Angela Rosal Movies

This, the second of 1992's 500th anniversary Christopher Columbus films (the first being Warner Bros. Christopher Columbus: The Discovery), adheres to the historical facts of Columbus's (Gerard Depardieu) possessed quest to discover the New World, and his solicitation of Queen Isabella (Sigourney Weaver) to gain the necessary funding. Despite travelogue-quality footage replete with beautiful scenery of Caribbean islands and a massive cast, this film tends to plod along with too predictable a plot and a mis-cast Columbus. Depardieu -- a very capable French actor speaking English and playing an Italian -- becomes perhaps the movie's bright spot (even if at his own expense) as he laughably struggles with line after line. Michael Wincott puts forth a worthy performance as a nasty Spanish nobleman whose mistreatment of the natives results in an open rebellion. ~ Rovi

In a story with a good premise, a man who has been hiding in a cave for 40 years decides he is finally ready to come out and re-integrate himself into village life. He went into hiding to escape the harsh rule of the fascist dictator Francisco Franco. After Franco dies in 1975, the cave-dweller feels it's safe to emerge, though he is not at all prepared for modern Spain. Meanwhile, friends inform his wife that she may no longer be eligible for a pension because her husband is alive while others wonder if he really is her husband. These considerations are almost enough to drive the man back into the cave again. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi