Linkshoch Wonderful Movie

Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Ginger Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

GeoPierpont The Irish setting and the 'selkie' were the impressive stars of this film. Thankfully, I had closed captions to comprehend the script due to light volume and heavy accents. It was a lovely composition of sea, fantasy, beauty, with limited melodrama. I was unaware of this myth and was intrigued to see this concept developed with unexpected plot twists.Colin is a favorite actor and can overcome many questionable elements that compromise a quality film. I found the chemistry between Syra and Ondine quiet and reserved but extremely stirring. How could they curtail the interactions most expected from your typical Hollywood production? Certainly to Colin's chagrin and audience members! Many times when life turns on a dime it's actually a positive direction and correlated to meeting that one person who makes all the difference, albeit with subtlety. The hope and faith that collapses over time is transformed to a shining bright star and breathtaking to witness. Art mimics life and this film is a delight for confirmation.High recommend for Ireland sea landscape exposition and the 'selkie' fantasy extrapolation.

Amy Adler Syracuse (Colin Farrell) is an Irish fishermen with a young, wheelchair-bound daughter, Annie. Divorced from Annie's alcoholic mother, "Circus", his nickname, has been sober himself for four years. One day, he brings up his net and there is a beautiful, young lady caught in the threads. She is choking, gasping for air, but makes it back to breath. Thus, Circus has saved her life. When he tells his daughter a bedtime story of the event, Annie says it must be a mermaid that was captured. Dad says no, but when the woman, who says her name is Ondine, sings a haunting song which helps Circus catch more fish and lobster than normal, he himself begins to wonder. As she has no home, he places her in the seaside cabin that was belonged to his deceased mother. But, do mermaids or selkies really exist? What happens, too, when Circus and Ondine fall for each other? Will there love be broken by her need to return to the sea? This gorgeous film from acclaimed director Jordan is well worth watching, very much so. Farrelll gives a great turn, as does all of the others, including Stephen Rea as the local priest. You won't believe the extreme beauty of the setting while the story, which has some dark elements that surface late in the movie, is a heart-grabber. Indeed, see Ondine, and SOON!

moonrocks152 Ondine brought together some sweet stuff - the beautiful Irish coastline, a mythological Selkie sea creature, a struggling fisherman whose life wasn't quite on track. At least two or three original, refreshing films could have taken off from there.But no luck. Less than half way through, I felt stuck in a contrived, overwrought plot that lost all touch with its unique starting point. A creative opportunity missed.Granted, Ondine has magnificent scenery and music. An interesting premise. Fine actors. But the film wastes all of these and hurries itself into just another Hollywood play by the numbers script. By the end of the movie I was completely bored, not caring how any of it worked out.I second the complaints about the lack of English subtitles. Yes, if you focus you'll get most of what's said. But when native English speakers are losing 10-15% of the dialogue then there's no excuse for not including English subtitles on the DVD.

Argemaluco I like the movies directed by Neil Jordan, mainly because I enjoy his directing style, even though there were a few occasions in which I did not find the screenplays he worked with to be particularly interesting by themselves. But even in those exceptions (In Dreams and the remake of We're No Angels), I think that his particular sensibility, his efficient control over the actors and his precise vision could rescue the experience. I think that Ondine, his most recent film, is a very entertaining, honest and even touching romantic fantasy which fully displays Jordan's talent.The publicity of Ondine might evoke images of sirens, but Ondine is based on a different European legend, so do not expect to see actress Alicja Bachleda with an isinglass and a shell bikini. In fact, the balance between fantasy and reality is so well handled that it is impossible for the spectator to predict what route the movie will take, and that contributes to bring it a simultaneously mysterious and emotive tone, without falling into cloying routines, and without losing the ethereal atmosphere of a fairytale conjured by Jordan and the extraordinary cinematographer Christopher Doyle (by the way...Can someone explain to me why Doyle has never been nominated to the Oscar so far? After creating beautiful images for films like Hero, Rabbit Proof Fence, The Quiet American, The Limits of Control and Ondine, I think that the fact that he has not been recognized by the Academy is almost a crime).Anyway, the "magical" aspect of the movie is only the catalyst which detonates the family drama between the poor fisherman Syracuse, his cruel ex-wife Maura and their little daughter Annie, who is caught between her indifferent but stable mother and the father who truly loves her, even though he has not reached the necessary maturity to raise her yet. By the way, I think that Alison Barry steals the show as Annie, because she is absolutely credible and charming in that role. However, that does not mean that the adult cast makes a bad work. On the opposite, Colin Farrell brings another one of his intense performances, full of details and emotional deepness, and which proves his big talent. Bachleda might result a bit inexpressive for some people, but I think that the coldness she brings to her character is appropriate for bringing a mysterious aura to it, while insinuating its supernatural origin. And I would also like to mention the great Stephen Rea, Jordan's favorite actor, who is always worthy of being seen as any role, as short as it might be (gentle priest and confessor in this case).In conclusion, I liked Ondine very much, mainly for daring to be a modern fairytale seasoned by a raw dose of reality. It might not be perfect (I think there are a few forced details in the screenplay), but it definitely deserves a very enthusiastic recommendation for anyone who wants to see a fantasy which does not insult the spectator's intelligence, nor tries to sell us toys or a McDonald's Happy Meal.