El Cuerpo del Deseo

Everything worked marvelously. Writing, originality casting, characters, acting, directing, ...all could not be better. The two stars made magic on screen. Enough comic relief to match the heavy drama and passion. All the actors "let it all hang out" They dug deep and became real. Evil, good, placid, defensive, irritating, passionate, wise, unwise...not a single emotion was left unattended. I am so spoiled. Searched for another series to watch and had to shut it down it was so dull and rigid and dead. Just actors saying lines. I know I will look for a long tome to find one as good overall as this one. To discover that Lorena Rojas died at such an early age was upsetting. She was a powerhouse and the best match for that amazing Mario Cimarro. I wonder why there are so few series and movies with him as star. He is box office.

This is a truly masterful soap opera, the best I've ever seen from dozens in other languages. The plot is excellent, as is the script. The actors should've received awards for their performances. The whole production is incredible, including the locations, costumes, music, camera work and everything else. The director was masterful. There's a great mix of drama, tension, humor and my favorite, mystery. The unabridged version is the one to watch, because the cut version is lacking way too many very informative and interesting parts that add to the intrigue and drama. There's no comparison, this is the best, even with some unnecessary parts and a less-than-peachy ending.

I'm sure you've seen many good Latin soaps, even some great ones. But have you ever seen one that takes your breath away with it's Passion scenes? That moves you with it's touching scenes? That makes you laugh like crazy with it's comical scenes? That you enjoy every minute of it and can't wait until the next day to see more? This is of that kind! It holds the record of the series with higher ratings in the history of telemundo and was a great hit in Spain, leaving behind the storm and Rubi. It's not just any series, it's one that had an impact in the world of Spanish TV, that is traveling the world and making telemundo popular just like Pasion de gavilanes the other telenovela of tha same writer that is Julio Jimenez. Julio is a very talented man who has written amazing telenovelas like Rauzan and La viuda de blanco, any telenovela of his is a big hit and that's because the man knows how to write!

What person over 50 or 60 hasn't fantasized about being young again with all his knowledge intact? EL CUERPO DEL DESEO is about that and more.

Just as LA MUJER EN EL ESPEJO explored issues of beauty, EL CUERPO DEL DESEO explores issues of age, wealth, and power. The wealthy but aged Pedro José Donoso marries a beautiful but greedy young woman who already has a lover on the side. He has dreams about a strong young man performing heavy farm work and every time he wakes from these dreams he feels even more intensely that he has experienced them. He dies suddenly in his study one night, and the young farmer also dies within hours. However, Pedro José's spirit refuses to give up and enters the young farmer's body as it is being carried to the cemetery. When he breaks out of the coffin and is brought to a medical facility no one can explain what happened… and he is more confused than the others. He freaks out the people around him by displaying knowledge and abilities the young farmer never had. He is greatly confused as to what has happened and why. He gradually learns that the reason for this strange phenomenon is to learn the truth about what has been going on under his nose and behind his back. He then has to make a decision about what to do about it all.

The studly Mario Cimarro of PASIÓN DE GAVILANES is more than worthy of this acting challenge as he explores what it is to be what to all intent and purposes is an impostor. The scene in which he strips in front of a mirror and sees his new handsome face and perfect body is priceless; he manages to convey the humor, the irony, and the apprehension all at once. We later see the dark side of his personality as he uncovers the deceptions and hypocrisies around him. The beautiful Lorena Rojas, who also sings the theme song, is flawless as the greedy "widow" Isabella, while Martin Karpan of TE VOY A ENSEÑAR A QUERER is increasingly sinister as her controlling lover.

I'm not going to try to predict where this is going, but the ride is exciting.

You might be wondering why I'm giving a review with a minimum score. First of all, my heart ached at the last final episodes of El cuerpo del deseo (TV 2005). The soap opera was great, but the ending disappointed me. I would have liked Salvador, like Pedro, to end up with Valeria. I didn't like Cantalicia's character at all - although the actress plays well, her character leaves much to be desired.

The last episode was still emotional, because Salvador returned to his family. But it was sad that he didn't stay with Valeria. At least it's good that Valeria started a relationship with Simón. The rest of the episodes were magnificent , only the last episodes made me sad and even made me cry.