Rating: 
Summary: Jolie's lips more real than ludicrous thriller she stars in
Review: Original Sin (2001) Antonio Banderas, Angelina Jolie, Thomas Jane, Jack Thompson, Gregory Itzin, Allison Mackie, Joan Pringle, Cordelia Richards, D: Michael Cristofer. Superlative actors and a lush style are diluted from a languid and nonsensical story made into a downer of a movie, which adapts Cornell Woolrich's novel, Waltz into Darkness. Banderas as a Cuban 19th century coffee plantation owner meets his gorgeous mail-order-bride from America for the very first time and falls in love, but she isn't whom she says she is when he goes on a wild goose chase looking for her. Viewers that are interested may revere more than anything the sight of Jolie's lips in close-ups and the overheated sex scenes. Running Time: 112 minutes and rated R for strong sexual content and some violence.
Rating: 
Summary: DVD bonus features!
Review: This film is a refreshing and clever breath of fresh air. Finally a movie that doesn't think an explosion is a plot. The motion of this film is propelled purely by the height of the passionate love that the main characters feel for one another. The DVD has bonus features that include still photographs set to music that are so touching. The pics are direct from the set during filming and they even include some pictures of scenes that were not featured in the movie. I loved this movie enough to purchase the DVD and it is a beautiful transfer of the film. If you loved, "The Secretary" with James Spader, "Romeo is Bleeding" with Lena Olin, "9 1/2 Weeks" with Mickey Rourke, "Miranda" with Christina Ricci, "Last Tango in Paris" with Marlon Brando, "U-Turn" with Jennifer Lopez, "Saving Silverman" or "Girl on the Bridge" all for their whip appeal - the chance are high, you'll love this movie too.
Rating: 
Summary: Do You Believe that Pleasure Can be Sinful?
Review: This is a movie for the fans of the actors: Jolie and Banderas. I do think that Jolie lights up the screen throughout this film, even though she plays a dark character. The actors save this picture from being just another unremarkable B movie. Since I saw this movie in theaters in the Summer of 2001, I have changed my mind about directing and camera work. Originally, I felt that the fast-pace and seemingly aimless movement of the camera were making me dizzy, but when I saw this movie more recently on a big-screen TV, I realized that this style of directing gave the picture a much needed feeling of fast pace and change. Without this, and without Jolie, I suspect I would have been bored by the movie and would have fallen asleep before it was over. Jolie is Bonnie Castle, an actress and a thief, who travels with an accomplice played, I believe, my her real world brother. They (or he) murder Julia, the woman who is supposed to become the wife of Louis, the character played by Banderas. Jolie's character Bonnie Castle takes Julia's place and disembarks in Cuba to meet her future husband. Well, Banderas meets Jolie. Both of them are dark. He is handsome. She is beautiful. He is not very much concerned that Angelina Jolie does not look like the picture of Julia. The are wedded the same day. He allows her "time" before they consummate their marriage. But it does not take too much time, and about 15 minutes into the film we have our first, and by far the most explicit, love scene. I will not reveal the plot that follows. Suffice it to say that it is a bit unrealistic: a huge withdrawal from the bank without informing the cosigner (what kind of banking laws did they have in Cuba?); real bullets replaced by blanks, seamlessly and just in time; Jolie and Banderas gulping coffee at all hours like there was no tomorrow; the drinking of rat poison... Just takes your breath away, doesn't it? However, reminiscent of real life developments, a knife is being used to gently cut Angelina's flesh. And if that what some people are doing to themselves in reality, then is the plot of the movie really so far-fetched? Ultimately, the message is clear: you can't get away from love. Or obsession, or stupidity, or lust. You just cannot get away. We are stuck in this world--the only world we've got, and the only world we know something about. I know that in this world it is good to have nice distractions, like this well-acted, even if a bit less than excellent film.
