It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

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

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

My first exposure to Pedro Almodovar and it's not been a great experience; in fact, while watching I was wondering what all the fuss was about. The story, which was also written by the director, is about a pair of young men who get involved with filming their life story, a life story which just so happens to include child abuse by a local priest in the 1960s.It doesn't sound like the most lively or even enjoyable of premises and, indeed, it isn't. I wondered what I was watching for most of the running time. The narrative is confusing, positing some events as fictional and others as real life, and the use of three different time frames means that it's hard work just to keep up with what's taking place on the screen. The film seems more to have been made to promote a gay agenda, but take out the supposedly controversial material and you're left with very little.There are some very explicit scenes in this film which are neither here nor there, although the acting is of a strong standard and you feel that the actors really inhabit their characters. It doesn't make you like them, though; indeed, they seem self-centred and rather hateful at times. A shame then that the story is so slight and small-scale; I'd much rather watch a film like SPOTLIGHT as an exploration of similar themes.

OK, so you'd have to make sure that they could all handle the subject matter, but once you're past that, it's perfect. This is only the second Almodovar movie that I watch(and I haven't seen the other version of this, either), the first being Volver, which I *loved*. I've heard that his work is usually divisive... I guess so, because this one simply did not grab me. It's not the overall story; in fact, I have to commend the man on an impeccable job done on the structure, the sheer fact that you can *follow* this thing, with several narratives, is a genuine accomplishment, and I personally enjoyed immensely how the director in this was trying to make motion pictures out of real events, right down to finding inspiration in newspapers, to see the artistic process, although I suppose that not everyone will necessarily feel the same way as I did about it. I have no problem with exploring pedophilia in the Church, rather, I consider it vital to do so. It's probably not that this is a crime mystery, and I hadn't figured out the solution before it was revealed. The plot is good, and it moves along nicely. I can only applaud the acting, even the kids are utterly and completely convincing. The characters are well-written, thoroughly developed, credible and three-dimensional. This is put together well, the cinematography and editing are smooth and clearly had effort and talent behind them. You know what? I don't think I can define why this didn't click with me. However, I'm not going to take it out on something as expertly made as this. It wasn't for me, that doesn't mean it won't be for you. If what I've described here sounds appealing, give it a chance. There is a lot of pretty graphic(apparently, originally downright explicit)sexuality and nudity, a little disturbing content and some infrequent strong language in this. Also, for anyone bothered by such, this is about transvestitism and homosexuality. The DVD comes with four and a half minutes of deleted scenes, a handful of galleries, a minute and 45 seconds behind the scenes montage, a theatrical trailer, a teaser and a TV spot. I recommend this to any fan of drama. 8/10

This is an astounding, captivating movie, although I have to admit I didn't fully understand it, at least not at the first viewing. It's the type of movie that is complex and demanding and constantly switches back and forth, and it's still a pleasure to watch (not just an intellectual exercises). And it deals with transvestites and homosexuality and pedophilia and you can still watch it with your mother. It's so driven by the story that it still sucks you in. Pedro Almodovar takes you for a ride you had no idea you could be interested in.I'd recommend this to anyone who's interest goes beyond action movies, and don't be put off by the subject matter or the movie's "art house cinema" status.

Bad Education by Pedro Almodovar is a film that has a distinct love of films. The main character was Enrique Goded is a film director looking for a story for his next film when he is stopped by his first love, Ignacio, who gives him a script based on their childhood in a Catholic school. The script is visually shown throughout the film without getting too confusing or muddled in Their first moments together also take place in a movie theater. Despite the tricky plot the film doesn't get too complicated to follow although it does seem to get away from Almodovar a bit at the end. It starts out as a tragic love story in the and slowly becomes a film noir. There is even recognition of this when two of the characters exit a theater show film noirs and one of them comments "It's like they were talking about us." At this point of the film it turns into something else but not necessarily for the worst. Gael García Bernal's role is an intricate one. He plays several characters (one within another one) bravely and with distinction between one another. Although he is more of an antagonist than the protagonist, he is the one with the most screen time and carries the film. Fele Martínez (Enrique) also is fantastic, although he has little to work given as he has the less showy part.Almodovar uses interesting, elaborate transitions for certain scenes. Partcularly, they are used to guide the viewer into (and sometimes out of) the screenplay within the movie. And while the subject matter is of child molestation in the Catholic Church, it is of a particular story of this one man and this one priest. There is not much accusation of condescension. There also was no touching on homophobia (although one or two of the characters were in the closet). This may be Almodovar's way of making homosexuality conventional as heterosexuality in this film.