something of the antithesis, of Grace Kelly. And her screen presence has never been more dynamic. She enables you to feel her fear, anger, confusion and frustration as the drama moves toward the denouement, and it is Grace through whom you most experience the impact of that final, breathtaking scene, when all is at last revealed. A truly memorable performance from the gifted and beautiful Kidman, and one that is destined to be more appreciated with the passing of time.

Flanagan turns in a memorable performance, as well, creating a character in Ms. Mills that transcends the stereotype of one 'in service,' and successfully adds to the aura of mystery surrounding the events as they transpire. It's a portrayal that demonstrates how important a good character actor is, and how much it can add to a film.

The supporting cast includes Renee Asherson (Old Lady), Gordon Reid (Assistant), Keith Allen (Mr. Marlish), Michelle Fairley (Mrs. Marlish) and Alexander Vince as Victor. Riveting entertainment that will slow your breathing and increase your heart rate, 'The Others' is an inspired film that offers one of, if not 'the' most satisfying endings ever produced in the realm of supernatural cinema. Amenabar is a magician who has performed the impossible: He's made the 'Super' in supernatural viable and real, succeeding where almost all others who have tried failed. It's an awe-inspiring accomplishment from an accomplished filmmaker; and it's the magic of the movies.

Rating:
Summary: What a GREAT suprise!
Review: The Others is a quality thriller that is smart(the twist at the end
makes you think the WHOLE movie over) and beautiful(the foggy atmosphere
and light-deprived house are perfect). Nicole Kidman should have been
nominated for and winner of an Oscar for her role as the strained mother
Grace. This movie is a GREAT treat
that stands out from all the flashy Hollywood junk. And while I jumped a
few times and got chills, this movie won't be keeping me up for nights
to come.