Rating:
Summary: respectful and realistic
Review: I don't have bad things to say of this movie. I find it intelligent and realistic. Many love stories are like this. It usually involves three. But in the end, one always falls out and redemption is found. I own this DVD and watch it every couple of months. I love it and always find something new in it when I see it. As I am aging so my perception changes of love. But, I do think that these two truly loved each other. My favorite scene of all time is the one where Bonny/Julia is screaming "i love you, i love you!" and crying as she is holding Luis. Cannot be better! Cheers!
Rating:
Summary: Original
Review: This is a very decent movie, Both actors involved, Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie, are extremely talented.
...some scenes might be disturbing...
Rating: 
Summary: This belongs in the same category as Showgirls
Review: Everything about Original Sin screams "this movie is so bad it's good" from the opening shot of the film, to the campy acting, and the chemistry between Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie. When Luis (Banderas), a wealthy plantation owner, meets his mail order bride (Jolie, beautiful as ever), he gets a lot more than he bargained for when he learns that all is not what it seems. Director Michael Cristofer (who directed Jolie in her star making role in Gia) makes Luis seem more stupid than love struck, but throughout most of the film it seems most of the actors don't take any of this seriously. All in all, Original Sin is worth a look, but it is about as logical and alluring as late night premium channel porn.
Rating:
Summary: avert your eyes
Review: Every now and then a movie comes along that is so bad it's funny. Original Sin took two of the sexiest people alive and made them look ridiculous. The movie has a great plot but the execution is painful. Angelina spends too much time pouting and strutting. Antonio's Luis is made to look like a fool. The ending is pathetic and the sex scenes made me laugh. The dialouge is stiff and the whole film looks like grease was smeared on the camera lens.
Rating:
Summary: A good story filmed poorly
Review: (This is a review of the R-rated version, since that's the one I saw. An unrated version is also available, with extra footage and a commentary track.) This is a perfect example of bad marketing. All the ads for Original Sin amplify the sexual chemistry between stars Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie. This is, in fact, a minor part of the story, at least in this, the R-rated version. Original Sin is, in fact, an old-fashioned film noir, updated in mentality, but not in time. (The film takes place in the nineteenth century, but Jolie's character appears unaware of this except in her manner of dress.) Luis Vargas (Banderas) sends away for a mail-order bride. Julia Russell (Jolie) arrives at the train station, looking much better than her photograph. But new wife Julia has many secrets, not least of which is...ah, but that would be giving it away. Based on the novel Waltz into Darkness (by Cornell Woolrich, author of Rear Window), writer/director Michael Cristofer (Gia) has fashioned a gripping narrative and wonderful acting opportunities for his stars, but he smothers it in overacting (of which Banderas is the only nonparticipant) and distracting editing techniques like using multiple cuts throughout dramatic scenes best left as one long shot and in useless slow-motion. The result is a mishmash of bad filmmaking, in which an interesting story is almost unrecognizable as such. (This DVD contains no extras of any kind. If you are a fan of the film, I would recommend purchasing the unrated version, as it has extra footage and a director's commentary.)
Rating:
Summary: Unusual, watchable...
Review: Not a great movie, but a lot of interesting scenes. Flawed - a hot love scene badly timed placed too early on in the film ruins the suspense of seeing them together... and a protagonist just too lovestruck in a soppy way to be believable... and some very weird scenes at Carnival that were just out there...
but enjoyable nonetheless - especially the last third of the movie. It had great potential to be a 5-star movie, but the flaws overcame the film as a whole.
Rating:
Summary: Original Skin!
Review: I approached Original Sin with an open mind (and humble expectations). Neither was I a die-hard fan of Antonio Banderas nor a dogged follower of Angelina Jolie. However, after watching the movie, I've come away with a new film favorite; three actors I'm devoted to for life (Banderas, Jolie and Jane - brave souls!) and a strong distrust of opinions by "professional" movie critics. This movie will never be everyone's cup of tea (or shall I say coffee). Those who can bring themselves to see past poor publicity and personal preconceptions, will recognize the film for what it truly is:
A mesmerizingly SMART (yes, SMART!) piece of cinema and a beautifully human portrait of love.
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