Rating: 
Summary: Yet Another Dysfunctional Family Movie
Review: In yet another late-20th-century examination of the paradox of WASP families failing to work properly yet somehow nonetheless proliferating, "Heavenly Creatures" introduces a by-now familiar set of dysfunctional, selfish characters careening toward disaster. Here, Kate Winslett and Melanie Lynskey are the creatures in question, two odd, angst-ridden teenagers in 1950s New Zealand whose mutual affection and creepy fantasy lives lead to murder. The film gives a fair share of the culpability to the parents, though in the true spirit of class warfare, the uppercrust family-which includes a stodgy university cuckold and his hedonistic wife, a marriage counselor whose therapy technique includes bedding her charges-escapes with the least harm, even if it deserves the greatest amount of blame. It is the "poor," dark-haired girl, with all that bad blue-collar blood, that instigates the ultimate crime, her mother, perhaps the only truly sympathetic character, the one who pays the ultimate price. Director Peter Jackson weaves Terry Gilliam-esque fantasy sequences with even stranger real events, the results being an unsettlingly colorful film whose low-budget and sparse production seem to enhance rather than detract from the all-too-true story. Still the film's sequences often walk, sometimes trip over a fine line between camp and drama, with Winslett in particular delivering performances that are so affected they frequently grate on the nerves. The film works best when it shows the breeziness of young girls and the happiness the leads find in each other's company and arms; it's worst when it tries to generate any real sympathy for them. Ultimately, their crime is senseless and misdirected, and one is left at the end with a feeling that we've been bamboozled into caring about them in the first place.
Rating: 
Summary: HEAVENLY CREATURES
Review: Taking place in the 1950's in Christchurch New Zealand. Heavenly Creatures is based on a true story about the intense bond of two girls Pauline Yvonne Rieper and Juliet Hulme.I think for Pauline in particular this friendship is very important. Pauline is moody person, an introvert of very strong character, kind of a tom boy, with short black unruly curls.
Her father runs a fish shop, and her mother is a house wife, their working-class home also doubles as a boarding house.
She may have feelings of inadequetcy, because of scars on her legs, leaving them brittle, from a childhood illness. But when she meets Juliet Hulme it seems she's met her soul mate. Juliet is an extrovert, worldly and outspoken, she even corrects the French teacher on her first day. Juliet is impressed with Pauline's scars, she has scars too, on her lungs from a childhood bout with tuberculosis. Juliet's parents left her in the Bahamas "for the good of her health" and she didn't see them for five whole years. Juliet tells Pauline "All the best people have bad chests and bone diseases, it's all frightfully romantic!" Pauline finds refuge at Juliet's enormous upper-class house, where they play and obsess in their made-up world of Borovnia, they write about the escapades of their imaginary alter egos and their fantasy family. Juliet becomes Deborah and Pauline becomes Gina (a beautiful gypsy). and they revel in the music of Mario Lanza, the worlds greatest tenor! But Juliets parents seem rather cold and aloof. Her mother is a marriage counselor, she has a special technique called "deep therapy".
And her father is an esteemed University rector. He is the first to question the intensity of Pauline and Juliet's relationship. He suggests to the Riepers that Pauline may be growing in a "wayward" fashion and suggests a psychiatrist. However, Pauline seems oblivious to this. She thinks of Mr. Hulme. as the kindest man she's ever known.
Pauline begins to grow desperate, at the idea that someone may try to come in between her and Juliet, particularly her mother. Who seems to grow concerned at Pauline's total obsession with her stories (and uninterest in school) and especially after a short affair with a male boarder, their relationship is rocky. Whereas Pauline truly has loving parents, her friendship with Juliet is so important to her, it seems to have altered her reality. And the tension builds when Juliet's parrents announce they are getting divorced and Mr. Hulme is taking Juliet and her brother to South Africa. The story is absolutely true.
The narration of the film was taken directly from the actual diaries entries of Pauline, which was discovered buried in her backyard by the police. And Peter Jackson, said he filmed most of the scenes in the actual location of the real events.
