Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Unchallenging, comfortable entertainment, 19 Feb 2008
Like a new puppy that piddles on the carpet, 'Rock Haven' is a difficult film to be harsh with. Set in a small town on the beautiful Californian coastline, this low-budget, indie film is traditional coming-out fare.
Clifford is 19, tanned, muscular, sensual, and comfortable with his sexuality. Brady is 18, uptight, nerdy, and from a repressed religious background. The two are immediately attracted to one another - though inevitably Brady's religion prevents them from discussing or even acknowledging this mutual yearning.
The story is fairly predictable - lingering glances, internal conflict, increasing intensity, advice from unexpected quarters, and an overbearing, dominating Christian mother. In addition, the characters rarely progress beyond one-dimensional stereotypes. Rock Haven undoubtedly invites a comparison to the equally low-budget (but significantly more polished) 'Latter Days' - and in this light, the former simply cannot match up to the passion, intensity and emotional pull of the latter.
Nevertheless - for all this - there is something charming about Rock Haven's sweet naivety. There is much humour in the film, and the attraction between the two leads is palpable, if not exactly challenging. Taken together with the beautiful beach environment and emotional simplicity (not to mention one unusually explicit - for a US film - full-frontal scene), Rock Haven is a light-hearted evening's entertainment, even if it is not destined to become a lifelong companion.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not worth the money - borrow it, but only if you have nothing better to do with 90 minutes of your life!, 18 May 2008
I'm sorry to give this just the one star but I am sick of producers thinking that to get the gay community to part with their pink pound and to gain credibility for a "gay film" , all they need do is stick in 30 seconds of full frontal nudity from two reasonably good looking guys under the age of 20. Well, I'm glad to say that I got to see this film for free and I still sorely wished that I'd spent the time doing something better than wasting 90 mins on this.
The script is dull, the direction and camera work are sloppy and the acting is mediocre (I thought I'd explode if the lead character gave one more simpering look at his mother/boyfriend/vicar - who by the way is probably the gayest character in the film, though this is never discussed.)
This scenario has been portrayed many times before in better, far more successful films; "Beautiful Thing", "Presque Rien", "Summer Storm". There is a really good film out later this month on Region 1 called "SHELTER" - it is fantastic, like the surfing version of Brokeback Mountain.
Please spend your money on any of the films I have mentioned but not on Rock Haven - borrow it if you must!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Very Poor - There Are Much Better Coming of Age Movies Out There, 17 Jan 2009
This coming of age story has been told many times over. Sadly, as is typical with many tla productions, Rock Haven is let down badly by a poor script, stilted acting, few locations and bad direction.
The story is plausible enough, with the two main actors giving it their best shot. Yet so much of what you see is poorly edited and choppy, that you're left jumping from one scene to the next, in a movie with no depth to speak of. As a viewer you're left gasping for a deeper insight into the characters and events. As it is, the dialogue is short, sharp and largely emotionless.
Particularly bad is the characterization of the two mothers portrayed in Rock Haven. I was never once convinced that either could actually have given birth. One being so robotic that she reminded me more of a Stepford Wife than a real mum. The other, so spaced out and unrealistic, she would be better suited to a Hippy commune.
Rock Haven will find its fan base among adolescents seeking validation and acceptance. Had I seen this movie when I was 15-18 years old, then I would no doubt think it wonderful. Yet those of us who are a little longer in the tooth know that there are much better and well crafted coming of age movies out there.
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