Un paseo por las nubes

This is a magical movie. Even if you turn off the sound and just watch it, it is beautiful. Of course, if you turned off the sound, you would miss the beautiful music. As for the story, it is a fairy tale, totally unrealistic. But it is a very, very romantic fairy tale. I'm an overage, overweight, cynical old lady, but I still cried through half the movie. If you watch this movie, have a big box of tissues, a big box of chocolates, and a large dose of the willing suspension of disbelief. If you have even one romantic bone in your body, you'll love it. If you can't suspend your disbelief, skip it - you will just be irritated.

This is the third remake of a 1942 Italian film directed by Alessandro Blasetti. In fact, the new version, directed by the Mexican director, Alfonso Arau, doesn't bring anything new to the action, with the exception, perhaps, of the change of locale, from Italy to Napa Valley.

The premise is the same, as Mr. Arau follows the Italian model almost to a tee. We have the decent young GI who feels sorry about the situation the young single woman who reveals she is pregnant. He meets her on a train and wants to help her face her stern parents. At the beginning everything goes wrong, then the parents accept him. He goes back to his wife, who recognizes the mistake they made upon marrying so young and going to the war without knowing one another well. Then, the young GI returns to the vineyard and to the woman he has fallen in love with.

This is a film targeted to satisfy a romantic fan, who, judging by the many comments to this forum seem to have enjoyed it tremendously. While the film is not breaking new ground, it is pleasant to look at, but predictable.

Alfonso Arau working in Hollywood after his much better "Like Water for Chocolate" seems to be a natural in the way he makes his cast respond to his direction.

Who are you and what have you done with the real Keanu Reaves? This guy's come a long ways since Bill & Ted.

I was floored by the cinematography, the story itself, and the way the family was portrayed, capturing the way so many of the wine-growing families of the day were in California--not to mention the traditions and mores that existed at the time.

Anthony Quinn also turns in a stellar performance, as always, as the eccentric grandfather that really isn't quite as odd as he'd like everyone to believe he is, spots Reeves for what he really is early in the story, and pretty much drives him to face what should be his destiny--but lets him think that he's making up his own mind. All in all, I have to say this flick is a major winner, despite the fact that there's no sex, no one is gunned down, no one is blown to bits, and there are no computer generated graphics of meteorites plowing into gasoline refineries. See it.

in the whole career of Keanu Reeves this is probably one of the mightiest movies ever ...probably anyone would envy him for working with the king himself "Anthony Quinn" in all the years Anthony Quinn whom has made many movies there wasn't a better interpretation on why people should break medication rules those doctors say Don Pedro no salt , Don Pedro no wine , Don Pedro no chocolates , Don Pedro no women ...they know about the needs of the body but what do they know about the needs of the soul .... He is one of the best actors to live in this Earth and I guess it was Earth's honor that he was in it ....this movie proves it with his noble decent yet lovely presence ...also the 1940 morals make the movie superb and Keanu's way of being so polite makes this movie more than just a classic...it makes it a " You Must Buy" kind of movie....

I know most people put this movie down and call it "saccharine" but I happen to ADORE it and watch it every time it's on - usually ever weekend - and I never get tired of it. It's actually nice to see a man who is gentle and kind...who says that's not masculine? And Keanu is very easy on the eyes too!

Pure romance - the kind we rarely see and what we need more of! Less sex and violence!