The City of Lost Children
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.90 You Save: $7.09 (47%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $6.85 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of The City of Lost Children
Movie Review: A visual feast
Summary: 5 Stars
This film, from the directing team of Jeunet & Caro (also behind Delicatessen), is best approached on its own terms. You have seen nothing like it, and probably will not--at least not from Hollywood.The bare bones of the plot is as follows: an old man who can't dream kidnaps children from the streets of France and brings them to his laboratory where he hooks them up to a complicated machine designed to show him their dreams. Working for him in the lab are his wife (a near dwarf) and six clones (all played by Jeunet regular Dominique Pinon, who you may recognize from Amelie).
That's basically it. Of course, the children have to be rescued, so why not have circus strongman Ron Perlman do it? After all, his little brother was one of the kidnapped. (I have now seen Perlman in a Spanish film--Cronos--and this French film, as well as his English work. Do other actors do this kind of thing?)
I was enthralled by the visuals in this film. The effects involving having three or more clones onscreen at the same time are particularly impressive. Obviously the plot is a bit odd, but it's the way the story is told that is so engrossing. And the acting is superb, specifically the young heroine, who seems years beyond her age.
You will fall into this picture.
Movie Review: Beautifully Bizarre
Summary: 5 Stars
This will capture you from the first scene to the last. Judith Vittet as Miette` is Captivating to watch. She is an Adorable Child. She was nine when this was made and chosen out of a huge group of girls that tried-out. You will see why. She has so much natural talent. Daniel Emilfork is Great . His facial expressions are Incredible and show tremendous emotion. Ron Perelman is Great and convincing. You will probably like the voice of Uncle Irvin, the "poor migraine-ridden brain" in a fishtank.The movie is very highly detailed and if you have a dvd and a really good surround-sound system you will really Experience this movie. I have seen it about 8 times and I have started to look around the screen at places you usually don`t look at during the first few times of viewing. There is such intricate detail it is mezmerizing.I highly recommend setting the language to English with English sub-titles. They are not that distracting. There are a lot of phrases that are difficult to understand with the translation from French. It is Definately worth putting up with these two things and follow the journey into the dark, archaic, bizarre world. It is humorous too.The first time I saw this without subtitles I didn`t have much of an idea what was going on. Gary ColadonatoMovie Review: Pure Genius!! Just give it some time.
Summary: 5 Stars
At this very moment, I'm watching this film for about the 20th time to gauge on whether or not it has withstood the test of time. I can honestly say that it still ranks in my top 10 all time favorite films (although I'm not sure what the other 9 are).
Reading the review by herstory and her pathetically ignorant "It should have been made in America" statement angered me enough to write my first review of this since I saw it in the theater 10 years ago. Being from the states, I'm ashamed at the level of ignorant ethno-centrism prevalent among many from the US. I absolutely love this movie as it is unmatched in artistic vision, unless of course you count Gilliam, Burton, and Jackson (Heavenly Creatures before LOTR).
Admittedly, I didn't fully appreciate this movie the first time. After the third of fourth viewing, the story began to make much more sense. Most negative reviews have noted that there are holes in the plot, but I strongly disagree. Give it a few more viewings and I'm sure you will agree that the open-ended aspects are much more intentional that you previously thought. Every great song, film or piece of art takes needs time to marinate in order to fully appreciate every dynamic layer. This is no exception.
Movie Review: 'HAUTE HORROR!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Another brilliant French Import - seldom seen on the big screen [limited viewings in Los Angeles], but thankfully [and beautifully] captured on DVD, with perfect, just perfect sound.SEE this one as it was meant to be seen - in FRENCH, no subtitles, it works for itself and you can easily follow this deliciously groetsque fairy-tale involving a mad-scientist, his pint sized female companion, also a tanked, pulsating brain , crazy clown clones, not to mention multiple-Santas [phew, a nasty moment], a gorgeous strongman [Ron Perlman], and a never-ageing female Peter Pan - magnificently captured by the very adult-child Judith Vittet [a classis French beauty].
The others? We have the very synchonized, siamese twins, "la Pieuvre" [dual Wicked Witches of the West], they should join the "Gormenghast twins" and there's much more to meet the eye! The photography is superb, likewise to art direction [limited almost vintage 3D red and green tones], and the costume design is by Jean Paul Gaultier! Say no more.
There's even a theme song by Marianne Faithful - worth waiting for.
If you loved "Brazil", "12 Monkeys" and "Dark City" - get this DVD - another gem for your collection!
Movie Review: Dream a little dream
Summary: 5 Stars
This is exactly what films are about. Everyone loves Amelie, and the act of buying Delicatessen on Blu-Ray just inspired the thought, why can't I get City of Lost Children on Blu-Ray? This is easily his best work, and I like Amelie just fine. But City is almost the ultimate film, in so many ways. I remember when I first watched it, on video (that's VHS for anyone under 26) seeing Gilliam's seal of approval. If Gilliam likes it, then I am sold. And it was an EXPERIENCE. Now everyone knows Ron Pearlman as Hellboy. Great stuff. And his first outing with Del Torro (Cronos) is coming out soon on hi def. But look at him here! My god! It is a crime of sorts that this was not the first film considered for hi-def treatment. It is the tab in the binder that has written "Film". It is dreamlike. It is even about that. But it is so so so so much more. It is visually unique and even unlike other Jeunet films. The symmetry was like a Gilliam film in many respects. It had a look.........that still has grip on my inner child. There simply isn't another film of it's like at all. Beautiful. Green. Very green. Amelie has a lot of green and is very pretty. I will buy that on blu-ray, I am sure. But, I prefer to buy City Of Lost Children.