Ondine

The only thing I fear more than the ocean is the fish women that we pull out of it.

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.

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.

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.

not so good

Woven around a myth about selkies is a nice story about a few desperate people. The script is good and the acting is great. And who doesn't like Irish accents and scenery.

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

ferrell is great, the story is amazing, the music is awesome. for the majority of the movie the nature of ondine was up to interpretation, and even through i got what i wanted in the end, i don't think that telling us who ondine really was gave me what i really needed.

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

This one had more potential than it delivered. A modern day fairytale. My biggest issue is that the dialogue (heavy Scottish accents) was difficult to understand.

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.

Tries a little too hard to have a kind of "mystical" feel. I'm usually a fan of the kind of movie where it's not clear whether there are fantasy elements occurring or not, but in this movie it felt really forced and obvious.

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.

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.

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

"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

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!!

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.

Don't be fooled by the poster. This beautiful movie easily overcome it's "hard to swallow" plot with great acting and creates a kind of surreal atmosphere that will transport you into the aerie fog of Ireland shores

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.

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

A great big stinking load of crapola.

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.

Gives in too easily.

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.