Tunnel of Love (1997) User Reviews

Great film work, dull story

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 15 November 2008]

This short was in part four of the "Short Cinema Journal"--a film I rented from Netflix but which appears to have originally been a monthly film series for people who like mediocre modern short films AND love to have the DVD chock full of commercials. I have so far tried two of the Journal's DVDs and felt enraged at the horrible way that a viewer needs to navigate the disk in order to see the films. Talk about an over-produced and overly complicated way of doing this! While I have and will continue to see as many shorts as I can, I really doubt if I'll bother with the Journals because of these factors.

TUNNEL OF LOVE is a film that looked great but didn't exactly deliver. The film was almost completely made in lovely black and white and this actually was a big plus, as the film really was enhanced by this. In particular, the film makers chose some people with tons of character in their faces and the lighting and camera work really made the most of this. While not as bizarre as many of the characters that you'd find in a Fellini film, it was a great example of casting and film making.

However, despite this and a nice 50s look, the film had two problems. While the motorcycle and most of the cars had a 50s and early 60s look, some of them were modern and this just didn't fit. But, much more importantly, was that although the film work was top-notch, the story itself just seemed shallow and unsatisfying at the end. An example of great style with little substance.

Norton Commandos are magical, mythical beast

[shaunee68 · 7/10 · 15 February 2013]

A different little film that I stumbled across on Youtube. The fact that it featured an earlier very nice Norton Commando along with Ten Pole Tudor's and Joe Strummer's names appearing in the in the title clip meant I was prepared to spend ten minutes watching it.

Is the story line about the motorcycle rider or about an old Norton motorcycle that has acquired a succession of riders by some life and purpose and force of possession of its own? Perhaps this would explain why the Tudor character pursues the woman in the car. The male rider wakes in the morning to find the the woman has gone along with the Norton leaving her car and a puddle of oil from the bike.

She is next seen transformed into "ton up leather rocker motorcycle gear" pursuing a young man in a four wheel drive on the Norton.

Maybe this why there are still so many old Norton Commandos still on the road? Ooooooh, time for Twilight Zone music ;-). Norton Commandos have magical powers of possession over people you see, and live forever.

I found the film amusing. I may have made sense of it, maybe not. I liked it even if was just to hear the Commando doing its thing.

Cute but has flaws.

[yossimizrachi · 7/10 · 6 January 2020]

"Tunnel of Love" is generally speaking descent. The plot is fairly simple and it has a style to it, which is essential in short films. However, the ending is slightly confusing...in terms of character motivation. And besides the confusing nature of the ending, it stimulates no emotions and is somewhat tasteless. Still, give it a watch, it's only 12 minutes.

really, really bad

[overweightblackpoolprickster · 1/10 · 10 February 2005]

this film is so stupid. its a short starring the weird guy who used to present the crystal maze after the rocky horror show guy quit and one of the bloody 'it' girls! that should be enough to make you never want to watch it. but the storyline is awful and confusing. it's about a biker who falls in love with a pretty blonde in a merc. it's making me mad just thinking about it! but the storyline isn't the only crap thing about this film. the acting is TERRIBLE! perhaps the filmmakers should've tried to get talented actors to star instead of recognisable faces. because they really suck at acting. tudor pole is sooooo unbelievable as a biker! it just makes no sense. beckworth just plays a smug posh woman. i doubt it stretched her abilities too much. the film also looks rubbish! the whole thing is shot in black and white (except one quick flash of colour) who knows why they did this. it just looks crap. the easy answer is that the flash of colour is supposed to signify the moment the biker falls in love but if it's as simple and obvious as that then the director wants shooting. i really hate this film. i hope i never see it again. avoid at all costs.