 
Pantaleon Y Las Visitadoras (Captain Pantoja and the Special Services)
Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 16
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 On: 2007-02-11
Greatly recreated from Mario Vargas Llosas excellent book!! I am usually unhappy with film versions of good books but in this case they have achieved a great movie based on a great book. Congratulations! Highly recomendable for a good laugh!
 On: 2006-08-10
Entertaining movie, but the best is La Colombiana. She is beautifull, Hot, bella, anything you wanna call her but she is HOT
On: 2006-06-28
apart from the lushness of the amazon and la colombiana and other visitadoras, as touched upon by other reviewers, the film nicely demonstrates the hypocricy of middleclass society that includes institutions like the church and the army. as pink floyd sand " in the end we are all ordinary men".
capitan pantaleon accomplishes well the job he is given by his army superiors, but when this undercover mission gets the public eye via broadcast of the funeral, the army gets cold feet and want to expel capitan pantaleon. the movie does have a beautiful ending in an isolated post in the andes. yet from that isolation are reflections about the recent events in amazonia.
visually a nice depiction of amazonian frontier towns as well. i am buying the movie AFTER seeing it ( borrowed it from my univ library), to spread the word about this gem from the year 2000.
by: jen-jay On: 2006-06-15
This film was recommended to me by Amazon and before writing up this review I realize that Im probably the only known female on this site but this hasnt been the first time so I guess Ill move on.
Ive realize mixed reviews from critics and respectable marks from the public, this fun little Peruvian drama gets off to a slow start and also runs a tad long at two hours. To me "Pantaleon y las Visitadoras" as a comedy warranties a few smiles and laughs and as a drama it may reserve some tears and feelings, as a documentary it lets you discover many aspects of the complexity of a country like Peru, and visually it will give you a pleasant experience immersing you in the charming Peruvian Amazonian locations.
It is possible that part of the value of this film may be lost if you dont understand Spanish and probably lose some of the action due to reading the subtitles. With this film I dont believe that can quite happen.
To round up the special beauty of the Amazonian, Angie Cepeda provides the perfect match, bringing to the screen all her exuberant sensuality and femininity as "la Colombiana" ("the Colombian"). Angie Cepeda by herself is reason enough for any person (mostly male) who admire female beauty to see this movie, not once but many times. You will fall in love with "la Colombiana" as Captain Pantaleon Pantoja does, and you will also understand why Chuchupe (an experienced brothel manager) refers to her as an inconvenience after his notoriety for driving men to suicide. Angie (born Angelica), an actual Colombian from Cartagena De Indias, is with no doubt acted very well on this film. The director, Francisco J. Lombardi, has apparently never directed a bad, or even mediocre movie - The author of the original story, Mario Vargas llosa, is widely acclaimed, and appropriately so.
Although its a moderately entertaining comedy, it appropriately reflects an underlying message regarding morality, the military and politics for those who care to observe and reflect, this film will also appeal to foreign film lovers who defiantly has a passion for countrys that are in the opposite side of the equator.
On: 2006-02-18
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE EXPECTING A WELL TOLD TALE AND GOT A WEAKLY STRUCTURED CINEMATIC DISAPPOINTMENT. I COULD NOT STRETCH MY MIND TO BELIEVE THAT THE MILITARY WOULD LET A CAPTAIN BECOME A "PIMP" TO BOOST MORALE AMONG THE TROOPS. IT WAS TOO FAR FETCHED. THEN THE CHANCES OF HIM BEING REALLY REALLY HANDSOME DEDICATED TO SERVICE AND MARRIED TO A REALLY PRETTY WOMAN AND THE ONE "MISUNDERSTOOD" HOOKER. "LA COLUMBIANA" BEING REALLY REALLY HOT LOOKING AND NOT ENDING UP IN BED WAS RIDICULOUS. OF COURSE THEY "GOT IT ON". WHO COULDNT SEE THAT COMMING? THAT WAS THE POINT. "LETS BUILD A MOVIE AROUND TWO MORE HOLLYWOOD GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER". THE ONE GOOD REASON TO GET THIS MOVIE IS THE ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS WOMEN THAT SHOW US THEIR "GOODS". THAT ALONE MADE IT WORTH EVERY PENNY. ITS DECIDED. LATIN WOMEN ARE THE MOST GORGEOUS. THIS MOVIE JUST PROVES IT BEYOND ARGUMENT. STORY,POOR. WOMEN 2 THUMBS UP!
