Strong and Moving!

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Absolutely brilliant

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Richard Gere films fall into 2 categories me: "really like" and "really dislike." There seems to be little gray area. Count this one strongly in the "really like" column.An Americanized-version of the original Japanese film, the story is centered on Mr. Gere's character and his willingness to break his routine looking for more from life (some people do not appreciate how good they have it). His life from the outside looks enviable – great job, great wife (Susan Sarandon) and great family. But as Mr. Gere commutes home every night he spots the lovely and lonely-looking Jennifer Lopez peering out the window of a dance studio. On a whim, Mr. Gere jumps off the train and into the studio hoping to meet Ms. Lopez. He is quickly taught that there is no hope there, but in the process learns that he loves to dance. As his wife becomes suspicious of a change in his routine and attitude, she learns of his secret lessons and questions the reasons for them and the secrecy. To say more would spoil the plot, and that would be just wrong.I recommend this as a wonderful movie to watch – for young and old, for a great date movie, and even a great Valentine's movie. Just a warning to the male viewers, your woman may visibly swoon at the sight of Mr. Gere in a tuxedo carrying a red rose for his lady. Hard for us normal guys to live up to that image.

Wanting to get more out of life, Richard Gere, estate attorney, signs up for dance lessons. Of course, wife Susan Sarandon, believes he is having an affair and hires a detective to pursue this situation.This is basically a feel-good movie that depicts when life becomes tedious, you have to set your sights on something new. At the ballroom, Gere meets up with some unusual, but very interesting people as he becomes quite an accomplished dance.His dancing gives new meaning to his life and when Sarandon finally finds out what he is doing, all are relieved.Jennifer Lopez, as one of the dance instructors, is a very interesting character, with a story of her own. Her teaching to Gere gives her a new meaning to life and she allows herself to set her goals and reach for beyond.

"Shall We Dance" succeeds because it avoids predictability and goes in a direction you don't expect. Richard Gere is John Clark, a lawyer who leads a safe life. His wife, Beverly, played by Susan Sarandon, calls most of the shots in their marriage, and the people in the office where he works pick on people who do not conform to the norm. Each night as John Clark commutes home on the train, he notices a woman sitting in the window of a dance studio. One night when she isn't there, he gets off the train to investigate. He enters Miss Mitzi's dance studio, and almost despite himself, enrols for lessons.Miss Mitzi's is a rather run-down establishment, and not as funky as the popular studio downtown. However, from the start John becomes involved in the lives of the other students and the teachers. Everyone at the studio is pursuing a dream of one kind or another. This is true of Jennifer Lopez's character Paulina, the overly serious dance instructor. Although Gere's character was initially drawn to the dance academy because of her presence in the window, there is no romance between them. "I prefer not to socialise with students, she tells him, I take dance very seriously and if I was your goal, you have wasted your time". However, she isn't, he loves his wife and he has another agenda altogether. John's wife, Beverly, suspects he is having an affair and hires a private detective.The detective quickly discovers that John is not having an affair and forces Beverly to accept that he is trying to find some hidden aspect of himself. The movie does not dwell on this element for long; the real themes of the film are discovery and fulfilment. Eventually, John goes to the department store where Beverly works and takes her away in a scene that is reminiscent of the ending of an "Officer and a Gentleman".Although the overly quirky Stanley Tucci as Link threatens to overbalance the story, his character becomes more rounded as the story unfolds, providing some uplifting moments when he conquers personal fears.Music is an important element in the movie and although it features recognisable standards such as "Moon River", "Sway" and "Book of Love", they have been given a contemporary twist.Jennifer Lopez's character, Paulina, lives only to dance, but has been rejected by her lover and dancing partner. She is attractive enough to catch the attention of men, but is aloof and lost in her own world. J.Lo fits the role perfectly with a low-key performance that also allows her to display her genuine dancing skills.At first it is a little hard to accept Richard Gere playing a somewhat repressed man. Although he is a lawyer, he is not dominant at work or at home. However, this is probably his best performance since "Pretty Woman", but very different. "Shall We Dance" is an engaging movie, and the two powerhouse stars play against type, making their performances all that more effective.

Shall We Dance,an American remake of the Japanese movie,Shall We Dansu?,is a movie about John Clark.John Clark is a man with a wonderful job as a Estates lawyer.He,too has a charming wife and a wonderful family. But despite of all these things that he possesses,he still feels that something is missing big in his life as he makes his way every day inside the train through the city of Chicago.Each evening on his train commute home, John sees a beautiful woman, staring with a melancholic expression through the window of a dance studio. Haunted by her sadness, he impulsively takes off the train one night, and signs up for ballroom dancing lessons, hoping to get to know her. It seems like a mistake. His teacher turns out to be not Paulina, but the older and alcoholic owner of the dance studio,Miss Mitzi.He proves just as clumsy just like his classmates on the dance-floor. Even worse, when he does meet Paulina, she rudely tells John to seriously study dance and not to look chance to get to have dinner with her.But, as his lessons continue, John falls in love with dancing. Keeping his new obsession a secret from his family and co-workers, he works hard and get himself involved for Chicago's biggest dance competition.The movie basically was a love story between John and his wife and how dancing gets involved in it instead of a man losing his inhibitions and not worrying about cultural and society expectations about dancing.This is where the remake falters.Aside from that,the acting by Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez are far from being decent. Also, the rest of the cast does not compare with the original.The movie as a whole lacks subtlety and fails to provide many laughs as some characters are forced to be funny especially those played by Stanley Tucci,who portrayed Link; and Lisa Ann Walter,who tried her best to be annoying as Bonnie. One simply cannot prevent from comparing this remake to the original.Nevertheless,this is still a decent remake unlike others like the horrible My Sassy Girl remake starring Elisha Cuthbert and Jesse Bradford from the great Korean classic of the movie with the same title.But not as good as The Departed,a remake of the Hong Kong Classic Infernal Affairs.Overall,it is still a good movie to watch especially for Richard Gere and JLo fans.