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Ross (3282 KP) rated Donde Estan los Ladrones? by Shakira in Music
Apr 7, 2021
Deborah (162 KP) rated The Spanish Bride in Books
Dec 21, 2018
The Spanish Bride is one of Heyer's Regency novels, but unlike the others we are not in the social whirl of the Ton. Most of the action takes place during the Penninsular War and Harry and Juana are real historical characters. I did enjoy this, but it might not be what you are expecting.
Chuck Klosterman recommended House of Games (1987) in Movies (curated)
Dean (6921 KP) rated Paintball (2009) in Movies
Apr 28, 2019
I feared the worst when I heard of this and saw a trailer. It looked like a really low budget, poorly acted horror film with an odd plot. Actually after watching it, I did enjoy it. It has some long sequence shots, the paintball attack near the start is pretty good, making you feel in the middle of the action. Some of the actors are a bit poor, but overall this was quite an entertaining watch. It has some ideas similar to other films, and takes a last man standing take on the horror film. Made in and backed by Spanish producers and largely Spanish actors with a few English faces to boot. Considering the low budget it's a decent enough film. If you were having seconds thoughts check it out!
LadyMayri (36 KP) rated Daughter of Smoke and Bone in Books
Feb 10, 2018
Beautiful writing (1 more)
Great Characters
I read this first in spanish, didn't like it at all, so after Reading Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer and absolutely loving it, I decided to give this one another try this time in english, and that was the best desision I ever had. The writing style is gorgeus, the story it's original and I absolutely love the characters, specially Zuze.
Dean (6921 KP) rated The Orphanage (2007) in Movies
Feb 22, 2018
A great Spanish ghost story/thriller which I'm sure said it was directed by Guiilermo Del Toro? I saw the trailer and had to see this. It's very creepy at times, largely due to the spooky location. It's a very good story well told and directed. Reminded me of The Others, The 6th sense most of all, so if you like those you'll love this.
Ross (3282 KP) rated Amor Prohibido by Selena in Music
Apr 9, 2021
Rolling Stone's 479th greatest album of all time (2020)
I wouldn't dare suggest this has been added to the list to give more diversity, and if it had been that would not be a bad thing. But it really is a dreadful album of low quality 90s Eurovision rejects. "Bidi bidi bom bom" and a Spanish language cover of The Pretenders' "Back on the Chain Gang". Yeesh.
Amoree Esterdahl (264 KP) rated Duolingo in Apps
Nov 5, 2018
I love this app! I took Spanish in high school and college. This has helped me to brush up on it. It definitely helps with your writing and reading ability but it doesn't really help when it comes to actually speaking with someone else. An app can't really do that but overall it's definitely a good app to learn with.
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Pain and Glory (2019) in Movies
Feb 3, 2020
Well acted by Banderas and Cruz
One of the reasons that I go on the trek this time every year to catch all the Oscar nominees in the all of the "Major" categories is that it forces me to catch films and have movie going experiences that I most likely would have elected to skip. This is especially true with Foreign Language films, like Spanish Director Pedro Almodovar's semi-biographical musing, PAIN AND GLORY.
Antonio Banderas, rightfully, has earned his (surpisingly) first Oscar Nomination for portraying a somewhat fictionalized version of the Spanish auteur - a once prolific film Director at the tail end of his career coming to terms with who he is, the physical pain he is currently feeling as his body ages and the reverent feelings and fond memories he has for his mother.
It is a strong, subtle and nuanced performance by Banderas - one that is in stark contrast to the bravura and panache that he has shown previously in such films as ZORRO, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO and as the voice of Puss 'N Boots in the SHREK films. Banderas' acting his been getting better with age and while I do not think he'll win the Oscar, I do think that this is not going to be the only Oscar nomination he will receive in his lifetime.
I was happy to see Banderas work in his native Spanish language - the same goes for Penelope Cruz who plays Banderas' character mother in flashbacks. I recently saw Cruz working in Spanish in 2018's EVERYBODY KNOWS and was just as transfixed by her performance in this film - worthy of a nomination. She is very good in English Language films, but she elevates to a different level when she works in Spanish. I would have loved to see a whole film about her character - and not just get a few scenes in flashback form.
Watching these 2 performances was well worth the time of watching this film, and that is good for I did not connect with the themes, struggles and plot set forth by Almodovar.
PAIN AND GLORY is Almodovar's semi-biographical meditation on life - and as such is a little to "navel gazing" for my tastes. When I watch these types of films either I get sucked into the narrative and characters (like I did with Alfonso Cuaron's ROMA last year) or...I do not.
And...unfortunately for PAIN AND GLORY...I did not. It is a good picture with 2 really good performances but one I was kept at a distance from and one that I never really connected with.
Come for the meditation, stay for the performances. And...PLEASE...if you watch this, DO NOT watch the dubbed version. Listen to the performances of Banderas and Cruz in their native Spanish and read the subtitles.
Letter Grade: B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Antonio Banderas, rightfully, has earned his (surpisingly) first Oscar Nomination for portraying a somewhat fictionalized version of the Spanish auteur - a once prolific film Director at the tail end of his career coming to terms with who he is, the physical pain he is currently feeling as his body ages and the reverent feelings and fond memories he has for his mother.
It is a strong, subtle and nuanced performance by Banderas - one that is in stark contrast to the bravura and panache that he has shown previously in such films as ZORRO, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO and as the voice of Puss 'N Boots in the SHREK films. Banderas' acting his been getting better with age and while I do not think he'll win the Oscar, I do think that this is not going to be the only Oscar nomination he will receive in his lifetime.
I was happy to see Banderas work in his native Spanish language - the same goes for Penelope Cruz who plays Banderas' character mother in flashbacks. I recently saw Cruz working in Spanish in 2018's EVERYBODY KNOWS and was just as transfixed by her performance in this film - worthy of a nomination. She is very good in English Language films, but she elevates to a different level when she works in Spanish. I would have loved to see a whole film about her character - and not just get a few scenes in flashback form.
Watching these 2 performances was well worth the time of watching this film, and that is good for I did not connect with the themes, struggles and plot set forth by Almodovar.
PAIN AND GLORY is Almodovar's semi-biographical meditation on life - and as such is a little to "navel gazing" for my tastes. When I watch these types of films either I get sucked into the narrative and characters (like I did with Alfonso Cuaron's ROMA last year) or...I do not.
And...unfortunately for PAIN AND GLORY...I did not. It is a good picture with 2 really good performances but one I was kept at a distance from and one that I never really connected with.
Come for the meditation, stay for the performances. And...PLEASE...if you watch this, DO NOT watch the dubbed version. Listen to the performances of Banderas and Cruz in their native Spanish and read the subtitles.
Letter Grade: B
7 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)