Genres

Visitors Review

acearms 2012-05-20 09:26:58

Great "who done it?" with a lot of sex at no extra charge.

Terrific portrayal of a love between two people, Joseph Fiennes' and HeatherGraham's characters. The scenes involving their sexual exploits and honeymoon were magnificent. The darker side of the movie involved a suspicionthat Fiennes' character was a murderer and Graham's character was the nextvictim. Not so! The twist at the end was reminiscent of Alfred Hitchock'smovies and the Iron Sides TV shows with Ramon Burr. Remember them??? Greatmovie to watch and easy to get involved with. Highly recommendviewing.

ban_nis_ter 2012-05-19 12:44:33

Oh dear, not good.

Killing Me Softly is technically okay.Right, that's all the good comments out off the way.The theme of the film is a familiar one. Alice (Heather Graham) lives anormal, but slightly predictable and maybe boring life, with a nicenormal but slightly predictable and maybe boring boyfriend. Enter tall,dark, and most importantly, mysterious stranger (Joseph Fiennes) and wehave ourselves a movie.Or so you would think. Unfortunately pouting and brooding does not amysterious stranger make. Never-the-less, lots of wacky sex and we haveourselves a movie.No, still not. I know, let's slip some mysterious and anonymous notesunder the door, warning against the stranger. NOW we have ourselves amovie.Nope, still not. I know, a journalist with some secrets. Yes, now wehave a movie.This is very much what Killing Me Softly is like, stumbling along fromone implausible scenario to the next. The story is flat and thecharacters are two dimensional and the plot is very very thin. Add tothis a smattering of terribly contrived red herrings to try and put usoff the track and the movie staggers along like a drunk mountaineerwith altitude sickness, frost bitten toes, and a leg that is broken inthree places.You always know you are watching a bad film, when you just don't careif the characters live or die. In this film you won't. They are neitherlikable nor hateable. I just didn't care. As I watched I kept thinkingto myself "WHAT, but that's just stupid" and "Now WHY would they dothat?" I know people like this film. I tried to figure out why, buthave been unable to do so.Viewing tip: I suggest you fast forward the DVD at 20x speed. You'llmiss nothing and it'll all be over in a few minutes.

2012-05-14 01:54:06

Considering the Talent Involved, the Film is Disappointing

"Killing Me Softly" is not that Roberta Flack song Hugh Grant sang on stage in "About a Boy." It is the film version of thriller of the same name written by Nicci French (a pen name of husband-wife team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French). But what is most attractive is not the origin of the film; it is the first English-speaking film by the critically acclaimed Chinese director Chen Kaige, known for his masterpieces like "Farewell My Concubine" and "Yellow Earth." And this thriller set in modern London stars Heather Graham and Jeseph Fiennes (credits in that order), plus Natascha McElhone ("Ronin") and special appearance of Ian Hart (the first "Harry Potter") . So, you ask me, why should I give only two stars? Wait a minute, please, but I tell you the story first.Heather Graham is Alice, an American, living in London for 18 months and working as a web site designer there. She has an English boyfriend (who watches football games on TV), but one morning on her way to office she meets Joseph Fiennes's world-famous mountain climber Adam when Alice accidentally touches his hand, waiting for the signal on the street. She instantly falls in love with him madly; even in her office she cannot shake off his image; and finally she follows him, goes to his house, and just wants him. All these things happen in about 5 hours of a day.And they get married. But soon Alice learns that she does not know anything about his past, not surprisingly. Then, anonymous letters warning her about him start to come. Then, Alice begins to suspect that Adam, behind his wild character, is trying to hide some horrible secret that might be connected with the terrible accident that happened on the mountain. Or is that really an accident?OK. This is a thriller which uses a premise: "Can you trust your husband?" Yes, once Hitchcock did it (the title should remain unnamed, but you might remember that breathtaking car-running-by-the-cliff scene). For the reasons below, "Killing Me Softly" never achieves that height. The film is thrill-free, and is saddled with incredible plot and creaky dialogues. I don't like to talk like this especially when I like Heather Graham very much, but before I write this review, I checked it on video, and sorry, but I cannot still change my mind. (I am a Japanese, and was lucky to see the film earlier than many people in the world as the film was theatrically released here in Feb. 2002, one year before American release). Yes, thrill is gone.What happened? Joseph Fiennes does his best, so does Heather Graham, but there is no chemistry between them that might make us believe in their love-turns-fear relation. Furthermore, the director Chen Kaige is too intent on portraying the sex scenes of them, many of them describing ... how do you say in English ... a sort of kinky stuff. (So, if you really want to see my point, see the unrated version.) Besides, what can we audience do but giggle when we see usually great Fiennes holds a poor panting goldfish on his palm, to illustrate the lack of oxygen up among the high mountains? Or when Heather is mugged in the street of London, robbed of her bag, and Fiennes chases the robber desperately, hits the guys's head against the telephone booth (breaking the glass), and beats the hapless criminal (but which?) to pulp? And see what they would do after that (I keep that part secret for you). In short, everything is too unbelievable, even by the standard of melodrama or potboiler. There is, however, some good points about the film. The photography is very beautiful, capturing the lively feelings of the streets of London, and it is no so-called "postcard" beauty. British photographer Micheal Coulter is famous for his works like "Four Weddings and a Funeral" "Notting Hill," and "Sense and Sensibility" and his London is strangely other-worldly feeling, I mean, totally different London. The film is always stylish, and the soundtrack is by Patrick Doyle even though his music (good itself) tends to hammer as if to instruct us what to feel.It is cruel to say this, I know, but "Killing Me Softly" is, considering the talent involved, a great disappointment. The film may gain a cult status, and if you ask me whether I like it or not, I say I like it. But will I recommend this to my friends? No. One last curious thing; one of the executive-producers is Ivan Reitman ("Evolution" "Twins" and others).

