Memento
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Movie Reviews of Memento
Movie Review: Remember Sammy Jankis
Summary: 5 Stars
Movie Summary: Leonard Shelby has lost his wife and himself in a brutal attack in his own home. His wife has died and Lenny has lost the ability to create new memories. He lives in a fog where the things that have just happened quickly fade into oblivion. The last thing that he can remember is his wife; his wife dying. What keeps Lenny going is the search for his wife's killer. Because of his condition, he can't remember for more than a few minutes, so he uses notes, picture, tattoos, and conditioning to keep himself on track. After searching for who knows how long, Lenny has closed in on the man he has been looking for. But is it the right guy?My Opinion: Memento was gripping from the very first moment and it hasn't let up even though I've finished watching it over 12 hours ago. I loved the concept of Lenny not being able to make any new memories. It fits excellently with the backward method the story is told with. It took some mental work to put the pieces together one by one as they happened, but I thoroughly enjoyed doing it. The plot was very tight since it had to be able to fit together in small slices backwards. This forced them to have a story that worked; something that other movies are sadly lacking. The subplot of Sammy Jankis rounds out a very full story and makes Memento something very special. I found the acting to be top notch Guy Pearce is awesome as Lenny. I didn't doubt his condition for an instant. Joe Pantoliano is equally as great playing Teddy. Leonard decides not to believe Teddy's lies. We are left on our own to decide. No mater what conclusion I come to about Teddy, one thing is certain: Memento is a highly entertaining movie. It is a prime example of why I love movies like I do. Don't miss it.
DVD Quality: Video: Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1 with great video quality. Sound: DD5.1 Extras: Tons of extras including the entire 50 page short story "Memento", Cast Biographies, Newspaper clippings pictures notes and clues from the story, Interview with the director, and Trailers. Menus: The menus are freaky and very cool. Things appear and disappear from different options as you move around. You get flashes of things that make you feel like Lenny.
What You Should Do: See this movie. See it on DVD and check out all the extra features. If you are a fan of intelligent movies that make you think while they entertain you, then you are going to want to own this DVD.
Related Movies To Check Out: The Matrix, Jacob's Ladder, The Ninth Gate, The Usual Suspects
Movie Review: "How am I Supposed to Heal if I Can't Feel Time?"
Summary: 5 Stars
Some who don't care for Memento give hints on what may or might have happened in this fine movie... watch where you read. It's better to let this movie take you on a backwards path from end to beginning. It's truly fascinating. If you're not sure whether you'll like it, just look at the stars. You stand around a 90% chance of enjoying this film. From the moment I popped the DVD in, the main menu just blew me away. It's the MUSIC, by composer David Julyan. I watched this a couple months ago and the music stayed in my subconscious. Finally had to play the movie again, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time, even after knowing all the twists and turns. I don't want to rehash what I'm sure most people do in these reviews. Reading them makes you feel sometimes like you're reliving Groundhog Day. One enjoyable thing was the way the DVD was produced. There is actually a dual main menu, and you can access the secondary one by slipping into the audio selections and then returning to the main menu. Even the building of the scene selections is a completely different approach to producing a DVD. More companies should be so innovative in bringing a fresh approach to creating unique menus.
This is a great movie for thinking people to watch. It is one of the better- written and edited movies out there. And I know that most movie- goers want a movie that challenges the mind. Lenny (Guy Pearce) does plenty of thinking and I found myself trying to get into HIS mind because, while the story plays backwards, I want to know just where he's going and how he can keep his sanity. If I had the same condition as Lenny, I'd be completely paranoid -- I wouldn't trust anyone. What better way to remember than having information tattooed? But how easy you can be manipulated when you have short term memory loss.
I see there is a new limited edition of Memento at about the same cost as the original DVD, and I plan on owning this one. Rent the film and you'll more than likely discover that you'll want to watch it time and again, so you may as well pick up a copy. Listen. Most people voted Memento with a perfect score and less than 10% gave it a "D" or worse grade in a highly- respected movie site with a total of over 67,000 votes. Across the board demographically, the voters gave it at LEAST 8/10, with women 45 or older giving it just under 8. I would have thought that people under 18 might not like it so much, but they are consistent with the overall score. So get it.
Movie Review: spectacular film, average dvd bells and whistles
Summary: 5 Stars
Alfred Hitchcock was the master of Cinema's Rule One: 'Do not tell. SHOW.' Director/screenwriter Christopher Nolan takes that philosophy a step further in this film noir masterpiece by controlling not only the viewer's visual sense but their perception of time as well, reconstructing the protagonist's attempts to make sense of his world by reading the clues he leaves for himself (and us) and deciding who to trust in order to understand not only what occurs, but why. In effect, Nolan has rewritten the rule: 'Do not show. EXPERIENCE.'The cast is exceptional, Guy Pearce in particular, and traditional film noir elements are executed very well, with haunting music, taut cinematography, smart dialogue, effective voiceover, and a constant search for motive. Humor is used sparingly and effectively. This is really an editor's film, and Dody Dorn deserves an Oscar nomination for editing this gem.
