Great Expectations

I just finished watching Great Expectations. I had not enjoyed watching a movie this much for a very long time (well, since Lost in Translation).

As I said I had seen it once before years ago (back in 99 I guess) and I enjoyed it the second time as much as I did the first. Now, I KNOW in many aspects, this is a horrible movie. It sank faster than titanic with the critics, and all the reviews called it a disaster. I mean, they are right, it is a weak hollywood melodramatic romance with extra cheese. The characters never really develop, the acting is not great, there is no climax, it does not do any justice to Dickens' novel, there are a lot of cheesy lines (I mean, heck, the catch phrase is "My heart, it's broken, can you feel it?")

BUT ... despite of all that, I love it. I absolutley love it. It's one of those movies that matches my soulprint (cheesy movie catch phrases, anyone?).

Each and every single frame is a magnificent and stunning work of art. Everything and Everyone in this movie are superhumanly beautiful. The sets, New York subway, the worn out houses, the gulf, and yes, Gwyneth. Have you ever seen something so beautiful that you felt you could weep? That's the feeling I get seeing Gwyneth in this. And Estella as a child was also angelic. How can you not be mesmerised with the first kiss scene, with the water fountain. Or with close-ups of Gwyneth, her skin tone, her electric smile, and her utterly attractive coldness.

What amazes me is also the use of natural light. There is SO much sunlight in this movie, and it makes everything glow, stunningly, it's unimaginably beautiful. I don't think I have ever seen a director use sunlight to make everyone and everything that beautiful.

So, eventhough I realize it's not a good movie in all the other aspects, I'm still glad that I own it. At least I know that I can look at 2 hours of pure beauty whenever I please.