Rating: Summary: Enchanting and Tragic Review: Not for the impatient viewer, not for those who want to be entertained and don't want to think, "The Juniper Tree" is memorable and mysterious, magical, seductive, and stark. Bjork is to be commended for her brilliant portrayal as a younger sister with the "gift" of witchcraft. Her performance is so compelling that one *almost* wishes she had chosen acting and not music as her career. Filmed in black and white on location in Bjork's native Iceland, one is trasported immediately to a landscape which is not only dramatic but nearly alien. The story itself is based on a fairy tale by the brothers Grimm (regretfully, the credits do not specify *which* story!), and ends, as do many of Grimms' stories, in tragedy and darkness. A must-see for anyone who appreciates "difference" in films, who's willing to ponder and is not simply concerned with instant gratification.
Rating: Summary: Really rather good. Review: The Juniper Tree is a surprisingly good film. Although presumably of principle interest to fans of its star, Bjork, it would actually stand up as a fine, if slight piece of cinema, without her presence.Although, as anyone who has seen her in Dancer in the Dark will testify, the movie would certainly lose something without her. That said, it isn't for everyone. If you like your movies all pace and speed, with thirty second long scenes, don't watch. If, however, you like the kind of direction that soaks up the atmosphere of a situation before moving on, this is the kind of thing you'd like. There isn't much dialogue, the fairytale story is rather slight, but the acting is decent and the overall effect is quite hypnotic. We aren't talking about a forgotten classic here, but we are talking about something that deserves to be seen by a greater number of people than it has, or will be. So if you like Bjork, whether through her music or her role in Lars Von Trier's film, you'll enjoy this immensely. Especially if you think she's cute. She looks lovely. Aw. And if you like enigmatic, different... let's say the word art house and get it over with ... films then you'll possibly like this too. It really is rather good.
Rating: Summary: Bjork the movie star?...yup. Review: The Juniper tree was quite a nice flick. I rented it because I had seen my most fav singer "bjork" was on the cover ,and was staring in it. Me and my girlfriend watched it an were soothed into a meditative type state. The articulate, patient, calmness of the movie just did it. the movie is also filmed in black/white which gave it that erie feeling. The plot was just so unique. And Bjork was just too cute. I did'nt give this flick 5 stars because it's not the kind of movie I can watch over and over. It's that moody kind of movie. If you buy this movie sit quietly, peacefully, and "possably maybe" by yourself. escape into this movie. You will apreciate it being in your memory. I loved it.
Rating: Summary: Haunting Review: This film deserves more appreciation. It was a great discovery, I probably would never have found it without my penchant for Bjork After their mother is burned at the stake for practicing witchcraft. Margit (Bjork) and her older sister Katla, journey far away where no one will know them, because they fear they too will be burned. In the first minutes of the film, they see a woman floating face down in a creek, her hands bound behind her. Margit asks who she is; Katla replies "I don't know, but we haven't gone far enough away from home". Soon they're in the company of a young farmer and widower, Johann, who Katla bewitches with her magic. But Jonas, Johann's young son is suspicious, and fears she is trying to take his dead mother's place. Angering Katla.--she wants Johann all to herself, and resents Jonas. Margit's mother starts to appear to her, first outside her window, then she sees her up close, when she and Katla are at the beach. Katla begs Margit to tell her what she sees, but her mother motions to Margit not to tell. Margit bonds with the Jonas and tries to protect him from her older sister, but with tragic however *mystical* results. Beautifully shot in black and white Based on a story of the same name, by the brothers Grimm Ends with Bjork reciting this passage: Once there were two children, whose mother was a bird. They flew away with her, to the land of the birds. But she sent them back among people, to take care of their father. When they returned from the land of the birds, their father had found a new wife and did not know them. She closed his eyes to them, and filled his hearing with her voice. Sent her laughter over the mountains, and he followed. His children called after him, but he did not know their voices. So they stayed behind...and they knew what the birds knew. The black & white, plus the beautiful photography, mysterious content and brooding thoughful nature...sort of reminded me of a Bergman film And for Bjork fans, it should be added that she does sing..:-)
Rating: Summary: GOOD WATCHIN Review: THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO! I WUV BJORK SHE'S SO PRETTY AND NICE AND I WANNA KISS HER! I LOVE THIS MOVIE! I WATCHED IT WHILE EATING PEZ.IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN INTERESTING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, AND FASCINATIG MOVIE, DIS IS FOR YOU!
Rating: Summary: Poor Quality dvd of a badly directed mess Review: Where to start.... I give this film credit for the fact that it is a tiny budget independent film and therefore should be viewed as one. As a film maker myself being a small film does not excuse bad cinematography, scripting, sound design, direction and production. The performances are quite strong particularly bjork's and lets face it nobody would watch this film had she not appeared in it. The thing that made this messy film even worse was the special features on the dvd! Sometimes they are better left off the disk, trust me. The interview with the writer/director is cringe worthy at the very least and the so called deleted scenes, well who cares! Seriously there is a shot of a bird with the directors voice over saying "It was a bird from a zoo". Big deal, it's just sitting in a tree that shot was achievable anywhere at any time. When questioned as to what this film is about this director has no idea about her own subject matter, it just sounds like she wanted to go to iceland. As far as researching this project for almost a full year, well it sounds like a pretensious university lecturer living off grants. Unfortunately this woman is what keeps independent film makers down and had that money been given to someone competant a great film could have been made. basically this is a shocker but the actors are great.
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