Solomon & Gaenor
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Movie Reviews of Solomon & Gaenor
Movie Review: Could Be Better
Summary: 3 Stars
As a Hornblower fan for some time, I was curious to see how Ioan Gruffudd would do in other works so I bought this film. While his acting is commendable as Solomon, it's a shame the movie wasn't better. As hard as he tried, his performance was hampered by a tired plot and predictable writing. It is hard to feel anything regarding the Soloman and Gaenor relationship because it seems based entirely on sex. There needs to be "moments" where we see the true love between them. If they were there, I missed it. Because they weren't there, I could feel no sympathy to their delimma. Kudos to the actors protraying the two families. Unfortunately they were more three-dimensional than the two leads, and were the only reason I kept watching this film after the halfway point. Thumbs up for the performances of the actors who portrayed Gaenor's brother and Solomon's mother.If you're a Gruffudd fan, you'll get this movie no matter what. If you're a movie fan, rent before you decide to buy.
Movie Review: Good
Summary: 3 Stars
This was a sad yet beautiful movie. Yes, there were sex scenes but it was tastefully done. The end has a surprise twist....that's all I will say on that because I don't want to spoil the movie. Ioan Gruffudd did a an excellent job portraying Solomon and Nia Roberts did an okay job an Gaenor. Of course there was hypocrisy, judgmental behavior and the like in this movie but that's the way it was then and any movie set in that time period is going to have those elements. The storyline was a bit predictable but that is not the end of the world.Movie Review: Should be rated X
Summary: 2 Stars
I was pretty shocked at the explicit sex scenes in this movie. It is NOT the Romeo and Juliet story they portray on the back cover. We never saw those two in their birthday suits! Romeo had much more integrity than the guy in this movie. This guy is a very self centered young man and she is a fool. They end up in the hay pretty fast and continue to go at it with out any getting to know each other. Not that rollicking in the hay before marriage is good anytime.
I was pretty diappointed.
Movie Review: Sadly fell far short of my expectations.
Summary: 1 Stars
I had great hopes for this film. I am a big fan of Ioan Gruffud, but that does not mean that I am a fan of every film that he shows up in. A good case in point in this film. Too many films like to slap on the "Romeo and Juliet" tag in order to reel in audiences. Solomon and Gaenor is a good case in point. The "love" story in this movie is extreemly poorly developed. As was the supposed tension between the Jews and the Christians. From my reading of Romeo and Juliet the tension was far more real and you could see the real strife. What do you get in Solomon and Gaenor? The same old story of the Jews being victimized by (the whipping boy du jour) Christians. I agree that the treatment of Solomon's parents towards the poor Gaenor was horrible considering the way that they were treated by others.
Beautiful cinematography, "sensitively done sex scenes" does not a good movie make. Do not buy this movie hopping to come out with some kind of setimental feelings you might have gained from seeing the 1968 or 1996 versions of Romeo and Juliet. Those two movies left me in tears, because everything seemed so poignant and real. Solomon and Gaenor left me with "Why did I even bother?" because everything seemed so manipulted and contrived. I almost expected to see a sign that said "Cry here" after each scene.
If your only reason for wanting to see this film is because of Ioan, then I suggest that you BUY both Horatio Hornblower series. You will find more satisfaction and hope from that.
You have been warned.
Movie Review: Disapointing and Depressing
Summary: 1 Stars
I can not help but think that all these positive reviews are due to fans of Ioan Gruffud than any merits of the film itself. I saw a preview of this movie and I left wishing that I had not seen the film at all. Only resemblance this film has with Romeo and Juliet is that the two characters were on opposite sides. The supposed "love" story I saw in this movie consisted of the young couple having sex at every possible momment. To me that is not love. Perhaps I have been spoiled by watching Gruffud play a brave and honest man, in Horatio Horblower. But I hated the character he played in this movie, he was just a gutless coward who abandoned his girlfriend, except untilt he predicatable end. The behaviour of the Jewish parents were atrocious. They complained about persecution, but their attitude towards the pregnant Gaenor made my hair stand on endsIn all I just found this a horrible and depressing movie, you may want to watch it early in the morning so that you can cheer yourself up during the rest of the day.