Finally caught this tonight after having to wait a week because of its limited release. It was well worth the wait. What an incredibly powerful film. There's just so many things the film touches on and so many emotions it stirs...and its all so subtle, feels so real. And pretty much everything about this film...directing, story, camera work, acting...is spot on. I haven't been a big fan of Clive Owen, but he does great work here and Cuaron, he's quickly becoming a must-see director for me. Easily one of the best films of the past year.
It was alright, I expected better. I wish there were more futuristic stuff involved, like Equilibrium.
Only 4 replies? This movie was ****ing awesome. I love how they went for the visceral, gritty violence rather than highly choreographed action scenes. This film was raw. Story sure did leave a lot of loose ends though. Go see it!
Just got back from watching. This is one of the most interesting movies I've seen in years. Cuaron did a fantastic job in creating a highly-believable apocolyptic setting. The plot may be a little confusing, but everything ties together pretty well at the end. The acting was top notch, and I love Michael Caine's character. There are numerous symbols in the movie that I am still trying to make sense. I agree with Chicken Boy about the action scenes. The use of the "visceral and gritty" scenes really showed the brutality of the futuristic setting. I'd love to see more of Cuaron in future projects. Everybody do yourselves a favor and watch this. This movie is simply amazing.
I also waited for this movie because of its limited release.It was kind of depressing but a great movie.I loved visuals and the action...
have to say the visuals were fantastic, you kind of get sucked into the movie...funny how movies with a message don't do too well.
Great acting, great cinematography, great direction... ultimately found it depressing. Would see it again.
And then Night at the Musuem is a juggernaut. Two scenes that stand out in my mind the most: Spoiler The scene at the elementary school. I'm a teacher myself and to think how it must have felt in those final years before the schools close. Suddenly you don't have a kindergarten, then a 1st grade, then a 2nd and so on. Pretty eery. And the scene where Owen is escorting Kee and the baby out of the building to safety...nothing but stunned silence and hope on everyone's faces as they walk past; just a breathtakingly emotional moment. Another notable: Spoiler When Julianne Moore's character is shot. I did not expect that at all; and the ensuing aftermath of that (shooting the two officers) exemplified the stark brutatlity of the film
There's a host of scenes that stand out. So many that it would make a heck of a long list. Those 2 jump out. So does... Spoiler the scene where he goes to visit his friend and get the papers. They go through this incredible security system, and you find yourself in Hyde Park, or a similar place. A land of normality that seems like a fantastic wonderland after what you've seen previously. Perverse, in a way, and of course there are no children playing. Spoiler All the scenes with Michael Caine. He is a marvel. Just makes something out of the character that I don't think another actor could manage. Not that many minutes on screen, but you care deeply about him.
2 things stood out to me: Spoiler Michael Caine. and Spoiler the scene where owen and kee come out of the building with her baby and everyone stares at them stunned. i got shivers during that one. it was a good movie, definitely, but fell short of my expectations, honestly. it was very intricate with a resounding message, but all in all it was quite boring at times.
Keeping the futuristic element subtle is one of the very effective tools of the movie. I saw it this past weekend and I thought it was an excellent movie. Heady and impactfully, the battle scenes near the end rival some of the stuff done in Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down.
The last moment you mention was really a tone setter for what type of movie you were going to be watching, when it happened my mind had to do a double take.
O-VER-RATED! Good movie. Probably about 8/10 on my personal scale, but not the 9/10 or better that you would expect based on reviews and word of mouth. And no, the artistic direction and tone of the movie were not lost on me. That's not why I didn't like it. For example, I loved Road To Perdition which used a similar approach of relying on scenery and subtle interactions to create emotional investment. It just wasn't as powerful as I hoped it would be. Spoiler Like in the next to last scene, when Kee was being escorted past everyone...that didn't pull at my heart strings at all really. I tend to get pretty emotionally involved in movies too, so it's very rare that a movie's most powerful scene fall flat with me. I did feel the sense of despair when Kee was left alone in the boat waiting for the Human Project, but then the movie was over and I was left thinking "ok...I finally feel something and now it's over." Just disappointed overall, but still like the movie.
Spoiler A nitpick to be sure but I think the very final scene would have resonated better with me had they done a simple fade to black instead of quick cut. It was like, I'm watching and then, BAM! it's over.
