regalosdelsol Reviews

Bolden (2019)

Come for the Music. Stay for the Legend.

[10/10 · 2 November 2019]

Wow critics. A 5.5 rating? Really?

From the moment this movie started I was swept away by the music. Did somebody really complain about the lack of dialogue? Because if so then you have completely missed the point. This movie is about music. And more specifically, the beginnings of Jazz and the music of Buddy Bolden.

So you didn't know anything about Buddy Bolden before you saw the movie and now you know even less? Well, welcome to the club. Nobody knew anything about Buddy Bolden. He was a mystery. An enigma. And a musical genius. It was refreshing to see a movie that did not throw in false "facts" about the life of the man so that the audience could feel comfortable knowing who Bolden was and why he ended up in an asylum. This movie won't make you feel comfortable. Sorry.

Watching the mental demise of this man filled with so much talent and promise was heartbreaking. The world that Bolden grew up in was weighted down with severe oppression, racism and brutal violence. Bolden took his music to a place where his soul could be free from what was happening around him. Until the real world came crashing down on him.

I liked the way the movie paralleled the demise of Bolden's mind simultaneously with the demise of his world. It was clever and well done and I never once found myself confused between past and present and reality and fantasy. I cannot imagine a movie about Buddy Bolden to be anything less than dreamlike because the whole of his life was like a dream. His legacy is mythical because there is no real proof since there are no recordings of Bolden's music. All we have is what we've heard. And even so, it's just a whisper.

Don't watch this movie and expect to know anything more about Bolden's life than you knew before you watched it. Expect to be entertained because that's what Buddy was. An entertainer who was gifted with a talent that none of us will ever hear.

Wild (I) (2014)

I Don't Care What They Say...I Really Liked This Movie!

[7/10 · 28 February 2015]

I am really surprised at all of the negative reviews here. But then I remember, this is IMDb. Enough said there. I enjoyed this movie very much. I don't think it was anything more than the story of one woman trying to find a way to move forward. This movie is not a political statement about feminism. This is ONE woman's story of regret, healing, and ultimately about forgiving herself so that she could move forward. Is this movie boring? Only if you need CGI and superheroes to call it "exciting." Do people do really adventurous things like taking off alone on a thousand mile trek on foot? Yeah, they do. And most of them actually survive. People have been surviving for thousands of years by striking out on their own without any previous experience or "training." Many years ago I did something very similar to what this woman did in the Sierra Nevadas. Looking back now I know I must have been crazy to do something so unplanned. But it was something I felt I had to do and was also stemmed from a tragic loss. I thought Reese was very believable in this role. The constant flashbacks that seemed to bother all the other reviewers did not bother me in the least. The flashbacks were the unfolding of her life taken in little pieces and in sync with the memories that were ignited within her on her journey. So contrary to the other reviewers, I liked this movie! The soundtrack was right on target with what was happening in each scene. The scenery was stunning, but of course it would be if you've ever been in the area. On foot. I happily gave this movie a rating of 7 out of 10.

Gone Girl (2014)

Don't Take It Too Seriously...It's Entertainment!

[7/10 · 12 January 2015]

I can't believe all the negative comments and reviews of this movie! And the Message Board comments are ridiculous with the comparisons to "real" life and the "he wouldn't do that!" and "she couldn't get away with it!" This movie is pure satire and entertainment. There is no reality or reason here. If you want to watch this movie and actually enjoy it, then put aside your common sense, pull out the popcorn and watch as the fairy tale story of Nick and Amy unfolds. You can expect a twisted tale of attraction and lust, love and hate, obsession and terror and you won't be disappointed. But if you've come looking for reality, then best move on son, because you ain't gonna find it here.