MovieChat Forums > Selena (1997) Discussion > FANTASTIC FILM - one issue

FANTASTIC FILM - one issue

posted 15 years ago by franrom28
21 replies | jump to latest

I thought this film was phenomenal!! But, there was one issue I found. It didn't go into too much detail about what Yolanda Saldivar did. She stole a lot of money and then afterwards lied and said she had a lesbian affair with Selena. Also, she claimed that Selena was going to leave Chris for another man. Yolanda and Selena were BFF's. I do not think they stressed that enough in the film. Their relationship was 2-D in the movie. Oh, and also, I really think they should have shown what happened in the hotel where Selena was shot. The argument between Yolanda and Selena should have been acted out, and also Selena crying out for help when she was shot and no one came to her rescue. An exceptional film, with just those minor issues. Anyone agree?

[–] birdsrfreelikeme 15 years ago

I could not agree with you more. They really needed to go more in depth. I wish they would of shown the hotel scene too. It is a great movie but it kind of makes you want to know more about the relationship between those two.

[–] mclover92 15 years ago

they cannot act out something they were not a part of! they were not there that day to know what exactly happened.

[–] AtheistRevolution 15 years ago

I think common sense and the eyewitness can put together what happened. She fired her ass after she couldn't come up with the records. Then went to leave and was shot in the back.According to the maid eyewitness that fat pig shot at her a second time when she ran to the lobby while also screaming bitch.It was a pretty premeditated murder.She brought the gun and knew she didn't have the records to clear her name. So what else was she going to do in that meeting besides kill her?

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[–] uzielis 8 years ago

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.

Not bad.

My name is called religion, sadistic, sacred, whore. - Lemmy Kilmister, RIP.

[–] PurpleLemonadeDinosaur 15 years ago

You think the family would have wanted a reenactment of their loved one's death? Come on. It's common sense here. Like the last post said, we weren't here to watch someone get shot brutally. We were here to honor that person's life. I don't think it would boost ratings to show the hotel scene. It would have probably defend the family. And I think Selena's father was the executive produce of this film anyway. I think the scene where she's dreaming then shows her being wheeled away by the ambulance plays out perfectly. We didn't need to see her get shot.

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[–] dmr_37 15 years ago

I totally agree with you.

[–] Buffyfan92 15 years ago

Yeah there have been shows that tell you what happened in the motel room like vh1's Famous Crime Scenes Selena. I'm glad the didn't play out her death in the movie it would of ruined it for me. Plus production of the movie started like a year after she died so her family was still grieving and I'm sure they didn't want to recreate Selena's death.

Also there are only 2 people that know exactly what was said in that motel room and unfortunetly Selena is dead and that pig Yolanda will never tell the truth about what happened or why she killed Selena.

[–] danakscully64 14 years ago

Thank you for the info on VH1's Famous Crime Scenes. I found it on Youtube if anyone is interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDEQg_nag9Y

(If the link doesn't work, then it has been taken down for copyright reasons. As of right now, it works and the videos- the show is in 4 parts - have been posted for 5 months).

[–] korn_kid_mike 14 years ago

its sad enough to know that she is gone and that part did not need to be in the movie and it was about how she lived and how she loved those in her life and for her fans, i think they ended the movie just fine.

[–] ANightToRemember 14 years ago

As beautiful as the "Dreaming Of You" on stage sequence is, it gives the wrong impression. It makes it seem almost as if she was shot on stage. Even though it's said afterwards she wasn't, it goes by so quickly it's hard to put everything together.

Here's the issue: The film doesn't portray it realistically. They show Yolanda and Selena's friendship as 2D, as the OP said, and doesn't go into depth at all as to what it was all about. The friendship is the most tragic part of it all. I personally would have done it with the hotel scene, but cutting away and not showing the actual shooting. Why not have it up to the argument, cut away to the family and them getting a call, they leave to the hospital, BAM! Into that dreaming of you sequence.

Don't get me wrong, the film is fantastic still, it's just they could have done a bit more for the audience.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] lacedemonians 14 years ago

The film was properly about Selena. The film was properly neither about Selena's murder nor the murderess.

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[–] Celestina_24 14 years ago

Nobodys knows what happened in the hotel room so there is noway to act it out.

[–] Yollimartin 14 years ago

I definitely see your point. I didn't clear anything up about the lesbian rumors.

[–] angelatomate324 13 years ago

I think an obvious reason for this is because they wanted to focus on Selena's life, not her death. Showing any more of Yolanda would give her recognition that she does not deserve. I think the movie is better the way it is, celebrating her life.

[–] swusterb 13 years ago

You also need to consider the artistry involved in not showing the details of what happened in the hotel room. Selena had been working for a long time to get where she was and she was on the cusp of crossing over and becoming a huge star on the order of Madonna and Paula Abdul, as mentioned in the movie. And then, suddenly, she was taken away from it all. The film does an excellent job of shoiwng how quick, unexpected, and utterly meaningless the actions of Yolanda were. It gets us to see exactly what was stolen from us through her selfish actions.

[–] loco_73 12 years ago

You might be right, but this movie was meant more as a tribute to Selena and a celebration of her brief but beautiful life. Had this movie concentrated on Yolanda Saldivar, I feel, it would have taken away from the primary focus which was Selena herself.

I think that taking that approach would have undermined the whole movie in so far as turning it into somekind of a movie-of-the-week type, which would have been a disservice to Selena's memory and her fans. I for one don't want to focus on Yolanda Saldivar, she is not the reason why I went to watch the movie when I did! Yolanda Saldivar is a murderer, a cheat and a liar, and that is NOT the person I wanted to figure prominently in this movie...

Yolanda Saldivar is the kind of person that always lurks in the shadows and this is where she belonged in the movie, relegated to a dark corner and not playing a significant role.

As for having a lengthier and more detailed scene as to what ocurred between Selena and her and the actual killing...why? The sordid and tragic details were already known, and as I said, I always thought of this movie as a celebration of Selena and her life, not some tabloid remake of a murder. Leave that for True Hollywood Story or some other tabloid and infotainment show...

"Today is the tomorrow I was so worried about yesterday"--Anthony Hopkins

[–] bsharporflat 12 years ago

Good post, loco. The details of the supposed friendship and murder can be covered in the Yolanda Saldivar movie. That's a sad movie and that's where that story belongs. There is no reason the people who want the details wouldn't watch that movie. I wouldn't.

This movie is inspiring and I'm very glad they didn't ruin that for positive people by dwelling on the nasty details that some people crave.

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