Captain Pantoja and the Special Services (1999)

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

.......................................................from Pasto,Colombia...Via: L.A. CA., CALI, COLOMBIA...and ORLANDO, FL VISITADORAS stirred up a hornets' nest when it was released in Colombia in 2000. Based on the Novel by world-renowned Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa; which, in turn, was inspired by TRUE EVENTS explained in Wikipedia: "Vargas Llosa's motivation to write the novel came from actually witnessing prostitutes being hired by the Peruvian Army and brought in to serve soldiers in the jungle."(So much for one reviewers opening comment: "The very premise of the movie is absurd!" It's Through the Looking Glass in S.A., amigo! BTW-Look up the origin of HOOKER) Obviously, Vargas Llosa's primary intent was to expose the hypocrisy rampant in Peruvian society and culture, specifically, but also in Hispanic culture, in general. As to how faithful the movie is to the novel...Sorry, didn't read it! VISITADORAS exhibits both very strong pluses and some major minuses. The most hysterical opening 45 minutes in a Spanish-language film I've witnessed in YEARS! Salvador del Solar's award-winning interpretation of an Everything-by-the-book -military-officer's Officer is the key to this hilarity.As the film DRAGS on...this routine bestows something of a one-trick-pony aspect to the overall production. Luckily, There's a seismic shift in this dynamic 15-20 minutes before end credits. Perfect time to mention that said credits come after 2:15 of VISITADORAS! 15/20 minutes sorely needed to be left on the cutting room floor.Angie Cepeda was a bit of a disappointment. That angelic-looking-pouting- little-lost-girl/hooker routine may be VIAGRA for most men, but just doesn't muster with me. There's a strong dose of nudity and sex in VISITADORAS, and both were crucial to the film's cohesion and believability. They flat out didn't work. My theory: Looking over their filmography, it appears these were the FIRST scenes with a strong sexual content for BOTH stars, and it shows. 6*...ENJOY/DISFRUTELA!!!

This is a lovely movie. It starts out a fun comedy movie. Then changes tracks halfway to become a sensual movie and then ends on a bittersweet dramatic note. And it does all this effortlessly without falling into any clichés. The premise itself is very fresh and it is wonderfully developed. It is about a straight-laced army captain who is given a very different assignment. He is tasked with providing prostitutes for soldiers in remote posts. Initially he is reluctant but after he sees that he has no other alternative, he goes into his work with a great zeal.While the side actors were not as good, the lead actors have done a very good job especially Salvador del Solar as Pantaleón Pantoja. This movie has been photographed beautifully and the sensual scenes are just amazing.

Now, having served 23 years in the military, I have never had the opportunity to have an assignment of this nature. Those damn officers get all the good jobs! I watched this because of Angie Cepeda (Love in the Time of Cholera), but was impressed with the performance of Salvador del Solar, who played the fortunate Captain who got this assignment.Watching him work out of his element, and try to keep his wife (Mónica Sánchez) happy while he was working with such incredible beauty as Cepeda, was a real thrill, and Solar was magnificent.The movie was very funny, as you would expect, especially from those who thought the whole idea sacrilegious. Maybe it was, but it solved the problem.A funny, romantic movie that never fails to amuse and entertain as we wonder if the Captain will falls into the Colombiana's (Cepeda) snares and lose his wife, whether the investigative reporter Sinchi (Aristóteles Picho) will expose the whole sordid mess, whether the Colombiana and Pechuga (Tatiana Astengo), who also loves the Captain will get into a fight, and how will his service record be after all this. Will he get a medal? Ah, the questions that must be answered.

Pantaleón y las visitadoras , I saw that movie at the Montreal Word Films Festival 2000 on August 28. I didn't know what to expect at first from the title of that movie , I had no idea what the movie was about. Let me tell you I was agreeably surprised. That movie is based on a Mario Vargas Llosa book is very very good piece on entertainment. The story, the actors and the settings was entertaining and well rendered, this is a very good comedy to me. I would recommend it no question ask to anyone ... I hope that this movie will come out on VHS format so I can buy it and show it to my friends. The only problem with the projection that I have attended was the quality of the actual film, I don't know if it was intended (maybe) or not but a lot of exterior scenes had a yellowish halo to it like if the director would have put a yellow filter over the camera lense and also the quality of the film with some badly made cut overs was questionnable. But overall it was a very good comedy with an original story. Finally let me tell you guys that the actress playing the role of Columbiana, Angie Cepeda, is one hot lady, my god we are not used to see that many south american movie up here in Canada and that latino women is a devilish beauty.