22 May 2013

Muy buena descripcion de lo que fue la tirania trujijista.

Esta pelocula relata hechos reales de las 3 decadas que el pueblo dominicano fue sometida a la dictadura de Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. Me llamo mucho la atencion detalles como "Trujillo y Dios" ya que mi abuelo (quien vivio en estos tiempos) me conto como tenian estos emblemas por todo el pais.

MihoSayuri

21 May 2013

a must-watch to understand the Dominican culture shock..

first of all, bless the Mirabal sisters and every single other personwho gave their lives to bring down the absolute TYRANT that Trujillowas; they gave their lives in order to provide a better future fortheir children and nation.the acting, every single person, was phenomenal. as a fan of MichelleRodriguez, I was blown away by her performance as Minerva. while I loveher tough chick roles- female power is a great thing to see- this isher best film. she is fantastic in this film. Juan Fernandez asTrujillo was spot-on; a terrifying, disgusting animal of a 'human' andit made me want to shoot him myself (though I said HECK YES as he waskilled by Antonio de la Maza!)a very sad film, you'll cry at the end; I'm sure of it. restpeacefully, those who gave their lives to bring down the tyrant thatTrujillo was, and especially the Mirabal sisters; for you died doingwhat is right.

20 May 2013

Cinematograficamente esto es un clavo

El que quiera conocer sobre la dictadura de Trujillo, que vea el documental "El Poder del Jefe" de René Fortunato. El que quiera ver una película medianamente entretenida sobre el tema de la dictadura que vea "El Tiempo de las Mariposas" o la "Fiesta del Chivo". Esta película parece hecha por muchos directores y las actuaciones son realmente pobres, nadie parece creerse su personaje. Las escenas fuertes de violencia o desnudos son totalmente fortuitas sin aportar a la historia. La interpretación del Dictador es más una caricatura que una actuación...No pierda su tiempo, como yo lo perdí en el cine.

jamserramo

20 May 2013

At least its a decent try!

A film with ups and downs, that's Tropico de Sangre! Being said that,come on, it's a try. And it really has substance and good things to bepointed out! Tropico de Sangre exposes in an authentic way the oftenrepeated story of the Mirabal Sisters.To start off with the good, the movie's technical aspects areadmirable. The image is great, the effects are great, and theproduction managed to successfully achieve the environment of the 50'swith a hit in both dressing and scenery.The performance of several actors such as Sharlene Taule and SergioCarlo (btw, is that his name?) performing Manolo were standouts, aswell as the performance of experienced Cesar Evora. Michelle Rodriguez,despite the negative aspects, delivered the expected. Other minoractors like the one performing Minerva's father and the one performingJohnny Abbes resulted convincing as well.The way they tell the story is completely different to what we haveseen, almost like much more poetical to me, and with right touches offiction.Going to the cons, the story seemed to run slower than how it shouldhave run. Sometimes you felt lost regarding some characters: who is he?why is he there? Juan Fernandez performance, is truly disappointing often falling inridiculousness. His voice trying to imitate Trujillo sounded like acomic brought to the screen, and his inflexions were way too robotic.Minerva's mom is a complete joke as well! Very bad make up and verydepressing performance! Actresses like Claudette Lali, Luchy Estevez,Celines Toribio... are just soap opera-ish! Too melodramatic and noreal essence. Very superficial!Anyways, this move is dignifying Dominican depressing cinema!

19 May 2013

Historical Documentary/Fiction

This review is from: Tropico de Sangre (DVD) A good addition to any academic collection or personal collection that looks at the historical backdrop of the Dominican Republic through the eyes of three sisters when dictator, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina, ruled the country with an iron fist since 1930. And while many people today go to DR for vacation, you have to wonder if any know of the revolutions that gave many Dominicans what we call freedom.

19 May 2013

Excellent story base on true events

This review is from: Tropico de Sangre (DVD) I was very impress with Michelle;s character based oon Minerva Miraval's actual life. A very dark time for the Dominican Republic.

15 May 2013

GREAT MOVIE

It is for sure one of the most interesting role of Michelle Rodriguez as heroin Minerva Mirabal. Cesar Evora as Antonio de La Maza is great. This movie should be viewed by all people against dictators in all time and all countries!

gomezborbon

15 May 2013

Better than Zanky Panky but still a loooot of room for improvement...

This is the second Dominican film I've seen. The other one was SankyPanky. I think in three years or so Dominican cinema has somewhatimproved: I liked the photography and the music. Nothing to say aboutthem, they were quite good.Unfortunately, there was a huge amount of things I did not like: -Acting was very very bad. Trujillo looked more like a clown than adictator. Soap Opera style acting indeed.- Screenplay: Full of holes, unarticulated, slow as hell, too much intodetails of the initial situation, not enough of the really criticalones. The best friend of a good screenplay writer is the delete key.Delancer's computer may not have one.- Details, details, details: Parties that does not feel like ones,body-building Minerva, lots of clichés that the Dominican directorstends to include in films just as promotion of the country: baile depalos, serenatas...My general feeling was that the film did not present the real thingsbut kind of a caricature of them.

santosnorman46

15 May 2013

excellent!

