Customer Reviews
"Bella" tries too hard and falls flat on its face... 
2008-07-21
This movie had potential for oscar worthy attention but the pace was slower than a canoli through my digestive tract...comprende?
Poor writing, most notably through relationships between the characters, left my head full of too many questions and too little answers.
Extremely disappointing.
Wanted to like it but.... 2008-07-20
I love the idea of this film but it kept reminding me of a bad Spike Lee movie but with one dimensional Hispanic people instead of the usual one dimensional Black people that Lee's early films had. There is only good, bad and the plot hinges on the confused, middle-gound, characters as they spend the movie picking a side, staying true to their identities and picking up their failed lives. That is pretty much it. Good characters are disheveled and pick up teddy bears and sign soccer balls, whiles bad ones are blond, tall skinny women who express blatant stereotypes out loud or are Alpha male want-to-be's that yell out orders in a kitchen. Simple and one dimensional.
Other problems I had was with the jerky, distracting cinematography. I understand the budget was low and filming time was brief, but that does not justify the constant pacing around of the camera. I.E. when two characters are talking in a car the camera cuts to a loud NYC traffic moment from the point of view of a tire or traffic light and cuts back to a close up of the characters face as the face is jerking around. I'm not sure if the director tried to capture the daily energy of the NYC, but as a life long NYC resident it did not work for me and only made me dizzy.
As a minority myself with similar heritage as the characters I wanted to like this movie but could only take so much of it after the first hour before I ejected the DVD.
Little Film With Large Ideas 
2008-07-20
Reading most of the other reviews posted they seem to reitereate my feelings about "Bella". It's a celebration of everything that is good in this world. It's about personal redemption after great tragedy. It extolls the virtues of family. It glorifies the diverse ethnic fabric that makes our country great. And, yes, without a degree of heavy-handedness it persusively makes the case for the sanctity of human life in and out of the womb. At the time of it's theatrical release most of the critics dismissed the film but word of mouth made it a success for a small film of it's type. When it was in the theatres I tracked it against some of the big releases (i.e. cynical anti-American tripe) and it's grosses either came close or surpassed some of these self-important works. I think it demonstrates that even though there may be some pessimism in these dangerous times people don't want it reinforced but want to be reminded of the good things in this world. What impressed me, though, which wasn't mentioned in too many of the other reviews is the towering work of Eduardo Verastegui as Jose. Verastegui moral stoicism and piercing eyes fall in the classic movie star tradition. My understanding is that he is huge in Latin films and hopefully he can latch on in American films without compromising himself.
EXCELLENT!!!!!!! 2008-07-18
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT MOVIE ESPECIALLY FOR TODAYS TEENS STRUGGLING WITH TODAYS ISSUES OF MORALITY ...GOOD WAY FOR PARENTS TO GET A PRO LIFE MESSAGE OUT THERE WITHOUT HAVING TO LECTURE THE TEENS.
Bella 2008-07-14
This is one of the best movies I've watched in the past year. It is a great story about loving life and respecting it.
I loved this movie! 2008-07-25
This is probably one of my very favorite movies. I saw it 5 times and can't wait to see it again. Critics have tried to make this a movie about "pro-life" which is why it never made it to the bigtime. But I think it's a story about family, and a story about values. What's important in life? It answers the question bigtime and even throws in a surprise ending. I thought about it all week and fantasized I was a part of the family or at least knew them. They're who you would want your family to be in real life if you could choose.
A rare kind of movie. 2008-07-25
Bella is a beautiful story of goodness, the kind of story I'm no longer accustomed to. Since this was an independent movie, I expected the usual dwelling on what's worst in human nature, impatiently expecting a graphic abortion scene, a lead-up to a botched suicide, or the disintegration of the family resulting from Jose and Nina's relationship. Nada. Without a single swear-word, without violence or sex, without the almost cliched plumbing of our darkest depths, director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde tells a moving tale of family love that permeates through each of its members.
Bella 2008-07-23
This is a fantastic and uplifting story. Without being "preachy" it reaches into the heart and inspires you! While the characters wrestle with major life changing situations, this movie realistically portrays the struggle and at the same time shows how even in the hardest of times we can reach into the lives of others and make a positive difference. I was eagerly waiting for this movie to come out on DVD. Thanks for offering it!
WATCH THIS FILM 2008-07-21
This is a noble and refreshing attempt to give a different perspective - it promotes life and love without the saccharine Hollywood gloss. It is so detailed it takes a couple of watches (at least) to really get everything you can from it but it is clear from a first viewing that this first time director has an immense talent. The acting is superb and understated. Set in a bustling New York and shot in such away that you almost feel you are pounding the pavements along with the characters this really is an experience you don't get with a blockbuster.
Having won awards over big budget blockbusters no film has earned its place more than Bella and no film can possibly deserve to be there more. Watch this film - and not just once - if nothing else it will make you think and it might even make you act and react in a positive way to some of life's big questions and life's littlest people. It would be amazing if it went on general release in the UK until then I recommend it to all those across the pond. Enjoy!
I'd give it TEN stars if I could! 2008-07-21
My husband and I had wanted to see this film in the theater, but, sadly, it was not given a real chance by the major theaters in our area, and we missed the opportunity. We now own the DVD, have watched the movie multiple times, and I have to say that "Bella" is one of the best films I have ever seen! It is a breath of fresh air in today's society - one which is plagued with overwhelming use of sex, extreme violence, gore, and profanity filling our choices on the big screen. This film has NONE of that - and for that, they deserve the highest praise!
If you really want to have the best experience of this film, I suggest that you do not read the reviews which give away most of the story. Although difficult, I have tried not to tell family and friends what the movie is about in any detail, and that is because of my own experience viewing it for the first time with no pre-conceived notions. It is powerfully moving - particularly in the places where the story turns in unexpected directions. Let yourself be "surprised" - you will not be sorry, and you will be greatly uplifted when the film has reached its conclusion.
What I WILL tell you is that this film is a great celebration of our God-given gift of life. After watching this film, many will have to give new consideration to the choices that they will make in their own lives. It explores an "angle" that may not seem popular in our present culture, but is certainly worthy of our consideration.
"Bella" is a MASTERPIECE, and no one over the age of 13 should be deprived of the opportunity to experience its message!
