Author |
Message |
i.hope
Defeats all expectations
Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 5:04 pm Posts: 6665
|
Watched it for the first time on DVD.
The beginning of the film up until the car chase sequence that led to the death of the revolutionary group's leader was quite uninvolving because of the unfamiliar setting with many embedded presumptions. But from then on, as the protagonist's mission became known, one was more concerned with the story. Also, the futuristic chaotic scenario no longer felt distant thanks to the gripping camera work and convincing setup of the scenes. The cinematography and editing did a brilliant job in allowing one to closely witness every move by the protagonist (played by Clive Owen). I was held in awe by each of the several prolonged chase-and-run sequences.
The story is simple. In a time when the world is punctuated by human infertility, Theo, a British ex-activist-turned-bureaucrat, finds out that an African refugee girl (Kee) in Britain is pregnant with what could be the first child of the human race in 18 years. To get to the Human Project, the supposedly only safe place for the mother and child, Theo and Kee run from the British government spreading white terror against refugees and the refugees' rights activists needing a poster child to advance their cause. The film follows their journey.
Characterization is simplistic. Theo is portrayed as the only hero who has the will (though changing over the course) and the capability to save the mother and child. Sometimes character simplicity might be necessary for dramatic effect and contrast. But I had a hard time swallowing this kind of one-man heroism. Also, I would like to point out that in the film, the general people living under the British government are portrayed as passive non-participants in any governmental action against the refugees. (To KJ posters: how differently would you conjure up the futuristic scenario if you were the screenwriter? Would you see the citizens as participants, assuming Britain was a representative democracy before the human infertitlity?)
The film has an underlying pacifist message. It speaks against those who put their loyalty to national identity and ideology above everything else. And it seems to suggest people's caring for each other is the most valuable human quality.
Brush aside our differences and bring on some love.
Grade: B
|
Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:30 am |
|
|
Mannyisthebest
Forum General
Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 3:53 pm Posts: 8636 Location: Toronto, Canada
|
I most likely become an outcast now but....
didn't find this film the next classic but it was good. However the treatment of this film as the great film our time, now has made me dislike the film more. It a good film, but its not greatest film ever!
The futuristic subject matter was the interesting part however the film abandoned it throughout the film.
I give the film a B-/C+.
Yeah i found films like this, Dreamgirls, Departed to be nothing better then B-.
Quote: If you dont give CoM a perfect grade, then you're pretty much a rapist... it's that simple.
Then you wonder why Citizen Kane is the number 1 film. People force the film down your throat and say love it or your a moron. That attitude givin to this film has made me dislike this film.
_________________The Dark Prince
|
Thu Jun 21, 2007 5:27 pm |
|
|
Gulli
Jordan Mugen-Honda
Joined: Mon May 01, 2006 9:53 am Posts: 13403
|
Mannyisthebest wrote: Quote: If you dont give CoM a perfect grade, then you're pretty much a rapist... it's that simple. Then you wonder why Citizen Kane is the number 1 film. People force the film down your throat and say love it or your a moron. That attitude givin to this film has made me dislike this film.
I pity your inability to get when somebody is taking the piss.
_________________ Rosberg was reminded of the fuel regulations by his wheel's ceasing to turn. The hollow noise from the fuel tank and needle reading zero had failed to convay this message
|
Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:04 pm |
|
|
Chippy
KJ's Leading Pundit
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:45 pm Posts: 63026 Location: Tonight... YOU!
|
loyalfromlondon wrote: How can someone's attitude about a film affect how you feel about that film.
That's crap.
Everyone thought Crash was deep... so I thought it was even worse than it was.
_________________trixster wrote: shut the fuck up zwackerm, you're out of your fucking element trixster wrote: chippy is correct
|
Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:36 pm |
|
|
Chippy
KJ's Leading Pundit
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:45 pm Posts: 63026 Location: Tonight... YOU!
|
loyalfromlondon wrote: ChipMunk-Y wrote: loyalfromlondon wrote: How can someone's attitude about a film affect how you feel about that film.
That's crap. Everyone thought Crash was deep... so I thought it was even worse than it was. no dice mate.
You're right. I don't own any dice. But what does that have to do with me hating Crash even more because people love it so much?
_________________trixster wrote: shut the fuck up zwackerm, you're out of your fucking element trixster wrote: chippy is correct
|
Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:49 pm |
|
|
A. G.
Draughty
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:23 am Posts: 13347
|
My favorite part is where he's on the run from both cold blooded killers and the government which is supposedly oh-so-bad and so naturally he drives to his elderly relatives' house to guarantee they will get killed.
|
Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:25 pm |
|
|
Dr Jam
Speed Racer
Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:10 pm Posts: 198
|
ChipMunk-Y wrote: loyalfromlondon wrote: ChipMunk-Y wrote: loyalfromlondon wrote: How can someone's attitude about a film affect how you feel about that film.