 On: 2005-10-24
Basically this movie tells us a history of a married Peruvian soldier who was given the mission of establishing a brothel for soldier serving on isolated posts at the skirts of the Amazon jungle. And this all had to be done because the poor lonely soldier were so desperate for sex that they were raping local women. I cannot understand how this deplorable plot can be considered as funny. I just cannot understand how rape and prostitution can possible be used as a means of comedy. For me this is all just too sad. It is too sad to see that women exploitation is still seen so lightly and worst of all, as superb, hilarious and uplifting.
On: 2005-10-23
Basically this movie tells us a history of a married Peruvian soldier who was given the mission of establishing a brothel for soldier serving on isolated posts at the skirts of the Amazon jungle. And this all had to be done because the poor lonely soldier were so desperate for sex that they were raping local women. I cannot understand how this deplorable plot can be considered as funny. I just cannot understand how rape and prostitution can possible be used as a means of comedy. For me this is all just too sad. It is too sad to see that women exploitation is still seen so lightly and worst of all, as superb, hilarious and uplifting.
by: higopa On: 2005-08-19
This is a surrealist story. Vargas Llosa s adaptation novel was taken to screen by Francisco Lombardi. An immaculate and extraordinarily capacitated captains army is hired to install a brothel in the middle of the Amazon jungle, hiring prostitutes under the masked term of visitors to arouse still more the febrile patriotic feature of the trop.
The recruiting process, the building of the local, the serious reports informing about the advances and the strategic planning is a ravishing tour de force comedy, plenty of ambiguities, and double sense jokes around the project. But Olga (La colombiana) stared by the exuberant and monumental Angie Cepeda will turn the plans, when a love affair spout among them. But the tragedy will remain behind the door just waiting to be invoked by dark facts the reason just can not explain.
So this tragic comedy is one of the best examples of that so well known literary current named The magic marvelous ( Lo mágico maravilloso), an imported term designed by Alejo Carpentier a Cuban writer.
Go for this picture if you want to laugh about the singularities and way of thinking of certain power statements.
On: 2005-01-03
In the Peruvian comedy "Pantaleon y las Visitadoras", strait-laced Captain Pantaleon Pantoja (Salvador del Solar) is given the daunting mission of setting up a visitors centre in the heart of the Peruvian jungle. According to Pantojas superiors, there are more than 8,000 lonely soldiers stationed in various camps throughout the jungle, and these men are molesting local women. When the public outcry becomes overwhelming, Peruvian military officials decide to establish the visitors centre loaded with energetic, young prostitutes. The plan is that these women will visit the camps, and provide the lonely, desperate soldiers with a little R&R. As a result, its hoped that the soldiers attention will be distracted away from the unwelcoming local women, and back to the imported professional women who want a chance to earn some big money.
Captain Pantaleon Pantoja seems the perfect man for the job. He has no vices and is happily married. Pantaleon approaches the job as he would any military campaign--with maps, logistics, organization, pre-operation pep talks, and a complete strategy. He even subverts the carnal truth behind this delicate mission by renaming the essential components. This really has to be the funniest part of the film, but it soon lapses into predictable, silly and titillating comedy interspersed with occasional stripping and a few cheap laughs. Olga Arellano (Angie Cepeda) or "La Colombiano" provides the majority of films erotic tension. The film is based on a novel by Mario Vargas Llosa, and is in Spanish with English subtitles--displacedhuman
On: 2004-12-13
Its not a movie you would see over and over again, but its worth watching, It is about a married officer that was given an assignment, he had to boost up moral for the soldiers in the jungle by secretly running a prostitution house or should i say boat, he ends up falling for one of the prostitutes. Not to much action but drama.
