Irishchatter I have just fallen in love with William Hurt and Raul Julia after watching this. William Hurt just played a flamboyant gay guy very well and with Raul Julia playing as a tough guy! I found that their friendship and love was very unique together. I actually was really sad and upset that Luis Molina got accidentally shot by the place then left for dead.It was even more sadder to think that they both separated and never saw each other again. I was really hoping they could reunite. You might think it's sick for me to like a pedophile character but it's still, this movie was terrific! I hadn't read the book but I just think again, the movie was excellent.I'm glad that this won an Oscar, not many movies that have Oscars aren't normally that great! This deserves it!

MartinHafer "Kiss of the Spider Woman" was originally a novel and then a Broadway play--and it's pretty easy to imagine this. That's because almost everything takes place in a prison cell occupied by two men. Up until late in the film, the only times it's not set there is when either of the men is taken out to be questioned by authorities or when the transgender prisoner (William Hurt) tells tales--an adventure story involving spies, the Nazis and a gorgeous lady as well as a later tale about a Spider Woman.All of this sounds like a rather dreadful idea for a film or play as it's a prison film involving torture, illness and the like, but it manages to work due to good acting by Hurt and Raul Julia (his cell-mate) as well as some interesting plot twists. However, the very overtly gay plot is sure to upset or turn off many viewers and this film certainly is NOT for everyone regardless of the strong gay elements. After all, this IS set in an oppressive South American prison where torture and the like are commonplace.By the way, although William Hurt was excellent and received the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance, it is odd that he doesn't seem the least bit like a Latino....not the least.

sadenshi It was a rare window of opportunity for me at the time, to catch a few glimpses of the brutal reality - what would happen to an outsider - whether a homosexual or a political prisoner - in another country like Brazil.The Spiderwoman trapped in a web at the opening has haunted me even decades after watching the film. What was she doing there? Why did she stay on the web perhaps of her own making? Why did she not break free? Was she stuck forever? Was she actually safer in her own prison than the world outside?The film certainly showed us a side of South America to us in Hong Kong at the time, a time when most people were fretting over the 1997 handover, whether to break away to another country, which country.Every country, every place has a story of its own to tell.

Lucien Lessard In a Brazilian prison cell, there is two different people shares an cell. A homosexual man named Luis Molina (Oscar-Winner:William Hurt) is in prison for having sex with a minor and Valentin Arregui (The late Raul Julia) is a political prisoner for the revolutionary group. Which Valentin is been tortured by the prison guards for searching any answering for his political views. Luis keeps his spirit alive by telling old tacky Hollywood movies by past the day, although it entertains Valentin somewhat. As the two prisoners get to know each other, the more Valentin opens up to Luis. But Luis is hoping to get his prison time reduce, if he tells the prison warden (José Lewgoy) some of Valentin's secrets. While Luis is slowly falling in love with Valentin.Directed by Hector Babenco (At Play in the Fields of the Lord, Ironweed) made an intriguing drama that mixes romance, fantasy and comedy quite well. Hurt won an Oscar for his superb three-dimensional performance. The late Julia is also terrific. While Sonia Braga is amusing in three different roles, which two of the roles are in Luis' tales. This is unique movie that is surprisingly fast-paced and quite moving at times. The movie was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Adapated Screenplay by the late Leonard Schrader (Blue Collar, Naked Tango, The Yakuza) and Best Director.The DVD is the two-disc set. Disc One has an good anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) transfer and an fine digitally remastered:Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (Also in the original Mono sound). Disc One also includes an trivia track in English and Spanish. Disc Two includes an fascinating documentary with the cast & the crew that runs 108 minutes. Disc Two also includes three featurettes, photo galleries and more. "Kiss of the Spider Woman" was an daring movie back in the 1980's, it is certainly much less controversial feature today. Still, the movie has its charms, thanks to Hurt's lovely performance and the late Julia's strong role. Based on a novel by the late Miguel Puig. (****/*****).