Vanilla Sky

Rating:
Summary: Vanilla Sky
Review: When it was released, "Vanilla Sky" quickly divided critics and audiences. Some called it too confusing, others called it brilliant. After viewing the film, I have to say that the film is somewhere in between. It is a great film, but it does have a serious amount of flaws.

What is good about "Vanilla Sky" is that it is a brilliant;y crafted and hypnotic piece of filmmaking. Cameron Crowe has proved himself to be a director of great visual style. The film has many recurring motifs and literary allusions, which make it interesting on several different levels. The acting is good. Tom Cruise is genuinely convincing and creepy as a man gone over the edge, and Penelope Cruz is diverting as the woman of his dreams. Cameron Diaz plays the psychotic and wounded Julie to perfection. Indeed, her performance is a big reason to see the film. The romance between Cruise and Cruz is involving and their chemistry convincing.

The labrynthine plot of "Vanilla Sky" is creative and diverting, but about halfway through, I had lost interest. Despite good direction and great acting, it becomes more and more difficult to care how it all ends. The ending, when it does come, explains everything...almost. My big problem with "Vanilla Sky" is that the explanation to all that has occurred is so ridiculous and unlikely. It is far too simplified and destroys all of the delicious ambiguity that the previous two hours have built up.

"Vanilla Sky" is a good film, but it is not a great one. I do recommend it, though. It takes several viewing to pick up all of its nuances, its textures. Just skip the ending.

Rating:
Summary: Brillent, Simply A Wonderful Must See.....
Review: Great movie, and great Bill Gate like deception of legal theft from the actual writer. Remade and stamped for the great U,S of A. Tom Cruise acts the part well, he's wife however should be flipping my hambugers at a local buger joint instead of makeing movies but I liked it alot, good movie makeing, I've bought it and watch it pretty often, 5 STARS for Vanilla Sky!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Overrated
Review: For those that need the movie explained to you, don't worry. It's New Age psychobabble and New Agers probably fell for it. Tom pulled you in and you fell for it. The whole time I am watching this movie, I see Tom's "religious" views. I thought the movie was entertaining and that was it. It is not deep, it is not artsy. If Tom was giving you a story about God, most of you would hate it. However, Tom pulls you in to his religious views by disguising it with a movie. Here is how it goes, Tom, er, the movie has you believe that you are in total control of your life. Mistakes you make will be a learning experience for your next life. Each life is a series of learning events. Therefore, you are only responsible for yourself. The bad things you do will guide your next series of life. This is the nonsense that this movie dictates. Like I said, if Tom was trying to give a Christian perspective, many would be offended. Many would curse Tom for pushing his religious views on the public. That is exactly what he has done here. You see, there is nothing artsy about it. He took his quirky religious views and put it on the big screen.
Many "intellects" give it a five star because they actually fall for it. These are the same people who think any movie is a great movie if it is completely in French and has subtitles.

As far as acting is concerned, Tom does an OK job. He is not anywhere near Guy Pierce, Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe, Tom Hankes and just about everyone else except for Keanu Reeves and Sly Stallone. Kurt Russell is Kurt Russell. Penelope Cruz doesn't have to act, so that leaves Cameron Diaz. She actually steals the movie. I think she did a pretty good job.

Rating:
Summary: "TECH SUPPORT!!!!!!"
Review: Watching this after viewing the convoluted mess, MULHOLLAND DR., was like a breath of fresh air. Here is a convoluted film with BIG IDEAS and an actual pay-off at the end. AND IT'S FUNNY!! Some [people] claim this movie made no sense and was full of holes. Huh? The whole thing is spelled out in it's conclusion. Cameron Crowe practically leads you by the hand. ... Having seen this PSYCHOLOGICAL MASTERPIECE 3 times so far, I couldn't find a single hole in it's superbly delineated plot.

Not being a fan of Penelope Cruz or Cameron Diaz, I went into this film with low expectations. I was wrong. Cruise and Cruz have great chemistry together. Obviously because of their off- screen chemistry. And Cameron Diaz' performance is chilling. I have a newfound respect for her. Next to BORN ON THE FORTH OF JULY, this is Tom's best performance by far. He says, it's his favorite film to date. No kidding!! His performance is sad, hilarious, and profoundly touching. BRAVO!! Jason Lee is always great and he's a riot in this film. Hope to be seeing more of him, now that he's mainstream. Kurt Russell in a marvelously understated role.

... Granted what at first appears to be a psychological thriller, which it is, ultimately becomes a science fiction odyssey of the mind. [For those] who couldn't understand why Tom Cruise gets in the car with Cameron Diaz: Diaz offers Cruise sex. This is the important choice that Cruise makes which ultimately changes his whole life and the direction or conflict of the story. And he doesn't "punch her in the face" because he's trying to talk her down. ... It's about the male libido. It's about thinking with one's head and not one's.....ahem. "It's about choices" is stated several times in the film. As for the identities changing during Cruise's nightmare nothing could be more obvious: his subconscious is playing out his tortured feelings of guilt about Cameron Diaz' character. "The subconscious is a powerful thing" is stated several times in the film. Psychology 101. Pretty simple stuff when you see it unfolding. ... As for comparing this to MEMENTO: OK, a psychological thriller with an unusual timeline device. But MEMENTO had a fill-in-the-blank pay-off. What was the motivation behind it all? Why was this guy manipulating this other guy's mind? We'll never know. Doesn't really matter. These two films are pretty far apart in their intentions.

