Rating: 
Summary: One of my favorites for simple reasons.
Review: It is an entertaining and interesting movie, simply stated. I love it enough to include it in my personal library. It is well acted, visually stimulating (great locale shots), substantial in plot, (especially if you grew up in the 60's as I did), and has a really excellent soundtrack. What more could you ask for? You must ask yourself, "for a relatively unknown movie, why are there so many reviews on Amazon.com?" There you go.
Rating:
Summary: Unique and Riveting, but where are the subtitles?
Review: Set in Morocco in 1972, "Hideous Kinky" is a gem. The acting, music and cinemetography all come together to create a wonderfully free-spirited, original film. Each of the characters in "Hideous Kinky" is on a quest. Julia, a smart, slightly immature and selfish young mother, seeks spiritual enlightenment through Sufism and "the school of the annihilation of the ego." Lucy, her younger daughter, surveys the world through bright eyes and tries to learn all she can from it (by the end of the film, she speaks Arabic with Bilal and wraps her head in a turban!). Bea, the older daughter, wants nothing more than to go to school and "be normal," in spite of her eccentric family. During their days in Marakkesh they meet Bilal, a charming street performer with a shady past who becomes Julia's lover, steps in as the girls' surrogate father and, ultimately, saves them all. The film wanders along with Julia and her family: one minute, they are enjoying music in a square in Marakkesh; later, they are hitchhiking through the desert en route to Algeria. It's different, and it is fitting to both the characters and the story. Several scenes in the film are dream sequences, and, overall, "Hideous Kinky" has a surreal, dreamlike quality. The viewer really picks up the atmosphere of Morocco through the various places Julia and her children visit. This was the first Kate Winslet film I had ever seen, and I was impressed with her portrayal of Julia. As other reviewers have mentioned, Bella Riza and Carrie Mullan, as Winslet's young daughters, are also outstanding. There is one major gripe I have with this video. When I saw "Hideous Kinky" at the cinema overseas, all of the Arabic dialogue was subtitled. In this American release video, however, there aren't any subtitles AT ALL. Hence, anglophone viewers might have only a marginal idea of what is happening in some of the film's important scenes--such as Bilal's street show (all about the meaning of life, which is a central theme to the movie!) and his conversations with Fatima and the ticket seller. ALl in all, though, I think this is a great addition to anyone's video library--particularly those who have also enjoyed roaming around the world!
Rating: 
Summary: Titanic on the sand dragging and dragging..
Review: You won't see more here than you saw in "Titanic"; only more boredom, more drag, less epic pitch; I could only watch it on Fast Forward. Pretty much the same story, this time in the sands of Northern Africa: a damsel with all her marbles loose (this time with kids) runs away from boredom of organized, responsible lifestyle to find out that the grass is nowhere greener let alone sweeter. This time she is not given a fortune like in "Titanic" which makes the end go nowhere. Hey, Kate, can you play any other character than that one you played already? There is one scene where Kate's character's kids play hide and go seeke tagging each other with the title words, "hideous kinky", and that's the only justification for the title. Yep. That's it. Neat, huh?
