Shutter Island
Disclaimer: I have not read the book so this review is mainly based on the movie adaptation.
This is not your typical movie with an easy plot line and a little thought required. Shutter Island blows your mind away, I tell you. The story is thought-provoking; the directing is brilliant; the acting, especially that of DiCaprio, is powerful. This is a must-watch movie.
Shutter Island is a mind bending mystery-thriller film. I was actually uncertain if I should watch it for I really thought that this movie was a horror flick based on the trailers I previously saw. I guess it was marketed that way. Yes it was dark and creepy, but it wasn’t scary. Don’t expect scenes that would make you jump off your seats although there was one near towards the end and that was it! Don’t expect background music that makes you scream. Scorsese, the director, was brilliant by not putting over-the-top creepy music.
Shutter Island is that kind of movie that will have you enthralled the entire time and will challenge you psychologically. You would have to use your brain cells during and after the movie. Just like the character of Di Caprio, as an audience, you would have to figure out yourself what’s real and reel. You can’t help but go through with his psychosis..wondering if he’s really insane or everything was a set up. I was actually second-guessing if what I was seeing was real or not especially towards the last 30 minutes of the film! After watching, I had to figure out which scenes I saw were real and which ones were hallucinations or delusions of DiCaprio.
Some of the scenes of the movie, especially the part where Di Caprio’s character went to the cells of the inmates, remind me of Silence of the Lambs. It has a dark style or Gothic gloom on it and this is one of the reasons why the movie is creepy.
Yes, Shutter Island is a complex movie but you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand it. It has the most-talked about ending. The ending would left you stunned. It is open for interpretation. It’s up to you how you would decipher the ending especially when DiCaprio’s character said, “Which would be worse, to live as a monster or to die as good man?”. Some may feel that it’s incomplete rather than satisfying. Regardless, the movie is not just mindbending but entertaining as well. This is that kind of movie that you would have to watch again after knowing the twist and turns for further clarity.
Now let’s talk about acting. The acting of the majority of the casts was top-notched but I would have to say my darling Leonardo DiCaprio stood out. He is amazing in this movie. You could really feel his intensity and the emotions in his eyes looked real. We all know that he is a good actor but in this film, he is genius!!!
Once again, Scorsese – the director of The Daparted, Gangs of New York, Cape Fear, Goodfellas – did a awesome job! I really think this movie should win an Oscar. I will be appalled if this movie won’t receive accolades it deserves.
If intellectually stimulating movie is your cup of tea, you must watch Shutter Island. 
Here’s the trailer:
hmnn…thanks for the heads up. I’ll watch this movie.
the problem with this type of movie is that if you watch it with your friends (or wife or sister or mother), they’ll keep asking you on what has just happened or what’s the connection of one particular scene to another. and then you end up explaining the movie… and then you are lost na rin with the plot.
happened a lot of times so I had to watch the movie a second time.
you better watch it alone! haha
Wow this is a nice review. De Caprio is one of the best actors talaga! I’ll definitely watch it. Buti na lang nanalo ako ng movie ticket sa office
Go watch it Monding and see if we share the same opinion of the movie.
this is just my type of movie..yung di lang entertaining kun’di may intelligent side din..i mean yung mapapaisip ka
the story is also uniqu, based on the trailer that you posted..try ko magtingin sa VideoCity ‘pag nakabili na ako ng dvd player ko.. ^_^ dami kong movies and series na namiss dahil nasira yung luma ko..
you must watch this Jem! you’ll love it.
nemen.. paborito ko kayao si leonardo, meron akong isang CD na puro xa lang,., hehe. adik.. at di ko pala binasa ang review, kasi parang spoiler na din.. manonood pa ako nyan eh.. wala ng excitement..
jen, hali ka kwento ko sayo! hahaha
this is definitely the movie of the year. IMO, this is Leo’s best work so far. Im actually just waiting for my dayoff from work so I can go grab a copy of the book. nice review Ressie! clap clap!
Thanks Ape! Have you watched it already? Yeah, I am going to get a copy of the book too! Tell me what you think about the book versus the movie.
yeah, I will. no problemo!
Hi anak, kumusta ka na, peborit ko rin si Leo i’m sure watch ko rin yan, about my LV’s, i already sold most of it sa ebay germany, nag iwan lang ako ng favorite ko, gusto ko kasi mag upgrade saka hermes Lindy naman ang type ng lola, kaya lang nagka alta presyon ako sa presyo
bongga ka talaga mommy! pang hermes na ang beauty mo. gow lang mommy. bili ka lang. you deserve it.
Napag isip ko pangarap na lang muna anak ang hermes, saka na, hirap ng life ngayon, priorities na gastusin muna, mabuti nga awa ng Diyos tapos na ang bahay kubo
hayaan mo mommy, makakamit mo rin ang iyong pangarap. hehehe.
ako din kaya, kaila ko mabibili ang LV nang hindi sumisikip ang dibdib ko? haha.
nakakainis nga anak kasi wala man silang sale or discount man lang on all LV stores around d world, store policy nila yon, tapos pag ibenta mo naman kalahati na lang ang presyo, nadepreciate na agad ang value pero ang dami pa rin namimili kahit krisis lalo na sa LV greenbelt sa atin, ang haba ng listahan ng mga nag oorder
Oo nga eh, siguro guguho nalang ang mundo hindi pa sila magbibigay ng discount. sabihan mo ko mommy pag plano mo itinda yung LV mo na may flower prints. LOL. love you!