Customer Reviews

The Eclipse [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

There are many lovers and haters of this film. This is especially due (in my opinion) to the inexplicable title of the film that coincides with the laughable attempt of a vampire movie that shares the same name. This movie goes beyond any of the so-called horror movies that are on display at your local B-Buster nowadays, period. Think of classics like The Haunting and The Uninvited that are filled with subtleties that captivate the viewer while they do not feel cheap and overbearing. I can see why some feel cheated by this film since the horror aspect takes a back seat at times, but downplaying the horror is really effective in this case. There are many films that are not designed to be thrown into a specific category and this film is a perfectly blended cocktail of horror/suspense and drama/romance. Watch this film with the lights off and the sound up specifically for the scenes that will turn your skin as white as a ghost.

It took me about six viewings before I stoped jumping out of my chair at the ghost scenes. Celebrated Irish actor Ciarin Hines is a fantastic lead character, Michael. Paring him with Iben Hejejle was an inspired match. His humanity and her warmth kept me routing for a connection. The heart thumping kissing scene did not let me down. Aiden Quinn played a great selfish, drunk,jerk,Named Nicholous. I could not stand the guy. I hope it makes it to my small town so I can see it on the big screen. Im sure the video download was only an apetiser. Enjoy, RoseAnne

I did not know what to expect from The Eclipse and was surprised to find myself involved in the characters, even the annoying ones (Aiden Quinn). What could possibly recommend a film more than that?

Not expecting the unexpected, I was genuinely creeped out at least twice, something I haven't "enjoyed" in many years. I suppose that's the beauty of not knowing what you're getting into. Thankfully, shocking the audience is not what this film is about.

The Eclipse is for adults in the sense that adults tend to be more interested in character development and relationship dynamics, both of which are here beautifully realized by committed performances. Also, it does not sensationalize, being rather discrete about the supernatural elements the intrude, almost gratuitously, into the plot.

I'm happy to recommend this well-wrought drama that does what good entertainment ought to do--transport.

The marketing of this film does it a disservice. Those expecting thrills & chills will be disappointed for the most part, as this is not a horror film. It's a film about the various ways we all are haunted in our adult lives. Note the key word "adult";the characters are fully grown (though not fully grown-up),and are wrestling with various demons they've encountered in their lives. Unfortunately,there's some other movie out now with the word "eclipse" in the title (so I've heard.) This is also being categorized as "Horror/supernatural" most everywhere I've seen, Amazon VOD included.
While some supernatural elements are present, this is about much more. It's also very well acted and photographed,and looks great on blu-ray. If you don't come looking for a frightfest you'll find a very worthwhile drama about real people.

It's unfortunate that this worthwhile Irish film has nearly the same title as the currently popular Twilight Saga "Eclipse" series about vampires. It might get overlooked in the confusion of titles. This is all the more unfortunate because the title "Eclipse" doesn't seem particularly apt to the traces of ghostly influence here. The film could so easily and so much more accurately have been given some other title, something referring to the wedding gown train of lost love.

Actually, this movie was based on a short story that was strictly about a widower's life in the wake of his wife's death from cancer. The short story had no ghostly elements at all. These were only added for the sake of boosting cinematic and box office appeal. And it shows. The brief appearances of actual ghosts here are often alarming, menacing, downright shocking, and so are at war with the general mood of this film. The film's essential theme is the possibility of finding another mature, tender love after one has suffered the loss of one's first partner in life. The occasional hair-raising intrusions of apparitions onto the scene are adventitious and unnecessary.

The main intended sentiment of the film is beautifully conveyed by the actors. Ciaren Hinds plays his part of the widower with just the right combination of a numbness that closes him off from the world and a longing that opens him up to future possibilities.

This is a rare adult love story, in which "adult" does NOT mean X-rated - but harkens back to an earlier, more essential meaning of the word "adult." Here the two adults express their maturity by being sane, stable individuals who put getting to fondly know each other first and foremost.

I was able to catch a sneak peak of this on HDNET before it was released in theaters. I think the reason this film wasn't received well it that they marketed it as a horror movie.....which it is not! The film it about loss and coping with that loss and in the area of showing different types of grieving I do think this film succeeds. The acting is very good and I for one like the marriage here of drama and a little horror. I can say this much, this film has some good scares and they come because the film isn't focused on "the ghost". It's not a perfect film, but I think this one hasn't gotten the credit it deserves.

