cohuttablue-imdb This is a strangely interesting film, rich-textured and unpredictable ~ more of an art film than a mainstream one. It is dramatic and well-acted. It is at times somewhat disorganized and mystifying. The direction and/or editing could be smoother. The female lead is somewhat young for this role. It would have been well to use an older character made-up to look younger in the earlier scenes ~ or to have used a different actress for the two eras. Certainly the reference to cholera in the title leads one to think that illness, death, and separation would be a major theme, but it is more of a peripheral theme in this story. In some ways it was lacking, with some scenes and themes seeming disconnected; but I would watch it again (and need to, in fact, to clear up some odd points). Worth watching.

sadly83 This seemed like comedy it was so bad, no chemistry , bad makeup, bad acting, and was so confusing. the weird sex scenes just creeped me out. where she flys onto him and bangs him outta nowhere, having sex when bombs are going off. i thought i was suppose to laugh.i turned it off so i cant give a good review. but i doubt it got better. after 40-60 minutes of this movie i couldn't take it anymore, and was making me angry how bad and confusingly weird this was. i haven't read the book, and the movie has ruined me wanted to. but i hope its way different then this movie.Save yourself from torture , just read the book and pretend this movie never happened

Galina "Love in the Time of Cholera" (1985) - is the film based on one of two best novels by the greatest living writer, 1982 Nobel Prize winner in Literature, Colombian Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1928). It depicts many faces of love - romantic, marital, erotic, and unrequited. It is the novel about love that hits like a lightning, takes over the whole human existence, tortures like a deadly disease, and even all-consuming time has no power over it. The story about poor romantic telegraph operator Florentino Arisa's love for beauty Fermina Dasa and his long waiting for her acceptance that lasted fifty one year, nine months and four days is fascinating, interesting and unusual.I knew the film was not going to be at the same level as the novel. It would be simply impossible. As a matter of fact, I was really surprised that one of two deservingly celebrated novels of the greatest modern writer had been actually adapted to the screen. Marquez's resistance to any offers for adapting this novel and 100 Hundred Years of Solitude has been legendary. Well, someone succeeded in obtaining the rights for Love in Time of Cholera and I am not sure if it is a good or bad thing. I tend to think that it is both. I am sure a lot of viewers who never read the novel would like the movie and perhaps would read the original and explore themselves the world of Magic Realism, the world created by Marquez's exquisite gift for storytelling and bringing to live the unforgettable characters, striking images, and passionate yet melancholic mood. Those who did read the book would have a chance to find out for themselves if Mike Newell's vision of the most romantic story ever told is in any way close to their own. I personally did not want to see the film but I caught it on TV few days ago and I stayed with it to the end credits, and was entertained. I did not like everything I saw but the film has some beautiful parts to it. After all, Newell has made my most favorite romantic movie of all time, Enchanted April (1992). He was masterful in creating charming, enchanting, and heartwarming gem of the film with Enchanted April. Perhaps, it was easier to make a film that took place during one month that had changed the lives of four women and brought hope, love, and joy into their existence. Marquez's novel that spans over fifty years seems to defy the attempts to adequately bring it to the film media. The film looks and sounds wonderful but the fragrance of the most incredible prose, the proverbial Magic that goes so uniquely well together with the Realism in Gabo's works, sadly is missing from the film. I think Marquez himself gives the key to understanding why it is impossible to adapt his prose: "To him (Florentino) she (Fermina) seemed so beautiful, so seductive, so different from ordinary people,that he could not understand why no one was as disturbed as he by the clicking of her heels on the paving stones, why no one else's heart was wild with the breeze stirred by the sighs of her veils, why everyone did not go mad with the movements of her braid, the flight of her hands, the gold of her laughter. He had not missed a single one of her gestures, not one of the indications of her character, but he did not dare approach her for fear of destroying the spell." Maybe these words "destroying the spell" are the best explanation why Marquez's books should not been adapted. One of the film's weaknesses (and I intentionally don't want to go and list all of them for there are plenty), is that The Crowned Goddess of the novel as played by Giovanna Mezzogiorno is completely different woman than Fermina as Marquez described her and for whom his own Crowned Goddess, the love of his life, his wife of over fifty years, Mercedes Barcha Pardo, was a prototype. Fermina in the movie is so pale and lifeless that it makes the whole story of Florentiono's undying love for her not very convincing. Take away the Love from the story, and what are you left with? Beautiful scenery, truly great soundtrack, and good actors who either have not much to play, or not knowing exactly what to do with their unusual, magically realistic characters, fail to bring them to life by overplaying them or making them the caricatures.I think the film is better than all these 1-2 stars reviews make you believe but sadly it is not the great work of Art.

vagabondvalle Although the film managed to cram most of the novel's story, it left much more to be desired from the actors. Aside from Benjamin Bratt marvelously playing the part of Dr. Juvenal Urbino, the supporting cast members did a much better job of making me believe their character than the main cast did. There is a fine line between being passionate and being pathetic, which Javier Bardem did a perfect job of crossing. Not to mention John Leguizamo's lame attempt at a Spanish accent.This film might be perfect for the person who has not read the novel and is just interested in watching a film for the sake of watching.I don't believe justice was done to the Dr. or to the love shared between Fermina and Florentino. A deeper understanding of each characters background would have been satisfactory.I suggest people read the book and then read it again because this film is a waste of time.