Rating: 
Summary: Existentialism Made For The MTV Generation
Review: It doesn't get much better than this. The director for Jerry Maguire somehow has some spiritual reawakening and somewhere along the lines, decides to remake an acclaimed Spanish film he heard was ''exceptional'' from all of his Hollywood friends. He writes his version of the script and gets an old pal of his Tom Cruise to portray the rich-boy-trapped-in-mans-body character. One of the reasons I gave this film two stars instead of one, was because of casting. I did think by enlisting Cameron Diaz to say the line ''Do you believe in God?'' is pure bliss in itself. Oh, and that goes for Penelope Cruz's immortal ''saddest girl to ever hold a martini'' line. Im not saying any of these professionals have no skill. I enjoyed Cameron Crowes first two films, and I do think Cruise has done some great movies (Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut, etc). For the most part, what bothered me about this movie is the fact that it couldve been a TERRIFIC piece about the questioning of life, and the consequences of finding out. Crowe seems like he wants to do this, but at the same time, wants to have a film filled with commercial interruptions. By this time, your reading this review and saying to yourself ''Well, I didnt see any Volkswagon commercials!''. Yes you did, you just didnt know it. In Vanilla Sky, Crowe is no stranger to self indulgence. He throws in Courtney Love referances, nods to Radiohead, Bob Dylan album covers, archived 70s classic rock concert footage, and so much more. When you make a film as deep and artistic as Abre Los Ojos, you will need to make sure your film has beautiful cinematography, actors you wont laugh at, and an ending that will keep you puzzled. Crowe did accomplish a good ending but thats all I can really say this film has to offer, other than corny tidbits about martinis and Diaz questioning Gods existence. By throwing in a non linear plot, its obvious the director of this movie is as confused as its storyline. Im not impressed Hollywood. I'll stick with Lynch.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful Film
Review: This movie was amazing. It is something you can't just sit there and watch. You have to figure out things, look for details, and most importantly USE YOUR BRAIN. It looks as though some people that saw this film didn't. This is the type of movie that can really make you think about your own life and what really matters to you. It's the little things, not money, or fame or anything else materialistic. It's about love, it's about a tiny freckle on your lover. Wonderful film. I also saw "Open Your Eyes" in which Penelope Cruz also plays Sophia, it is the original spanish version. Penelope & Tom where made to play David & Sophia. This movie means a lot to me. The more times you watch this film the more you will understand it's meaning.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: I do not understand why people are putting this movie down. I really liked it.
Rating:
Summary: One of the worst surprise endings ever
Review: It's hard to make a surprise-ending movie that satisfies the audience. "The Sixth Sense" worked because, once the audience found out the truth, they like the movie even *more*. They said to themselves "I should have known!" and they went back to see it a second time. I felt that way watching "Jacob's Ladder" and "Fight Club."But after seeing "Vanilla Sky," I felt confused and ripped off. First of all, half of the movie could have been cut and the story wouldn't have changed a bit. Everything with Kurt Russell was pointless; remove it and you've got the same film. Second, the explanation of what's really going on doesn't answer any questions. It's an uninteresting explanation and it raises a lot more questions than it answers. There are other problems. The opening scene in Times Square is supposed to be amazing because it's empty. But I clearly saw a crowd held back by police barricades in the background. You'd think the director would digitally remove those people, since it ruins the whole point of the scene. The romance between Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz has no chemistry. When they're naked in bed together and talking, he says he wants to be the mole on her breast. It's supposed to be cute or sexy or something, but it's actually a little creepy. Penelope Cruz looks like she's waiting for the director to say CUT so she can get out from under Tom Cruise. There are just two good things about this movie. (1) Cameron Diaz. She convincingly acts like she's crazy-in-love with Tom Cruise. Thanks to her performance, the scene in the car (which is the best moment in the film) is a shock. (2) Like every Hollywood film from the last ten years, "Vanilla Sky" has the right look --- every set is lit and designed in a slick-but-subtle way. The people behind the scenes who gave the movie it's "fake naturalism" look did a great job.
Rating: 
Summary: Vanilla Mistake
Review: Don't bother with this empty star vehicle. See the original Anre Los Ojos for a real quality film.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible Movie
Review: MADE ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. I THOUGHT I WAS TRIPPING ON ACID WHILE WATCHING THIS MOVIE. MY STOCK IN CAMERON CROWE HAS GONE DOWN A LOT.
Rating:
Summary: What a mess
Review: I cant believe I spent $7 to see this in the theater. I wish Amazon.com had a 0 stars option. HORRIBLE.
Rating: 
Summary: cruiseing threw the vanilla sky
Review: Tom Cruise does a great job in the role but theres some question of what the hell is going on in this movie and im confused, but the other cast members work their will as well. like Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, Noah Taylor, Jason Lee and the awesome Kurt Russell and they all look top notch, especially Cruz in her nude scene. what can I say, anyway its nicely done by Crowe.
Rating:
Summary: No, Cruise, no! Please, don't ruin a beautiful movie!
Review: Oh, Cruise... Why did you have to go and remake Abre Los Ojos? If you liked the original so much, why didn't you let it be...It was so much better... The only thing I liked about the whole movie was Cameron Diaz's line, 'Even if you don't, your body makes a promise!' Rewriting of the screen play was, as everybody agrees, horrible. All the things that made Abre Los Ojos work have gone missing. Why turn Cruise into a millionaire? Why make him run down Times Square? Why, why, why for a thousand of things. There's not much to talk about, because there's not much to be salvaged. Pretty much everything was wrong. I didn't read a single review before I bought the DVD and now I'm sorry. I'll got ditch it to somebody who hasn't heart about it, oh well.
Rating:
Summary: Open Your Eyes
Review: This is one of those movies most people will either love or hate. There really isn't any middle ground. Having been niether a fan of Tom Cruise or Penelope Cruz, i went into this film being more then a little skeptical. But i have always loved the work of Cameron Crow, and i have a great fondness for off-the-wall storytelling. The exact plot of this film is more then a little too complicated to try and explain here, and in fact there are several different interpretations one can have as to what this movie is about in the first place. In fact, i've run into many people who found it far too confusing to make sense of...but i guess in my own twisted way, i loved that about this film. it's not your average cookie-cutter Hollywood movie. it does make you think, and question what exactly it is you're seeing on the screen. Having stated earlier that i was never a fan of either Cruise or Cruz...i have to say that one of the main reasons this movie worked so well for me, was their performances. They both rendered these characters beautifully, and their on-screen chemistry comes across so well, that it makes the resulting storyline all the more tragic. Crowe definitely captures the dreamlike quality on screen that his script so beautifully conveys. and one of the main reasons i love the man's work so much...is his ability to inject humor into otherwise serious situations, which he does here wonderfully. My single complaint would have to be with Cameron Diaz. Her performance is so incredibly over-the-top and annoying, that there is no way to feel any kind of sympathy for her character, no matter how small the amount might have been.
|
