Conference bookie::movies

    Movie-making has reached a new low.   Melodramatic to
    the point of being ridiculous.  Poor cinematography.
    Over-wrought visuals.   Maurice Jarre score to match.
    
    The two principals are lovely to watch, and the crowd
    is pulling for love to triumph.  But ... this can't
    be taken seriously, and it's not quite make-believe
    either.
    
    ** (out of *****)    Bring Kleenex.
    
    			dick

    I've heard that the movies looks like a wine commerical.  From the
    commericials (for the movie) and the wine commericials I'd have to say,
    the cinematography is dead on for those Vangelis-scored Gallo (or
    whatever) commericials, all right.  :)
    
    
    kim
    
    (FWIW, one guy on "Sneak Previews" liked it, even though he admitted it
    was like a wine commericial, and the other one said the last 10 minutes
    of the movie ruined it for him.)
    
    

    It was poorly written, the characters were awful  (except the girls
    mother was so sweet in the bedroom scene) the Father was grating 
    on my nerves so bad it spoiled it for me......and Paul's wife was
    a ding dong but we Already knew that! the scenary was lovely BUT 
    these characters gave me a headache
    
    When I walked into that section of the theatre, there was a little
    archway you had to go thru to get to the movie with like a grapevine 
    it was rather nice ha they were promoting a trip to Nappa Valley.

    Re:  the last three replies
    
    Did we see the same movie?  I thought it was wonderful, even better
    than Bridges of Madison County.  Maybe each of you saw something in the
    movie that I didn't.
    
    I saw a bittersweet love story of a man who is searching for what he
    wants in life, not sure of what it is, and then his "awakening" to
    realize that it's right in front of him.  He has honor and wants to do
    the right thing. I wasn't sure about Keanu Reeves in a romantic lead,
    but the chemistry between the two leads squashed all my doubts.
    
    I thought Giancarlo Gianinni as the father and Anthony Quinn as the
    grandfather turned in excellent performances.  Anthony Quinn stole just
    about every scene he was in.  Gianinni was perfect as the outraged
    father, and I would have expected nothing less from someone with his
    beliefs (as described in the movie).
    
    Sure, it was pure corn in parts, but who cares?  It was a totally
    entertaining romance, unbelievable-but-you-wish-it-wasn't, and (to me,
    anyway), virtually flawless and very appealing.  I left the movie
    feeling good, and isn't that how it's supposed to be?
    
    ****/****
    
    Catherine
    
    

    
    	Catherine ... where've you been?
    
    	Haven't seen an "I adore Kevin Costner" note in a LONG time.
    
    	8^)
    

    I have to agree with Catherine, up to a point. I too really enjoyed
    this movie and was very impressed with the actors (especially Giannini
    and Quinn) The film was very romanticized and lush looking - thought
    the use of a brownish filter for most of the filming was very effective
    in evoking an old-fashioned atmosphere. Noticed a blooper when Keanu
    was giving the girl a candy wrapper band for her wedding ring.  First
    he's wearing his real wedding ring, then he's not,then he's putting on
    a candy wrapper band of his own.  For me, some of the enjoyment of this
    film was taken away by what I thought was a very abrupt ending. The
    rest of the movie meandered along at a gentle pace that lulled me into
    quiet contentment/enjoyment and then all of a sudden it was action and
    then over - I would have like to see a more developed ending and a bit
    more of the story.
    
    Chris

    
    
    Out here in California, Nappa is spelled Napa.
    
    

    Romance with a capital R, meaning it's of the genre, not necessarily
    possesing that quality.
    
    The last ten minutes of the film did misfire tragically.  Instead of a
    happy ending, it made for a sappy ending.  I actually enjoyed the large
    part of it, more for the way it looked and the antics of the supporting
    cast rather than anything to do with the real story.  And it was *so*
    predictable.  Along about the time that extremely bizarre scene
    involving covering the grapes with smoke (did he have to stand that
    close) I predicted the essence, if not the details, of the ending.
    
    DFW
    

    Although I agree with the comments made about the sappy ending, I
    thought up to that point the movie was absolutely wonderful, and not
    even the predictable ending could spoil it.
    
    Whoever said Anthony Quinn stole every scene he was in was right on
    target.  He was absolutely fabulous!  In a role that could have been a
    cliche, he brought a vilality and originality to it that was wonderful.
    Giancarlo Giannini had the easiest role in the movie and handled it
    well.  Aitana (forget her last name) was believable and moving.  As for
    Keanu Reeves, he was better than I expected.  I found his performance
    to be just right, not wooden as some people have said.
    
    All in all, 8.5 out of 10 - would have been higher without the ending!
    
    NAZZ
    
    PS - I caught that ring goof, too - how could they miss it?!?!?

    I saw the movie the night that it opened and found it just so-so. The
    first third of the film was so ridiculous that many of my fellow
    theatergoers were laughing when they shouldn't have been (I actually
    had thoughts of walking out of the film, which I can't remember ever
    having before). However, the film improves dramatically once the main
    characters reach the vineyard. Perhaps it was because that's where
    Quinn and Giannini enter the film, plus as some earlier noters
    suggested, the Napa scenery was breathtaking. It also could've been
    because it is there that Victoria starts to look like Paul's
    contemporary instead of his mother (it might've been the clothes or her
    mannerisms, but she just seemed so much *older* than him until that
    point). I was also disappointed with the ending.
    
    All in all, the film was O.K. but certainly didn't live up to my
    expectations, which were based on the excellent commercials and early
    reviews. I would recommend it if there's nothing else that you want to
    see at the time and for video rental.
    
    *** out of *****
    
    Nancy-

    Stoopid stoopid stoopid
    
    Even if Keanu Reeves could act, he could not have saved this dud!