jaimelesfilms

Just saw it. This movie is a Christmas fantasy. Everyone is beautiful and pretty much only good thing happen to them. Even the most unlikely things happen. It's the impossible dream of the perfect Christmas. In the real world these kind of things don't really happen. Having said that, the optimism of the film is contagious and, despite the flaws, at the end you're kinda happy.

The best of the movie was it's message of love, it's really heart warming. However, the way it was done could have been better. There's too much cheese. It's gets kinda corny at times, especially at the end. Mostly, i think it should have been more serious and drama-like. Like someone said in the boards, i think it should have been more realistic. It goes way to much over the top and it almost ruins the movie.

There's some really good "serious" scenes though. My favorite story lines were the friend of the just married couple (the scene when she sees the wedding video-- so sad, so perfect--, the cards scene, again, so sad, so heart breaking); the stand ins (the contrast between the way they are and the job they do-- too funny). The scene with the kid running through the airport to get to his love was the best one. That's what love is all about.

I ended up liking some things, disliking others. It could -- should have been better. Mixed feelings. I guess i mostly liked it, but not as much as i would have wanted... although i wouldn't mind having some of that American girls fantasy.The idea was good but it the end, it's sadly a failed movie.

A witchcraft Middle Ages movie, set in a village in Portucalence Land, in the end of the X century. Based upon a tale by Alexandre Herculano – A Dama Pé de Cabra (The Lady with the Goat Feet) – who, in his turn, was inspired by an old legend told in the Beira Alta region, in Portugal. One of the few Portuguese entries to the fantastic genre, it's the only Portuguese medieval/fantastic movie that I know of. A witch, Maria Alva, takes over a village, but has an opponent in the wise Hélio, who, with some help, will try to defeat her. The movie has a good sense of that whole Middle Age mood, probably due in part to the good photography by José Luís Carvalhosa. The director set some really nifty, moody scenes. Some of them you look at and go: Oh. That's cool. The sets are quite natural, but I guest that would be the easy part, with Portugal having so many real medieval castles still standing and a fair amount of practice in staging medieval fairs. The two main girls are pretty cute and i liked that scene at the end with one of them dressed like a knight with an arrow, at the top of the mount. Also, here and there, some good dialog emerges. It's, I think, mostly a curiosity, for medieval/horror completest and for those who didn't thought they made such movies in Portugal (like me). António de Macedo in only one of the very few Portuguese directors (alongside Edgar Pera) that delves into the fantasy/horror genres. And, unfortunately, he hasn't made a movie in more than ten years. It's basically an interesting movie, nice to watch, curdled up in the sofa at night, while it's freezing cold outside. At least that's how I did it. And I enjoyed it a lot.

I rate it: 6.5 in 10.

P.S: It's funny how Army of Darkness(1993) is in the IMDb Recommendations ...

No Dia dos Meus Anos(1992), a Portuguese movie directed by João Botelho, is part of the "Os Quatro Elementos" (The Four Elements)series. This is the second episode, O Ar(The Air). The other ones are "Das Tripas Coração – O Fogo", from Joaquim Pinto; "O Último Mergulho – A Água", from João César Monteiro and "O Fim do Mundo – A Terra", from João Mário Grilo.

Movie with several connected stories. The main one is of a family: a little boy(Miguel)who's anxious for his 7th birthday(hence the title - On My Birthday), his mother, his sister Joana, his grandfather...and his father. In their house lives a guest, a book seller. We also see the discord between a couple living in the same building and an argument between a mother and daughter about a wedding dress(or is there something more?).

The theme of the Air is expressed throughout the movie: the family lives near the airport; the recurring sky and airplanes; the pigeons; the wind passing through the trees; and also the dialog, with constant references of the sky, the air. In one of the first scenes, Joana(played by Madalena Rodrigues, whom i liked a lot) describes the elements that make up the air, in one of my favorite scenes in the movie.

It has some real interesting ideas and some well crafted scenes. Once in a while the typical philosophical digress so characteristic of Portuguese movies emerges, but it doesn't harm the movie. The acting is variable depending on the the actor, but generally OK. The music works well, although it doesn't strike me as the most suitable for the movie.The cinematography is good and the movie also has some good sense of humor, and in some scenes one can even laugh. Long things short, i liked it. Specially because it's so close to me, not only geographically, but also in many of the situations, characters, feelings and surroundings. The best example of this is the high school courtyard scene, my favourite in the movie and the closest i've seen in cinema to a Portuguese high school experience.

Basically, a movie about the difficulties and the discord within the family and how they can(or cannot)have a redemption. But a lot better than explaining what the movie is all about, is really seeing it, if you have the chance. Overall, a good little movie(only 1h long), and, maybe more important, a good Portuguese movie. I rate it: 7/10.