Degree7 Javier Bardem may just be one of the finest actors of his generation, and his role as a paraplegic fighting for the right to die added another impressive notch to his already eclectic body of work.El Mar Adentro has its share of beautiful moments, and it treated its core issue with sensitivity and intelligence (for the most part). The philosophical aspect of it was insightful, but perhaps underutilized.The direction, acting, and production values were all impressive. I was prepared to give this 8 or 9 stars, along with the dubious ranking of perhaps one of the finest Spanish dramas ever filmed.Unfortunately, the movie ends up shooting itself in the foot by proving to be a little over- directed. What killed it for me was the abundance of irritating montages that killed the flow, and made it seem like the director just wanted to quicken the pace in an easy fashion. Whenever the passage of time was shown with annoying fade in/outs and the maudlin music cut in heavy handedly, it caused me to zone out. It was like watching a hallmark channel version of a paralyzed Rocky Balboa.Other criticisms were the focus of the film. There was the protagonist of Ramon, there was the love triangle between Rosa, Julia, and he. There was the legal angle, Ramon's family, and the moral outrage expressed by characters like the priest. It felt meandering, and what felt like a build up to the court room scene was over in 3 minutes. There was too much attention paid to other characters who, frankly, didn't interest me as much as Ramon. I wish I could have gotten to know him a little better. And did I mention the music was intrusive? But as much as there were parts I resented, there was a lot to admire. One of the most gorgeous scenes was the depiction of Ramon's accident. Amenebar showed that their can be grace in even the most horrid and fateful of moments. Other highlights were Ramon's ability to escape his prison and visit the sea inside, where he visits his fantasies of the women he leaves behind. I only wish the man's imagination had been explored a lot more.Still, a worthwhile watch. 7/10.

Raul Faust You know, I usually try my best to feel any interest for the movie I'm watching. However, "Mar adentro" simply couldn't keep me entertained for more than an hour; first, I feel it's too monotone, it's just Ramon talking about random stuff all the time. Second, there isn't a single likable character for you to be connected with. I agree that the subject is interesting and provocative, but this film is, sadly, bad executed. I don't know if it's director's fault, but it seems to be that the writer is the guilty one. I must admit I left this movie before it reached one hour, since I couldn't feel any interest to what could happen next-- and that's a rare thing that I do. So, in conclusion and in my point of view, "Mar Adentro" is a badly executed movie with a good subject, that's why I dislike it. Please don't hate on me.

Movie_Muse_Reviews Euthanasia is a challenging moral issue on which there are any number of stances, but "The Sea Inside" manages to make its audience put all that aside and just pay attention to the true personal story of Ramon Sampedro.Sampedro is hard to crack. Javier Bardem had the enormous challenge of becoming a man who was so utterly convinced and so at peace with the idea of ending his own life. You can't simply chock that up to Sampedro being mentally disturbed or psychologically wounded, even if the film suggests he was more wounded than he allowed himself to admit. Bottom line is that in spite of being a quadriplegic, he had all his wits about him; he just felt death was the best way to move forward.That's not easy to understand as a viewer. The notion that nothing, absolutely nothing, would give Ramon cause to live, is tough to swallow. In the film we're treated to a number of meaningful relationships in Ramon's life. He bonds with his nephew, Javi (Tamar Novas), becomes smitten with his new attorney, Julia (Belen Rueda), and forges a new friendship with Rosa (Lola Duenas), a woman moved by his story and convinced she can help him see cause to live again. Yet his belief in his right to "die with dignity" is so totally resolute.Spanish writer and director Alejandro Amenabar and co-writer Mateo Gil give us a full range of perspectives on Ramon and his situation and keeps the movie intensely personal. We don't see many court room scenes; this is no Hollywood biopic in which the main character crusades for what he believes in and receives some swelling emotional climax for his efforts. In fact, the film leaves us on quite the opposite note with a haunting final scene as Ramon decides to take his own life when the courts will not grant him the permission to do so legally.As so many great European filmmakers tend to do, Amenabar also gives us a poetic side to Ramon's story, which in this case is especially fitting because Ramon is an excellent writer and poet. Between the title and the film's opening, it's not shy about this notion of the sea inside, which is Ramon's mental escape from his physical reality, though to complicate matters, the sea is also directly tied to how Ramon ended up a quadriplegic. We connect most to Ramon through the dream scenes, through his fantasy. Despite the limited degree of empathy we can possible have for him, we still identify so clearly with his longing and desire, and Amenabar gives this to us with such a soft, deft touch.We also see Ramon as his friends and loved ones see him. The film explores the psychology at work when someone you are so close to, someone you have helped and cared for for years and years, wishes they were dead. The degree of public attention on that wish makes it all the more challenging for these characters, many of who we like, many of whom we don't. We get to see them — just as we see Ramon — in 360 degrees.As a Western viewer, there's a definite itch to see a bit more of the technical side, to explore Ramon's story in the large context that is the euthanasia debate, but Amenabar does such a incredible job convincing us that there's no need for it. This is an issue that has a clear face, that can and maybe should be judged on a personal level. In this particular instance, there's no public debate without a personal decision. If Ramon did not want this for himself, then no one would be having this conversation.Consequently, each viewer will grapple with the issues in this movie on an intensely personal level. Personally, I went back and forth as the film did, so purely wanting Ramon to win his own personal right to decide, yet wanting so desperately for him to find cause to live. In bringing this conundrum to this personal level, Amenabar effectively captures the large-scale complexity of this issue."The Sea Inside" is a great film for the way it accesses these ideas, not so much in the power of its drama, but regardless it leaves a lasting impression.~Steven CThanks for reading! Visit movemusereviews.com

SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain A very interesting topic is not served well in this overwrought dull drama. I love films that question morality and humanity. However, I don't want a bunch of people arriving and just discussion their feelings/emotions. If that's the case, a documentary would have been much more fitting. Bardem's performance is a thing of beauty, and the main recipient of the the 2 and a half stars I give it. Obviously, due to his condition, he isn't going to get out and about. In saying that, the most memorable moments are those out of the bedroom. The accident, the imaginary flying, the courtroom scenes etc. In one way it emphasized his desire to die, and how his life was kept in this one room, but it didn't make an interesting film.