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retro_eidas*snorts*
Thoughts? Something somewhat constructive? I'm not sure I can manage it. I'm not really sure this movie flipped the right switches in me to say anything of any real substance.... so I guess I won't.
This movie was more corn-fed than Nebraska beef. However, I will say whatever criticism you read.... it's pretty much negated by Diego Luna's pretty. And mein GOTT did he bring it. The paradox of his sultry bedroom eyes and boyish good looks? Charisma to spare. This movie was craptastic, but I can guarantee you... Diego Luna is going to be an international star (I wouldn't mind seeing him gyrate around in another movie... just not exactly like this one. Eh). He alone was worth the loss of 86 minutes from my life.
However, if you think there's any actual "dancing" in this movie, think again. Of course, some probably are more into the "dirty" than "dancing", and I'm not necessarily complaining ... but yeah. There was no dancing save Patrick's few cameos (which I have to say were good, despite PS looking worse for the wear. The guy can dance and SO MUCH better than the protagonists it's not funny). About the "dirty", can't complain due to many of those scenes including hottie Diego. The "dancing" in "Havana Nights" looked more like vertical sex. Strategic groping. Something you might see in one of the more risque Cirque du Soleil acts. "Zumanity" comes to mind fairly quickly. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it just didn't look so much like "dancing" to me.
As for the music, time-approriate? Not in this movie. Then again, neither was all that 80s pop played in the first DD. Like the first DD, there was some music that sounded like it belonged there ... but as talented and progressive as I think Cuban musicians were at the time, sorry "Havana Nights" folks ... you can't get me to buy hip-hop was invented in back-street Cuban clubs in the 50s.
I still like the soundtrack. It's great party music. I loved Jorge Moreno already, but Yerba Buena and Orishas are also very good. Black Eyed Peas are one of my current guilty pleasures. That "Hey Mama" song is catchy damn it... but that "Where Is the Love?" song grates.
I tried to ignore the entirely laughable take on Castro's revolution the best I could (without reading reviews, you're kind of expecting a historical hatchet job just as much as the movie being ridiculously cheesy). For la revolución, I would have seriously suggested they watch "Lucía", or more contemporary, "Salvador" and take a few notes. I don't want to seem elitist or some kind of history buff, but I minored in Latin American Civ in college... and dios mio. Hatchet. Job. Hell. I've seen rowdier Friday nights at the local dive than the "revolution" depicted in "Havana Nights". In this respect, the ending was quite amusing. Which was apparently brought to us by Kraft... it's the CHEESIEST! Not remotely accurate. Didn't really flow with the rest of the film either .... but yeah, I obviously wasn't expecting much of anything (especially in regards to accuracy), so I suppose this paragraph is null.
Speaking of hatchets? The people who edited this film should be taken out and shot. I almost wonder if an extended edition (heh. I'd seriously doubt they'd bother) would have made the movie better... but then I remember the ubercheesy ending and those thoughts go poof toute suite.
What's most unfortunate for me about "Havana Nights" is that the actors they cast? THEY CAN ACT. Diego Luna can act. Romola Garai can act (she also has a very classic beauty, perfect for the era the movie was set). What stood out most in the film, at least for me, was the chemistry between Luna/Garai. I felt it was on par with, possibly better than, Grey/Swayze's from the first DD. Their (acting) skill and the quimica was considerably palpable. Unfortunately, the overall subpar quality of the film has made them look worse off than the first film's leads (some of the reviews I've read reflect that imo), guilty by association, and that's sad to me. I honestly feel Garai/Luna could act circles around either Swayze/Grey (even if Patrick can dance circles around them all). I really loved watching Javier and Katey together. The scene after James (Jonathan Jackson) gets all gropey so Katey ditches him and runs back to Javier? When Javier sees her upset and notices her torn dress he gets all chivalrous ready to kick James' ass. The cliches were anvilicious and plentiful... but god help me, I ate up every single one (Bite me!). Javier adjusting Katey's torn dress strap. Javier dancing with the toddler. *sighs channeling that inner 13 yr old* Dancing in front of the makeshift movie screen? HOT.
I was actually surprised to see Rene Lavan and Angelica Aragon also make appearances (which might not mean anything to anyone but myself)... suffice to say they're also great actors.
It seems the casting people did all their homework, but regardless of the talent you cast... there's only so much good actors can do with an abysimally lousy script. The script wasn't only textbook and exceedingly formulaic... but the formula was trying to emulate the first film and that was a misstep right off. Some better writers and some originality probably would have made this a MUCH better movie than it turned out. Just unfortunate. A waste. If the casting people did as lousy a job as the screenwriters... the leads would have gone to Ricky Martin and/or Britney Spears (they were in contention for the parts at some early stage). Sure they can dance, but they couldn't act to save their lives. I really feel there could have been something there they could have worked with, they *had* a cast, but alas it wasn't to be.
The locations they chose in Puerto Rico were also almost as pretty as Diego Luna. I gotta remember to go someday.
Thoughts? Something somewhat constructive? I'm not sure I can manage it. I'm not really sure this movie flipped the right switches in me to say anything of any real substance.... so I guess I won't.
