Eros (2005)

Very disappointing...

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Eros collects three short films by three talented directors. Each director sets his 30 minute story in his native language and country (China, Italy, USA). Each piece is preceded by a 2 minute montage of gently erotic drawings depicting intimate scenes between lovers. These are "film poems" that are required viewing for fans of the directors or actors. "Spoilers" follow.The cover of the DVD may lead you to believe that this is an erotic movie festival or soft core porn. It's not. Each story raises some issues and makes some points about the romantic relationships shared by women and men, but there is only one brief sex scene.The first segment, THE HAND, is an accomplishment in short film-making. It is a sublime short story about lust, devotion, and the consequences of prostitution. Set in China, it is beautifully filmed and acted.The second segment, EQUILIBRIUM, is enjoyable for its acting. The story of a man having a dream within a dream, it is a comedic study of the human psyche, and hardly deals with romance at all.The final segment, THE DANGEROUS THREAD OF THINGS, tells the story of a man cheating on his wife and chronicles the disintegration of their relationship. That said, this segment is like being on vacation, as the scenery is breathtakingly gorgeous: forests, beaches, waterfalls, castles, and two women. One woman offers the man companionship and the other sex. Each woman's personality is suited to the task. A celebration of beauty, one hopes that this married couple will realize how good they have it and reconcile.I recommend EROS as a sensitive and subtle study of desire and relationships by talented and accomplished creative teams. Seven out of ten stars.

Michelangelo Antonioni creates a small masterwork. Steven Soderbergh and Wong Kar Wai, unfortunately, are not up to his standards. Still, one great work out of three efforts rewards the viewer The silence of Antonioni's work continues to echo the emptiness of our modern world. Behind the silence is that secret violence that shapes our lives. Soderbergh has declined a bit in his vision, but the old master retains lucidity and insight. The DVD is excellent. I recommend watching the Antonioni work first. Then put the DVD aside for a moment when you tire of commercial television and holiday parades and endless football scores. The non-Antonioni sections are worse than American football. Watching them will improve your appreciation of televised American football.

Three short-story films of self-indulgent dribble, in my opinion. If you are impressed by impressionism or art-school films, you might love (or at least like) this. For me, it was a waste of time-- a few laughs here and there, some nice scenery in the last episode, some mild-porn sensuality for those so inclined (but fans of the latter would be disappointed in comparison to a good XXX-movie with a clever plot).For the average viewer such as myself, seeking simply 90 minutes or so of entertainment-- be it comedic, dramatic, thought-provoking or exciting-- this movie supplied none of the above. To make matters worse, the English-version has permanently superimposed subtitles right in the midst of the scenes, occasionally obliterating or detracting from whatever scenery or environs which might have been otherwise enjoyed.I give it a 3 on my Richter-scale-- nothing more than a slight tremor of interest.

The initial concept for making this film was to offer three variations on the theme of love from three directors from three cultures. Or is the title 'Eros' more about the erotic than about love? Question unanswered by this triptych of minor works by some superb directors. The end result seems to be three streams of conscious thoughts looking for a reason to make it to the screen. With the brilliance of the three directors one would expect far more than the film delivers.Wong Kar Wai presents the strongest of the three films in a dark story about a tailor who sublimates his desire for a courtesan (Gong Li) by making clothes for her - a 'servant' who finally reverses his role. The photography and interweaving of the characters is very beautiful to experience.Steven Soderberg makes a testy little script about an ad man (Robert Downey, Jr) in therapy with a bizarre psychiatrist (Alan Arkin) exploring a recurring sensual dream. Shot is black and white the actors give it their all but the story is silly and becomes boring with all the distractions Soderberg works into the weak plot.Antonioni attempts to breathe life into the old Italian movies of lover's spats and diversions and comes up with what feels like a script-less little mess of a movie bent solely on see-through blouses and nude cavorting on beaches.As a triptych the film just doesn't become airborne, despite some very high powered, first rate directors. Much ado about very little. Grady Harp