"Love is for those who believe in it." (Original Sin (DVD))

Member Name: zOOm

Product:	Original Sin (DVD)
Date:	31/07/01 (183 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good storyline, Antonio Banderas, Angelina Jolie

Disadvantages: Doesn't really suit Jolie, Not something you'd watch twice

The only reason I decided to watch tis movie is the actors ? Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas. I like both and think that they are good actors.

The movie is set in the 1800's and the movie seems true to the period. Antonio Banderas plays Luis, a Cuban coffee tycoon who advertises in the newspaper for a bride from America. On the day that she arrives he cannot find her, that is apparently because she has used someone else's photo - not wanting someone to marry her just because she is beautiful.

Angelina Jolie plays his wife, I cannot give anymore without spoiling anything, so read the spoiler section if you wish to find out.

Thomas Jane (who I have never heard of before) plays Billie, Jolie's accomplice and I must admit his acting is also very good.

The movie is based on a book (sorry, can't remember the title or the author) but has been adapted for the screen by Michael Christopher who also is the director. The directing is good giving all the desired effects and portraying the mindsets of the characters. You can "feel" confusion, anxiety, fear, desperation. Of course the acting also has a lot to do with this and Jolie and Banderas do a great job in the movie.

The movie is basically "flashbacks" of a story that is being told by Jolie while she is in prison. She is telling a priest how she ended up being there. So you know that there has been some crime and start wondering what and how.

"This is not a love story" says Jolie's character, "but it is a story about love". And that is actually what it is. There is some nudity and a few love scenes, but that's about it. I watched the movie in Germany (English version of course) and the rating here was 16+. I have heard that quite a lot of the sex scenes had to be cut out otherwise it would have got a higher age limit rating. I think it should have actually! The movie was based mainly on the sexual ten
sion, lust and love and is rather complex and boring for someone 16 years old to sit through it. Hence mainly people 18 and over would watch it anyway.

I have now seen this being advertised as "Coming Soon" in the UK cinemas and it is rated 18.

As soon as Banderas meets Jolie, you know that there is something not right, but you just can't figure out what exactly is wrong. The movie is done really good, you cannot figure out anything of the "main" plot until the middle of the movie. You can guess events but you cannot guess the reasons behind it. Towards the end, your guesses get better but you are still fooled.

I like the directing, it is different. Sometimes the movie skips a few frames, like when a bad CD jumps from one part of the song to another. You do not miss anything though, everything is there. Maybe the technique was used before but I haven't seen it.


The plot (major spoilers here)
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Jolie plays Julia Russell \ Bonnie Castle. Julia is actually the bride that Banderas had asked for and is the girl in the picture, however, Bonnie and her accomplice Billy have murdered her and Bonnie has taken her place in order to take Banderas' money and make a run for it.

Bonnie and Billy grew up in the same orphanage and ran away together when they were young. Billy was Bonnie's first man and apart from having sex with her and tormenting her psychologically, he also uses her to con other men. Billy finds a target candidate, Bonnie lures him in with sex and promises of paradise then they take the money and make a run for it.

I have actually spotted a huge mistake with this movie. At the start Banderas says that he wrote Julia that "he is a clerk at a coffee house" but actually, he owns the coffee distribution company. Through the movie we learn that Bonnie killed Julia so that she and Billy could steal all of his money. Julia i
s supposedly the one that told Bonnie about all of this. Here is the problem, Julia never knew that Banderas had a lot of money. So the whole movie is pointless!!!

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One of my Canadian colleagues reckons this movie is too hot to be shown in Canada and the official website claims it has an R (18+) rating in America.

One thing is for sure though. Even though she still looks good, Jolie is much better in action movies then she is in romantic dramas.

Would I watch this movie again? -- Probably not.
Do I recommend it? -- Yes
Should you watch it at the cinema? ? No, better to wait for the DVD/Video
Was it worth the money? -- Yes

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