Pretty Woman

Romantic film, nice music, interesting plot, fine beautiful actress, (Mrs. Roberts) and handsome actor, (Mr. Gere) in prime roles, a success story from the very beginning. But, although I am enjoying movies like that, I would never rate this one as 9. The difference (and the extra points) is made by the secondary role actor Mr. Elizondo! I saw him, for the first time, in a rather extreme and rather stupid drama/comedy "Young doctors in love" (1982) and I was impressed by his acting performance. In "Pretty woman" he is the absolute star. The script supported his role, of course, but the talent is indisputable.

The combination of appealing leads, killer chemistry, and a banging soundtrack makes Pretty Woman a highly enjoyable film. The story is obviously a bit far-fetched, but who cares? It's a movie. I watch movies to be entertained and to enjoy well-told stories, and Pretty Woman certainly works on both fronts.

Pure Hollywood fluff story that is so smart and sports such a dynamite cast that it becomes one of the more wonderful films of the period. "Pretty Woman" is pop culture at its finest as Julia Roberts (in an Oscar-nominated, icon-making role) is a prostitute on the mean streets of Los Angeles who gets a big financial break one night when she meets up with cold, but lonely business guru Richard Gere. They immediately create a bond and have a night of passion which soon becomes a week-long partnership with Gere and Roberts posing as love interests (and of course $3000 is involved as well). Could it be possible that Roberts, a lady with a heart of gold in spite of her background, is just the thing Gere has been needing in his life? A trumped-up adult-oriented version of "Cinderella" is probably the best way to describe "Pretty Woman". The old Hollywood story gets a glossy new look thanks to director Garry Marshall (doing arguably his finest film-making work). Gere and Roberts make for one of the more attractive pairs the cinema has ever seen. They just shine beacons of light on one another it seems. The fact that both are very good performers definitely enhance their appearances though. A smashing soundtrack and that vivid 1980s style (even though this was released in 1990) make "Pretty Woman" one of the big winners of the last few years. 4 stars out of 5.

Edward Lewis needs a prostitute to accompany him to a few business meetings, he employs Vivian Ward, but unexpectedly he falls in love with her.

It's nonsense, I get that, but some of the reviewers are taking it all too seriously, and way too literally, it's just an enjoyable fantasy romance drama, headed up by two glorious, beautiful people.

I get the whole, if Disney made prostitutes, it would be Vivian thing, but come on, it's a little bit of escapism, and who wouldn't have wanted to be wined and dined by Edward.

The iconic scene is the moment in the clothes shop, it's a scene I think that many of us can relate to, who among us hasn't gone into a store feeling a little out of sorts, maybe a little scruffy and felt awkward by a superior being.

Still my favourite Julia Roberts film, she looks spellbinding, and is just wonderful as Vivian. As for Here, no words.

I'd watch this over a bit of Marvel nonsense any day of the week, and that soundtrack is spot on.

8/10.

Obviously similar to Shaw's "Pygmalion", but updated, more modern.

A lovely dream, one very old: rescuing a prostitute from the street. (Not in Woody Allen's sickish-moody way.)

However, if you wish to dream this one, be sure you do NOT start to think very logically . . . She is healthy, not on drugs, not on alcohol, not even a smoker; no syphilis, no gonorrhea, no AIDS wounds on her legs, nothing, she is just perfectly absolutely healthy. Body and mind. She is not a criminal, not inclined to steal anything, she even values love and dignity more than money. Oh, she has no pimp, who would be the other man (other than Richard Gere) in her life; nobody to protect her from smart types who walk off without paying; the pimp would explode the whole romance instantly. (Instead, a girl friend.)

She has a golden soul, full of goodness, and loves art, and feels for art. High-society types around them appear silly, artificial, stuffy. (Different forks.) She is natural. She even was a good student (!) and . . . might be again? She loves to bathe, and half the time we see her happy in the bath tub (which is a powerful signal and symbol for CLEAN, CLEAN; she even sings so super-ultra-charmingly in the bath; she wants to wash off the foolishness of her previous few months of street. And she can do it.

But with all those qualities, WHY would she ever become a prostitute in the first place? Don't think, don't think. Just dream, it is lovely.