On: 2004-10-04
One reviewer called this "Hogans Hookers" but I think "original and well-executed" sums this delightful genre-busting film up to a tee. I was completely captivated for the first 45 minutes as the plot was laid out in a manner that despite its humorous nature was still completely plausible and engaging. I must admit to being a Peru-lover but even if you know nothing about the country the cinematography is thoroughly professional and cutting edge. Film buffs will note that the actress who plays the madame Chuchupe is Pilar Bardem, the mother of renowned Spanish actor Javier Bardem (Jamon Jamon, Live Flesh, When Night Falls, etc, etc etc). Angie Cepeda (La Colombiana) has since gone off to Hollywood, and Salvador del Solar (Pantaleon) continues to make films in Peru. Many other faces will be familiar to watchers of Univision, Venevision, or other Televisa networks.
As for a weakness, I felt that the film got just a bit too stagy and Hollywood at about the one hour point, when Olga and Pantaleon have their first serious encounter. Cepeda is put out as the showcase of the film, but frankly I felt her performance was perhaps the weakest link in the whole presentation. But even Hitchcock was known for terrible romance scenes, I dont think it flaws the film too much. That scene was soon forgotten after remarkable appearances from Aristóteles Picho as El Sinchi, the abominable shock jock radio voice of Iquitos. And anyone who has ever worked for a poor manager should appreciate the amazing dedication and work ethic of Pantaleon, and the affection his employees felt for him after he leaves. All in all, this is a real gem of a film.
On: 2004-08-08
I found this movie to be a miserable, predictable, and pointless experience. The political satire of it escapes me as well as the humor or sexiness. If you want a real satire about military life and corruption, see "Bananas!" And if you want to entertain some goofy fantasy about running a legal prostitute ring and cheating on your wife, then see this.
On: 2004-08-01
Youll never see a movie with this storyline being produced and released by Hollywood. Its probably best suited for liberal-minded adults since it touches on lots of taboo subjects, i.e., prostitution, adultry, and steamy sex. Its what U.S. troops really wanted Bob Hope to deliver when he visited troops overseas.
The other reviewers have given the gist of the storyline, but in a nutshell, its the story of a dedicated, discipline, career soldier (a Captain) who is ordered by his superiors to set up a brothel to service Peruvian soldiers in the Amazon. The temptation of lust (a certain sexy prostitute) overtakes Captain Pantaleon. Hes overcome with conflict between duty to his country, his goal to run the best damn brothel, his love for a prostitute, and fidelity to his wife.
Without a doubt, TWO THUMBS UP!
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-11
Funny - Comical and at times just nuts. You can easily see the road which La Colombiana is taking the straight-laced Capitan.
Sad- You can also tell who the Capitan is thinking about when he lights his lighter.DVD functionality was good. Picture is pristine, with options for English and Spanish subtitles in letterbox. This one was a pleasant surprise.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-05-19
I am one who loves foreign films. Especially those from latin america. This movie is highly entertaining and really captures some of the "spicyness and characteristics" of latino culture . Anyone who has lived in South America knows this. One scene scene that did this was the fiesta with the band and dancers. The music, costumes, dances, and atmosphere were very similar to what you would find if you went there tomorrow. Maybe the ending was a little too harsh, but an overall entertaining flick it was.
On: 2004-05-16
Great Peruvian film here!
It is about a clean-cut, obediant captain in the Peruvian army who is assigned to go undercover as a businessman near a far-off army base where the soldiers have been causing havoc in the nearby city, raping women (since there are no women in the land where they are stationed. The captain (who is a loyal husband and soon-to-be father, spearheads a business in which prostitutes are brought down the Amazon River and are paid to provide "renderings" to the soldiers.
Alot of the drama in this dark comedy/drama comes from "La Colombiana," an extremely beautiful "visitadora" whom becomes a favorite of the soldiers and her boss.
This made my wife and I laugh out at several parts, though lovers of drama will more than likely appreciate this piece more than those who are just looking for a few laughs. The acting is impeccable, the script was witty, but not overdone, the film quality was great (much better than I had expected considering not many Peruvian films make it into the US market).
