Eye, The
MPAA Rating: PG-13
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Entertainment: +2
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Content: -2
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Jessica Alba, Parker Posey, Alessandro Nivola. Suspense/horror. Written by Sebastian Gutierrez. Directed by David Moreau & Xavier Palud.
FILM SYNOPSIS: Remake of scary Japanese film has a young blind woman seeing visions and dead people after she undergoes eye surgery. Haunted by one particular specter, our heroine is soon convinced that her anonymous eye donor has somehow opened the door to a terrifying world only she can now see.
PREVIEW REVIEW: Hey, this actually has a moral. Its scary, with smoky demonic beings protruding from walls and hovering over people about to die, but it also contains an adage; its best to see life from a spiritual perspective. But you have to undergo a great deal of jolting imagery, not to mention faux-literate dialogue, less than inspiring direction, and a misleading look at the spiritual world. And Jessica Alba, though determined to be a good actress, is just too hampered by the incredulous script and her limitations as a thespian, to give her character or the story much depth.
Studios wisely refrain from inviting press to prior screenings of films they know will meet with little but negative comment. Such is the case with this film. However, even if people dont read reviews, they should be leery of a film the studio made sure reviewers couldnt see. Beware, theres a reason.
DVD Alternatives: Awakenings. A man is brought out of a catatonic state after 30 years. Although rated PG-13 for 4 obscenities and the use of an Ouija board in two scenes, it does carry a message of hope and a reminder that the soul needs to be nourished. Robin Williams, Robert DeNiro.
Or:
The Canterville Ghost. A parable about finding courage within, this classic fantasy has a cowardly ghost bound to his ancestral home until a descendant does a brave deed. This film teaches a life lesson rather than seriously promoting the existence of ghosts.
Or:
The Enchanted Cottage. Robert Young and Dorothy McGuire star in this heart-warming fantasy about a scarred war vet and a homely woman, both made beautiful by their love. Like way old, and in B&W, but a very romantic film that teaches love looks beyond the superficial.
Or:
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir. A gothic romance without promiscuity, starring Rex Harrison, Gene Tierney and George Sanders. No, I don't believe in ghosts (angels and demons, yes), but the serene love affair is difficult to resist. It contains, you should excuse the expression, a haunting score by Bernard Herrmann. I know, its also old, but man, great filmmaking. And folks, its difficult to find more recent films with a positive message that dont reflect todays acceptance of objectionable material.
Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Lionsgate
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Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.
Crude Language: None
Obscene Language: A couple of minor expletives, but I caught no harsh or obscene language.
Profanity: An irreverent use of Christs name and one of Gods.
Violence: The angels of death are scary in appearance and cause show no mercy to their dying victims; people are caught in a burning factory; they die due to the flames and smoke; an explosion sends flying glass into a womans eyes, blinding her; we see a woman commit suicide by hanging; the film is loaded with frightening and disturbing imagery. Blood: We see blood coming out of a womans eyes several times.
Sex: None
Nudity: The lead appears in a shower scene, but her nudity is hidden.
Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: None
Drugs: The lead drinks from a bottle of sherry in order to steady her nerves.
Other: The emissaries from another realm are frightening, with hostile attitudes toward the living.
Running Time: 97 minutes
Intended Audience: Mature Teens and Adults
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