Ortigirgor

I recently watched "Conan the Barbarian" and was quite sad I didn't know any other films with Sandahl Bergman in it. So I got myself "Hell Comes To Frogtown" and thought that was an extremely goofy and poorly made film, but fun to watch (gotta love the three snakes dance scene).

Then I got myself this one, thinking I could not really be disappointed, what with the Hell film and all, and I have to say: this movie offers *all* (!) the entertainment, plot logics, good dialogue, acting skills and high-end production value of a cheap porno, but without the explicit sex scenes. And Sandahl looks better partially dressed (I'm gonna try and remember her in her skimpy barbarian outfit, where you couldn't see the handiwork done on her chest).

There is absolutely not the slightest point in *ever* watching this. You will not get back the precious time you lose trying to not be put off by this. Just hands off. This film should never have been made.

I've just seen this film an hour ago (its something like 2am in Switzerland right now), and since have been reading some of the reviews that have been written about it. What bothered me about some of them is that there really are people out there who cannot relate to it the least bit. All it takes is a bit of good will, as with practically any film you see.

One major drawback that seems to have put off quite a number of people is the symbolism the film works with. It's a bit hammy, sure, to see a hawk used as an icon for freedom in a rather blunt way; but if you take Pollie (Piper Perabo)'s point and try to identify with her, it will make perfect sense, as her character works very much on that symbolic kind of level.

It shares the theme of Dead Poets' Society (which it doesn't try to imitate, as the film is based on the novel The Wives of Bath by Susan Swan ): It tells us about the decision of an adolescent to neither give up their most profound wishes nor to simply conform with the society they live in. In this sense, these characters are younger, stronger, and capable of true, uncompromised feeling, stand very much in contrast to the average viewer, who has learned to accept defeats and to adapt to circumstances. At the same time, they can hardl live in a society intolerant to their dreams, and either break or conform.

I don't know, I just think if you accept Pollie's complete commitment to her and Tory's love (of which she is deprived in one of the most painful and banal ways possible), and her spleen about poetry and symbolism, this film will work for you in spite of its many little weaknesses (which none of us spoiled viewers could have done any better). If you refuse to do that, all you do is to miss out on a wonderful story, and what could be worse?