Genres

Visitors Review

marylou3000 2012-05-24 08:00:42

Not a sad film...

It's some kind of buddy movie, but not as "Hangover" did it. Not atall. It's about true friendship and the joy of life. You might cry atthe end... I did not. It's not a sad movie, it's a true movie. Love isa big theme here, and the landscape plays a big part, too.Cumberbatch is overwhelmingly brilliant and heartbreaking as James,who's ill with cancer and goes on a trip with his three best friends tolive life to the fullest one last time. Cumberbatch is fragile andstrong, tearing up and laughing out loud within seconds, embracing lifeand annoying his friends with worldly wisdoms. He's not an entirelylikable character and therefore the more likable. Tom Burke, AdamRobertson and JJ Field also do an excellent job, but it's Cumberbatchwho is the most mesmerizing thing on-screen. When the film ends, you feel exhausted but not sad. And you want tomeet your friends and tell them that you love them.

heidiguard-nanookie 2012-05-23 12:35:26

Heartbreaking Art-house-cinema

Great film, powerful and moving. It ranges somewhere between "A SingleMan" and "Tree of Life" and definitely belongs into the"Arthouse"-section. If you enjoy slow-paced, poetic storytelling andare not opposed to the odd figurative metaphor this is definitely agood tip.Anyway, at first I was frustrated because I didn't understand a lot ofthe dialogue. But the subtitles distracted me from the scenes and so Iturned them off. I only realized about half-way through the film thatit was really quite unimportant what they were talking about. It wasthe mood that counted, the emotions and the dynamics between thecharacters. To me, their emotional journey was beautifully illustratedand underlined by the gradual loss of their luggage - their worldlypossessions, so to say - and artificial means of help, leaving themliterally on their own with barely anything besides their nakedemotions in the end, and here only the stuff that really mattered. Ithink one can safely say that the film truly "boils down" to itsending. Here I have to say that ALL actors were brilliant. Thebreathtaking Benedict Cumberbatch might have had the leading role andthe most screen time in total but EVERYBODY did a fantastic job atshowing the conflicting emotions that occur in this kind of situation.I also thought that everything was pretty realistic, thanks to afabulous script. The anger, being envious of the people around you forthe time they still have, the regret and bitterness but also the peaceand the feeling of security that comes with knowing your destinationare all feelings that one can relate to.Besides, the film was beautifully shot and edited. The quiet picturesof the sea or of birds wheeling overhead alternating with the scenes ofemotional tension, the soundtrack... it all fitted together perfectly.Anyway, prepare a big box of tissues if you plan to sit through thisone. BC's performance will break your heart.

Lisa 2012-05-22 20:55:52

"Since I was little, this is my favorite place to come"

Well, on the surface this is a no-nonsense film about the last days ofa young man who is terminally ill and his three best friends ("I'm 29,won't be 30").Take a step back though and approach the film as a story about growingup and leaving your childhood beyond, and suddenly a lot of things inthe film acquire a new meaning (to me at least).The title of the film is referring to Peter Pan, thus I think I can saywith some certainty that I am not stretching the subsequent analysisbeyond belief: James symbolizes the childhood/youth of the maincharacters (it is a fact that he will never grow up just like PeterPan) and his death symbolizes the loss of said childhood.The acting is brilliant all around,and should be noted for it'ssubtlety (Benedict Cumberbatch, I'm looking at you). The script isquite good, the scenery is beautiful and the symbolism is a littleheavy handed from time to time. Let me just mention: The angel throwingaway the watch in the beginning (nice touch), the lonely seagullleaving the flock then disappearing, the tunnel with the light,theolder guy looking for star wars figures (yes- looking for hischildhood, never giving up his dreams. And representing what willhappen to our main characters if the are unable to let James go)).Andfinally, of course, the old boatman. Yes- we even get the boatman ofthe dead. I guess one way to see the eye makeup-thing is a reference toCharon's flashing eyes).In conclusion: I like to be heavily manipulated sometimes, so I likethis film. As a modern take on Peter Pan it's actually quite good.

