richard-tomkins Nice cinematography. Weak script, Weak special effects. some dark scenes that didn't have to be.The music, oh my horror, what can I say about the music. The swelling crescendos,everywhere, the loud volume, drowning out the dialog, and the most inappropriate music at the most inappropriate times, oh my horror, the most horrible music. After a half hour, I was left to myself to watch the thing, the music chased all the others away. Did I mention the music, oh my horror, the miserable horrible music, wrecking what could have been.In the last half of the movie, I could see the actors were all tired of this, their efforts were drawn and tired, they had succumbed, they had had enough, long before the audience collapsed.I'm sure the cutting room floor was littered with performances that were absolutely horrible, the actors were sick of this project and just wanted, no needed, to run away.In Blu-Ray, at a cost of $2.99, cheaper than a bad movie at the theatre and I could at least drown myself in beer.

jadesshadow The dark, ominous themes of the shots reflect on the gruesome war setting and emotionally charged events that shape the story. Dramatic wide angles and poignant close ups convey the story's mood in its vivid cinematography. As the director of cinematography, Gabriel Beristain creates a stunningly accurate visual representation of the character's emotional turmoil. Each shot portrays an expertise at visual storytelling that takes years of experience to develop.Both technically and artistically, There Be Dragons is harmonious and excellent. Characters were not unnecessarily sexualized nor were there extensive uses of vulgarity. Director, Producer and writer Roland Joffe invested his entire self into this film. Critics assert Joffe infused too much of himself into the film, but many viewers argue that this aspect is what makes There Be Dragons so impactful. The prevalent concern of critics, however, is the weaknesses of the script, which they consider too long and busy. I agree with this, as the many layers and details in the film made it difficult to summarize and retell. Actors Charlie Cox and Wes Bentley, who portrayed José Maria and Manelo respectively, were outstanding in their roles. The entire cast was professional and talented, portraying a genuine connection to the story and their characters. Amy Hubbard, John Hubbard, Ros Hubbard and Cathy Sandrich cast the film. Vibrant and stirring, the There Be Dragons soundtrack was thoughtfully composed by Robert Folk with special attention paid to the underlying moods of each scene. Music and picture meld flawlessly. An epic score with a Spanish feel, listeners are told a story of bravery and drama with their ears alone. Folk's use of choir and orchestra translates the theme of the movie exquisitely.

leal-895-895113 This could have been so much better...The story is a good one, but the acting is off the stage, as in overdone and it comes across as a bit wooden on screen. When practicing for a stage part which included use of a fencing foil, I remember being taught to exaggerate my swings for the benefit of the audience. Over-working something on film might work for slap-stick comedy, but it's out of place in this drama. Speaking of heavy-handing, the end of the movie reminds me of something done by Spielberg: a point is driven hard and openly upon the audience, but it doesn't go well with the final scene! Something seemed to have fallen out of the script, or been plugged in at the last, very detrimental! I felt the movie had a lot to say, but there seemed only about fifteen minutes of drag. Lots of emotion was generated, and this in a person who is not into traditional religion. A serious film that is seriously flawed by bad directing! (actors are better when you ask it of them; script seemed worthy, which meant major flaw at end was one of interpretation, not writing) Vote: the 6 which could have been at least an 8.5!

Pizza_hut_delivery_guy Truly one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. I appreciated the pacing and the strong story line - really, the plot is the star here. Not an epic film, but really well done and tremendously over rated. The acting is decent and the characters are believable, albeit not all are truly likable (but hey, I don't watch movies expecting to like the characters).The Spanish Civil War isn't a common setting for movies and I think it makes for an excellent backdrop. The bit about Opus Dei is also interesting. I was afraid the film was going to get a bit too religious for me, but fortunately it maintained the right balance. Definitely a must see!