Customer Reviews

At First Sight

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

In watching "At First Sight," I found myself somewhat put off by the length that the movie takes in delivering its story. I was also vastly moved by the emotion and exceptional talent that the story and the actors have in creating it to life. In reaching the end of the movie, I found that even though it did seem lengthy in certain places, I was more than willing to watch the two incredible leads take us through an emotionally empowering experience that will have you seeing things in new lights.

Based on a story by Oliver Sacks about a real-life couple, the story begins when construction designer Amy decides to take a vacation from work and go to a health and beauty spa for the weekend. Driving along snowy roads, she arrives that same night, and the next morning, she goes in for a therapeutical massage. Not only is the massage therapist a blind man named Virgil, but he is also able to make her cry not five minutes into the session, and from this moment on, the two become inseparable. Upon returning to the city, Amy comes across the name of a doctor who wishes to restore site to someone willing to be the first for the surgery.

Up until this point, the story has already built up a momentus amount of emotions, most of them happy in relation to the budding relationship between Amy and Virgil, and a small amount of grief when we realize the pain the Virgil went through in the early years of his life as his father tried everything to get his son to see. Virgil's simple yet complex view upon the world is, at times, tear-jerking, especially in the abandoned building of his town where he and Amy escape to listen to the rain. This is one of the most moving moments of the film, because it shows that even though he is a blind man, he can take something as simple as rain and read so much into what he hears from it.

Virgil agrees to go through with the surgery, with some hesitation. He has normal fears about the repercussions of the procedure, as well as feeling that his life is normal the way it is, and is not hampered by his disability. After the surgery, when the bandages are removed, everyone involved in his life realizes that it is going to take so much more for Virgil to get used to the ability of sight because of his life's experiences as a blind man. He has no sense of depth perception, color, or what things are. He is used to feeling things and reading Braille, and soon, Amy realizes that it is more taxing on her life than she originally thought it would be.

The basis for this story is truly moving, and it makes for a very emotional experience that packs pure satisfaction in matters of the heart. The way in which this disability affects these two peoples' lives is truly authentic, going through situations from Virgil's learning to read and comprehend different aspects of his vision while Amy goes through emotions of stress and heartache until she comes to the realization that Virgil is the only person in her life that she truly needs.

There is an instant connection between these two characters that the film is able to keep solidly fused throughout the entire plot. Amy and Virgil are able to make it through good times and bad, and their emotion becomes the centerpiece for the entire story. I found myself crying in places I never expected to, laughing in all the right places, and feeling nothing but happiness and an uplifted spirit after it was all over. We are able to feel everything that the characters feel, while also going through the experiences and emotions they do right along with them.

The running time for this movie may seem a bit tedious for those unwilling to sit through a long love story, and some scenes do tend to drag out a bit. It takes a full hour before Virgil is able to see, and that first hour is spent going through the motions of the building romance, the hesitation, the aspect of living life blind. If the operation had taken place at least fifteen minutes earlier, then the film would not be hampered by this. Nonetheless, the second half of the movie is worth waiting for, and if you're a true romance buff, then you won't mind watching the whole thing and enjoying it.

There is a remarkable cast for this film, with some big name, award-winning stars leading the way. Val Kilmer is a truly magnificent Virgil, and while he plays the physical aspect of being blind quite authentically, he is also able to embody emotion and strength into his character's mental state. Mira Sorvino plays one of her best roles ever as Amy, the highly emotional woman who comes into Virgil's life. This performance marks her as one of the most believable and true actresses of our time, and she proves this when she cries and laughs and expresses her love for Virgil in various ways. Kelly McGillis plays Virgil's sister, who becomes slightly jealous of the fact that her brother no longer depends on her with Amy in his life. Nathan Lane brings his wit and charm to the movie as a teacher for the blind who reverses his teachings in trying to help Virgil understand what he is seeing.

"At First Sight" tells a harrowing story of the receipt of the gift of sight, and that it's a gift that takes getting used to. Through the experiences of the characters, we learn that to see with the eyes is nothing compared to when we see things with the human heart.

My husband of 12 years is blind from diabete's and dwindling health. We watched a movie about a blind man on our first date. So when this one came out we watched (actually I watched he listened and I explain any parts that needed explaining) it together. Unlike my husband, Virgil (Val Kilmer) has been blind since he was a very young toddler. Whose only memory of sight is a fluffy pink cloud. I have always wondered what it would be like for someone with no memories of sight to have their sight fully restored. When Virgil meets Amy (Mira Sorvino) they fall in love. He shows her his world and teaches her to ice skate on a frozen pond. She meets his family and guide dog. Then she, wanting to help him get more out of life tells him of a doctor (Bruce Davison)who can hopefully restore his sight. So after much encouragement he goes to her world in the city and agrees to see this doctor. But to Amy's shock, when his sight is restored he is not happy with his new world and sight is not what he had imagined it would be. It was very interesting that he could not identify an object as simple as a can of coke until he felt it with his hands, then understood the connection between the two. Living with a blind man for 12 years, that made perfect sense. After adjusting somewhat to this he comes to enjoy his newly found sight, and takes in all that he can. But has trouble coping with the new trials it brings. Though very educated, he can not read and doesn't have his blindness to explain why. I found it to be a very accurate movie dealing with blindness and sight restored. It ends well. And Val Kilmer did well portraying a blind man in this movie. I enjoyed this movie and learned a little more about what different blind people go through. I have known many through my husband over the last several years and admire them for their strength, courage and abilities to do just about anything. I don't know if I could be so strong. This is a very nice story I would enjoy seeing again.

