Charles Robinson

After all this time, the film still holds up well. The special effects still come across well and the movie is still very entertaining. There are things you pick up on... Little errors, like the fact that it's 1962 at the beginning and they show '66 Lincoln pulling up to the White House. This very good sci-fi though. This franchise is one of the better ones. Even more than a decade later it still captivates.

The cinematography is lovely, the costumes are beautiful and the acting is wonderful. Angelina Jolie is quite convincing. The actor playing Aristotle Onasis is particularly good. So, why rate this a three? My rating would have been even lower had the acting not been as good as it was. My problem is with the script and the way that her story is told. There's so much left out. The movie takes place near the end of her life when Callas is no longer performing and having health issues she brushes off in her own diva fashion. The storyline centers around this diva nature, amidst the physical issues she is now facing, relying on flashbacks and hallucinations to tell her life story, which is fine, but the viewer is given frustratingly little insight at times. I knew no more about her than when the movie started. There is very little about the circumstances of her childhood; the darkness there is only tastefully touched upon, but the viewer is left to guess how such circumstances came to be and what other experiences shaped her. The emotional tragedy of those circumstances are key to what made Callas who she became. I think the movie would have benefited from additional flashback scenes between Callas and her mother. Some history is provided through conversation with other characters here and there, but ultimately the viewer fills in the blanks. We also know nothing about relationships with others in the world of opera who interacted, helped, hindered, or had influence in her career. There's no real arc to the film. To me, the climax comes at the very end which is okay, but the movie drags on the journey there. Overall, the movie is visually beautiful, but disappointingly flat. Had it NOT been for the cinematography, or the convincing performances, I would not have continued watching. I kept waiting for something profound to happen; waiting for some revelation, waiting for something dynamic, but nothing ever came along. There was no drama. Perhaps I expected too much and perhaps the nature of Callas was more subdued than I was lead to believe, but I feel that a far more engaging expose could have been fashioned.

If you have not seen the original, then you will probably be satisfied. The performances and the effects are good enough. If you suspend your "disbelief" and don't take it too seriously, you'll probably make it through. I have seen the original movie many times over the years. The BIGGEST drawback for this new movie is, in fact, the original, which still holds up very well after all this time and to which inevitable comparisons will be made. The original concept is better... This new concoction is its own brand. For me, I found the movie to be ENTIRELY predictable. The plot is lightweight, the dialogue is pretty standard and there are absolutely NO surprises. I knew what was going to happen well in advance. I knew what the conflicts were going to be and with who. The choreographed mayhem was easily predictable as well. I knew what to expect in all the dramatic scenes and who was going to be "done in" by the tornadoes. The opening sequences are probably the most exciting portion of the film, while the rest, based on the established premise, follows a typical formula of guilt, regret, revival, redemption, love, heroism and so on. There are over the top characters and characterizations, that actually work better, once the contrasting hype settles down and they're not portrayed as such extreme misfits. It's not that I disliked the film so terribly much (I thought it was done reasonably well for light entertainment); it's just that I was never overly excited by it, never on the edge of my seat. It's light simple, escapist fare and not meant to be taken too seriously. It succeeds at that, but just barely. I could be HIGHLY critical, but like I said... Lower your expectations and bring your "Suspension of Disbelief". Is it worth seeing? PERHAPS, especially amidst the lackluster summer offerings that are out there. Quite honestly, I SETTLED on seeing this film because nothing else appealed to me (us). It was a toss up between this and Deadpool. It passes the time pleasantly enough, keeps you awake and flows well. I don't regret seeing it, but you'll note that I'm not raving about it either. So yes, see it to pass the time for a pleasant evening or afternoon out, but just don't expect to be blown away. 😁

Good performances, but I didn't care for the "style" of the movie being partially on a theatrical stage. It just didn't work for me.

The movie, while quite lavish, is just too confusing to follow without prior knowledge of the storyline (read the book).

Despite a competent cast, this movie was incredibly boring... There is no excitement. The story is told on only one level. The pace is slow, the romantic conflict is mundane and the main characters are terribly underdeveloped. You never really understand what drives or motivates anyone. This is a love story, but it severely lacks passion in the telling of it. You never really buy into it.

Well acted, but not particularly exciting. I would say it's understated. I watched it on DVD which gave me the opportunity to watch the movie more than once. As referenced by other reviewers, watching more than once, the movie grows on you, because you understand and follow much better with each viewing. On the upside, I ended up liking the movie a lot more with each viewing, HOWEVER, with that said, it shouldn't take multiple viewings in order to follow the storyline.

Gerard Butler does not possess the necessary vocal polish for this roll.

This was EXACTLY what I would expect an Indiana Jones movie to be. I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning. It's so engaging. The use of AI for the opening of the film was seamless as the backstory was established and at over 80, Harrison Ford's ability and fluidity of movement was amazing. You NEVER ONCE question if he's going to pull it off. This movie is a real thrill ride that covers new territory, establishes new characters and brings back old favorites to help out along the way.... Go see it.

This is the best film I have seen so far this year. It's definitely Oscar Worthy. Every characterization is flawless. Portrayals and interactions between characters is 100% believable... While the movie is 3hrs+ in length, it is paced extremely well. The story is impeccably told and keeps you fully engaged, even when technical jargon is used. Every actor finds the heart and motivation of their character, fully embracing and understanding their piece in the puzzle. A must see!!!