Rating: 
Summary: Kate Is Magic
Review: Though the "Beat" generation of the '50s may have been the genesis of it all, there is no doubt that the '60s spawned an accelerated social upheaval like nothing that came before it. It was an era that was to become synonymous with uninhibited freedom and free love, as well as a quest for change and enlightenment on a variety of levels. "Hideous Kinky," directed by Gillies MacKinnon, has it's roots in that '60s sensibility, but the story picks up in the early '70s in Marrakech, Morocco, where a twenty-five year old mother of two has come seeking not only enlightenment, but a means to effect the "annihilation of the ego." Kate Winslet stars as Julia, who has left her home in London behind, as well as her children's father, in order to pursue her quest for spiritual freedom. But, as often happens when reality sets in, that quest becomes something of a trial in itself, as life becomes a matter of living hand to mouth, depending upon the generosity of others-- in many cases strangers-- and unfortunately at times putting not only Julia, but her two young daughters in peril for their lives. As a friend tells her early on in the film, in response to her reaction to the brutality to which he is subjected at work, "This isn't London--" And had she been a bit more astute, those simple words from her friend would've been all the enlightenment she needed. But to one with an eye on the prize and an adamant attitude, such simple wisdom is rarely perceptible, and-- as in Julia's case-- more often than not will go unheeded, as it does here. There's beauty in much of what Julia encounters on her journey, but mostly it's something of a travelogue for places to avoid at any cost; and the film is disconcerting in that the audience-- as an impartial observer-- can readily discern the futility of Julia's endeavors, and the fact that her children are subjected to it, as well, is unnerving at times. Of course, hindsight is always the nectar of the gods, and it's easy to see the "big picture" when you're able to view it at arm's length. There is no question that her quest is admirable, but because this is a person you come to like early on-- her personal qualities and motivations are beyond reproach; it's her decisions that are questionable-- it is frustrating to watch her muddle her way through (even during the happier moments) when it all seems so unnecessary, somehow. What is required, perhaps, is a thorough understanding of the times, and the attitudes effectuated by them; for the allurement of an awareness that can effect spiritual release is compelling, and the wisdom thought to be afforded by the fool on the hill can be an irresistible enticement even today. You have to admire Winslet for taking on a fairly unglamorous, though somewhat sympathetic role, after her mainstream success in "Titanic." With what I'm sure must have been a plethora of plum parts from which to choose, rather than play it safe she took the daring route and determined upon a project with character and substance. And though Julia may not be her most memorable creation, there is no question that her performance here is the highlight of the film. She lends an earthy, endearing quality to the character that make her not only likable, but believable; and because you sense the danger of her situation, it evokes a feeling of uneasiness that cannot be dispelled. It also makes you empathize with those whose loved ones embarked upon journeys similar to Julia's during this era; and there were many. The supporting cast includes Said Taghmaoui (Bilal), Bella Riza (Bea), Carrie Mullan (Lucy), Pierre Clementi (Santoni), Abigail Cruttenden (Charlotte), Ahmed Bouland (Ben Said), Sira Stampe (Eva) and Amidou (Sufi Sheikh). A film that prompts emotional involvement on a number of levels, "Hideous Kinky" is a paean of sorts to those who seek the fulfillment of a better way of life, and are willing to take the road less traveled to find it. And the strength of Winslet's performance alone makes it a film worth seeing. In her previous outing, she may have had a beautiful blue jewel to wear around her neck, but in this one, she "is" the jewel. And, make no mistake, it's the magic of the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: The title should have just been "Hideous"....
Review: The most entertaining part of this movie is the title. I wish I had just read it, smiled, and then left it on the shelf. I must say I am a fan of Kate's (long before Titanic) and I watched this movie with a diehard fan of her's. However the only word besides hideous I can use to describe this film is PAINFUL! I watched it through to the end (after all I paid good money to rent it) patiently waiting for something to happen. Waiting for something that would make me care what happens to these characters. Unless you are a fan of artsy flicks with no particular plot except to see interesting looking people in interesting looking locations - skip this one!
Rating:
Summary: Neither Hideous Nor Kinky....
Review: ....in fact this film left me so cold I just felt like a complete on-looker which is not, in my opinion, what films are about. After a failed relationship and a seemingly dead-end life in England, young mum Julia heads off to find greener grass in Morrocco. But her dreams of adventure and enlightenment aren't going to be that easy to fulfill when you consider that her two young daughters have been dragged along with her. Alone and vulnerable in a poverty-stricken country Julia finds an ally and lover in Bilal, a local lad with a habit of thieving but as the tension between herself and her daughters, particularly the elder one, Bea, escalates Julia is forced to re-examine the practicalities and prospects of life abroad. I didn't find this film particularly good and care little for it but it could at least have taken advantage of Morrocco's beautiful scenery - but it didn't. Quite a limp affair, really.
Rating:
Summary: Very touching and realistic type of movie.
Review: This definitly is not an entertaining movie but a good one to watch. Kate acted so good along with the two kids. Watch it if you only enjoy movies that touch your feelings. I think they are great once in a while to watch and especially when the actors excelled in their roles. This is not something I would even think to own in my collection.