A Must-See!!
by: gradyharp On: 2004-05-15
PANTALEON Y LAS VISITADORS (Pantaleon and the "Visitors") is a completely satisfying cinematic conversion of the novel by Mario Vargas Llosa by the excellent Director Francisco Lombardi. The film is so successful in telling the tale of a traveling boat of prostitutes who are engaged by the Peruvian Army to provide outlets for the soldiers quartered in the jungles of the Amazon (and have been abusing the local women) that what first appears to be a hilarious comedy becomes a rather profound statement about one mans ideals and his dedication to authority: the perfect Military Officer.
Captain Panteleon Pantoja (Salvador del Solar) is such an excellent organizer and dedicated officer that he is the one chosen by all of the top military officials to resolve the problem of addressing the sexual needs of the isolated Peruvian soldiers. He organizes, with the help of a brothel owner Chuchupe (Pilar Bardem), a carefully screened cadre of ladies of the night or visitadors, has uniforms made, and arranges a military post where the Visitadors are brought in by boat to service the eager soldiers. The project is an enormous success in every way. Pantaleon is obsessed with his project, much to the neglect of his wife Pocha (Monica Sanchez), and is eventually drawn into an indiscretion with one of the Visitadors called La Colombiana (the steamy Angie Cepeda). From there things begin to lose humor, the project is made public by the wily, disgusting radio talk show host El Sinchi (played to the hilt by Aristoteles Picho!), and ultimately comedy turns to tragedy. The real interest of this film is how despite the ultimate failure of the project, our by-the-book Panteleon manages to find a way to bounce back! A satisfying surprise ending to a fine message film. The cinematography is superb, the jungles of the Amazon have not felt so steamy since "The African Queen" jungles, and the acting is intelligent, terse, and informed. There is much to celebrate in this excellent film, not the least of which are the many underlying motives that wear strange costumes but reveal universal truths. In Spanish with English subtitles.
On: 2003-11-15
The beauty and eroticism of the Peruvian Amazon captured in a single movie. Lombardis work takes Vargas Llosas novel to a new level in both spice and sensuality.
On: 2003-08-27
Hilarious, sultry and clever, this film traces the adventures of the dedicated Peruvian Army Captain Pantoja, who is sent by his higher-ups to an assignment deep in the jungle. It seems the soldiers there have been raping local women, due to the well-accepted fact that the jungle boils a mans desire out of control. Pantojas secret task is to form a government-sponsored brothel to keep the mens libidos in check. With characteristic thoroughness, and at first reluctantly, Pantoja analyzes every aspect of the job, exhaustively researching human sexuality with a scholars detachment. This leads him to many insights into accomplishing his task in the most efficient manner possible. One example: the provision of pornographic material to a soldier waiting for his "visit" reduces his average "visit time" by 36 seconds, thus allowing a "visitor" to service six more soldiers during her shift, and reducing cost accordingly.
Unfortunately for Pantoja, the operation becomes too efficient and eventually draws the attention of a corrupt local radio personality. The dignity that Pantoja bestows upon his employees irks his superiors, and they too turn on him.
Llosas original novel is brought to life delightfully, and the film is highly entertaining, especially for one familiar with Latin American culture.
On: 2002-12-03
This is a wonderful peruvian movie, with Salvador Del Solar (peruvian) and Angie Cepeda (colombian) starring it, theyre 2 highly talented actors...and this movie is based on the Mario Vargas Llosa novel Pantaleón y las Visitadoras.I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU TO SEE THIS ONE, YOU WOULD CONSIDER IT AS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE FOREIGN MOVIES OF ALL TIMES
On: 2002-11-22
I think Francisco Lombardi got the exact feeling that you get when reading this excellent book from Mario Vargas Llosa.
The film edition, film direction and performance of the actors cant be that better.
Salvador del Solar makes a great character as Captain Pantoja really well supported by two women: Angie Cepeda and Monica Sanchez.
Angie Cepeda shows that shes not only sexy but a great actress as Monica Sanchez shows she can be as sexy as she wants.
Beautiful locations in the jungle and rivers of Peru.
Two thumbs Up!
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