Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Sienna-Rose Mclaughlin The movie really just wants to entertain people.

fluff-bomb Battle in Heaven is a difficult one to rate, and describe. It's like Marmite, you either love it or hate it. Or, it just confuses the hell out of you. Unfortunately I was subjected to the latter. Marcos, his wife and his son are a working class family who kidnap a baby for ransom money as they struggle to survive on an income derived from selling cake in a subway station and Marcos' long term security job for the local General and his daughter, Ana. There are some strange plot holes: You never find out precisely why the couple stole the baby, or why it died. Why does Ana cry when giving Marcos fellatio? How/why does Marcos spontaneously die at the altar after the pilgrimage? Why does Marcos leave the flat, wet himself, then return to stab Ana?However the film does redeem itself by some use of artistic cinematography. But it's hard to compliment much else for this film. The use of sex scenes help it achieve the 'art' feel but do not help to move forward the plot. The acting is amateur at best, poor use of expression makes it feel like one is watching robots perform. In conclusion it can be said that although this film captures the 'realism' of Mexico, it is supported by shoddy acting and a poorly written script which restricts plot development. I feel like this film is unfortunately a lot of wasted potential. 6/10

Matthew12222 This movie is NOT for Hollywood-lovers who need the plot spelled out word for word to them. The atmosphere is a STRONG point it stands out for that.To answer some of the less attentive viewers comments. -They're a poor family, they kidnapped the kid for RANSOM MONEY. People ,even poor ones, will pay for their loved one. Eluded to while Marco and his wife talk. -Surprise, surprise, the general's daughter is a nympho. She works at a sex boutique (for money I believe). You don't need some background story to understand someone could just be addicted to sex. -Marco looses it. There's no Hollywood "she killed my father". Guilt for screwing her? She knows about the dead kid and wants him to turn himself in? Angry a slut is giving him moral advice? Possibly didn't want her screwing other guys anymore? -He goes to the pilgrimage to seek forgiveness for all that stuff he's done.It's a very sensual movie answering: what do you hear? what do you see? How do you feel? Some scenes are slow, just like in real life, waiting for someone or looking around. Everyday things that don't happen in 6.23 seconds like in Hollywood stuff. To soak in the details and understand what it must be like, to experience being there, takes time.Some of the BEST scenes, where in the car. Like driving in the traffic. Great scene felt like you were THERE in the car.There is some inconsistency. The couple was morbidly obese. They're supposed to be poor. How can poor people get so FAT?! Down to earth, I guess that happens in real life, BUT that was nasty. They did have a very real relationship. Nothing superficial. Overall a good movie, compared to other movies not as good. If you want to get an inside look into Mexican life, enjoy movies with strong real feelings scenes or value something out of the ordinary. MUST WATCH.

lavalady -likely there are no real spoilers here, but I do hate all spoilers, so erred on the side of caution.-I'm not sure if I am happy or sad that this film was so beautifully shot - had it not been, I would have stopped watching it pretty quickly.I found many elements of the Marcos and Ana plot really annoying (the conceits and the situations both). Although I appreciate a beautiful body, the contrast between the actors felt more exploitative than honest. A "truer" actress playing Ana (that is, not quite so fetching and physically perfect) would have made it less annoying. As for the sex, it was not as awful as some made it out to be - or perhaps reading the comments before watching made me expect much worse (that and I'm not fat phobic). Some scenes struck me as just right and way over done at the same time (the onanistic football watching scene is a perfect example, too much but there was something about it that I just loved).The comments here by Spanish speakers that the acting was just atrocious made me realize how much can be forgiven when you don't speak the language of the film, but even I cringed at some of the performances. The scene in the countryside between Marcos and his wife for example. Ouch.During one scene we watch Marcos walking, walking, walking through the countryside, with that dead look on his face. It would have been excruciatingly dull to watch but the landscape was breathtaking. Like I said in the beginning, the photography saved this film for me. Mexico City looks amazing in this film - I feel as though I have really *seen* the city in a way I never have previously. And the sound (so heavy on the ambient) was enjoyable as well.On a philosophical note, I tire of the notion that women's bodies are for wide consumption, and of seeing violence against women as portrayed in many films (as routine), but even with those predispositions, I could enjoy the film - well, aspects of it. The last 20 minutes or so... meh.But it was a beautiful film, for all of the flaws I saw in it. So, there you go.

jobo999 Boring. A plot that doesn't move, but rather seems situational. Instants of good cinematography, but you see them all in the trailer. Acting that could be portrayed by dead people. Sex that you wish was done by dead people. I thought I was over 2 hours into the movie and checked the clock - just past an hour. Yeesh! Avoid, unless drinking with friends. (OH! I see IMDb wants more review than that - okay, **spoiler warning**) A physically gross guy getting a BJ from a cute thing. She sheds a tear - why? You won't find out. Offscreen, his wife and he had stolen and accidentally killed a baby - why? You won't find out. But she was tired of hearing the mother, her friend complain. Callous (and not so bright to boot) -- Why? You won't find out. Ultimately the guy seeks redemption through religion - and gets it! Why (even though murder is a "deadly sin" and cannot be redeemed)? You won't find out.Don't waste your time.