Escobar: Paraíso Perdido

Pablo Escobar the most powerful drug lords in human history.

This movies gives you an insight to how he would have been viewed by his family, associates and of course the public of Columbia.

You'll find that life is cheap, trust is thin and power is everything.

It also leaves you with a questions..

Is the wealth, power and money worth the sacrifice of family, simplicity and freedom?

Would recommend you make your own opinion of this movie, personally I found it enthralling and couldn't look away..

If this review helped, please leave a like or what have you.

Cheers, Thomas Lyons

Having already watched the crazily long (72 episodes) mini series on Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria (El Patron del mal), I am pleasantly surprised at how much ground was covered in this single feature-length film, and with such skill. In Paradise Lost, the character of Pablo, and his powerful effect on other people, is illustrated through examining up close the case of one young man (apparently fictional, but I am not sure) who got caught up in his web. How did Pablo seduce people to become devoted to him? What did he do when they were no longer useful to him, or might possibly pose a threat somehow (by revealing information, etc.)? Not difficult to guess, for anyone familiar with the workings of organized crime more generally.

My only quibble would be that the title is somewhat misleading. Although Pablo's character and seeming insanity are revealed, the bulk of the story focuses on another person altogether. I believe that this apparently fictional character is best understood as a composite of some of Escobar's actual victims. That the fellow is something of a doofus makes sense, to be honest, so I find no fault with the acting of the lead. Put another way, just ask yourself this question: Should I marry the niece of the leader of a huge cocaine cartel, who thinks of her as his daughter?

I guess a role like that in Hunger Games can make comparisons like that easy. Also if you spend most of the time with Josh instead of Benicio (playing Escobar) you might feel tempted to question what the movie is actually about. But there are hints at the beginning which become bigger towards the end.

I'm not sure, that's how Escobar actually was. But the man depicted is anything but a Saint, even if he might have done some nice things for his people. Obviously some things are heightened for movie purposes especially towards the end. The suspense is there, but the movie might be even better, if there was more of Escobar. His character being mesmerizing every time he is on screen. But maybe that was the reason. He came off too good and therefor might have confused people (again especially towards the end) ... Decent effort of a real crime thriller

Entertaining!

Paradise Lost tells the story of a foreigner who goes to Colombia with his brother to open a surfing school and ends up falling in love with the niece of the infamous Pablo Escobar, the drug warlord. As you can imagine, his life spirals into chaos as soon as he starts getting serious with that girl. While he seems to be in good terms with the mafia clan at the beginning, as soon as Escobar's life gets complicated and justice tries to trap him, the lives of those around him follow the same disastrous path.

The tension of the movie comes from never knowing if the protagonist's love for his girl is going to be strong enough to put up with living with one of the most dangerous guys on earth at the time, or whether he is going to escape from the obviously choosing the wrong path. It's hard to tell if the movie is based on true events, (google can clarify that I'm sure) but either way, the film might easily have some resemblance with reality, since it is well known by everyone who Escobar was and how ruthless a man he came to be.

I would honestly not hesitate to watch it as a good Sunday afternoon movie. But bear in mind, it's also the type of film that you will easily forget.

I wasn't expecting much out of this film. But I do enjoy del Toro, as well as Hutcherson, so I thought I'd give it a shot. It was a little fast in some parts, but overall not a terrible film. For those saying it was based on true events, that's a big stretch. Nowhere does it say that it is based on true events. The movie is very loosely based around the final years of Pablo Escobar. Think of it like Titanic, true event, fictional characters. Neither Hutchersons or Traisacs characters actually existed. As for the ending, it's pretty obvious what happens, even if you don't see it happen on screen. I would have liked a little more explanation as to how characters ended up where they were through the film, but the movie doesn't lose anything because of it. In the end, it was an OK film with some wonderful acting. Worth a watch.