This script could have come from the mind of Phillip K. Dick- sheer paranoia, except for the ending, which is full of redemption and hope. Stunningly put together and masterfully directed by Cameron Crowe. The music is wonderful. One expects the music in a film such as this to be haunting and weird, ala David Lynch, but the choice of tunes is a reflection of the main character's taste in music. GOOD VIBRATIONS?- man, that was out of left field.

The DVD format is artfully done and the extras are good, although the MAKING OF segment, PRELUDE TO A DREAM, could have been more extensive. DO NOT watch PRELUDE TO A DREAM before watching the film. It gives away a part of the plot ... You do get a COMMENTARY by the film maker which I haven't clicked on yet.

Not as psychologically disturbing as FIGHT CLUB, but close.

Wow, I thought the meaning of this MASTERPIECE was fairly obvious, but after reading some of the other reviews, I guess I have to say, go into this one with an OPEN MIND.

BRILLIANT!! Thanks, Cameron Crowe and Tom Cruise, for helping to restore my faith in Hollywood. This movie is one of the reason's why I love film. One of the 2 or 3 best films of 2001.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: I must confess the first time I watch the movie I didn't know what to think. I thought it was confussing and didn't pay much attention to it. For some reasons, I had to watch for a second time in less tah a week, and thats when I really "fall in love" with this movie.

The original version (Abre los ojos) is algo good but I think Vanilla Sky has better actors and Penelope's performance is even better. Both movies are great and I am planning to buy both.

Rating:
Summary: A work of art
Review: Vanilla Sky is a rare film....a work of art that can be taken more than one way. "Bruno" should stick to reviewing his list of slasher movies because this film is obviously too intelligent for him.

The DVD is great and has an incredible commentary that helps with understanding some of the incredible twists and turns. The film is filled with "imagery", Is it a dream? Is it reality? Yes and Yes....

It is a film that deserves a second viewing because it may be difficult to take it all in....I can honestly say I got it the first time and got a slightly different even deeper meaning the second time....but I won't spoil it for you....if you are a "film" fan, not a "movie" fan, this DVD should be part of your collection.

Rating:
Summary: Great film- I'm tired of so many predictable films..
Review: I am NOT a Tom Cuise fan but I love this filmand his acting in it (along with Kurt Russell-so under appreciated and Cameron Diaz) and have now watched the DVD several times. Yes it is a bit confusingthe first time but cinema should take you away and surprise you. Great use of music and it is an amazing experience in a Home Theater with 5.1 surround sound. A love story with a Twilight Zone feeling.
Loved it!

Rating:
Summary: Rent, don't buy
Review: The movie was a complete waste...waste of time, money and talent. For about half of the film I really enjoyed it, and then I began questioning why I spent any money on it. If you're determined to watch this movie, rent it first.

Rating:
Summary: A superb dvd to a decent movie!
Review: Every great director has his or her mistakes throughout their career, usually one bad bad movie. Cameron Crowe tries with this movie, but ultimately fails to an extent. I love Cameron Crowe, his other works are so much better than this one. But still... this movi was decent. It wasn't HORRIBLE, it was decent. Is the DVD worth buying? Thats a hard thing to say. A lot of people have different tastes so I wouldn't know if you wanted to buy it or not.

I for one want to buy it. I guess you should rent it then buy it, if you liked it of course.

I thought the menues were great. They were well beyond great. I just love the menues. And the movie, I could point out the flaws but then i would max out the maximum number of words I have. So. I'm just going to tell you the good things, the pro's. The actors did a good job. Tom Cruise, as always, he was very good. Cameron Diaz, she really convinced me in her little psycho-traumatic state. Penelope Cruz... well, lets just say she should definitely stick to Spanish films. At least then she had respect.

The script was great, i thought. so... well yeah. i guess it was a good movie. MINDBLOWING ENDING. so many little clues throughout the movie that most people take for granted. the ending was great. it was just great. i mean the movie overall was decent and its a great disc. I think its good for buying. But i dunno, you might think otherwise... If you dont know what else to buy, BUY A BEAUTIFUL MIND OR AMELIE.

Rating:
Summary: Wether to Praise it or Shame it?
Review: Vanilla Sky is truly unique in its own ways of capturing one's imagination. But what the producers and writers failed to overlook was the plethora of plot twists that confused more than half of its viewers. In all of my critiques of films, I have found this movie to truly be the hardest. Although the film was confusing, its plot was very thought through and one can tell that it took many intellectuals to bring forth such a complex storyline. One's realization at the conclusion of the film was intriguing, but in a way contradicting. Certain parts of the plot seemed to be twisted with others; which lets its viewers wait through the boredom of the untwisting plot which seemed to never come clear. The casting and soundtrack were all top notch, but this movie is definitely one would have to watch a few more times to incorporate it's plethora of twists. In my opinion, plot twists can truly make a film shine in glory, but Vanilla Sky's twists were disorganized and confused too many viewers. People were so confused at the end of the movie that they dismissed it as "the worst and confusing movie I've ever seen". The plot's goal was top-notch, but the twists and turns broke the movie's chance of survival off the hinge.

Pros:
1. Excellent Soundtrack
2. Top-Notch Casting
3. Intriguing plot that was meticulously thought through with pristine intellect.

Cons:
1. Easily looses the common viewer's understanding.
2. Plot twists came in great numbers and were disorganized.
3. Simplicity can overrule complexity when a film's plot is at judgment.