Walking into the filming while on vacations in NYC, I decided to get that movie in english. Just to have a souvenir. what an awesome surprise to watch such a movie! It was not only watching, it was... feeling the play of Mira Sorvino and Val Kilmer. Were they the only ones to be able to play the story in the whole world? It seems to, as they are just perfect and I believe Winkler did a great job directing them. Actors goes through so many emotions in a wonderful way. Comes from the heart and sure goes right to the heart.Make sure you don't miss it. WAOW!

I rented the video over Christmas and I must admit that, initially, I was quite reluctant to watch it, since I expected it to be just another of those disappointing pictures which usually depict a rather unrealistic stereotype of blindness. However, holding a degree in special education of the visually impaired and having worked with blind and partially sighted people for years, I decided to give it a chance, and I'm so glad I did! I was swept away by Kilmer's outstanding performance - I've never seen a sighted actor portray a blind person so convincingly. He seems to have spent a considerable amount of time researching his role very carefully and succeeds in imitating "typical" mannerisms a visually impaired person may develop very accurately. Thank you, Val Kilmer, for putting so much effort into this role. Excellent work!

Based on a real story , this film is real artistic triumph . I do not agree with many people and even critics who state this picture is a soap opera . It contains many dramatic issues that invite you to think .
How can we adapt to the real world inmersed in a dark world where the blindness imposses us its own roles ?
This medical repport works out as a perpetuum mobile through the film , it is supported by a good script and a special chemistry generated for Mira Sorvino (I love her) and Val Kilmer in a very credible role as the blind man .
The brief process in which he recovers the sight sense is a life lesson .
Irwin Winkler caught the insights , and the inner conflicts of any man in a situation like this .
Excellent photography and edition .

Lovely little movie that brought tears to my eyes at its' unexpected ending. This is one for a rainy night under the afghan, snuggling with the boyfriend. Val Kilmer is charmingly believable as blind Virgil in what he's said was his most challenging role to date. He shines in this, using his velvet voice and body language to full advantage; the rest of the cast is also steller. Who wouldn't fall for Mira Sorvino as Amy?

Personally, I'd never seen Kilmer smile before as much as he does in the film, and he sure made me smile. Virgil is independent, aware, self-effacing, witty in his own, sightless comfort zone; take him out of it and he behaves pretty much as someone suddenly blind would.

The film is an interesting statement on perspective and the human condition. Highly enjoyable.

Superbly acted by Kilmer ("Real Genius" et al.), Sorvino, and McGillis, the principle detraction is the sometimes slow-moving drama which derives from the nature of the story itself. Almost worth seeing just for Virgil's observations at the end: "It wasn't that seeing was so bad- I saw a lot of things. Some were really beautiful; others were scary. Some things I'm already forgetting- a particular look in a pair of eyes... clouds... those images will stay with me long after the light fades. As a blind man, I think that I see better than I did while I was sighted. Because I don't really think we see with our eyes. I think we live in darkness when we don't look at what's real about ourselves, about others, or about life. I think no operation can do that. And when you see what's real about yourself, you've seen alot, and you don't need eyes for that."

What else is there to say? Val and Mira are magical! Val has the fantastic ability to become the role he is playing, while at the same time, bringing out the best in those who are lucky enough to act opposite him. From the very beginning he had me convinced that he WAS blind! Touching and poinient, tugs at the heart-strings. A definite "must see", and a definite "must have" for any video collection, especially a "Kilmer" collection. Rock on Val! Keep doing what you do best! You are the ultimate, misunderstood "Master Thespian"!!

I recommend this movie to anyone who is close to or want to understand a person with disabilities better. I am not saying every person with a disability feels the same way a person who is blind would, but it does convey the "normal" person's reaction. I could not in a million years ever explain the underlying hurt of suggesting surgery to "correct" my deafness as if I am not already perfect the way I am. Thank you Val Kilmer for taking the time to study and know the nuances of blindness and showing the rest of the world exactly what it is like. I have always watched Val Kilmer movies, knowing I would be entertained, however after watching "at first sight" I would have to say I am totally in love with the guy!

Charming little movie about an architect (Mira Sorvino) whom falls in love with a blind Massage therapist (Val Kilmer) whilst on holliday at a weekend retreat. This is a good movie to watch if you are in a "Sleepless in Seattle" mood or a "When Harry meet Sally" frame of mind.