Captain Pantoja and the Special Services (1999)

Powerful

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

.......................................................from Pasto,Colombia...Via: L.A. CA., CALI, COLOMBIA...and ORLANDO, FL VISITADORAS stirred up a hornets' nest when it was released in Colombia in 2000. Based on the Novel by world-renowned Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa; which, in turn, was inspired by TRUE EVENTS explained in Wikipedia: "Vargas Llosa's motivation to write the novel came from actually witnessing prostitutes being hired by the Peruvian Army and brought in to serve soldiers in the jungle."(So much for one reviewers opening comment: "The very premise of the movie is absurd!" It's Through the Looking Glass in S.A., amigo! BTW-Look up the origin of HOOKER) Obviously, Vargas Llosa's primary intent was to expose the hypocrisy rampant in Peruvian society and culture, specifically, but also in Hispanic culture, in general. As to how faithful the movie is to the novel...Sorry, didn't read it! VISITADORAS exhibits both very strong pluses and some major minuses. The most hysterical opening 45 minutes in a Spanish-language film I've witnessed in YEARS! Salvador del Solar's award-winning interpretation of an Everything-by-the-book -military-officer's Officer is the key to this hilarity.As the film DRAGS on...this routine bestows something of a one-trick-pony aspect to the overall production. Luckily, There's a seismic shift in this dynamic 15-20 minutes before end credits. Perfect time to mention that said credits come after 2:15 of VISITADORAS! 15/20 minutes sorely needed to be left on the cutting room floor.Angie Cepeda was a bit of a disappointment. That angelic-looking-pouting- little-lost-girl/hooker routine may be VIAGRA for most men, but just doesn't muster with me. There's a strong dose of nudity and sex in VISITADORAS, and both were crucial to the film's cohesion and believability. They flat out didn't work. My theory: Looking over their filmography, it appears these were the FIRST scenes with a strong sexual content for BOTH stars, and it shows. 6*...ENJOY/DISFRUTELA!!!

I'm totally overwhelmed. I just saw this movie on "You Tube" because after seeing "No se lo digas a nadie" I felt such an admiration for its director, Francisco Lombardi, that I had to see something else directed by him.I think this man is a genius, this film is memorable, it must be one of the best movies I've ever seen. The script is fabulous (of course, having its origin on a story by Mario Vargas Llosa it couldn't have been otherwise) and the transcript to the screen is superb.This shows us that the primordial importance for a movie to succeed it's to have a sound script and if there is a sound script in the history of movie-making, this movie has it.The story starts a parable that as an arch gradually hoops and by the end of the movie closes itself making a perfect circle. One of the most touching moments in the contemporary cinema is given here by the flickering little flame of a cigarette lighter when its light brings to our memory the remembrance of a loved one that by now is no more. Breathtaking.I don't have words to express my admiration for this movie, it's so sublime that it defies any description and my English is very limited. The actors spectacular, all of them (I'm so sorry, but I'm not familiar with their names) anyhow, it would be unfair to mention two or three names and leave all the others behind, because all of them were perfect in their roles.The irony poured by Vargas LLosa within this story, its bitterness and his knowledge of human behavior is overwhelming, and the masterly conduction of Francisco Lombardi, makes the end of this movie quite difficult to assimilate, it's too unjust (although perfectly realistic knowing the powers to be and their ways) and one would have liked something rosier, but then the whole purpose of the story would have been totally deceived. Please, for the life of me, DO NOT MISS IT!!!I feel I just saw a masterpiece of a movie.

It's not easy to take a successful novel and make a movie based upon it. No discussion about this. The aim of such adaptations should not be to repeat the book on the screen, but take the essence and identify the best suited passages to develop a script. It's a work of artistic translation at many levels.This movie is excellent. As a comedy it warranties smiles and laughs, as a drama it may reserve some tears over the end, as a documentary it lets you discover many aspects of the complexity of a country like Peru, and visually it will give you a pleasant experience immersing you in the charming Peruvian Amazonia locations.I don't know how much is lost if you are not able to understand Spanish. As always happens it is possible that part of the value of this film may be lost if you have to spend time off the main action reading subtitles.To round up the special beauty of the Amazonia, Angie Cepeda provides the perfect match, bringing to the screen all her exuberant sensuality and femininity as "la Colombiana" ("the Colombian"). I can't imagine a better actress for this character. Angie Cepeda by herself is reason enough for any person who admire female beauty to see this movie, not once but many times. You will fall in love with "la Colombiana" as Captain Pantaleon Pantoja does, and you will also understand why Chuchupe (an experienced brothel manager) refers to her as an inconvenience after his notoriety for driving men to suicide. Angie (born Angelica), an actual Colombian from Cartagena De Indias, is with no doubt one of the prettiest and most sensual current actresses. Today, the Colombian Angelica head to head with the American Angelina (turn in this unattractive hybrid of "Brangelina") wins the race for more than a body (and more than just the body).But look also for Aristóteles Picho as the hilarious "El Sinchi" the radial journalist that is always around troubling Captain Pantoja's mission.Also pay attention to Peruvian comedian and also pretty actress Tatiana Astengo as the "visitadora" (female escort, an euphemism for prostitute) known as "Pechuga", character honored with this nickname to celebrate, well, her breast (that's one of the meaning of the Spanish word).You will laugh a lot, cry a little, learn something about Peru, and re-joy your eyes and soul with one of the most beautiful creatures on Earth. What else?!Besides, you will be able to fake you read Vargas Llosa's bestseller.

Pantaleón y las visitadoras , I saw that movie at the Montreal Word Films Festival 2000 on August 28. I didn't know what to expect at first from the title of that movie , I had no idea what the movie was about. Let me tell you I was agreeably surprised. That movie is based on a Mario Vargas Llosa book is very very good piece on entertainment. The story, the actors and the settings was entertaining and well rendered, this is a very good comedy to me. I would recommend it no question ask to anyone ... I hope that this movie will come out on VHS format so I can buy it and show it to my friends. The only problem with the projection that I have attended was the quality of the actual film, I don't know if it was intended (maybe) or not but a lot of exterior scenes had a yellowish halo to it like if the director would have put a yellow filter over the camera lense and also the quality of the film with some badly made cut overs was questionnable. But overall it was a very good comedy with an original story. Finally let me tell you guys that the actress playing the role of Columbiana, Angie Cepeda, is one hot lady, my god we are not used to see that many south american movie up here in Canada and that latino women is a devilish beauty.