101 Reykjavík
|
Our Price: $46.95 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $14.98 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of 101 Reykjavík
Movie Review: Iceland? Who would guess...?
Summary: 4 Stars
I mean, a movie set in Reykjavik, Iceland???Well, it's terrific, and filled with some of the most hilarious, memorable lines ever to come from the screen. My personal favorite was: But I've never cheated on my mother before!
101 Reykjavik focuses on the life of a chronic welfare recipient who lives his depressed life with his mother in a small apartment where the bathtub is 3 feet from the kitchen table. Enter: another woman, but both mother and son want her. Sit back, laugh, and enjoy this film of urban angst and aimlessness.
Movie Review: Great little-known Icelandic film
Summary: 4 Stars
While planning my trip to Iceland this April, I stumbled across a mention of this film and decided to check it out, mostly for the scenery of Reykjavik. However, this ended up being a thoroughly entertaining film. The story line, while somewhat unconventional, made for great comedic highs infused with all the emotion of the complicated relationship between the main characters. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of foreign or independent films.Movie Review: Fun when looking for something a little different
Summary: 4 Stars
As the title says, this is a great movie when your in the mood for something a little different from the norm. The characters are great and easy to relate to on a 'day to day' basis. Some of the issues presented are not for everyone, but it should not deter you from watching it.Movie Review: nothing novel about this movie
Summary: 3 Stars
I've seen many Foreign Films lately, and I've noticed that most of the ones I've seen are extremely simplistic, and focus the entire story on an average character and his/her daily routines.The problem with this movie is that the main character is an underachiever, and his life is less than entertaining. True, a character's life CAN be boring, but the story can't. A dull life and dreary routine can make for a good movie (i.e "400 Blows"), but for the movie to succeed, it's got to be shown in an entertaining way.
I seriously felt swindled out of $20 by the time the credits rolled. There was nothing fresh about this movie at all. The characters were not intriguing to say the least. And just looking at the scenery was sending me to an early nap.
And so, visually, this movie also disappointed me: all the audience gets to see of Iceland is the main character's house, a Welfare office, a nightclub, a bazaar, and a few shots of apartment interiors. If there was more scenery in this movie, it didn't leave any memorable impressions.
To sum up, I watched this movie for three reasons:
1) to be entertained by the main character's lifestyle
2) to listen to the Icelandic language
3) to get a colorful glimpse of Iceland
In conclusion, the only good thing I can say about this movie is that most of it is in Icelandic. That said, I seriously doubt anyone will be enthralled by the movie's story. And people hoping to see Iceland or even just Reykjavik in all its glory will be disappointed by the film's choice of locations. The movie does not do Iceland justice, and it does not do the movie industry justice. At its very best, this movie is less-than-average.
Aside from this movie, I've only see one other Icelandic movie, "The Sea." And if you have to pick between "101 Reykjavik" and "The Sea," I definitely recommend the latter.
Movie Review: A little predictable and rushed
Summary: 3 Stars
This movie started off really captivating, but by the middle of it I found myself no longer on the protagonist's side. I also noticed that this movie culminated in pretty formulaically, typical of a lot of other Scandinavian films I've seen. The end wasn't rewarding, and the basic plot ups and downs were similar to films like the Norwegian Elling - it was the same type of style, or so it appeared to me, in any case. The soundtrack also became pretty annoying, with more than half the songs being techno versions of the song "Lola".
High points of this film: It is technically very pretty, filmed well, and makes good use of scenery. The plot is straightforward and fun.
I just don't think this film has too much substance in it. It's good to see once but definitely isn't groundbreaking or a favorite of mine. You should give it a try, though, if you're into Iceland.