2012-05-13 12:21:48

waste of time

This movie is a reason why I don't go to movie theater anymore. Hollywood should pay me for reviewing this bad movie. Call me my number is 156-38-3461.

2012-05-10 02:56:15

Heartless b*tch

Two stars for Heather's almost-complete nudity, but that's about it. The way her character so callously jumped ship on her loving boyfriend to run to the arms of a mysterious stranger after just seeing him on the street is unforgivable.That sort of storyline is not going to win any guys over, since she makes herself out to be very coldhearted from the get go, and it's a bad influence on women who might think this film glorifies and provides encouragement for that sort of wretched behavior.She had a good life going for her, and fell prey to that typical female urge to ignore her comfortable existence and "see what else is out there", not realizing, as happens so often to many women, that she'll regret it for the rest of her life.Note to women who may be considering such actions: it's not worth it. Open your eyes to how good you've really got it, and imagine how miserable you'll be when your plans fall through. You'll be left with nothing and no one.

2012-05-09 15:40:07

This is a great B movie

My vote is not based on the movie compared to the movie industry as a whole, It is based on the B movie industry. Which means the budget is low and the expectations are low too.Heather Graham is great, beautiful, and very revealing so I highly recommend it to Her fans.The plot is interesting and the acting in general is pretty good. Again you are buying a sexy movie not a blockbuster.

Grrr8 2012-05-09 16:28:31

Heather is easy on the eye, have the pause key ready...

The UR version was well worth a rental. DVD picture is breathtaking attimes. Plot fell flat, but there is so much to enjoy. A wonderful blendofthe appearance of innocence, and pure wanton lust. "Killing Me Softly"would have been a perfect movie for the drive-in.

2012-05-09 02:29:08

it is okay if you like the raunchy side

not bad but not great, story has a great feel to it you know like it could have been more interesting, and maybe more meaningful. But you know how it goes in the land of bondage ya just get tied up and that is that. Graham is hot as always but when is she not, have you seen her in Boogie Nights? Fiennes is hot have you seen that he is gonna be the new incredible hulk? Oh I forgot that is James No Ed Norton yeah. I have to go eat some apples now you all have a nice peachy day. Did I say peachy? No I said I thought this film was okay but I must go eat some apples.

2012-05-02 07:24:51

It was very nice

It is very nice and they delever it very fast.

Claudio Carvalho 2012-05-02 03:37:36

Heather Graham Is an Excellent Actress and Does not Need to Be Exposed Naked So Many Times, Like in This Predictable Movie

