Raetsonwe Redundant and unnecessary.

Executscan Expected more

GarnettTeenage The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

Juana what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

a_baron How to describe this film? A sick fantasy about the modern day white slave trade, except the girls come in a variety of different colours. Eden is the daughter of Korean parents; she is kidnapped from a bar, transported to a remote secret prison, and schooled to be a prostitute. Prostitution is a voluntary act, so this is actually rape, but as the "johns" appear not to know the score it is her gaolers rather than them who are the rapists.What else do we have? If an organisation like this could exist in modern day America, it would require some inside men; here we have one corrupt law enforcement official, who early on murders two men in cold blood, one of them a fellow deputy. Eden is spirited, but after a failed escape attempt decides to throw in her lot with one of her captors, or does she? No, it is obvious she is only biding her time; best not to wait too long though, because an hour into the film her predecessor, Svetlana, is sleeping with the fishes.

eddie_baggins A small budget movie with a big story to tell, Megan Griffith's (no relation to Jordan, as far as we know) Eden is a movie that despite its limitations set forward by its financers is a movie that remains constantly engaging from start to finish even though it never reaches any great emotionally affecting heights that makes you think this story could easily be done once more in a manner that would make the most out of an horrific yet worthy true story.There have not yet been many high profile movies set around the hot topic of sex trafficking/slavery yet there are now many stories out there told by real life participants in what is one of the world's most lucrative and shameful industries. Eden is based on the real life tale (or is it real?) of Chong Kim here portrayed by the capable Jamie Chung who while not instilling Eden with a huge emotional heft, has many fine moments in a role that would of required a lot of her emotionally. While Chung is good as Eden the film finds a real power in its supports from grown up Frailty child actor Matt O'Leary and veteran character actor Beau Bridges.O'Leary as young drug addicted runner of the operation Vaughan and Bridges as Marshall/slavery organiser Bob Gault are both great in some very creepy turns. Vaughan in particular is an on edge and believable participant in this horrific business while Bridges oozes slim as cold and calculating Marshall Gault. With these fine turns by the two male leads it acts as a showcase for just what Eden could have been had it found a way to tap emotionally into what these situations really meant for these poor women and those invested into it financially and while director Griffiths has enough flair behind the camera to suggest she has a career in the industry there needs to be more thought on how to wring the most out of her stories.Eden is a small film worthy of your time, if not only to highlight the oft forgotten world that it depicts in all its unsavoury and harsh elements. With some very fine support turns and with a finely tuned pacing, Eden is a low budget film once more showcasing that budget does not make or break a movie if it has a worthy story to tell even if the film squanders a chance to make the most of its emotionally ripe story.3 stiletto shoe heels out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check into - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com

suite92 Film opens to rap music played with a black screen. Not a good start. Hyun Jae is tied up with her mouth duct-taped in the truck of the kidnapper who plays the rap music. It is clear that this is not going to go well for Jae.Then we backtrack to one day earlier to Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1994. Hyun-Jae, teen daughter of Korean immigrants who own 'Gifts and Taxonomy.' Jae let herself be vulnerable: smoking, getting a false ID, going drinking while out against her parents wishes. Picking up men in bars turns out to be a very bad idea. The fireman who sends over two whiskeys to Jae and her friend turns out to be part of the machinery in finding and kidnapping at risk young teen-aged virgins. Also, he has many badges, not just a fireman's. He stops, talks to a comrade, then they take her. The comrade drives her to Arizona. He dumps her in a ravine at a man's ranch.Bob Gault is part of law enforcement, but he also works with the kidnappers. They had left a transmitter on Jae's ankle, and Bob zeroed in on that. After making sure there were no witnesses, Bob kills the deputy the man had called, then the man. Bob takes Jae to the next part of the pipeline. She wakes up in a clinic; she's drugged and the old woman there removes her metal braces. When Jae wakes next, she's with other young women, all scantily clad in a make-shift barracks. Bob has each young woman pick out a kitten to centre their attentions. Then he turns to Jae. He has intercepted the missing persons report that her father had filled out. He makes it clear that nothing is going to come of it.Bob renames her Eden from "Eden's Garden," the trailer park where her parents live. He makes it clear that she will be a prostitute, and that she is expected to bathe in the morning, in the evening, and after sexual congress. Bob reminds her that he knows where her parents live, that he's part of law enforcement, and he will cause trouble for the parents if she gets out of line. End of setup, 22 minutes in.Eden attempts to escape early on, but is severely disciplined. She bides her time for a year, then attempts to gain Vaughan's confidence. That starts to go well, but Vaughan does his best to make her a fellow drug addict. He also teachers her to man the telephones, and to drive a truck. At one of the seminars that Bob gives, he is approached by an investigators for the two murders he committed when picking up Jae.Will her new approach work? Will Vaughan's drug use hurt her chances? Will Bob or Vaughan be exposed for their criminal activity?-------Scores--------Cinematography: 10/10 Fine.Sound: 10/10 No problems.Acting: 8/10 Quite good. Beau Bridges is excellent as the equally affable and menacing Bob. Matt O'Leary was a bit off. Jamie Chung's performance was solid.Screenplay: 8/10 Definitely an engaging story, and quite a scary one.

John Raymond Peterson Human trafficking is a recurring subject and it deserves to be told and retold however many ways it can. I've watched many of those movies and two stand out for me, Trade, the 2007 brilliant and powerful work by Marco Kreuzpaintner starring Kevin Kline (you need to see it) and Eden, the real story of a survivor like few others. In 2012, Jamie Chung had a supporting role in Premium Rush, which should have helped boost her starring role in this drama directed by Indi writer/producer/director Megan Griffiths.Chung was as good as can be in the role of Eden (that's the character's name); such type of character is never easy to play and make believable, but I feel she pulled it off. If you can get passed the fact that it is subject that has been exploited, pun intended but not in jest, the story of Eden makes for a good thriller as well as a good drama.I enjoyed seeing Beau Bridges in a villainous role; he played that part like the pro that he is. You won't see his demise coming the way it does; I'll say no more for I don't wish to spoil one of the good things about the movie, or the plot. I recommend it if you want to see a rising star by the name Jamie Chung.