Rating:
Summary: It quickly grows on you
Review: I didn't even intend to watch this; someone else had the channel tuned in, the volume was low, I had a book in hand. Almost from the first moment, though, I was involved, which says a lot. It is the parts that pull; summarizing the whole doesn't particularly advertise this in one way or another. For me, it is a respectful but clear-eyed reconsideration of the nomadic hippie generation in search of spiritual enlightenment and the effect on its own children. Kate Winslet is wonderful but the child actresses playing her young daughters are absolutely sublime. The film's success lies in part in giving plenty of time to their reactions and part of the story. The direction, pace and camera angles provide the tension that is lacking in the actual action. As for the location shooting and depiction of Moroccan culture, it matches perfectly the memories I've saved from being an adolescent a continent and ocean apart from my parents in that part of the world, in the same era. That's the ultimate success of the film for me: it portrays it as it was, the highs and the lows, but it also joins me in the reflection born of time and growth. It is sweet, not too bitter. You don't have to be of my generation to appreciate it; just about anyone can identify with being very young and embarrassed and confused by one's parent as Lucy and Bea are by Julia (Winslet).
Rating: 
Summary: Warm, charming and honest but lacks tension
Review: Kate Winslet (Julia) eschews the glamour here in favor of depicting a 25-year-old mother of two seeking adventure and enlightenment with the Sufis in Morocco (instead of with the yogis in India, as was once the fashion). The year is 1972 and Julia might be a welfare mother except that there's no dole and the locale is rather exotic. Having left her poet husband behind in London, rather than "share him," Julia seeks the annihilation of the ego, and the god within. What she finds (aside from the fact that she's a little too young for that) is Bilal (Said Taghmaoui), a Marrakech street performer of questionable character who speaks English and charms her and her daughters. Beautiful cinematography combined with a steady effort by Kate and winning performances from Bella Riza (Bea) and Carrie Mullan (Lucy) as her pre-adolescent daughters, however, cannot quite save this slightly plotted, although always realistic tale, from the bargain video bin. Too bad because there is something wonderfully charming and honest about this film. "Wow! Hideous! Kinky!" is what the girls like to exclaim (in their London accents) in reaction to their experiences in the world. When Bea, wise as only a nine-year-old can be, describes the women on the balcony as "prostitutes," so thick is her accent that only the context allowed this old Yankee's ears to comprehend. There is a little peek-a-boo nudity that might offend some, and yes Marrakech and environs look as clean and sparkling as an upscale suburban mall, and true the editing is jumpy and a little chaotic; but in the land of the whirling dervishes perhaps this is as it should be. Bea is the daughter who disapproves of mum's adventurous spirit and wants to be "normal" and go to school every day (reminding me of Cher and Winona Ryder in Mermaids (1990)), while younger daughter Lucy finds love in her heart for all, especially for mum's new boy friend, Bilal. Somehow she actually teaches him the beginnings of responsibility, while he shares with them the delight of being alive. I think what carries this story (from the novel by Esther Freud-yes, a relation) and made it an attractive part for Kate Winslet is the fair and honest character of Julia who struggles to find herself while caring for two little girls, which is what it is like for all women. A woman cannot find herself alone. She cannot throw off the constraints and responsibility of being a mother, because those are HER children. So she must take them along where ever she goes and find with them whatever it is she seeks, and this is a burden and a delight, as this film, despite its shortcomings, clearly shows.
Rating:
Summary: How does it end?
Review: I knew I was in trouble in the first few minutes of the film. A dreamsequence of a camera following a young child down long corridors- a scene that is a straight ripoff. Long scenes with Moroccans chattering at each other in their native tongue "cleverly" unsubtitled to create an atmosphere of "mystery". Or maybe to put the audience to sleep. The plot takes so long to develop, what there is of it, that finally... well, who cares? . The movie gets pluses for photography. The scenery is excellent. Great art there. In this it reminds me of "The Thin Red Line". In fact if you liked TTRL you may like this. But if you found TTRL crashingly boring you'd best steer clear of Hideous Kinky. I like Kate Winslet a lot. I'll sit through almost anything with her in it. Anything but Hideous Kinky. How does it end anyhow? I didn't bother to find out.
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