As for the DVD edition, it is a mixed bag. Though operationally a bit buggy, cinematically and artistically the special features are creative and fun. For instance, interesting scenes run behind the menus, and many film clips appear framed as Polaroid camera shots, both fun to watch and relevant to the film's concept. The original idea for the film was supplied by the director's brother Jonathan, who wrote a short story based on the same idea and designed the film's web site; information rendered from outside the time frame of the film, viewable on the DVD as newspaper clippings and notes by Guy Pearce's Leonard, are adapted from that web site. Also included are Jonathan Nolan's short story, an Independent Film Channel interview with Christopher Nolan, trailers from Memento and an earlier Nolan film, cast and director biographies, subtitles in English or Spanish, and a tattoo gallery (which looked interesting, but I couldn't get it to work on my Power Mac G4). I wish more DVDs would incorporate this kind of material.
I was disappointed because I'd heard that on the DVD you could watch the film as if it was shot running forward but that is not here, unless you count running the chapters in reverse from the Chapter Selection feature. I would also have liked to have seen behind-the-scenes footage, especially storyboards.
This is a great film to watch with a group (as long as they don't talk during the film) so you can talk about it afterward. Nolan and crew can be proud of this fine film. The DVD extras could have been better, but they are still fun to play with.
Movie Review: Amazing film with excellent editing and great acting
Summary: 5 Stars
Memento is one of the best films ever made in Cinema and I give credit to the Director and the actors, mainly Guy Pearce. What makes Memento a great and unique film is that it plays backwards, though some parts acctually play forward(i.e the black and white scense)it kind of gets you confused which you'll have to acctually use your brain to figure out though later in the film it becomes easier to understand and you'll get the hang of it.
The story is pretty simple. Leonard(Pearce)is out for revenge, to get the man who raped and murdered his wife. The problem is that Leonard suffers from a rare brain disorder which means he can't make new memory(AKA short term memory loss)but for some odd reason he can remember things before his injury(which still kind of bothers me for some reason) and must write down notes and stuff like that inorder to get to the next puzzle or answer. Since he has this short term memory loss he must take pictures, write down things and get tatoo's on his body which gives him clues and facts in order for him to get one step closer to the answer. On his way through this journey of finding the man who did this to him he makes friends with a woman named Natalie and Teddy who may know more about Leonard then he could imagine. To make things worse for Leonard he gets caught with some troubles like getting cooked up with some guy named Dodd(what he does and who he is you'll have to see the film for yourself)...Overall this is an Excellent film.
The film is pretty original if you ask me and Director Christopher Nolan did an excellent job editing, pacing this whole film.
I really like how the movie plays backwards which give the audience little confusion but that's it and the black and white scenes are very juicy and detailed until the very last scene where we find out what the real truth is. You see the movie plays at the very end of the film and plays backwards to the very beginning of the film. I really liked the characters in this film especially Teddy. The characters were great and it's good to see Carrie-Anne Moss not dressed in black trying to save Zion and make out with Neo for a change...
Overall Memento blew me away. This film has excellent writing editing, Great Actors, Excellent yet very simple story told backwards and some really great yet accward moments and there for I give this film a
5 out of 5 stars...
Lates..
Movie Review: Wow, I just have to say it is a thinking movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Listen, I generally get lousy ratings for my movie reviews, so I am prepared for this. That being said; here goes.A THINKING MOVIE, NOT A RELAXING ONE:
If you like a movie that makes you put your head in gear, this is it. Pay attention very closely to what goes on in this movie.
I plan on watching it again and again, because there is some loose threads that just don't fit.
UNUSUAL PRESENTATION BUT DONE REALLY WELL:
Are you a Pulp Fiction or an X-files fan? You might really like this. No, no aliens, just an unusual story line. I have to be careful not to ruin it for you. This movie is not only different in that it is about a guy with short-term memory loss, but it is presented differently. In a way you as the viewer are forced to piece together the movie, just like the main character does in his notes. It is really well done.
BASIC STORY LINE:
In a nutshell, Lenny is a guy that has short-term memory loss. Leave the room after talking to him for 15 minutes and he will forget who you are. He remembers his past, his wife, her attack. Everything is up for grabs after that. However, he wants his revenge for her attack. This is his theme and his tatoos help piece together this puzzle.
ACTORS:
Guy Pearce memorable in L. A. Confidential as the rule-stuck young cop is almost unrecognizable in his bleached-blond look as Lenny. He does an admirable job showing the confusion of a young man with a brain disorder that literally forces him to live in the moment. Notes, tatoos and Polariod photos take the place of his memory.
Joe Pantoliano from the Matrix plays Teddie, his sleazy accomplice, providing confusion and direction. Carrie Anne Moss also from the Matrix is Teddie's counter-balance. Who does a guy with no memory trust?
NOT A MOVIE TO RELAX BY, BUT UNIQUELY ENJOYABLE:
If you want to think, this is a great movie. If you want to coast, watch something else and save this when you want to get your mind in gear. Some people like movies like this, some people hate them. It may also just depend on your mood.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T LIKE IT, GIVE IT AT LEAST 1/2 HOUR:
When I first started watching this movie, my thought was, it was kind of tedious. Great a weirdly unfolding movie. Then when a couple of things happened that I didn't expect, it really got my attention. Give it at least 1/2 hour to get yours.
Enjoy.