Bella

Bella

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Director: Alejandro Monteverde
Actors: Eduardo Verastegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, Ali Landry, Angelica Aragon
Studio: Lions Gate
Category: DVD

List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $5.44
You Save: $14.54 (73%)



New (44) Used (40) Collectible (1) from $5.44

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 140 reviews
Sales Rank: 453

Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 91 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.7

MPN: LGED22665D
UPC: 031398226659
EAN: 0031398226659
ASIN: B0014BQR6U

Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: May 6, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: There are a few minor surface scratches, but overall it is in nice shape and plays fine.

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Customer Reviews:   Read 135 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars Good movie w/ great message!   November 19, 2008
Mom of 7 (Pittsburgh, PA USA)
Besides the 70's camera work, this is a well-written and well-done movie. A prolife message with real American values. I would recommend it for the whole family. No language. No sex. No violence.


5 out of 5 stars A poignant, masterful film   October 30, 2008
Tehila (Israel)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Bella is one of the better films I've seen this year. It has that ellusive mix of visual beauty, a unique voice, and masterful acting and character development that makes a movie both intellectually and emotionally engaging.
The subject is also close to my heart and life-affirming - a good family movie for a those with teenage children (and above)
Some of my friends who watched it were a bit disturbed by the obtuse flashback (or flash-forward) in the middle of the film, but I felt it had just the right level of ambiguity to keep the end of the film a surprise.
But then, I like ambiguity in films.
Wonderful, redemptive movie I highly recommend to those who want to own a library of thought-provoking and culturally inclusive movies.



4 out of 5 stars Second chances   October 13, 2008
Reader (Chicago, IL USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This a wonderful film about friendship, humanity and decency at the unexpected moment for all protagonists of the story. We see Jose, working in his brother's restaurant kitchen, surrounded by immigrants from Central and South America. One of the waitresses has been having difficulty showing up to work on time and after being late three days in a row, restaurant owner (Jose's brother Manny) fires her. Everyone is stunned by the unexpected firing but even more when the restaurant chef walks out from the kitchen minutes before lunch hour rush. Jose inexplicably follows young woman and they confide to each other. We get to learn that young waitress is pregnant by a man she does not love and has no resources or family to help her hold onto the child. While she wants to have an abortion, Jose seems to have other plans in mind. As story progresses we learn that these two people get to develop a friendship that will last for a long time to come but not only that, they bond in a way that will heal both of their damaged young lives. The film has unconventional ending, but that is why I liked it.


2 out of 5 stars Terrible Ending   October 13, 2008
Joe
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I enjoyed the first half. I like it when movies present the viewer with disparate pieces from different times, and they all slowly drift together. The acting is good, and the story was interesting. In the second act, everything just starts becoming too neat and tidy, too predictable, too sickeningly sweet. I'm all for nice movies that make you feel warm and fuzzy, but what they did here was rob the movie of any believability. And that ending... wow. Just terrible. Incredibly forced, not backed up by previous plot events at all, just a blatant attempt at saccharine manipulation. Just a complete non sequitur clumsily shoe-horned in for a lame grab at some unearned audience tears.


5 out of 5 stars A beautiful film...   October 3, 2008
Wendy N. Kruger (Ft. Collins, CO USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

If you're looking for fast-paced action, this movie isn't for you. But if you want a movie with depth of characters...something that will make you think...this is your kind of movie.