shell_217 After seeing all the reviews from other users, I was excited when the film was released in Tucson, Arizona. I was also interested in seeing Pepe Bojorquez's first film. I always support young Mexican filmmakers. The cast, it seemed, was phenomenal. You can tell it was a pretty big production for the quality of actors, but some, especially Sonia Braga, let me down. Her witchy character made me feel like I was watching a melodramatic soap opera and not a film. Her acting made no sense to me.But let me first focus on the positive aspects: the cinematography. You can tell that a lot of care was taken to achieve beautiful shots and that is greatly appreciated.The elements of the film I thought were hokey include the storyline. Being Mexican and knowing the Latin American cultures, I am fond of the magical realism. Believe me, I have enjoyed films such as Like Water for Chocolate, Santitos, even Woman on Top with Penelope Cruz. All these films, I felt, provided me with a good interpretation of magical realism... but Sea of Dreams was an IN YOUR FACE forced magical realism that became predictable, cliché. It went down the way of the magical realism that we all laughed at when watching films such as Zapata. The story, in itself, could have been more interesting, less predictable ans simplistic.Also, the dialogs became pathetic. It was all way to spelled out. It seemed as if the screenwriter does not believe the audience has ever seen any other film so they have to tell us EXACTLY what is going on without letting us interpret anything. Again, seemed more like a soap opera.Finally, what time period is this in? I saw a VW bug, then I saw a Rolliflex camera, and then I saw 1980 print dresses and 1940 type costuming. I was thoroughly confused. This just added to the eye-rolling I experienced when watching the film.I love Mexican Cinema. I love contemporary Mexican Cinema, but in this case, I was really let down. I have seen that Mexican Cinema has some good films, not dealing with social turmoil and violence, coming out of Mexico, but this is not one of them. I feel this film contributes to Mexico for Export/ Mexican Curios films which is overplayed at this point. I hope Pepe Bojorquez's next film proves to be more engaging and less cliché. Maybe start with a better script?

ALEXANDER MIRANDA This is Sonya Braga's best performance in many years, she still portrays a very seductive femininity. Worth the ticket price.Sonya should be nominated for this movie.The cast is as beautiful as the cinematography, and the details like the head on the beach set a magical mood that I appreciated.When you are dating, you always need a movie like this as an excuse to touch your soft side.I wonder when is the director's next project coming out.I hope it has Sonya in it.Good Luck.

parkergw I agree that the female lead is beautiful and the photography very good, but that's it. This movie is designed for an illiterate, superstitious audience. It's all about silly religious mythology that most religions have outgrown, and doesn't really go anywhere. The lead as a little girl and an a young teen were also quite cute as were the other young people. The acting was spotty at best. Such things as gold fish, black water, a plethora of beached starfish were all taken as signs from some powerful fairytale entity rather than even considering any natural solution. This is the kind of movie that could have been metaphorical, an allegory, or a morality tale. I figured that would have been its only saving grace,but it just didn't have any of these as the basis for the story. The guy in front of us at the theater fell asleep and his wife had to wake him at the end of the movie. I figure he was the fortunate one. Terrible waste of my time.The only good part was that my girlfriend paid for the tickets as a birthday present for me. I would have hated to throw the admission money away.Jerry

mariaalfonsalarios I think that should be make in Spanish the movie because our language is very rich (i am studying English and I know that also the English is rich for the English culture).. but the movie the surroundings, everything make me remember to the Mexican culture., I am Mexican and I live in Mexico. and one thing with the culture is language. And I can't write this comment in Spanish :(. The music is pretty, the picture is better and Braga (the character that appears as Sebastian's mother) is really really beautiful. :). I think another thing that make me think (sorry for the repetition of words) that should be in Spanish is because I know that some actress were Mexican and the writer so that is why. But I really think that should be in Spanish with English subtitles.