Rating: 
Summary: second rate cliff-notes
Review: ABRE LOS OJOS was a great movie, so why did they spend untold millions to make this clunky, pretentious and annoying remake that completely fails from beginning to end? Terrible acting, embarrassing dialogue, ill conceived scene transitions make this film particularly painful to digest, but things really get nail-bitingly bad when they start to overexplain the "philosophy" behind the story, reducing the mess further from an awful remake to second rate cliff-notes.
Rating: 
Summary: "Open your eyes."
Review: I went to see "Vanilla Sky" having very little foreknowledge about the film. What I discovered was an intriguing and consistently watchable film that is an odd blend of psychosexual thriller, crime mystery, and science fiction tale. Sound weird? It is.Cameron Crowe directs a fine cast led by Tom Cruise. Cruise plays David, a man who has inherited a publishing empire from his late father. With his wealth and good looks, David seems to be living a charmed life. But this life turns into a horrific nightmare. Also in the cast are Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, and Jason Lee. Kurt Russell is particularly impressive as a psychiatrist seeking the truth behind David's ordeal. I won't give away the many bizarre twists which the plot takes. The film is surreal and disorienting. Cruise impressed me in the title role. Initially quite unlikable as the obnoxious David, Cruise ultimately brings a real depth and intensity to his performance. "Vanilla Sky" seems to be having a polarizing effect on a lot of viewers, but I found it to be a compelling film. Give it a try if you feel like something offbeat.
Rating: 
Summary: One of my top 10 favorite movies.
Review: Before you tar and feather me, consider this movie shares that top ten with the likes of: It's a Wonderful Life Empire of the Sun As Good as it Gets I'm not a moron. I have taste (eheh, or so I think...). Look, for those that disagree, I'd like to speak to you first, and concede a few things: This movie IS confusing...Insanely confusing, and it took allot of appreciation away from my first screening. Also, it is stuffed with allot of "cinematic sweetener"; almost acts like a music video at times, unbelievably fashionable, even the dialogue pushes the limits and sometimes swims past the buoys of practical. That said (and without giving anything away to those who haven't seen it), I think it's helpful to consider this not as a drama, but as a Science Fiction movie. It really is; but it masquerades as a drama up until the end. That can be frustrating for unprepared viewers, and lends itself to even more confusion as to what is going on. I'm a huge believer in the technology that plays a central role in the dramatic climax. I think it will change everything. So granted, that aspect lent a particular attraction for me to the film. However, I think the lesson of the movie is important for everyone [and this is my interpretation], "you make your own life, and it's really not about the big decisions, it's about the small ones that aggregate to form your orientation; orientation that could serve as gravity for good things in your life, or bad". Nothing new, nothing earth shattering. However, that lesson, folded into some of the best cinematography, best music, and darn good acting... ...it earned my five stars, and more than that...I truly love this film. For those who haven't seen it, please know ahead of time that it'll be confusing...try and watch somewhere you can give it good attention (hard to do at 3 hours, but worth it; I've seen over 5 times). Hope this was helpful.
Rating:
Summary: THE EMPEROR IS BUTT-NEKKID
Review: not everything that's hard to understand is meaningful and complex. sometimes it's hard to understand because the story is told badly, with too much conceit and not enough truth.
vanilla sky is a good example of bloated conceit overtaking any artistic integrity.
those who try to see some meaning in this mess are like people who could not see that the emperor was naked
Rating:
Summary: MADDENINGLY AWFUL
Review: The movie is fun to look at for about 45 minutes, but then it begins to get confusing (not in an intriguing way, but more in a way that makes you shout "WHAT?"), and the dialogue gets worse and worse, and then you find out "It was all a dream". Horribly unsatisfying, it made me want to fire a cannon at the movie screen. Save your money.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a bad plot, but INCREDIBLY bad dialogue.
Review: This movie is one that I wanted to like, and the basic plot is a great idea for a movie, but the execution here makes for a movie that is just darn hard to sit through. Why? The cast is strong enough. The subject matter might be a bit denser than the lighthearted fare Cruise and Diaz have built their careers around, but they carry through okay with their performances, so the movie's failure is NOT due to the cast. So what is it? The dialogue. Or what passes for dialogue, at any rate. This isn't how real people talk. Just look at one representative scene, the one where Cruise and his pal are in his sports car talking about who Cruise sleeps with. Basically, the whole scene is written as basically an excuse to say "f**k" as many times as possible within a 2 minute period. The word is worked into the script so unnaturally that no one alive ever really talked that way. And that's just one example. I could go on and on and on. Whoever wrote the dialogue for this movie should be blacklisted. Period.