rojakrojak 2012-05-22 05:22:59

Heart wrenching

The emotions evoked from this movie is just too powerful. Benedict'sperformance; his every wince and moan at the pain suffered by a cancerpatient, his glossed-over eyes depicts those of a person falling in andout of morphine daydream. His performance is just brilliant. This movie also brings out the question of morality. Do you or do younot help a person in this much of pain? Could you bear to see yourfriend suffer for the sake of adhering to what society deems as moral?The questions that James asked his friends about what they're doingwith their lives makes you think whether you are doing enough withyours. Would you wish you'd have more time to do the things you alwaysput off doing, or would you be able to die with no regrets, with nourgency or need to tie loose ends.

kriszcsiki 2012-05-21 20:57:58

Genuine and heartfelt

How often do we get to watch a movie and laugh in one minute, cry inthe other? When emotions run so deep that we smile through our tearsand tear up when laughing at a joke... This is what this movie did tome. Kudos to the cast for a brilliant performance, each in their ownrole, and to the director to provide a wonderful audio-visualbackground to the beauty that lies in the friendships of these fouryoung men.After seeing it, we ask ourselves: would we be able to do what Davydid? Could we be this strong and brave? Maybe if we love someone thatmuch. Maybe.Another question is: how would we deal with a serious illness? How CANwe? The alternative is wait until it vanquishes us and stealseverything from us that we used to be, that used to make us what weare, or... or take the upper hand and go out screaming. Choose how wewant to end it. Choose to miss many important events and greatmoments... because we want to feel capable... just once again. Jamesposes this question and we are left wondering up until the end whichalternative he chooses.I strongly, highly recommend this film to everyone who loves genuinehuman emotions portrayed without sentimentalism, who thinks thatfriendship is not over-rated and that there can be times when friendsare all that's left to rely on. Because in friendship, we have achoice.

Aprodia 2012-05-21 12:27:20

Bittersweet emotional treat

I watched Third Star perhaps two weeks ago, but realised that it is oneof those movies you have to step back from before expressing an opinionout in the open.The movie tells the story of four friends, one of whom diagnosed withrhabdomyosarcoma, to a faraway place filled to the brim with happy,cherished memories.From beginning to end, the tale is full of emotions, all shapes andsizes, climbing on top of one another and dashing across the spectrum,slurred by the simple, yet powerful dialog.There are elements present that one expects when reading a summary for'one of them diagnosed with cancer". They are, however, presentedhonestly and simply, without redundant drama. Furthermore, it is notJames that leads the movie as the sole figure of interest. All fourfriends have unique stories, unfolding with varying severity andovertones, and each becomes dear to you by the end.I will finish this review by saying that the movie harnesses greatsadness together with immeasurable happiness, and it touches yourheart, as all good movies should."And there's no tragedy in that."

sydniejimerson 2012-05-18 20:40:57

I can barely express myself about this movie

In giving a movie ten stars I feel like I really have to explain whybut I'm not sure I even can. The first reviewer on this movie talksabout how boring most of the movie is but I have to say I disagree.Although I can see how some people might not be enraptured by parts ofthe film I really enjoyed all of it, even the parts that seemedunimportant. I thought the acting was amazing, everyone did a perfectjob, there were humorous parts that sort of caught you off guard andyou CANNOT help but sympathize heavily with these characters.And then there's the ending. I have to agree that the ending is thebest part of the film, and I also have to say that I never cry atmovies.I really don't. I might get teary eyed at a sentimental or touchingscene but I have only actually cried at a movie maybe twice in my life.I cried at this movie a LOT, and rather heavily. And at the end I satthrough the entire credit reel just crying and crying. I generallydon't like sad movies but this was beautiful and tells an amazing storyabout friends and what they'll do for each other even in terriblesituations no one should have to deal with. It's short, and perfectlyso.And I'm just not sure I can express beyond this how much this movie hasEFFECTED me. I will buy it at some point and it will be in my list oftop ten movies of all time. I'm shocked by the low viewer ratings but Ido realize a lot of people have a hard time with "slow moving" filmsand I suppose this could qualify as one but the slow moving plot reallysets the mood and gets you attached to the characters before the end.And I just must say I loved this movie.