This movie was more corn-fed than Nebraska beef. However, I will say whatever criticism you read.... it's pretty much negated by Diego Luna's pretty. And mein GOTT did he bring it. The paradox of his sultry bedroom eyes and boyish good looks? Charisma to spare. This movie was craptastic, but I can guarantee you... Diego Luna is going to be an international star (I wouldn't mind seeing him gyrate around in another movie... just not exactly like this one. Eh). He alone was worth the loss of 86 minutes from my life.
However, if you think there's any actual "dancing" in this movie, think again. Of course, some probably are more into the "dirty" than "dancing", and I'm not necessarily complaining ... but yeah. There was no dancing save Patrick's few cameos (which I have to say were good, despite PS looking worse for the wear. The guy can dance and SO MUCH better than the protagonists it's not funny). About the "dirty", can't complain due to many of those scenes including hottie Diego. The "dancing" in "Havana Nights" looked more like vertical sex. Strategic groping. Something you might see in one of the more risque Cirque du Soleil acts. "Zumanity" comes to mind fairly quickly. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it just didn't look so much like "dancing" to me.
As for the music, time-approriate? Not in this movie. Then again, neither was all that 80s pop played in the first DD. Like the first DD, there was some music that sounded like it belonged there ... but as talented and progressive as I think Cuban musicians were at the time, sorry "Havana Nights" folks ... you can't get me to buy hip-hop was invented in back-street Cuban clubs in the 50s.
I still like the soundtrack. It's great party music. I loved Jorge Moreno already, but Yerba Buena and Orishas are also very good. Black Eyed Peas are one of my current guilty pleasures. That "Hey Mama" song is catchy damn it... but that "Where Is the Love?" song grates.
I tried to ignore the entirely laughable take on Castro's revolution the best I could (without reading reviews, you're kind of expecting a historical hatchet job just as much as the movie being ridiculously cheesy). For la revolución, I would have seriously suggested they watch "Lucía", or more contemporary, "Salvador" and take a few notes. I don't want to seem elitist or some kind of history buff, but I minored in Latin American Civ in college... and dios mio. Hatchet. Job. Hell. I've seen rowdier Friday nights at the local dive than the "revolution" depicted in "Havana Nights". In this respect, the ending was quite amusing. Which was apparently brought to us by Kraft... it's the CHEESIEST! Not remotely accurate. Didn't really flow with the rest of the film either .... but yeah, I obviously wasn't expecting much of anything (especially in regards to accuracy), so I suppose this paragraph is null.
Speaking of hatchets? The people who edited this film should be taken out and shot. I almost wonder if an extended edition (heh. I'd seriously doubt they'd bother) would have made the movie better... but then I remember the ubercheesy ending and those thoughts go poof toute suite.
What's most unfortunate for me about "Havana Nights" is that the actors they cast? THEY CAN ACT. Diego Luna can act. Romola Garai can act (she also has a very classic beauty, perfect for the era the movie was set). What stood out most in the film, at least for me, was the chemistry between Luna/Garai. I felt it was on par with, possibly better than, Grey/Swayze's from the first DD. Their (acting) skill and the quimica was considerably palpable. Unfortunately, the overall subpar quality of the film has made them look worse off than the first film's leads (some of the reviews I've read reflect that imo), guilty by association, and that's sad to me. I honestly feel Garai/Luna could act circles around either Swayze/Grey (even if Patrick can dance circles around them all). I really loved watching Javier and Katey together. The scene after James (Jonathan Jackson) gets all gropey so Katey ditches him and runs back to Javier? When Javier sees her upset and notices her torn dress he gets all chivalrous ready to kick James' ass. The cliches were anvilicious and plentiful... but god help me, I ate up every single one (Bite me!). Javier adjusting Katey's torn dress strap. Javier dancing with the toddler. *sighs channeling that inner 13 yr old* Dancing in front of the makeshift movie screen? HOT.
I was actually surprised to see Rene Lavan and Angelica Aragon also make appearances (which might not mean anything to anyone but myself)... suffice to say they're also great actors.
It seems the casting people did all their homework, but regardless of the talent you cast... there's only so much good actors can do with an abysimally lousy script. The script wasn't only textbook and exceedingly formulaic... but the formula was trying to emulate the first film and that was a misstep right off. Some better writers and some originality probably would have made this a MUCH better movie than it turned out. Just unfortunate. A waste. If the casting people did as lousy a job as the screenwriters... the leads would have gone to Ricky Martin and/or Britney Spears (they were in contention for the parts at some early stage). Sure they can dance, but they couldn't act to save their lives. I really feel there could have been something there they could have worked with, they *had* a cast, but alas it wasn't to be.
The locations they chose in Puerto Rico were also almost as pretty as Diego Luna. I gotta remember to go someday.
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no subject
Date: 2004-02-28 01:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-28 01:51 am (UTC)However, he's never actually referred to as "Johnny Castle". I've been calling him Johnny Sr. since "Johnny" would have to be five years younger in "Havana Nights" than he was in the first DD ... and, uhm, no.