Alice (Heather Graham) is an American website designer living in London withthe engineer Jake (Jason Hughes). Their life is a routine, they love eachother and Jake wants to marry her. One morning, while going to her work, shemeets the climber Adam (Joseph Fiennes), and immediately they have a greatsex, feeling lust for each other. A couple of days later, Alice decides toleave Jake and meets Adam's sister Deborah (Natascha McElhone), and theybecome friends. Then, Adam and Alice are in love for each other and decideto get married. While living together, Alice receives some anonymous lettersand realizes that she does not know anything about Adam's past, and shesuspects he killed his former girlfriends. This erotic thriller has a verypredictable end. I do not understand why Heather Graham accepted such arole. She is an excellent actress and does not need to undress so many timeslike along in this film. I hate the idiot face of Joseph Fiennes, who lookslike the horrible Christopher Lambert, only younger. The plot is verypredictable: how many thrillers show a woman who meets a guy, fall in lovewith him and then realizes that he is a psycho, maniac, killer etc.? Iindeed was very disappointed and expected much more from Heather Graham andNatascha McElhone. My vote is six.Title (Brazil): `Mata-me de Prazer' (`Kill me of Pleasure')

eriksnel 2012-05-01 11:59:26

the worst movie I have seen

This is by far the worst movie I have seen in the last ten years. Inevery scene something is wrong. Heather comes down the stairs and doesn't notice that Ralph is thereuntil she sees him. He was not only smoking (and one that doesn't smokewill even smell that upstairs) but the ashtray is completely filled.She can free herself from the ropes at the table so easily that thereis no tension in that scene. Okay, perhaps she wants to be tied, butthen she must be (act) glad. She want's to escape but she discovers that feeling only until she isstanding in front of the toilet. The stupid shoes on the table at the police office, just at the momentthe offices mentions it at the other side of the one way-mirror. I can go on for hours. I think the making of this movie must have gonetotally wrong. And perhaps the editor desperately tried to makesomething out of it. which didn't work. Friends and I have made a game of this movie to count the errors andhave a good laugh. So actually I'm grateful it's been made.

2012-04-30 23:33:36

Joseph Fiennes is beautiful.

Enough about Heather Graham. Yes, she's pretty, but I'm a woman and I couldn't take my eyes off of Joseph Fiennes. Who cares about the plot? If you like Joseph FINE Fiennes, then you need to see this movie. It just may change your sex life. This movie has the best sex scenes I've ever seen. Although, the part when Joseph ties a long sash around Heather's neck while they're doing it was a little too kinky for me, but Joseph is just so amazingly sexy in this movie, so I overlooked that part. WOW-- that's the best word to describe the movie as far as the erotic scenes go. Now, as for the plot, the movie did hold my attention, but it got real cheesy after a while, especially near the end. And they tried to make it this sappy, "Love Story" ending, which really didn't work for me. I just kept wanting to play back the sex scenes and look at Joseph over and over again. That man just rocks my world. Get the DVD if you want to see pure erotic passion at its best-- acted out by Joseph Fiennes, no less. What a MAN!!! Everyone should have the kind of passion in their love relationships that is portrayed in this film.

MIKEHILL38 2012-04-26 16:53:01

a passable and entertaining enough movie.

it was with some trepidation that i originally expected this film to beworse than i expected from the rather unfair bad reviews yet i found itquite enjoyable and nowhere near as naff as a few recent brit duds a'la'beautiful creatures', 'south west 9', 'the parole officer' and that awful'mean machine' remake to name a few. true; joeseph fiennes is ascompletelywooden an actor like his equally non talented brother ralph and theopeningpremise in which a gorgeous businesswoman would even consider riding offina taxi with a complete stranger beggers belief though i never found themovie boring. the mountain sequences are the highpoint of the movie andarethe best filmed that i've ever seen. the only weak link i thought was theembarrassing but brief performance by the bloke who plays ms graham'sdumpedboyfriend. the best performance in the entire film was by ian hart as acoldbut sympathetic copper. the 'basic instinct' style sex scenes areadequatelystaged and not all that remarkable (haven't we seen all this before?). allin all though, well worth seeing!

2012-04-26 00:13:34

By the numbers

There are two types of obsessive stalker movies - the Fatal Attraction or the So I Married an Axe Murder type. If no rabbits die in the first hour of the movie, you know that the heroine is really being stalked by her new boyfriend's best friend/sister/roommate from the University of Iowa. Whereas the Fatal Attraction variety of stalker movie offers a nice ramping up of paranoia until the requisite DANGER filled ending, the latter type of stalker movie spends a half hour in sweaty close up of the two naked stars and an hour of one of them misinterpreting everything until we learn the shocking truth. It's a dull formula and why Hollywood sticks to the formula is beyond me.In case, you haven't already guessed, this movie is the latter. Of course if you are thinking of buying this movie, you are probably thinking of buying it to see Heather Graham naked. Again, don't bother. The hot and sweaty scenes are all tired. Nothing really says that the stars want to be with each other for any reason other than paychecks and the 10 minutes of naked Heather Graham are not worth the $1/minute price tag (it's not like you're going to watch the rest of it).Just get Boogie Nights and rewatch her roller girl scene if that's what you want to see. Or watch Swingers and watch her fully clothed but infinitely more seductive than this version.

