Erynnia

although i am a total iceland fanatic, i did not enjoy this movie at all. the actors are acting badly, the story is pretty uninteresting and not realistic...the whole film is full of cliches and flat/superficious characters.

I must admit I was quite disappointed. Being a fan of subtly thrilling films, this one was obviously trying to compensate its lack of suspense with cheap shock effects. An average horror film, with a nice atmospheric beginning and an embarrassing end. It would have been more thrilling if they had not shown so much of the atrocities and gory bodies. The explicit depiction of them does not make the film better.

So what can you expect? Edward Norton definitely not at his best, maybe because the role of the villain suits him best. Anthony Hopkins playing Hannibal deprived of the charm he had in The Silence Of The Lambs is convincing, but boring. The only two that actually make the film worth watching are Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson. Ralph, playing the ruthless and brutal murderer Dolarhyde, brilliantly and lively conveys his mental condition (well, mostly the desperate and vulnerable part of it). Emily Watson's great acting prevents her blind character Reba from slipping into a cliché. It makes her round and human amongst all the other seemingly constructed cops and killers.

If you've read the book, I assume you'll be disappointed too. If you are lacking money, I'd recommend you stick to The Silence Of The Lambs. If you have enough time and money, you can go and see this film...if you don't mind that Red Dragon won't affect the course of film history.

Jesminder (Jess) Bhamra [Parminder K. Nagra] is fond of football and quite good at it. Being brought up in a Hindu family, with her parents lacking understanding for her hobby, her sister wondering why Jess should prefer football to boys, obviously does not make life easier for her. Jess sees herself forced to lie to attend the training of a girls' football team she has managed to get into. There she makes friends with Jules [Keira Knightley], a girl who has high aspirations concerning her own (future) football career. Jess finally finds herself in a struggle with her own aims and dreams and the plans her parents have made for her, trying to obey them without giving up her dream of becoming a professional player. On top of it all she has to face a further conflict, since she does not know how to handle the affectionate feelings she has for her Irish trainer [Jonathan Rhys Meyers].

The actors did a good job, especially Parminder Nagra. At times you can really sense Jess' despair. I guess this film is not representative of Jonathan Rhys Meyers' actual talent, but his role is too reduced to be played with profound emotion.

'Bend it like Beckham' is definitely a film full of energy. It makes you grin and leave the cinema with a feeling of content and happiness.

A simple plot? Maybe. Maybe neither unique nor inventive. NEVERTHELESS 'Bend it...' is a brilliant and fresh comedy, a sentimental story about growing up, taking responsibility for your own decisions and living your dreams. The viewers find themselves on a roller coaster ride from everyday life to Hindu traditions, from the pompous Hindu celebrations to the atmosphere at a football stadium. The excellent music perfectly conveys the various moods.

A good comedy should leave you amused and touched in some way. 'Bend it...' definitely made me smile, smirk and laugh tears. It even made me feel quite melancholic at times. Brilliant entertainment. I could not wish for more.