Possession

Rating:
Summary: Hopelessly Romantic
Review: I would also like to express an opinion contrary to the majority I saw listed here. I think this is a beautifully filmed movie, with the English countryside almost existing as a supporting character. I think both the modern and the Victorian romances were played exquisitely by the characters. Gwyneth's potrayal of Maude was exactly as it should have been and she was incredibly believeable in being aloof and guarded and scared to love. I think the true jewel of the story is the Victorian romance. Both actors did a fantastic job potraying the harshness of a love affair in Victorian times. All in all a must see movie!

Rating:
Summary: Ironic
Review: I was prepared to dislike the movie because I thought it would be stiff and boring. I was right; however if you see the movie through you'll notice some interesting ironies.

First of all, the Victorian lovers are entangled in a torrid love affair, while the modern academics restrain themselves from sleeping together and take it slow.

Also, while I usually find Gwyneth Paltrow's English accents too over the top and affected, she hit it on the mark with this film. Since doing Emma, her accent has become refined, not overly exaggerated as before.

Gwyneth Paltrow's cold disposition was right for this movie as well. I only wish the film had delved deeper into the aloofness of her character, and added some complexity to it. However, Paltrow's acting does tend to lack intensity at times.

If anything, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ekhart's relationship was too realistic. The two were constantly shown looking akward and self-conscious around each other. And their conversations were dull at best to anybody watching, but most likely interesting to themselves.

If you become impatient during slow movies, then skip. Otherwise, give it a try.

Rating:
Summary: IS 'INTELLECTUAL ROMANCE' AN OXYMORON?
Review: Um, when you hear a self-confident title like "Possession" you expect a movie with passion, conflict, turmoil. This dud however is an entire film about literary researchers digging up supposed secrets from dusty old tomes.

There are two romances. One, the modern tale of a handsome but turgidly acted American research student (Eckhart) and his staunchly British, beautiful blond companion (Paltrow) driving around the countryside. The other is more of an afterthought than a pursuit, the one that Paltrow and Eckhart uncover in their research, shown in a series of historical flashbacks.

The only thing that is common among these two stories -- old and modern -- is that they are both stupendously boring. Especially Paltrow and Eckhart, who often tell each other (and thus the audience) what they're feeling in over-analytic Oprah kind of terms rather than express their emotions. Despite having less screen time, both Northam and Ehle do more through looks and gestures.

For a film veering around issues of poetry and the eternal quest for human connection, there is suprisingly little of either.

Rating:
Summary: Possession
Review: I must disagree with the scathing reviews I have read here. I have become very jaded with movies...a long line of endless clones blending together. This movie stood out from the crowd!
I was totally captivated and am throughly enchanted each time I watch it. I love the skillful way in which the producer entertwined the past with the present. It was as though the past love affair had transcended time to envelope the modern couple. They recognized the love of the past couple and came to experience it themselves.
I could feel how spellbound the modern couple was in discovering the details of the past, and how it affected them as a couple falling in love. The way the new loves went to the same places and viewed the same scenery with the same awe was very well done. You could sense them moving through the same stages of their love affair, although their circumstances were different.
I disagree that the modern couple was not perfectly cast.
They were the perfect contrast and made the victorian couple all the more entralling. I found all 4 actors/actresses completely believable and perfect for the story. They all possessed a sensualness and passion that was quite palpable.
The love scenes were very tastefully done and not at all vulgar and explicit as some are these days.
The first time that I saw this movie, I found myself caught up in both romances...feeling the longing, joy, and dispair of starcrossed lovers; feeling the trepidation, yet excitement,
and overwhelming pull of the new love as they discovered not only the love of the past, but their own growing love.
I think this movie shows how love transcends time. It also shows that our lives and love impacts others sometimes in ways that we never know and lend assurance that though we are born and die, love perseveres.
I was hooked from the first moment and wasn't bored for an instant. I am now eager to read the book that inspired this movie. I commend the writer for this marvel of a story; as well as the director and actors for their portrayal of this mesmerizing story.
The scenery was breathtaking and contributed to the overall feel of sensualness and passion.
In my opinion, this movie should win all sorts of awards.
This movie is probably my favorite movie of all time. It left me feeling that although the victorian couple had only a short time together...they were always in love. The modern couple learned from that past love and didn't have the same obstacles...their love was enriched by the love of the past.

Rating:
Summary: Victorian romance is perfect, the modern is.... just awful.
Review: I really wanted to love this movie. A romance featuring a modern story, a victorian one starring Gwenyth Paltrow and featuring Jennifer Ehle sounded very good. But everything that happened in the modern romance was just awful. I really didn't care about either of the main characters. I didn't care if they got together, I didn't really care about them at all. Except when they found new information about the Victorian romance, which is a wonderful story.

I really wish this had just been a movie about Ash and LaMotte and their relationship. The modern story is just bad. But the older one is very good, well-developed and interesting. Jennifer Ehle is stellar in this movie, while Gwenyth delivers a very, very poor performance.

Rating:
Summary: huh?
Review: I give this one 2 stars for the period sequences. I found the actors in these scenes were very good..much better than the scenes starring Ms. Paltrow and her companion. I got bored with this movie very fast. The only thing that kept my attention was the story behind the story. I really wanted to love this movie.

Rating:
Summary: This was an excellent movie!
Review: this is a really good movie made by one of my favorite directors. i don't know why some people don't like this movie. it has good acting, good directing, and very good cinematography. watch asap.