PaulLondon 2012-04-25 07:15:36

Killing Us All Slowly

I think the first point to be made is that there is just something wrongwith self-proclaimed "erotic thrillers". They always seem to featurecharacters who investigate their sexuality beyond the missionary positionand therefore are signified as selfish, perverse and fated by lazyscriptwriters. Killing Me Softly is no exception. Heather Graham plays Alice, a woman who leaves her fiancee after a quickshag with a smouldering stranger. Before you can say "This isn't a patch on'Last Tango In Paris'" he is taking goldfish out of their bowls todemonstrate the effect of high altitude on mountaineers (and symbolically tohint at his cruelty and Alice being a fish out of water). But that not all!Oh no...on their very wedding day he is photographing the poor dearnude....in a (oh the sacrilege of these wanton libertines!) churchyardbefore making her stomp after him on day long hike so they can have anothershag ( SPOILER....erotic asphyxiation is involved here)Throughout it all Fiennes glowers and sits around smoking moodily whileHeather Graham gives it her best 'American innocent in decadent Europe'performance. Its hard to tell whether director Chen Kaige actually botheredto turn up - possibly too busy wondering how badly this would affect hiscareer. At the end of the day though the real villain of this piece has tobe the scriptwriter and the author of the ludicrous source material - nocliche is avoided and heavy handed symbolism is thrown around with thecarefree abandon of of a 15 year olds creative writing lesson. In its favour though the camera work is lovely and captures the essence ofLondon without resorting to a montage of Buckingham Palace,Tower Bridge anda few Pearly kings and queens etc (I bet the writers are disappointed thatthey hadn't written one in though!) Theres little else to be said in itsfavour really. It isn't one of the worst films I've ever seen but one thattakes itself so seriously its hard to supress the giggles until the boredombegins to set in

2012-04-24 11:56:57

Hot Heather Graham-MMMMMMMMM!

Heather Graham is Alice. A lonely bachelorette who falls head over heels in love with a mountain climber. However, his past seems a bit shady. Alice begins to explore his past & finds out there's been a string of murders in his past. As it turns out, it was his ex-lover who is responsible. Steamy stuff with a twist of mystery. There's even a brief bondage scene! My goodness!

guil fisher 2012-04-24 11:52:29

All right, I'll make this critique quick

Bad script, boring direction, predictable ending, Heather Graham silly andnot a good actress, Joesph Feinnes wasted in this, Nastacha McElhone alsowasted in unworthy role for her abilities. A laughable yet disturbing film. Disturbing that such a bad actress like Graham is working. She fidgets,she stammers, she gets a vacant stare in her face and she's boring to watch. I wonder why a film like this gets produced. Chen Kaige must have not seenthe rushes of this to allow Graham's bug-eyed look to always take fullscreen. I don't believe it - SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK is now on the TV andguess who is starring in it? Directly after I suffered through KISSING MESOFTLY.

Matija Trost 2012-04-23 21:55:44

AN O.K. MOVIE FOR...

...a lazy Sunday. Nothing less, nothing more. Why an o.k. than, and notsuperb?Well, there's a lot of cliches there. Like, a woman meets a guy, who's mostlikely psycho and dumps an old boyfriend... The rest is history with someminor twists and happy ending. But what saves this one from being a trashmovie?Ahhh, certainly beautiful Heather Graham, who shows her perfect body quite alot and beside that she was quite a pick for this kind of movies. Otherswere nothing special, although all right. Then, there is some greatlandscape scenery, which gives this one a special touch.All in all, not bad, just don't expect too much...For me, it was quiteenjoyable and that's why6 out of 10.

Bokasmo 2012-04-23 07:33:22

So much suspense and then the twist.

I luv Heather Graham, but I don't think she is at the higher level ofacting yet.Fiennes was spooky and very low key. Hardly said much atall.For sure an Unfaithful counterpart. If u have to choose between the two,choose Unfaithful. Much more depth and feel to it.This movie seems a bit thin, probably because of the character arcs beingsolow.Graham sure likes to pick the movies which show lots ofskin.

2012-04-22 14:44:00

awesome

love the suspense and exploration of being controlled, surrender, submission, and domination / erotic asphyxiation. great sex scenes for mainstream actors...its not a block buster but its def. entertaining...