Melanie Lynsky who portrays Pauline, is MAGNIFICENT! Her performance in fantastic, and seems so real.
Those scenes in which she cries, are so excruiating to watch, because she's actually sobbing, and at the same time it's just facinating.
She's also very charming. I think you'll like her right away.
Kate Winslet is also wonderful. This must have been he first film for each of them, because in the opening sequence is says "and introducing Melanie Lynsky & Kate Winslet" Filmed in Christchurch New Zealand, Heavenly Creatures is a FACINATING and an absolutely ENGROSSING film. If you like movie of "dark" genre, you'll be awe-struck. As an interesting side note, The girls were spared harsh punishment because of their ages. Juliet Hulme, changed her name to Anne Perry and is now a writer (of fictional crime) Anne Perry herself admits this. There has been speculation as to what has become of Pauline. But one source says, she changed her name to Hilary Nathan and is an ex-librarian, devout Catholic (almost became a nun) and now runs a riding school in rural England. This is from NZ (New Zealand) Woman's Weekly magazine 1997 in an article written by Chris Cooke. This is an excellent film, and I'm glad to see it's now on DVD, I know there was a petition going around to get it released, I signed it. :-)
This is the Uncut version.
Rating: 
Summary: Wickedly original
Review: The last Peter Jackson film before he took on the monumental task of Lord of the Rings, Heavenly Creatures is a superb examination of the true story of two teenage girls who's friendship turns into a romance and its resulting deadly consequences in 1950's New Zealand. At the heart of the friendship lies the girl's common interest in fantasy. As evident through Jackson's other films, the director shows his similar interest by illustrating their fantasy world as they become closer. Strong macabre themes run through the film, as you simultaneously root for the girls? relationship and against what you know they eventually plan to do. Jackson skillfully balances this to create a mesmerizing film that you can't take your eyes off until the bloody end. Acting all around is note perfect, especially with the two girls played by Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet in her first film role. Everything works perfectly here to capture your attention. It?s clear how Jackson earned approval to make the risky Lord of the Rings project, because for the first time here, he shows how he can be a serious filmmaker with a load of talent. Heavenly Creatures is a must-see film. Don't miss out on this mostly unknown film, it's one of those hidden jewels in the sea of bad films.
Rating:
Summary: a chilling true tale
Review: Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey star in their first film as 2 girls in 1950s Christchurch, New Zealand, where Juliet (Winlset) is the glamorous new girl at Pauline's (Lynskey) school and the two quickly become best friends. In fact, perhaps something a little more than firends, and Pauline's mother forbids them to see each other anymore. They decide that they have to kill Pauline's mother in order to ensure they can stay together. This is a very gripping, chilling story about what can happen in real life. The movie is filmed depicting the rich and often frightnening fantasies -- sometimes sexual -- of the more aggressive Juliet.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best films of the nineties
Review: Peter Jacksons Heavenly Creatures is one of the most astonishingly original achievements in film in the last ten years, it is both rapturous and inspired in mood and detail, and the script, direction and performances are flawless, no other film-maker has ever caught so vividly the wild and recklessly volatile terrain of adolescence, it is both dark and exhilarating and the final scene is so beautifully executed it is almost unbearable to watch, a remarkable film that gives the genius and insanity of the human imagination full expression, Love it!!
Rating:
Summary: Splendid true crime tale, with a shocking real "sequel"...
Review: This is a deeply moving, amazing, and disturbing real story of a horrific murder perpetrated by two teenage girls in New Zealand... and it's no wonder that after making it, Peter Jackson was noticed and given a shot at "Lord of the Rings". It's worth seeing regardless of whether you're interested in LotR. While watching it, though, remember that real life wrote an even more shocking "sequel" to the story: instead of sitting in a prison cell, one of the teenage murderers, Juliet Hulme, is now a bestselling millionaire author of (of all things) murder-mystery novels, writing under the name of "Anne Perry".
