Product Details

• Actors: Natasha Gregson Wagner, Giovanni Ribisi, Robert John Burke, Jeanetta Arnette, Donal Logue
• Directors: Jesse Peretz
• Format: NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JO9I
• For more information about "First Love, Last Rites" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yes indeed, a thinking person's movie, January 17, 2001

By 

Amy McLarty (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Love Last Rites [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It is hard to see past the frequent bouts of lovemaking that the two main characters engage in. And that may be why some viewers have a hard time with this film. Though the (...) scenes are central to the plot, that's not all this film is about. And I have to say, as far as (...) scenes go, these are well-filmed. They are realistic without being (....) Joe and Sissel are teenagers growing into adults. Their passion, through fits and starts, grows into love. Slowly, each learns about responsibility and failure. Some viewers may wonder about Sissel's strange behavior, just as Joe does. But I think she's bearing the brunt of her parents' recent break-up and her little brother's trouble with the broken family. All the while, Sissel's parents act frequently like children. I couldn't figure out why Joe, the boy from Brooklyn, was in Louisiana at all except that he was on "vacation." But who cares? I liked being able to think up my own various scenarios for his departure from New York to the South. The soundtrack was the best I've heard in a long time. I, like another reviewer, had some trouble with the dream sequences. But, they also gave me additional food for thought. I see very little meaningful symbolism used in films; this one's chock full of it. Enjoy.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing movie, for intelligent people only, October 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: First Love Last Rites [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie was based on a short story by Ian McEwan. I suggest reading the story then seeing the movie, or vice versa. Either way you will understand the movie a bit better. But, this is an intelligent person's movie. The average person does not think deep enough while watching movies to ever, ever understand this one. Most people go to the movies to be entertained, not to think. Which is a fine thing to do but to be entertained while watching this movie you HAVE to think. This movie is filled with so much wonderful symbolism if you don't find the symbols and think about what they might mean you will hate this movie. Which is why most of the reviews here are from people who hate the movie because they didn't/couldn't understand it. Giovanni Ribisi is endearing as always here and Natasha Wagner plays the role of the beautiful bitch with flair. Look for the symbolism of the rat in the wall, the boiling records, the pink jacket, the red dress, the messy room, and see what you can intrepret from them. Basically it is a story of how love starts out with beautiful passion and red hot flames, then cools down to a loving friendship. It shows how these 2 teenagers deal with the changing of their relationship. What do you do when you realize there is more to having a relationship than just sex? It is a bittersweet story about something that happens to all of us who have ever been in love. The soundtrack is out of this world also, brilliant music. Movie=must see, music=must have (but only if you are willing to THINK)

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars unfairly criticized but not for everyone, September 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: First Love Last Rites [VHS] (VHS Tape)

although some find the langorous pace unbearable and the characters flaky this movie reminded me of a lazy teenage summer with an ex-girlfriend and i was just completely captivated by the mood and atmosphere of the film... this movie is just about teenage love and the wonderful laziness and freedom of summer... the dream sequences are a little much though... anyways i think this film is underrated...