"The Eclipse" is one of those movies that sort of defies description when it comes to pegging its genre. It is not a supernatural movie in the strictest sense though there are supernatural elements throughout the movie. It also has elements of a psychological thriller. I think I'm most comfortable with viewing it as a psychological drama. The movie attracted my attention as I'm a fan of actor Ciaran Hinds who first impressed me in Persuasion as the lead character, and also in his portrayal in The Mayor of Casterbridge. When I read that Hinds had won the Best Actor award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival for his role in this movie, I decided to check it out.

Hinds portrays a grieving widower Michael in this movie. Michael had lost his beloved wife to an illness about two years ago, and is now a single parent with two children, a girl aged 14 and a boy aged 11. Michael lives in a small coastal Irish town, working as a woodworking teacher, and generally leads a quiet and unassuming life. But recently, Michael finds himself being plagued by disturbing dreams and 'ghostly' visitations that trouble him deeply. Is he merely dreaming/hallucinating or is he really being plagued by otherworldly visitations? Things get a bit more complicated when he meets a London-based author Lena, whose supernatural-themed work titled "The Eclipse" captivates him and draws him to the author. Lena is one of the authors who has been invited to read at the local literary festival, and Michael is tasked with taking care of her transportation, etc.To add to all this drama, there's another author, an American, played by Aidan Quinn who is obsessed with Lena. Amidst this, Michael finds his supernatural encounters increasing with alarming frequency and tries desperately to figure out what is going on.

The movie moves at a slow yet steady pace, so viewers looking for fast-paced thrills and scares will be sorely disappointed. Those who like atmospheric human dramas and psychological-themed dramas might appreciate this movie, as I did.

Warning (Spoilers ahead)

Upon reflection, this movie can be interpreted in different ways - a straightforward haunting of a grieving man; or of a man so lost in grief and unable to let go of his late wife and all the shared memories of their life together that he finds death 'clinging' on to him;finally, Michael is also portrayed as an aspiring writer in this movie and is frustrated by his attempts to flesh out a credible story that he feels will be up to par - I saw the supernatural aspects in this movie as Michael's subconscious trying to make sense of these stories that he is attempting to write.

This is why the movie appealed to me - not only is it atmospheric with the gloomy yet breathtakingly beautiful Irish coastal landscape, the lead actor as portrayed by Ciaran Hinds embodies a complex character who draws viewers into the story and holds us captive as we try to puzzle out what exactly is going on. The soundtrack with the choir music is effectively haunting, though I must say the jarring crescendo at each 'scare' got a bit tiresome after a while. On the whole, I enjoyed this movie, and found it refreshing and unique in its approach.

This is a 4 star film, but I had to give it 5 to bring up the average. To many reviewers here are the reason so many movies must be forced along with quick edits, loud music, and MTV video style directing. This fil was very well paced, well acted, and above all well shot. Those looking for scares (like myself) will find them, and it's not easy to scare me. The last film to scare me was Lake Mungo, but before that it had been many many years for a film to do this. The scares will not linger with you, but you will have 3 of them at least. The Blu-ray was nothing short of stunning. So if you can't get through 5 minutes of a movie with out a flashy edit or loud music don't bother with this one. But if you have taste, love a well crafted physcological horror film, then this film is for you. Finally an R rated horror film that's not a crappy remake, marketed to teenagers. It's an adult movie for adults.

Just watched the movie last night and loved it. Great, great atmosphere. Never thought the story would come together but it did just fine. Loved the ending. If you love movies, you will love this movie. Not for those Twilight idiots who wrote reviews bringing this movie down because they didn't receive the piece of crap they thought they ordered. Man am I ready for a comet to hit, what happened to Earths gene pool?

I lucked into this film as "Movies You'll Love", movies that a computer picked out for me and this time it was right. I do not remember Ciarán Hinds (the lead actor) from any other films but I see he has done a lot of work. My point is Ciarán Hinds is a great actor and if for no other reason he is worth watching this film for, he is totally convincing as confused widower who just wants to know what's haunting him, is it in his head or is there something other worldly going on ?
Aidan Quinn is also in this movie and knocks his role as a megalomaniac out of the park. Iben Hjejle is the leading lady here as the very striking love interest, I am now a big fan of hers.
I highly recommend you see this movie it is unlike anything else I have seen.