Chris_Docker 2012-05-18 15:14:46

A bit more than a day at the seaside

Third Star could almost be described as viewer reverse-engineered. Onceyou've seen the ending, it's fairly easy not only to justify the tediumof the rest of the film but to see meaning and relevance in materialthat almost sent you despairing to the nearest emergency exit. Severalpeople even walked out in the press screening I attended, which isunusual. If I had just gone out for a nice evening's entertainment, I'msure I would have headed off or even used my seat to grab a quick nap.I'm relating this in case you find yourself in a similar dilemma: ifyou do, my message is, DON'T LEAVE BEFORE THE END.Four 30-something male friends set off for a remote area of Wales. Oneof them, James, is seriously ill with cancer. His mates are taking himfor a holiday send-off in his favourite part of the world. Externalevents soon make it plain they have bitten off more than they can chew.They have to surmount their insecurities to come clean and build adeeper level of trust based on total honesty. But that is only thestart . . .This is a film dedicated to the iPod generation. The society ofurbanites who are more concerned with whether their iPhone will syncacross several platforms than matters of life and death or even whetherrelationships need to be ideal when most people can, after all, "justsettle for something that will do" and so let them get on with theday-to-day business of 'life.' Perhaps some people can relate betterthan I can to the bulk of this movie (some people did chuckle at theoccasional humour). I love the beautiful opening, with the air blowingthrough the grass, the seawater, the fire of birthday candles flamingand then being extinguished. From thereon it seemed all horriblydownhill until the end scenes – which, in total contrast, practicallyinduce a state of shock.Characters are routinely introduced, their backstories ratherartificially introduced into the dialogue. They go off on their ratherboring adventure, have boring little interludes such as a village feteturning into a brawl, and a meeting with a daft beachcomber searchingfor washed-up Daath Vader memorabilia. Of his parents, James says,"Sickness may be mine but the tragedy is theirs." And mine too, Ithink, for sitting through this stuff. Hair-pulling inanities abound inthe trivial conversation. How can intelligent men mouth off suchsuperficial rubbish? I allow myself to be distracted by the nice (iftotally unoriginal) sunset photography. Halfway through, as a furthertreat for sitting there that long, I let my mind dwell on the mostfascinating thing so far, a ferry price list that says, "Ferry £3.Return £6.50." This occupies me long enough to get through the nextround of male hissy fits as they argue over individually failing lives.Another bit of pleasantly contrived photography comes up as they get totheir destination – dancing and splashing in the sea, sunlightreflecting and sparkling (whoopee) classically off the water. Sound andvision is generally faultless, I should mention, and there's some goodincidental music. What a waste (or so I thought).Then the plotwinder kicks in with a vengeance. Dilemmas presented withfrighteningly diminishing time-scales. Third Star is here fulfilling amajor practical use of narrative art: making us ask, what would I do insuch a situation? Any preliminary conclusions are rapidly challenged,as events shift the goal posts. Superficiality in the long lead-upbecomes both a necessary factor for the denouement catching usoff-guard; as well as providing commentary on how we push importantquestions aside for another day that (we think) never comes.Third Star was shot in Wales on a budget of £450,000 using Super 16.Talented director Hattie Dalton and deviously clever scriptwriterVaughan Sivell have, by accident or design, done annoyingly well. Ifyou find yourself in a cinema watching their film, I advise you toeither enjoy it or sit through it until the end. DON'T give up. LikeJames, 'feel the fight' in yourself one last time. You know it'll beworth it.I am reminded of another excellent movie from a totally different genrethat succeeded in misleading audiences just as as well as this one.Horror fans will recall Audition, an apparently laid-back, low-budgetAsian effort. It lulled me into a sense of being able to handle withone eye shut anything such patently 'struggling filmmakers' might comeup with. Only to revise my opinions with large helpings of humble piethat stuck firmly in my throat. I can't quite put Third Star in thatcategory, but it is a damn clever movie. Even the less-than-shatteringrevelations mid-film, retrospectively become like the car backfiring ina noir movie (heralding a gun going off) or a door slamming in aslasher movie (heralding a bigger fright to come). But Third Star'sissues are not from other-worldy fiction: they are a commentary on howwe live, and how we routinely refuse to communicate on deep levelsuntil almost too late.

