Movie Review

Movies, films, Holly-Bollywood… what sort of person with a pulse doesn’t like movies?
What’s a film you absolutely love, or hate, or perhaps saw last? When one writes a review of a film they are giving their:

Giving a brief account of the film; setting, characters, major themes and without giving too much away (spoiler), they let the reader in on the plot.

You (no please this time) MUST read the following TWO links regarding writing a film revew.

http://www.spiritofbaraka.com/how-to-write-a-movie-review.aspx

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/englishresource/filmreview.html


I chose a film, not only because I like it, but because I think a number of you will like it.
“The Devil’s Backbone” (2001) is a historical mystery/horror film by Mexican director Guillermo del Toro (you may know him from the “Hell Boy” series and “Pan’s Labyrinth”). Below you will find a review by Neil Smith for the BBC. It’s a decent review and most of what Mr. Smith says is does justice to the film.

The Devil's Backbone (2001)
Reviewed by Neil Smith
Updated 27 November 2001

On the back of "Cronos" and "Mimic", Guillermo del Toro has emerged as one of the horror genre's most striking new talents. "The Devil's Backbone" (El Espinazo del Diablo) may be more conventional than its forebears, but it's still a superior ghost story/murder mystery which confirms del Toro as a name to watch (his next movie will be "Blade 2").
Set in a school-cum-orphanage at the end of the Spanish Civil War, the movie begins as a childhood rite-of-passage for ten-year-old Carlos (Tielve) before spiralling into a "Shining"-style spook fest.
Although the orphanage lies on a remote and dusty plateau far away from the frontline, the threat and dread of war is omnipresent - not least due to the huge unexploded bomb that sits reproachfully in the middle of the courtyard.
Carlos' life is hardly made easier by the bullying Jaime (Garcés) and the school's menacing janitor, Jacinto (Noriega). But things get even more threatening when Carlos begins seeing the pale spectre of Santi (Valverde), a fellow orphan who was brutally murdered shortly before his arrival.

Cleverly lacing its chilling melodrama with a political twist - with Jacinto's brooding rage implicitly equated with the fascist oppressor - "The Devil's Backbone" reverses expectations by telling its doom-laden Gothic narrative in broad daylight and baking sunshine. The climax is a little disappointing, and the glowering Noriega is really too handsome to pose much of a threat. Unlike most so-called thrillers, though, this is one "Backbone" that's guaranteed to send a shiver down yours.

In Spanish with English subtitles.

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writer: Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorras, David Muñoz
Stars: Eduardo Noriega, Marisa Paredes, Federico Luppi, Íñigo Garcés, Fernando Tielve, Irene Visedo, Junio Valverde



You must include:

-both an image and the trailer to the movie.
-credit information including date of release, director, actors
- language