ChrisIhao

Accidentally came across this series as I were browsing around, and started watching it blind, merely because I found the title interesting. Ended up seeing the whole thing in one sitting.

Unpretentious, non-stereotypical, non-judgemental and easy to relate to, this series put a mark close to my heart. Will carry this with me throughout the rest of my life.

For all those struggling with similar issues. Hang in there, take a break and smell the coffee.

Simply put I enjoyed this movie... A lot. In fact its one of those movies that seem to linger in the back of my mind.

I wont go into detail here, as everything I'd say would potentially spoil the experience, but in my opinion the movie has very few clichés. I usually am able to predict large parts of the plot in movies. Not so much here. I also like the fact that the director, despite having ample opportunities of exploitation through grisly detailed violence, chooses to spare the viewer from the worst parts. I mean, whats the point? We already know whats happening.

Lastly, I find the running length a strength, not a weakness. I never was bored throughout the whole thing, and found it interesting to get to know the characters better than usually. In fact I mostly watch series these days because of this.

Anyways, 9 out of 10 from me. I suggest you read as little as possible before watching, and dont let the negative reviews dictate what experience you'll have beforehand. Make up your own mind.

I loved the first few episodes. Then everything suddenly started falling apart a few episodes in. So many ridiculous «magical solutions» and purely illogical and nonsensical things start happening, and the cliches are so thick that you can use them as pillows. Episode 5 is bad, but compared to the «grand finale» its nothing. I basically cringed more than a dozen times during those 75 minutes or so.

Suffice to say. Extremely disappointed in this show. The only reason I'm giving it a 5/10 is because... well, half the series was good. Would probably have been a 8 or 9 if it kept the feel and the flow throughout the season.

Lastly, I dont get why people review a series after one or two episodes, especially when its only six episodes in total. I can bet my life a lot of those 10/10 grades wouldnt stand if the reviewers saw the whole series before writing. Anyhow, I for one hope there wont be a second series. Nothing more to see here.

I gave this move 9 out of 10, not because it correctly portraits the world of ballet (and frankly I wouldn't know), not because it brings something completely new to the table but because it captures the psychology of the desperately worn out and borderline psychotic mind in such a wonderful manner.

Its clear from the beginning that something is quite not right. Small sounds seem "out of place" and details in the picture seems to shift just an inch or so. The life of Nina seems to exclusively revolve around her profession and, of reasons not disclosed to the viewer, it seems like she has been conserved into emotional immaturity by still living at home with her mother and probably also lies to Thomas about not being a virgin. She simply has had no natural development of emotional boundaries and do not know how to relate to people around her. She looks at the world pretty much in black or white, and hence people around her pretty much have good or bad intentions, not something in between.

My interpretation is that all the way through the movie we see only what Nina sees and not an objective representation of the world. By pushing herself to the limits, something which has probably been well on its way even before the movie starts, the defense mechanisms of the mind starts to shatter when she is forced into confronting her undeveloped darker sides to fit into the role.

We don't really know much about Nina or her mother, but we can suspect that things haven't been easy growing up alone with her obviously neurotic and protective mother, and that she consequently have been pulling into the safe haven of herself (the way the mother acts seems to be largely due to bad experiences with self harming in the past, perhaps something even more serious). Instead of working with understanding her own emotions she has to some extent managed to replace these necessary parts with striving to be the perfect ballerina.

A lot of the user reviews here on IMDb seems to focus on technicalities, if the movie is completely original and just about everything but the psychological aspect. I work with young people with psychological problems and I have to admit that I actually cried after the final scene, something I very rarely do. I can all too well recognize how life is too hard for some young people, no matter if you're a ballerina or if you work in an office, and how self mutilation and even attempts of suicide seems to comfort and replace the damaged parts of the human mind. The hard life of being a prima ballerina could very well be interpreted into the pressure of participating in modern society. Even most of us get along somehow, a lot of people are left behind to fend for themselves emotionally. With my background I think the movie pretty accurately captures what many of these people struggle with.

In the very end she has taken the ultimate step towards "losing herself" like Thomas asks her to, perhaps more correctly demands of her. Multiple times during the movie she sees the "darker self" within her externalized, and perhaps by finally mortally damaging herself she finally overcomes it and is able to let herself be free, hence enabling her to give the greatest performance of her life.

Its clear to me that Aronofsky has consulted with experts on human psychology when he made this movie to make it as realistic as possible. Even small details, like how low sounds seems to be much louder than they normally should be, and the manner in which reality seems to mix with illusions, up to the facial expressions of Nina seems to feel quite realistic to me. Some of you mention that the movie at times resembles a horror movie, but guess what: having a mind break down is sometimes much worse than any horror movie you have seen, in particular when you are self destructive at the time.

For me this is a 9 out 10 just because it did something within me as I saw the movie. I don't think the movie will change the world, or me for that matter, but even so it is a nice portrayal of a young woman on the border of breaking down.

Regards,

Chris

PS: That many of you gave the movie 1 out of 10 is a joke, and frankly I can not take you people seriously for the rest of your hobbyist reviewing lives. Even if you thought the movie sucked you should have given it at least a 4 or 5 out of respect for the fine craftsmanship in terms of music or filmography. Imho.

Having been quite a fan of the vampire lore since I was kid, and having watched the excellent "Six feet under" by Alan Ball, I sat down one Thursday night to see the first episode with a cold beer in my hand. The brilliant intro started playing and I probably had a boyish glee on my face until it faded out and everything began...

Some 50 minutes later I still had the cold beer in my hand, and I was quite happy that I did, as this somehow kept me somewhat happy in light of the disappointment I felt there and then. I seriously had great expectations for this series beforehand. Maybe thats why I, after having watched only three episodes, know that I will never ever love this series.

I wont even bother going into details. It will suffice to say that the characters are unbelievable and feels constructed, the dialogues are weak and at times plainly embarrassing, the so-called thrilling romance between vampire and girl is totally uninteresting and like usual smoking weed are used as a "cool and hip" way of connecting to the "alternative kids" out there. I mean, it worked in six feet as some of us can relate to that and it seemed like a natural thing for Nate, David and the rest of the guys to do, but in this series even this seems to be just as constructed as the rest of it. I KNOW its a fantasy series, but come on. This doesn't do vampires justice.

I honestly don't know why this series receives so much praise. I think I'll rather save up some cash and finally get Buffy one of these days to shrug off my discontent. While waiting for that day I'll watch the sadly discontinued "Kindred: The Embraced".

Better luck next time Alan. I just hope this wont go to your head.

I'll keep this short and crisp. Entourage is to me what anti-depressants is to others. When I'm feeling all down and whiny, Scandinavian winter creeping up on me and all. The cure? Two or three episodes of Entourage will do the trick.

From the day I saw the first episode of Entourage I knew that this series represented something new to me. Having grown increasingly tired of bad sitcoms and comedies (oh, and America's funniest home-videos) the last few years, I was actually starting to give up on finding something to laugh wholeheartedly at. Until this great series dropped into my mailbox that is. I'm NOT looking forward to reaching the end of it, as that pretty much leaves me with no options again, but nothing lasts forever.

Even if I'm as far away from the hectic Hollywood life as one can get, I still feel that I'm welcome to the fifth seat, squeezed in somewhere between E and Drama. Do watch this.

PS: Goes very well with a beer or two.