Original Sin

Antonio Banderas plays a rich Cuban man in the late 1800s-early 1900s, who orders a mail order bride (Angelina Jolie). Unfortunately, she turns out to be a load of trouble. Horrible adaptation of a great book ("Waltz into Darkness" by Cornell Woolrich). There's some beautiful set design, exotic locations and good acting by Banderas and Jolie. None of that can compensate for the leaden pace, horrible script, laughable performance by Thomas Jane (who appears drunk most of the time) and annoyingly jerky direction by Michael Cristofer. Also, why does this take place in Cuba? The original novel is set in America. The only reason to see this tripe is for a very steamy sex scene between Banderas and Jolie within the first half hour. After that, tune out. ALMOST worth sitting through for the real stupid ending (different from the book). A waste of talent.

The movie's poster attracted me, seemed dark romance and I got much less than what I expected. The wealthy businessman played by Banderas is dumb and stupid who doesn't care if his wife is not what he thought of during their letter writing period. It also, doesn't matter to him that his wife vanishes with his money and is found with a chain of men. Jolie is in the movie to play the sex card from Banderas to Thomas Jane both had a nice time with her. Aside from her super pout and intimate scenes there's little she brings to the screen. I have never liked her acting aside 'girl interrupted'. The dialogs are stupid and immature and the ending is far more than disappointing. Watch it if you are an admirer of either one of the leading actors or for the * scenes. There's nothing much to say here.

I have yet to find an actress as enchanting as Angelina. This film did wonders for me!! It was so primitive, sexual, intimate. BRAVO!! I would love to see Angelina in another film similar to this. It excited me the power of her lover over her when she seemed to be so calculating and strong. And the final truths that come out at the end...I watch this movie again and again, and it never ceases to animate me. An apt title, 'Original Sin'. The original sin of the woman as a seductress. Or perhaps, in the game of love, the original sin is to fall in love. I think that perhaps some of the comments posted about this movie are shallow. It's important to really watch this movie a couple times, and read between the lines.

Now here is a film that that makes the most of this medium and gives it its worth beside or, if you like, above a book. The settings were so beautiful: the environments, the historical portraying, the story, the clothing and, not the least to mention, the acting. I so much admire the skill of creating such a masterpiece; it's like depicting one's dream to become reality. There has been paid so much attention to every detail, you can tell the director is a true artist. And I must say, the play of Jolie and Banderas is excellent and they fit so well in their roles! What's that with the low ratings? Have people lost their sense of beauty? Or is this site mainly used by that flat type of action lover? Is recognition of quality a dying feature? Let's not hope so; for it would be an eternal sin to be, for lack of interest, restrained of these kind of movies in future.

I really liked it! We enjoyed the show! The story had a sens, at least!!! Now that was what I call movie. It was the best movie I've ever seen! In fact, I haven't seen a lot of films, but I was touched by this one.