Rating:
Summary: Vanilla Sky: A Work of Art
Review: Vanilla Sky: A Work of Art I watch hundreds of movies every year. Even though I saw Vanilla Sky in 2001 after the initial release, Vanilla Sky has only recently become one of my favorites of all time! For me, the third time watching was a charm. I have never before cried with tears rolling down my face in my decades of movie watching, never. I have had my eyes water, but have never been moved to the point of actually crying out loud with tears until I saw this movie for the third time. I am retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, so I was embarrassed as hell, trying to hide my tears from my wife. The first time I saw Vanilla Sky in the theater, I was not significantly impressed, I enjoyed the movie and I felt that I understood the story, but there was no real impact upon me when compared with other films I have watched. At the time I would not have even considered the film among my favorites. The first time you watch this movie, you may even be a little confused or disappointed. The first time is not a loss though as the actors are beautiful in all aspects. If you have not seen Vanilla Sky, during your first viewing keep in mind that the movie is far deeper than what you may understand or grasp in that first viewing alone. Just enjoy watching the film; do not try to figure anything out. I really think of the first viewing of this movie as more of an introduction - don't try to judge the film upon this first view; just watch. Maybe this is why Vanilla Sky did not receive the best of reviews. How many times does a movie reviewer watch a film before writing, once or twice at the most? Vanilla Sky is like work of art, upon first glance you may find the film distasteful, but with further study you begin to see the magnificence of the work and are moved. The more you watch, the more you may appreciate and cherish. The film has a depth and longevity that a typical blockbuster-type movie does not. This appreciation of the movie has to be developed over several viewings; this quality likely came at a severe sacrifice to box office sales and initial reviews. I am sure that most of the success of this movie at the box office was carried upon the shoulders of the famous actors and director involved. But, this is a perfect movie to own on DVD because you will enjoy watching the film again and again and with each viewing you may discover something new. After watching Vanilla Sky several times, you begin to notice the intricate details woven within the story. There are many powerful themes to be discovered in Vanilla Sky. The most appreciated things in life do not come to us easily, don't watch this movie just once, you will never appreciate the greatness of the film. The music of Vanilla Sky is Outstanding! ...
Rating:
Summary: EVEN IN DREAMS, THE SUN ALSO RISETH
Review: Those who have never seen the original (abre los ojos) and find themselves praising vanilla sky, are like people, who, having never seen the sun, think that the moon is bright. Just as the moon doesn't produce its own light but merely reflects the brilliant rays of the sun, anything remotely good about this film is due to the fact that it still retains some pale remnants of the original, vaguely identifiable amidst its ill conceived dialogues delivered by stiff, unsympathetic characters... one wonders if the director ever had a real dream in his life.
Rating:
Summary: Cruise's Funniest Movie Ever
Review: This is Tom Cruise's Best comedic performznce ever. There are two scenes that make me roll on the floor laughing. In the scenes after the accident, watch Cruise in the club. With his messed up face, watch Cruise dance at the bar like the Hutch Back of Notre Dame. Also, watch his face when he meows like a cat. Hilarious! It is entertaining for hours at parties or church meetings. Cruise trying to act is funny, but this movie is hilarious.
Rating:
Summary: Romantic Brilliance
Review: This movie is the archetype of what a true good movie should be like. No fake, pointless two hour waste of time. This movie truly is amazing. Inspiring is the life portrayed by Tom Cruise as it grasps you off the edge of your seat, until you become heartbroken as to the tragedy of the story, only to be reunited with true love in the end and all that you had hoped for. Many film makers, producers, and directors like to end a movie with a twist, which sometimes can be a good thing, but most of the time it isn't. Marcus Aerilius once said, "Give The People What They Want." When people want true love and romance to be eternal, give it to them, and this is exactly what Vanilla Sky gives you. A Happily Ever After. You'll Love it. I Cried.
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