Now, I normally don't like it when people summarize a movie by saying it's just a certain way, but that's all "Mona Lisa Smile" was to me - boring and annoying.
It started out with some promise - a new professor going to a prestigious all-girls academy and is overwhelmed as her students bombard her with their vast knowledge of the textbook. But after that, I couldn't care less. The professor then "opens her students' eyes" just by asking them if what they are looking at is any good.
Maybe that's another reason that I didn't like this movie - I just don't understand the world of art. I didn't understand the fascination the professor and the class had when they took a field trip to see that one painting. I'm sure the art world says it's a masterpiece, but it looks like scribbling to me!!
I also find it hard to believe that these students are so inspired and involved in this class, particularly Julia Stiles' character, who is hoping to go to law school. As a college student, I can tell you that if you're a senior and you're taking Art 100, you really don't give a flying you-know-what about art!!
So not only did I find the movie unrealistic, I found it excruciatingly boring as there was no major conflict or hurdle for the characters to overcome. All that was confronting the characters was how the world was back then. What could one really do to change that, but do what you really want to do in life? To me, that just doesn't make for a particularly interesting story.
So without an interesting conflict, there wasn't an interesting conclusion. In fact, the conclusion just kind of confounded me as I just didn't understand how the characters were so moved by their teacher. I know this comparison has been made by so many people before, but if you're looking for a good, inspirational teacher movie, go with "Dead Poets Society."
My IMDb Rating: 4/10. My Yahoo! Grade: C- (Disappointing)
It started out with some promise - a new professor going to a prestigious all-girls academy and is overwhelmed as her students bombard her with their vast knowledge of the textbook. But after that, I couldn't care less. The professor then "opens her students' eyes" just by asking them if what they are looking at is any good.
Maybe that's another reason that I didn't like this movie - I just don't understand the world of art. I didn't understand the fascination the professor and the class had when they took a field trip to see that one painting. I'm sure the art world says it's a masterpiece, but it looks like scribbling to me!!
I also find it hard to believe that these students are so inspired and involved in this class, particularly Julia Stiles' character, who is hoping to go to law school. As a college student, I can tell you that if you're a senior and you're taking Art 100, you really don't give a flying you-know-what about art!!
So not only did I find the movie unrealistic, I found it excruciatingly boring as there was no major conflict or hurdle for the characters to overcome. All that was confronting the characters was how the world was back then. What could one really do to change that, but do what you really want to do in life? To me, that just doesn't make for a particularly interesting story.
So without an interesting conflict, there wasn't an interesting conclusion. In fact, the conclusion just kind of confounded me as I just didn't understand how the characters were so moved by their teacher. I know this comparison has been made by so many people before, but if you're looking for a good, inspirational teacher movie, go with "Dead Poets Society."
My IMDb Rating: 4/10. My Yahoo! Grade: C- (Disappointing)