BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Casey Duggan It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Mr_Ectoplasma "Boxing Helena" follows a wealthy surgeon (Julian Sands) with mommy issues who saves his female neighbor, Helena, whom he's obsessed with, after she is hit by a car in front of his house. After amputating her legs, he goes a step further and turns her into a living Venus de Milo and holds her captive in his home.This film has a notoriously bad reputation, and my natural thought prior to seeing the film was "there's no way it's that bad." I was kind of wrong. It is pretty dreadful in a lot of ways. The film was directed by Jennifer Lynch, daughter of David Lynch, who wrote the script for the film when she was nineteen. It is not a bad concept by any means; it's a clear-cut meditation on obsession and power, with shades of Samuel Richardson's "Clarissa," as well as further commentary on male sexuality and the female body.It sounds fascinating, doesn't it? It unfortunately really isn't. The problem with the film lay wholly in its execution, which is amateurish, Lifetime TV-movie-of-the-week status, even by early '90s standards. Unbelievable dialogue doesn't help matters, and the film plods for much of its duration, lacking the sufficient writing necessary to really carry it. The actors here try their best, but even in spite of decent performances, they mostly become voiceboxes that showcase the script's weakness. Julian Sands and Sherilyn Fenn are both great actors and actually have some chemistry on screen, but again, the dialogue renders their performances mostly unconvincing. Bill Paxton, Kurtwood Smith, and Art Garfunkel are also along for the ride here in supporting roles which, again (mainly in Paxton's case), are melodramatic and really shed further light on the weakness of the script.The film wraps itself up just as uneventfully as it opens, and left me feeling like I'd just witnessed a massive lost opportunity; a solid concept spoiled by feigned pathos, weak dialogue, and amateurish cinematography. Sands and Fenn are the highlights here, but even they can only do so much. It's worth watching for the camp factor, which is where the film has ultimately found an audience. 4/10.

dantonstl I was like 15 when I saw this film, and I watched it again. I guess what is important is that following this beautiful woman in film, from Three of Hearts to a few others, that the lead Julian Sands gets to entertain and guide the audience like no other. Putting his stardom apart from the competition in a world where Brad pitt is starring alongside Susan Sarandon in Thelma and Loiuse and other actors like Arnold schwarzneggar are being in films like TWINS....we get to see a lifestyle of infatuation that borders insanity in an all too likely Don't GO FOR IT scenario. so whereas the other reviews do tell exactly what happened within the film....at the time the competition and reviews pertinent to what dudes were watching at this time where i'm fifteen...it was a fine option and one I still remember renting at the local Blockbuster video store.

ramona-izabela i love this movie ,it's my favorite!although might be considered a little bit sick,it is amazing how much love can give a men to a woman,who is very hard to conquer.gradually,she convince herself that Nick Cavanaugh is the right person for her and he is gonna love her no matter what.HELENA fall in love with him but the love scene is brutally interrupted by ray s apparition.my favourite scene is the one when she screams in the terrace,the one with nick and a lady having sex and Helena watches,and the scene in which nick take care of her by putting make-up.Sherilyn Fenn is adorable with or without legs and arms and Julian Sands 's performance is great.

Chrysanthepop Jennifer Chambers Lynch's 'Boxing Helena' feels like an outdated, insipid, almost soft-core (and a bad one at that) movie. In spite of having a supposedly 'disturbing' theme (which didn't effect me at all), the film is incredibly boring. The awful background score reminds one of the 80's B-grade erotic thriller (even the makeup and clothes look that way). Cinematography is flat (At least Lynch could have learned something from her dad).The characters are like cardboard cutouts. Sherilyn Fenn is very beautiful but her acting here is not impressive mostly because of the awful writing. Julian Sands is atrocious. No wonder he's never offered a decent role. Lynch's 'Boxing Helena' tries to be a noir style erotic thriller but it merely ends up being a pretentious piece of garbage. Some friends suggested watching the film otherwise I perhaps never would have given this one a chance (not that I blame them or anything).