That's crap. Everyone thought Crash was deep... so I thought it was even worse than it was. no dice mate. You're right. I don't own any dice. But what does that have to do with me hating Crash even more because people love it so much?
I'm guilty of taking preconceptions to the cinema too, and I think I know how it works for me.
There's three elements to any film. Bits that I can't help loving, bits that I can't help hating, and bits that could go either way depending on how charitable or cynical I'm feeling. Sentimental bits that I could hate if I wanted to, or daring things that don't quite work 100% (do I commend the guts or lament the failure?). Kids who are either cute or obnoxious, depending on what sort of day that I've had. A film with great action scenes but a slightly dubious "message" - which do I focus on?
If I actively *want* to love a film, all the third category are going to go in the film's favour. If I don't have that emotional investment in the film being good, they might not. If I've decided in advance that the film will suck, all the third category will count against the film. Any film that has my goodwill can expect to sway me on the middle ground. And since I love an underdog, a film's popularity might affect my goodwill.
I think most film-goers get this - e.g., I think most of us have noticed Subtitle Syndrome, where people just root for a foreign film more because they want to be the kind of people that like foreign films, or people will put up with all manner of crap from culty films because, well, they're culty.
To bring this back on-topic, one of the reasons I was so impressed by Children of Men was I wanted to hate it, so, in terms of my little internal film-going world, it was like a paralympian taking gold in the regular Olympics: it won with a handicap.
|
Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:44 pm |
|
|
Mannyisthebest
Forum General
Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 3:53 pm Posts: 8636 Location: Toronto, Canada
|
Re: Children of Men
Quote: How can someone's attitude about a film affect how you feel about that film.
That's crap. You hear about this film on this site, called the greatest film of all time or of recent times or the best movie of the year and you watch it and you go.... DID I Miss something??? It was a great film, but flawed and could have been better. It should of shown more in detail about the world around them. That was when the film was great, but it become way to much of a personal story in the middle.
_________________The Dark Prince
|
Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:03 am |
|
|
Barrabás
llegó a la casa vía marítima
Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:53 pm Posts: 6167 Location: la gran casa de la esquina
|
Re: Children of Men
Amazing film. The cinematography is groundbreaking, the acting perfect. The film is so intense and gripping. I loved the ending, even if it was a little abrupt.
A+
_________________ .
|
Sat Jan 19, 2008 1:45 pm |
|
|
Snrub
Vagina Qwertyuiop
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:14 pm Posts: 8767 Location: Great Living Standards
|
Re: Children of Men
Mannyisthebest wrote: It was a great film, but flawed and could have been better. It should of shown more in detail about the world around them. That was when the film was great, but it become way to much of a personal story in the middle. You think? Really? I thought the fact it didn't focus too much on the intricacies of the world was part of what made it great. The detail was filled in by small moments, flashes of information that came together to build a compelling, realistic and complete vision of the future.
|
Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:35 pm |
|
|
trixster
loyalfromlondon
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:31 pm Posts: 19697 Location: ville-marie
|
Re: Children of Men
Mannyisthebest wrote: Quote: How can someone's attitude about a film affect how you feel about that film.
That's crap. You hear about this film on this site, called the greatest film of all time or of recent times or the best movie of the year and you watch it and you go.... DID I Miss something???It was a great film, but flawed and could have been better. It should of shown more in detail about the world around them. That was when the film was great, but it become way to much of a personal story in the middle. Yes. The whole point of the film is that it's just a small, personal, intimate story. The world is just the setting, just the catalyst for the story. This is not some sort of futuristic epic, nor is it meant to be.
_________________Magic Mike wrote: zwackerm wrote: If John Wick 2 even makes 30 million I will eat 1,000 shoes. Same. Algren wrote: I don't think. I predict.
|
Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:47 pm |
|
|
Mannyisthebest
Forum General
Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 3:53 pm Posts: 8636 Location: Toronto, Canada
|
Re: Children of Men
just wanted to say this film is so overrated it is ridiculous.
Can we make a proper dystopia film for once!!!
_________________The Dark Prince
|
Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:59 pm |
|
|
DKev
Angels & Demons
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:34 pm Posts: 242
|
Re: Children of Men
Ok I gotta admit I didn't like this when I first saw this and my 2 friends who I saw it with thought I was nuts. I thouht it was ridiculous how much praise it was getting and i thouht it was higly overrated. But I saw it again....and then one more time and I absolutely loved it. I mean these dystopian really really depress me which makes me tend to not like them as much. But this movie is absolutely brilliant. Gorgeous cinematography. Great acting. VERY suspenseful. I definitely think that this should have bumped off Letters from Iwo Jima and gotten that Best Pic nomination. Def in my top 10 of '06. Maybe top 5. A
|
Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:50 pm |
|
|
Mannyisthebest
Forum General
Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 3:53 pm Posts: 8636 Location: Toronto, Canada
|
Re: Children of Men
they did not focus enough on how the world would be and that is something that is true in almost every film of this type.
