Jordan's attractive imagery sustains a nice disequilibrium through the first two acts: we actually don't know if Ondine is a fairy-tale or just a mysterious Irish regional romance. But its last part, in a strange mood, gives in to conventional resolutions, using guns, accidents and a boring marriage.

Quite a mess, but worth it for Chris Doyle fans.

A great big stinking load of crapola.

The movie's topic and the whole mermaid fable idea was not my cup of tea to be honest, but Ondine scores with some brilliant cinematography, an excellent Farell and one of the most gorgeous women i've seen in a long long time. Alicja Bachleda Curus is absolutely cute and stunning; Eye Candy galore!!

"Myth fixates Neil Jordan, but he sees the universal in the archaic, updating the tall tales to modern times while retaining its unique moral and psychological quintessence." - Ed Gonzalez

Its real-life, sensuous imagery prompts more than thought: Jordan's updated Celtic myth provokes erotic, spiritual consciousness. It's an adult fantasy whose beauty invites both dreamlike surrender and rationality -- as the best cinema always does.

Very beautiful and engaging story. Farrell is convincing and the story is unique.You felt so connected to the love that was forming because it held such a fantastic origin story. As the story progresses you begin to hope and dream with these characters, but the ending really is a downer. Not because it doesnt happy but because they have such a cop out ending that really ruins the build up of such an enriching love story.

A nice idea, but this would have worked much better as a magical-real mystery without the clumsy thriller nonsense. Doyle's photography is superb as usual, but Bachleda-Curus is miscast and I could have really done without the director salivating all over her throughout the film.

a waste of time they just wanna show the girl's body.

A strangely passable experience. Nothing groundbreaking about it but it kinda worked for me. Alicja Bachleda - Curus is quite something.

I loved the atmosphere of this film and the fairy tale aspect of the story. Colin Farrell and Alicja Bachleda show the kind of chemistry that portends their relationship in real life and Alison Barry as the daughter is first rate. It definitely reminded me of The Secret of Roan Inish by John Sayles, another film about Selkes and Irish folklore.

Without doubt the worst film I've ever seen within the confines of a cinema screen, I spent the majority of this borefest in a braindead daze, thinking about what I needed to buy at the supermarket the next day. Aside from the location providing some nice scenery at times, I honestly can't think of anything redeeming at all here. Not thoughtful, not 'magical', not even well acted. Even the gangster/drugs crap just seemed tacked-on as a way to end this rubbish.

An enjoyable fairy tale for grownups, with some reality thrown in. I do not warm to Colin Farrell but Alicja Bachleda-Curus was enchanting and the girl playing Farrell's daughter was great.

Not a fan of CF but he did OK here, story was OK, scenery was beautiful which added the magical factor to the film. In the end we learn that people make reality fit with their beliefs even though what's actually true is far more ordinary and dull.

Imdb score: 81. Are they fucking insane? Pathetic.

Through the first half, Jordan does a fine job with the challenge of telling a fairy tale in a modern, realistic setting. He focuses on the power of stories as buffer against the more unpleasant parts of life. Unfortunately, Jordan tips his hand too early and the charm drains out of the film, leaving a flat-footed mess as the storytelling fates start delivering the easiest of answers to the dilemmas facing the characters.

Well this is a strange thing! A Colin Farrell film and performance that doesn't suck balls! "Ondine" is a genuine delight. Brilliantly photographed and scored, with two solid lead performance and a very talented child actress in Alison Barry. This film has a really nice gentle flow, and a genuinely engrossing, yet understated feel and atmosphere. A pleasant surprise.

Maybe not the best of movies, but gets bonus points for a very original story.

Ondine is all about fantasy, how our day dreams can be stoked and influenced by someone new and exciting. In Syracuse's case his muse is the gorgeous title character, whose mysterious past is filled in with a fantastic origin that makes he and his daughter feel hope after a period of desperation. Bachelda-Curus is ethereal as their inspiration, delicately bearing the weight of their expectations, while maintaining a mystical quality in a near faerie tale setting that seems to exist just for her.