Kiss the Sky [DVD]

My wife and I watched "Kiss the Sky" last night. Both of us were very impressed with its depth. We sat entirely riveted, throughout. Afterwards, despite the night's late hour, we spent nearly 30 minutes dialoging about its contents and implications. We were blown away with how well crafted it was and are already making plans with friends to view it with us. We're ready to see it again ourselves! It called to mind comparisons with "Eat Pray, Love" but was its predecessor. And the poignant Leonard Cohen music was very effective.The scenarios played out well, seemed somewhat plausible yet ultimately packed a great wallop and swallow of mature response. Hints of mental illness also come into play as does burnout. One of the protagonists had studied Sanskrit, the sacred language, which also inflected yet another layer of search for meaning and experience--and for that character, not quite yet mid-life with all of its its responsibilities.Of course, there was the predictable litany of substance ingestion (opium & grass), and sex (including a 3 way that was more delicate and far less graphic than a porn type treatment) suavely and discreetly tempered by a Buddhist Monk uttering profound truisms that stopped us in our tracks. Some nudity, yet nowhere over the top . The back to back closing scenes were real clinchers and we had to replay them a couple of times to make sure we fully grasped and appreciated each's poignance and profound significance. The shot of the 3 of them behind the glass at the airport near the film's end was especially rich in symbolic richness. Choreography stunning.I don't want to spoil it by rehearsing more of the details, which other reviewers have drawn attention to. "Kiss the Sky" (a variant of a Jimmy Hendrix saying) had far more depth than we bargained for and we were equally moved with its ebb and flow. A real keeper to review from time to time, perhaps--and hopefully, just vicariously.

Interesting journey as we follow two middle-aged friends who are dissatisfied with their business successes and families. They go off in search of Life, the Universe, and Everything-not knowing Douglas Adams already gave them that answer--42. Happiness is quite elusive, but they give finding it their best shot through far east travel, an opium den and lots of sex on an island in a lake so high up in the mountains that you can Kiss the Sky. Moody Leonard Cohen songs highlight each moment of their angst and brief snatches of happiness. Writer Eric Lerner draws from his friendship with and Buddhist explorations alongside Leonard Cohen, which adds another dimension to the story. I appreciate that there are no easy answers for our two wandering seekers as they go further and further away from hearth and home.

I liked this movie better as it went along. I, too, am not very happy with the way my life has gone. I guess that if you are self-satisfied, then you probably won't like this movie. But being who I am and where I have been in my life, it touched me deeply, particularly with its mournful Leonard Cohen songs in the background and its sad twist at the end. I strongly disagree with the reviewer who thought the presence of Terence Stamp's Buddhist monk and the story line of the building of the tower were extraneous. I see this story as the two main characters' search for an earthly nirvana, and the tower is a literal construction evoking the movie's title. I bought this movie because I am a big fan of Billy Petersen, and he gives really fine performance here, worth an extra star. (But I'm so glad that he's keeping his clothes on in his current role as CBS's top CSI, Gil Grissom.)

I don't think this is a great work of art, and it has numerous flaws including some flabby writing, and not the greatest acting. But if you've pondered the deeper questions in life, especially from a male perspective, this movie is worth watching.Everybody has thought about not just "what is the meaning of life?", but "what is the meaning of MY life?" What is my purpose? How should I find happiness? For men, this sometimes drifts into the nature of responsibility and relationships. Men are perhaps more independent by nature, so they feel a greater sense of compromise and sacrifice when they maintain a relationship with a woman and their children that compels them to stay in jobs that may not bring them challenge or happiness. They yearn for new experience, new women, new validation for themselves. What to do when you feel cut off from yourself, cut off from your dreams of who you thought you could be when you were younger? Most just suck it up, do the right thing and find meaning and worth in their own apparently hum-drum situations. Sometimes men stay in these unhealthy situations at considerable cost whether it be through alcohol, drugs, or family conflict. These are the kinds of fundamental questions that this movie addresses.I agree with the criticism that the characters aren't quite sympathetic enough. But aspects of them are, and I would venture to say that a lot of people can relate to their struggles.And yes, Terence Stamp is fantastic here.

Deep, but with some nudity to titillate the basic instincts.

This film takes us along on an escape from the hum-drum life of married men that hit middle age and freak out that things did not end up where they wanted them to go. They each leave their wives and families to build a retreat in a heaven on earth tropical paradise. As they try to inflict their needs on the paradise, mother nature has her way with them. Beware there is open sexuality, naked actors and actresses and situations that are not appropriate for young viewers. (like the threesome) To tell the story the scenes are not out of reach, they flow with the story telling well. Just be forewarned that they are in there.

Finally found the DVD one of my faves!!! 👍👍👍

I was expecting s DVD and got s VHD which makes me very P. O. 😈