An excellent movie about Mirabal Sisters.I found it a little bit crudeand violent, but necessary to express the violence of Latin Americandictatorship in the 50s. The cinematography by Ricardo de Angelisexpresses the beauty of the Dominican Republic countryside and at thesame time the sadness of the people under Trujillo's power. EditorNelson Rodriguez made a good job as usual. We are not used to seeactress Michelle Rodriguez in this type of character and we weresurprised by its very fine and poetic Spanish. Cesar Evora as Antoniode La Maza is impressive as the macho that finally killed Trujillo.What I preferred of this movie is how the story is told and how thedramatic process fits the real historic facts.

consultingti

15 May 2013

I recommended

Is it true the some of the actors could have done it better, yes. I amnot an expert, but at some point I did feel the acting could have beenmore honest and natural. But I personally liked Cesar Evora (this dudetransmit everything with his expressions and voice), Juan Fernandez(his voice was a good try based of Trujillo's tone), Michelle (showingshe is not only about action and such a beautiful smile) and SergioCarlo. Overall the movie is a good and decent try. Normally in DR themovies are related to the comedy gender, so movies like this one andYuniol related to drama and important aspects of the Dominican societyit's a sign that Dominican theater has potential in terms of writing,film and also acting. I liked what Juan Delancer tried to do with thefilm, the scenario, taking you to that time with the clothing, cars,music, government institutions. The story of the Mirabal sisters andwhat the years of Trujillo's time meant for the Dominican history andthe Latin American history in general is important to remember.Sometimes looking at the past we can try to avoid the mistakes in thefuture. Thanks for the film.

14 May 2013

I love this movie

This review is from: Tropico de Sangre (DVD) If you are a history buff I recommend that you see this movie it's just like in the time of the butterflies but this movie is more authentic

13 May 2013

Tropico de Sangre

This review is from: Tropico de Sangre (DVD) The DVD arrived here in excellent condtion. It was used for our ILAC Summer Program in the Dominican Republic. Thanks.

SeriousJest

12 May 2013

Does not do the Mirabal Sisters, or the story of those who suffered through Trujillo's regime, justice.

The history of Dictator Rafael Leonides Trujillo's regime in theDominican Republic is extremely compelling. It is a subject thatshocked and captivated readers in Julia Alvarez's book, In the Time ofthe Butterflies, which was advertised as a fictionalized account of theMirabal sisters' struggle against the evil dictator. Tropico de Sangrewas advertised more as "based on the true story." However, it felt likeI was watching a Lifetime movie or Univision soap opera. The focusseemed to be more on romanticizing a steadfast woman who wasn't goingto let a powerful man push her around (constant proud references to howstubborn she was, and how she refused to do simple things like write anapology letter, even at the expense of members of her family), thantelling the story of a brave and intelligent revolutionary who riskedeverything because she felt she had little choice. Rodriguez'scharacter comes across like she likes to fight, and battles Trujillojust to show him he can't mess with her. There was not enough buildupin the beginning as to why Trujillo is so terrible, or why Minervahates him so much in the beginning (although he certainly gives hergood reason later). Also, it is a bit ridiculous how powerful the filmmakes her seem from the outset, defying Trujillo so openly that hespends years personally tracking her life and frustrated whenever shesucceeds; if she was that much in the forefront in his mind, the realTrujillo would have had her eliminated/neutralized a long time ago, ashe did with so many others who did less to him. I also disliked thepoor, cheapy quality of the score/soundtrack.On a final note, the actors did a good job overall. I don't know enoughabout Trujillo to gauge whether Fernandez accurately portrayed him, buthe sure as hell made you hate him and his God complex. Ironically, Ifelt that the weakest performance came from the biggest name. At first,I thought that maybe Rodriguez seemed a bit awkward because she wasdoing a Spanish-language film (this can be a tough task for someone whois used to starring in English films, even if she is a native speaker).However, as the film progressed, and her character developed, Irealized that I only like Rodriguez in tough-chick roles; it's like sheonly has one gear. As an innocent, happy girl with dream-filled eyes,Rodriguez's performance seemed forced, but as soon as Minerva'scharacter had developed into a confident, hardened revolutionary,Rodriguez hit her full stride again, igniting the fire in her eyes andsetting her jaw in a defiant way at just the right times.

Ben Larson

11 May 2013

That woman is a man.

I first came upon the stories about Trujillo in The Galíndez File.There he conspired with an equally evil man, Francisco Franco, toeliminate the competition. In face they showed part of that story inthis film.All fascist dictators are basically the same. They rule by fear andeliminate any opposition. They take what they want, and, in this case,Trujillo wanted Minerva Mirabal (Michelle Rodriguez).She wanted nothing to do with him, else we wouldn't have a story.Naturally, her life, and the life of her family, were at risk due toher obstinacy.The pacing of the film was rather slow, and the performances werewooden. I came to see Michelle Rodriguez, and turned in a credibleperformance.

patriciopatrick55

07 May 2013

Great!

Tropico de Sangre is the movie of reference on dictators in LatinAmerica in the 50s.It is definitely one of Michelle Rodriguez best roleand a good biopic. PROS: Photography of Ricardo De Angelis is great. The original Music byManuel Tejada , in 5.1, sounds impressive and is wonderfully mixed withmerengues of that era. Acting by Michelle and Cesar Evora playing withpoetry and action gives a great performance.The story is wonderfullytold and the presence of real survivor Dede Mirabla brings a realistictouch.CONS: Editing is too slowly paced, at least on the first part.Thesecond part is better. Juan Fernandez as Trujillo doest not convinceme. A few supporting actors give a poor performance. As a whole, thismovie should be seen by everybody who cares about violence againstwomen and is a powerful testimony of a very sad era of the Americanhistory.

juliaaltagracia

07 May 2013

Not worth seeing

I was very disappointed with this movie it has no quality at all in anyaspect. Even actors such as Juan Fernandez and Michelle Rodriguez, dida bad job. I now realize that directing a movie has a great deal ofwhat the final product is, and can make look bad good actors.The history does not focus or follows a plot. It just splashes oversome events without real depth into any of the characters. So you donot identify of fell any emotions. Not worth seeing it.In some parts of the movies I really had to laugh of how bad they didit.I would not recommend this film at all. I rate it -F