_________________The Dark Prince
|
Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:54 am |
|
|
trixster
loyalfromlondon
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:31 pm Posts: 19697 Location: ville-marie
|
Re: Children of Men
Mannyisthebest wrote: they did not focus enough on how the world would be and that is something that is true in almost every film of this type. You're basically a moron, you know that?
_________________Magic Mike wrote: zwackerm wrote: If John Wick 2 even makes 30 million I will eat 1,000 shoes. Same. Algren wrote: I don't think. I predict.
|
Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:06 am |
|
|
Bradley Witherberry
Extraordinary
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 1:13 pm Posts: 15197 Location: Planet Xatar
|
Re: Children of Men
trixster wrote: Mannyisthebest wrote: they did not focus enough on how the world would be and that is something that is true in almost every film of this type. You're basically a moron, you know that? I think one must first ask oneself: Have I come to terms with my own inner moron?
|
Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:31 am |
|
|
Mannyisthebest
Forum General
Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 3:53 pm Posts: 8636 Location: Toronto, Canada
|
Re: Children of Men
In every dystopia film, the original book is much better then the film.
I remember watching an 1984 remake and well the only interesting part of the film is when they showed how the world is.
This is also true for this film as well.
_________________The Dark Prince
|
Sat Apr 12, 2008 2:37 pm |
|
|
Dr. Lecter
You must have big rats
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:28 pm Posts: 92093 Location: Bonn, Germany
|
Re: Children of Men
I think Children of Men is the best overrated movie at WOKJ (if that makes some sense).
_________________The greatest thing on earth is to love and to be loved in return!
|
Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:50 pm |
|
|
Webslinger
why so serious?
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:24 pm Posts: 4110 Location: Stuck In A Moment I Can't Get Out Of
|
Re: Children of Men
Dr. Lecter wrote: I think Children of Men is the best overrated movie at WOKJ (if that makes some sense). Well, it's superior to The New World, at least. I thought this was one of the very best movies that 2006 had to offer. It definitely snuck up on me. Even with the talent involved, I wasn't expecting something up to the level the film ended up at. It's a true action film with brains. Or a drama with heavy violence. Either one applies. Clive Owen gives one of his best performances to date as Theo, his character arc perfectly defining the movie's shift from a helplessly depressing vision of a crumbling world to a representation of hope for a very troubled time. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 (A)
_________________ This Post Has Brought to You by Your Friendly Neighborhood Webslinger.
|
Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:20 pm |
|
|
Snrub
Vagina Qwertyuiop
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:14 pm Posts: 8767 Location: Great Living Standards
|
Re: Children of Men
Wow... 2 years on and still not a single F - and that despite the backlash! Truly an awe-inspiring film.
|
Fri May 30, 2008 3:06 pm |
|
|
Webslinger
why so serious?
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2006 11:24 pm Posts: 4110 Location: Stuck In A Moment I Can't Get Out Of
|
Re: Children of Men
I don't really see how this film could be considered a complete failure on any level. Even for the unimpressed, the acting, story, direction, action, etc. have something of worth.
_________________ This Post Has Brought to You by Your Friendly Neighborhood Webslinger.
|
Fri May 30, 2008 7:22 pm |
|
|
Box
Extraordinary
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:52 am Posts: 25990
|
Re: Children of Men
I love this film so much!
_________________In order of preference: Christian, Argos MadGez wrote: Briefs. Am used to them and boxers can get me in trouble it seems. Too much room and maybe the silkiness have created more than one awkward situation. My Box-Office Blog: http://boxofficetracker.blogspot.com/
|
Fri May 30, 2008 9:16 pm |
|
|
2001
Another You
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:38 am Posts: 4556
|
Re: Children of Men
WeLL pretty much everything has been said about this fiLm so I'm just going to say that I Love everything about it especiaLLy the production design, cinematography and the music of course; its aLL beautifuL. Best fiLm of 2006 next to The Departed. A
|
Sat May 31, 2008 12:03 am |
|
|
Snrub
Vagina Qwertyuiop
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:14 pm Posts: 8767 Location: Great Living Standards
|
Re: Children of Men
Is this still the longest thread in the Critic section? Or has something overtaken it? Will this post get the thread onto the 22nd page? Only one way to find out...
*posts*
|
Sat May 31, 2008 8:12 am |
|
|
Snrub
Vagina Qwertyuiop
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:14 pm Posts: 8767 Location: Great Living Standards
|
Re: Children of Men
Ah nuts...
|
Sat May 31, 2008 8:12 am |
|
|