Amore senza fine

I never saw 'Endless Love' when it came out, and not when it came to video, and then to DVD, and then to streaming. Now it is offered by amazon Prime so I can see it on amazon instant video.

In the years since this movie came out, it probably aged badly. Sex in movies got raunchier. Now, watching this movie, the erotic scenes seem sweet in comparison. And, after all, this is Brooke Shields naked with one of the best-looking naked men on the planet - Martin Hewitt. He looks like a younger and fresher and more perfect Mark Ruffalo. All I can think when I watch him watch a woman is: male hormones!

I enjoyed watching this movie for the first time, being older, having all that distance from today and the time the movie was made (1981). I feel like the hippie parents were very similar to parents of my high school acquaintance. Most of all, I remember how young love is different from older love - not better, not worse, just different.

The movie showed this. The acting is far from 'wooden.' All of these actors have gone on to other (sometimes better) things. What a treat to be able to see they so young, fresh, and skilled in these roles.

Here's one of the unforgettable 80's films, heralded by it's title song. EL is a beautifully shot and acted film, of a boundless love, between two late teens, (Shields and Hewitt, perfectly paired) which when sabotaged by outside parties, heads on a path of damage and destruction, which weighs heavily on Hewitt's character. He becomes unhinged, by the vetoing of him from Shield's family, after things really start to heat up. Besides an undeniable and explosive passion, there are other contributing factors here, with exams and finals coming up. Don Murray as Shield's father was a standout here, where Shirley Knight as the mother who was really good, but it was Murray, who added spice. Knight's open Mother character, was one I really liked though. As you'll see, they aren't your typical family, but they're one you like to be part off. James Spader as the protective and pushy son, who was the catalyst you'll see, was fun to watch. You really feel for Hewitt's character during his breakdown, with emotionally powered moments, this, the strongest section of story. But it's hard to really feel anything for Shield's character until her return, after a long absence of screen time, as really, you hardly learn much about her character, and not that much more in the after. Nearing it's end, there were some well up tear moments, where soon you have a sudden, yet, unsatisfactory, but thought provoking ending, in this Zeffereli's 80 masterpiece. One movie that will make you ponder, well after the curtains, have come down.

I was just a young teenager when I snuck into the theater to see this one. This was the first "Love Story" I really ever watched, and I was touched. I was snatched away into the world of Jade and David, and seduced by the emotion and feelings. By the end, when the movie reaches it's climax, I was in tears. My heart was breaking for each of the charactors. Yes, I was young and emotional, but this movie made an impression on me and gave me my first lesson in Love. I snuck in two more times, just to feel those tears again. I Loved it!

Awful for many viewers. Boring for others. The worse Zefirelli. and, maybe, the critics are more bitter. But, in this case, Ihope, significant is to discover the good details. Sure, it is not a great film. But a decent one. For music. For performances of lead actors. For drops of authenticity. And, maybe, for the courage of viewer to not compare "Endless Love" with "Romeo and Juliet" . This is all. an imposible love story. two beautiful young actors. And a not the most inspired film.

Jade's mother watched them on the stairs making love because she herself was in love or had a crush on David. Remember when he went to see her in NYC and she tried to kiss him?? Just because Jade's family is eccentric doesn't make it hard to believe. He attempted to set wet papers on fire so he could look like the hero when he saved everyone in the house just like the story that Tom Cruise told. The impression in the end of the movie is that they will be together when he gets out. Brook's acting in this was sub par. I read somewhere that during the sex scenes the director would pinch her big toe so her face showed more emotion...? Who knows if that is true or not. The book is absolutely fabulous and much more involved story line than the movie. If you read the book you would understand how difficult it would be to adapt it to the screen. I thought the movie was good and got it's point across of young love and obsession but the book was sensational.