zebidee32 2012-05-18 00:36:56

Beautiful film with excellent performances!

I really enjoyed this film. The script is written with warmth andcompassion, sensitively realized by Hattie Dalton and is veryimpressive for a first feature. It's beautifully shot and reallyshowcases the stunning Pembrokeshire locations. The acting is strongfrom the whole cast, with an inspiring central performance fromCumberbatch. Hugh Bonneville's cameo appearance is unexpected and veryfunny - a must see for fans! With a sharp script and well drawn,believable characters the film takes a refreshing approach to thematerial and stays with you long after leaving the cinema. Definitelyworth a watch.

mayadreamer 2012-05-17 13:36:15

Beautiful, memorable, heartrending, and transcendent

The performances are intriguing and, in particular, Cumberbatch ismemorable and often mesmerizing as James, a terminally ill young man.The scenery is beautiful, and the backdrop of the Welsh coastlinethematically frames the friends' journey to help James visit hisfavorite place on earth. Although death is often the emphasis ofreviews, the film plays up the importance of love and friendship,highlighting just what makes us alive.The audience likely will recognize or identify with a personality ortwo among the four friends making the journey to Barafundle Bay, butthe film doesn't resort to "types." The friends have different opinionsabout their own--and each other's--lives, but they share a bond thatcan't be broken.As other reviewers have noted, you should stick with the film for thefinal payoff. Undoubtedly you'll be left with something to thinkabout--and shouldn't that be one aim of a good film?

bangel5460 2012-05-09 16:30:03

Beautiful and heartwrenching, keep the tissues close

The premise of this movie is pretty simple and straightforward - fourgood friends decide to go on a sort of backpacking journey, simpleenough except that one of them is dying and this trip is his last wishin a way. For a movie that starts of a bit slow it packs a bigemotional punch in the end, surprising you completely. The performancesby all four leads were exceptional and you really believe these fourpeople have been friends for years, their interactions and gestures arevery believable. But Benedict Cumberbatch stood out from the rest withhis subtlety and emotion that pulls you in without saying much yetmaking a point (the scene in the tent after he wakes up in the middleof the night with everyone sleeping comes to mind). Also the actor thatplayed Miles was great, the last scene between him and James at thebeach was almost painful to watch because it just felt so real, whichis a testament to great acting on their parts. All in all, a greatlittle gem of a movie well worth seeing, if you can pull through theslower parts it will reward you with great scenery, heartbreakingperformances and a thought provoking ending.

vivi_1201 2012-05-09 03:17:32

Subtle and real. Perfection.

Four friends, one of whom (James) is terminally ill, go off on a lasttrip to James's favourite place, Barafundle Bay in Wales. The plottherefore is simplicity itself and the film captures this simple ideaand makes it shine. One reviewer described the first half as 'tedium',in my opinion nothing could be further from the truth. While thedialogue may seem trivial at times, it is exactly the kind of exchangeone would expect of four friends under these circumstances.Light-hearted banter, foolishness and fun offset the looming tragedy,sorrow and pain. Very rarely have I seen a film that from the firstframe just felt real. This one does. No over-elaborate flashbacks toexplain a backstory that isn't really needed, the actors manage toestablish the friendship just through their interactions, chemistry anddialogue. The performances are excellent, especially BenedictCumberbatch as James is truly remarkable. Four male friends on a lastadventure. Fun, revelations, regrets, redemption, grief and the subtlerealism of it all. Definitely worth watching!