I bought this DVD for 50p 2nd hand and I was robbed, I wouldn't even recommend it as a coaster! If I'd wanted so much narration I'd have bought an audio book, everything is rushed and compiled in such an amateur fashion. The story is neither compelling or romantic. Don't waste you time with this disappointment!

The movie feels too long and boring.It feels like like if you have taken a book and just made it for a movie without any script before filming, my point is it would be a better book than a movie. See it if you want to, but I just want to say that it's not Woody Allen's best work.

Not all of Woody Allen's later films must be major creations. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA is another bright gem that makes up in atmosphere and insight what it may lack in scale. He rubs away the surface fibs of modern comfort to reveal the secret lives so many conceal. There are no attempts to solve the discontents that emerge, just an amused and pleasant tolerance of human foibles--accompanied by the sort of light ridicule and acceptance of offbeat lifestyles one expects from a veteran comedian. Along the way we are treated to some refined cinematic work. The casting is perfect. The balance between action and voice-over is just right. The brilliant guitar accompaniment offers an effective blend of popular and classical pieces. As for the direction, I especially appreciated the camera imagery. We have all seen hundreds of different ways to stage and frame kisses, but only Woody Allen would think to mask the first kiss between Juan Antonio and Vicky. It is a moment we have anticipated, and we wondered how it would look. Who else would have thought to hide it from us by having his head block their lips?--and then allow the camera to slowly move around his ear for the reveal? Brilliant.

...why Vicky and Cristina were friends in the first place. I simply could not figure it out; they did not act like best friends of long standing.I pretty much enjoyed the movie. The scenery was lovely. Scarlett Johansson is always a pleasure to look at, although this was not her strongest performance IMO. Javier Bardem was HOT! and the electricity between him and his real-life wife Penelope Cruz was palpable. Like many other reviewers, I found the voice-over narration intrusive and annoying. Unlike many other reviewers, I did not find Rebecca Hall at all beautiful and her performance did not move me, although I was impressed when I learned she had gotten the Ian Charleson Award for her stage work in 2003.But, as I said, I pretty much enjoyed the movie. Though I do have to say that in some respects it was like an adolescent male's prolonged wet dream (can I say that here?)-- not that there is anything inherently wrong with that, but the fact that this particular wet dream is written and directed by Woody Allen kind of creeps me out, for obvious reasons.