Amor real

After having been a fan of telenovelas for almost 11 years, I can honestly say that "Amor Real" is one of the best I have seen. The story, wardrobe, actors, scenery, and characters are simply superb. I must confess, I found it a little slow and so-so during the first weeks, but as each week passed, I began to like this show more and more, until I fell in love with it completely. There are no actors miscast in their roles, and they all portray their character with such skill, that even the villains are believable instead of cartoonish as in most novelas. The one actor that mesmerized me here was Rafael Rojas with his Amadeo Corona, the kind revolutionary leader who helps and protects Manuel. Here you have a character that comes into the story near the middle, and isn't a part of the main love triangle and their obstacles... yet, he manages to make this character just as remarkable and memorable as those who have been in the story since the beginning.

At last, a 5-star soup opera! I have nothing to say than fully recommend anyone to watch this show.

This +180 chapter "novela" has a great pace, great acting and awesome locations.

Wradrobe is excellent... the Mexico of the early 20th century is portrayed in a very exquisite manner.

This is most beautiful passionate, three-way conflict I have ever seen in a soup opera.

Although I don't speak Spanish, with the aid of close captions and a dictionary I was able to follow much of it. As I tuned in about three quarters of the way through the episodes, I purchased the DVD with English subtitles so that I could fill in the episodes I missed and figure out who was who. Sadly, the DVD was more like watching a one hour season recap of LOST without the explanatory pop ups. Had I not seen the last part in full, I would never had known what was going on. Some characters popped up without any explanation: e.g. the liberated woman who dressed as a man did not appear until she proposed to Renato Piquet (who was Renato anyway?). If only the copious extras had included a full synopsis and character biography list. This show was FAR too good to throw away in a four hour version.

The extras showed the enormous effort which had gone into making the show, the HUGE cast, thousands of period costumes, and a specially built set which would make a "Colonial Mexico" them park. I can only hope that the show will be repeated in full some time in the near future so that I can tape every episode, or that an extended version could be brought out on DVD.

95 episodes, minus commercials and chapter bookends last about 35 minutes each, which adds up to slightly over 55 1/2 hours, which would fit on 10 DVD's, or even 5 double sided.

To get to the story. This show was one of the most spectacular romantic series every. It had everything, beautiful women, handsome men, passionate love, intrigue, scheming, power grabs, gorgeous settings, cheating, star-crossed lovers, family loyalties, family secrets, a revolution - a real feast for the eyes, and for one who lives in the US, a refreshing change to see the way the Mexicans see themselves rather than the caricatures usually portrayed by Hollywood films. I cannot wait to see it shown again.

My only gripe was Matilde's constant snivelling got on my nerves. Not only did she cry enough to fill a bathtub, but the men were at it too. As little Manuelito said to his father, "Men don't cry"! Well they did in this show, by the bucket.

Having recently read Isabel Allende's books about rich powerful families in Latin America, the story attracted me. From the very beginning it kept me captivated. I have even contemplated calling in sick on days I have to work when it's on. Everything seems historically accurate and I am amazed by the amount of detail that was put into this production. It requires a certain level of intelligence to understand some of it. Being that at times they have dialogue in English and French. My family was wondering why French was used so much. The Spanish used in it, it's very nice and slow. It makes it easy to follow, especially for those of us Hispanics born and raise in the US. I'm always having to ask my parents the meaning to different words, this time the roles have been reversed. This novela indeed has a lot of class.

Amor Real, the new soap opera of the praised executive producer Carla Estrada results in a visual delight.

In barely 3 weeks at air with 12 episodes transmitted, the history has been presented and night after night maintains us touched to see the story of Matilde and Manuel.

More as every soap opera of epoch of Televisa, the put in scene enjoys of an excellent design of production, wardrobe and direction of art.

The locations are glorious, the soundtrack is very good, especially that cancion interpreted by Sin Bandera. The story lacks of narrative depth, not stops being the always Mexican television fairytale.

But Fernando Colunga has been at the height of the expectations, equal Chantal Andere in her role of Victoria and Ernesto Laguardia as a kind of caricature villan, Humberto. While Adela Noriega began in a very well performance, since Fuentes Guerra avoided her that ran away of the wedding and carried to his country house has been pure tears and frankly this actress itself is overreacted.

Good history, I think that it can be better. As it is noted when the people want to do well the things.