The House of the Spirits
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VHS Movie Reviews of The House of the Spirits
Movie Review: I still prefer the book
Summary: 4 Stars
This is indeed a beautiful film, with scenic locations and a brilliant cast. I actually did like the movie a lot (though I was often surprised by their choice of actors). However, I'm left with a small dilemma. Having read the book, I find the ending and character deleting disappointing--I believe that an important commentary on love is over looked because Blanca was chosen to be the narrator and story ender, not Alba (those who have read the book should refer to Alba's lover, his sister, and her relation to Alba's uncles). However, I don't believe this would be an easy film to watch without already knowing the storyline and characters.As mostly happens with movies made from books, I believe the book is better. However, given how difficult it is to make a movie from a magic realist text, this movie is wonderful. All the seemingly mismatched pieces fall together in a breathless poignant portrait of a family--a country--dealing with a changing world, violence, and finally, forgiveness.
On a side note: the military coup shown in this movie/book began a terrifyingly violent time period in which the bloody dictator Pinochet came into power. The resources needed for the coup were provided by the United States.
Movie Review: High drama and conflict but it didn't stir my emotions
Summary: 4 Stars
This 1993 film is based on Isabel Allende's best selling novel. It tells the story of the sweeping changes that occurred in Latin America during in the past century. Mostly though, it tells the story of a family through the generations. There's passion, cruelty and greed. And there's also redemption and love.Meryl Streep is cast as Clara, a woman with the gift of clairvoyance who grows up to marry Esteban played by Jeremy Irons. He's become a wealthy landholder who treats his workers badly and takes advantage of the women. Winona Ryder is their daughter who falls in love with Antonio Banderas, a young revolutionary, and Glen Close is Esteban's spinster sister. That's quite a cast. And they all do excellent jobs.
The story engaged me and kept me watching. It was interesting to see how the characters developed and how the country changed. There are many moments of high drama and conflict but my emotions were never stirred and it all played out like one long soap opera.
I do recommend the film though, if for no other reason than to gain a historical perspective on Latin America.
Movie Review: Book is great, Movie [is bad].
Summary: 1 Stars
Having some truly talented actors, and a wonderful story could not save the horrid movie that is The House of the Spirts. This adaptation does not even closely do justice to the book. The book, first of all, focuses on the lives of three Trueba women. It shows the hardships and turmoil they faced in an enthralling way. The movie, I'm afraid, is too over the top, and chooses not to follow the overall plot of the novel. PLEASE if anyone suggests this film to you, DO NOT LISTEN. But do yourself a favor and read the book, it is an excellent piece of litterature.Movie Review: One of the worst adaptaitions I have ever seen!
Summary: 2 Stars
I have not seen a film quite as appaling as this one in a long time, I am Chilean and a huge fan of the book "La casa de los espiritos" (The house of the spirits), which is beautifly written, with some of the most truthfull and thoughtfull characters I have come across. The film however is very different. To start with the characters are meant to be Chliean not British, and fair enough If they were unable to use an accent (or perhaps latin american actors) they could have at least made a respectable attempt at the names, hearing them all pronounce "Alba", "Olba" was infurriating. To keep with the cast problem the charaters of "Nivea" and "Severo Del Valle" were the two most stereotypical middle class white american parents, with a hint of the brady bunch, Nivea was more like the Mmother in "American Beauty" than a revolutionary socialist and women's rights activist, and such a passionate lover that she has given birth 15 times!
The characters were also changed and blended together changing them entirly and destrying their originality and thought making them into something dull and annoying.
The horrifying coup of 73 was perfectly covered in the book no romantic notions, just the horrendos reality, the film attempts to show a supposed torture scene with Winona Ryder, though there is nothing wrong with her acting the pitiful display of screams and a few blows soon followed by her release was just the slightest bit unrealistic, as the chance of release was about 5 to 1, and the torture sessions consited on slightly more than a few blows.
In short the film was an overly romantic, corny and pathetic attempt to sum up the book, to be honest the entire thing was greatly amusing.
Very disapointing
Movie Review: The House of Spirits
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my second all-time favorite movie. West Side Story being the first; however this movie is beautiful, inspires all sorts of emotions and is a film which should have been given an award!