Rating:
Summary: Fallen Angels
Review: The first time I saw Heavenly Creatures I didn't like it. Afterall this IS a true story about two teen aged girls who commit a terible crime. I've since seen it several times and each time I like it more. Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey give incredible performances and Pauline and Juliet. Melanie Lynskey is especially good as lower middle class Pauline/Yvonne,Gina. The use of music and the fantasy sequences effectively show the over the top emotional states these girls were in. The relationship starts out innocently. In fact, Pauline is so miserable, it seems like Juliet is the best thing that has ever happened to her and then everything spirals out of control. The final and best sequence has almost no dialoge--just the delicate music of the Humming Chorus from Madame Butterfly as Pauline's plodding, simple mother walks unwittingly to her death like a cow to the slaugher house. The scene starts out with beauty and ends with hideous cruelty and sums up the story of Pauline and Juliet perfectly.
Rating:
Summary: ...
Review: This is such a beautiful movie, and wacked out at the same time. I highly recommend this. Its surprising to see the director of Dead Alive make something as heartwarming as this, and its based on a true story.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: This is actually one of the best films I have seen in recent memory. For one thing, the visual affects are breathtaking and startling. Watching them really made me feel like I had entered the world of the two main characters. The second thing that blew me away was Kate Winslet's performance. I have been a fan of Kate's since 'Sense and Sensibility'. Although 'Heavenly Creatures' predates 'Sense', I viewed 'Heavenly Creatures' afterwards. This performance proved to me that Ms. Winslet is one of the most capable actresses of my/our generation. Lastly, this was my introduction into the mind of Peter Jackson, the director who would later give us 'The Lord of the Rings.' The fact that this is also based on a true story gives additional credit to the director's vision -- Mr. Jackson was able to weave the harsh reality bits with the fantastic journeys into these teens' imaginations in a very convincing fashion. Like I said this is one of the best films I have seen in a while and I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: Heavenly Creatures- Uncut Version- Not so Heavenly
Review: I never...and I mean never thought that I would be giving this movie 3 stars. To begin with the movie itself in it's original version is 5 stars. The 3 stars refer to this version only. If you have never seen this movie before, please see an older version first before viewing this one. This review is intended for those who have seen the film before, but have yet to see the extended version. As mentioned before in another review the added and extended scenes aren't more vulgar, intense, or grotesque. This is not the problem. The major problems are that there is an extensive overhaul dealing with the imaginary fantasy element. This tends to drag the movie down (which in my oppinion was already a tad long in the original version) and may lose focus on the real world elements that are forcing their will upon Juliet and Pauline. The extended dialogue is 'okay' for the most part, some of it could have (should have) been left out. Another complaint is certain added shots move the girls' close relationship from questionable to be almost certain about their sexuality. The debate over whether they were gay or not is almost certainly non-existent in this movie, since the homosexual undertones are much stronger. There isn't anything wrong with that (I'm not trying to bash anyones sexual preferance), but part of the fun with this film is analysing it and debating whether or not they were or weren't. In the original version you could argue either way. In this one there's a little more evidence to the "they are" side. But perhaps the second most thing that really bothered me about the film was the sub-story between Juliet's mother and father. Very obscured in the original version, until Juliet's entrance in the bedroom and finding out her parents "arrangement". It floored me the first time I saw it and made me really feel for Juliet. This version you see it a mile away, so the impact isn't there at all. Very disappointing. But last is how the very end sequence is handled. In the original version Pauline screams as the "theoritical boat sails without her" and then it cuts to black and there's one last blood curdling scream. OUTSTANDING. The perfect ending, made my skin crawl. This version unfortunately felt it necessary to give us a quick fuzzy (probably from a bad print) shot of Pauline covered in blood screaming in color. Very ackward shot- to the point of almost a jump cut. Boooh! I say bring back the Criterion Heavenly Creature's Laser Disc!
Boooooh! Miramax. Booooh!
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