Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 12 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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7 of 9 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:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully shot film of two teenagers falling in love, 20 Jul 2008
The film is full of beauty - the landscape of the coastal village where the two boys live is wonderful and very well shot. The two teenagers act really well and it's difficult not to be absorbed in their "little" world as they slowly come to fall in love and get closer. It's all taken very slowly and gently and it's quite enchanting to watch. The supporting cast are good and it's amazing how quickly the story unfolds and ends. But that was the problem for me - it ends with a big piece missing. Resolution comes with one's coming to terms with himself and deciding not to try to change himself but the core resolution we want is left up in the air. We end up having to guess and make assumptions on the basis of how the story has been portrayed - but I like my "closure" on these things - why couldn't there have just been some concrete evidence that everything was going to be all right and wonderful for the couple? That would have definitely made me give 5 stars as otherwise I really loved the film.
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