Im not sure if this will appeal to Yoshue's film taste. Hope I'm wrong.

My expectations were, indeed, high. I guess Snrub's and loyal's and the site's elation with the film might be to blame for that. But I feel like even without that, the trailer, which impressed me, and the glowing reviews would have rocketed my expectations regardless. And Snrub and loyal hate United 93, so I don't know what I was thinking to begin with. But anyway.

I was disappointed. But like I said, my problems with the film would have been the same even if the reception here had only been lukewarm. But let's not dwell on that.

The story is my main problem. The trailer told us that the film would be about Theo finding Kee and guiding her somewhere, and the film is just that. But nothing more. Much has been said about sci-fi as a genre and the viewer essentially not needing information regarding the futuristic world depicted (the how's and why's of what's going on), but I felt like I needed much more regarding the actual implications of the pregnancy. How exactly would this have changed the world? The film uses this question as a springboard, I suppose, for thematic exploration, but I found myself engaged by little of the vague present-day parallels and ambiguity. To me, on an intellectual level, it didn't really speak to anything higher than the collapse and destruction of society. The film's scope, in fact, seems to be a lot smaller than that.

I don't know.

You know, maybe I'm just not smart enough.

As for the direction, I can't complain. Cuaron sustains a tone like none other here, and I completely understand -- and even support -- a direction nomination here.

And wow, the cinematography. You know, films over the past few years, it seems, have received awards for making things pretty to look at, but the camera work here actually does something -- it moves. Like nothing I've ever seen before. The attack on the car is insane, and the battle sequence is, yes, outstanding. Has there been a better photographed war sequence?

But like I said, I just wasn't terribly engaged, neither intellectually nor emotionally. And it's a shame, because I thought I might.

B-

Totally agree with what you said above.

I saw this again in theatres. The "Pull my finger" scene still really gets to me. Makes me want to cry. I will never see that phrase the same way again.

Peace,
Mike.

Same goes for magic -- some people like having the trick explained to them, while others enjoy just, you know, the magic...

I got my dad to see it and he loved it.

Go figure.

Where did it take place? I'm curious myself.

Also, do you know if any of the fugee-camp scenes were really filmed in Bexhill-on-Sea? The actual town looks very different to me.

I read that cuaron had the blood digitally removed, frame by frame, because he thought it became overpowering or something, and that there were indeed no cuts to that scene.

This is the most fully realized depiction of a time and place I've ever seen on screen.

What Cuaron did here...there are no words. When the film history books are written, 2006 is going to be notable mostly as the year Alfonso Cuaron made Children of Men.

I love your reviews! Come on, more yoshue!!

It's addictive!

I hope this movie put V For Vendetta in perspective for you fools who bought into it.

Wow. When Loyal, Snrub, Benny, bradley, andaroo and Yoshue ALL love a film, you know it has to be a great movie. I don't think I've ever seen such consensus.

Peace,
Mike.

Watching this tonight, yes!

I'm actually a bit surprised at how long it took me to get around to this, at first I was thinking about honoring it by waiting for the DVD, but after all this hype and croaked and went for the torrent.

Without bragging too much, I was one of the film's earliest supporters... before the cult began.

On the other hand, when Zingaling, Dkmuto, da torri, Libs (who admired, not LOVED), and a few others all think the film is great filmmaking but lacks the emotional punch, you know it's just good, not fantastic.

The "scene" we all keep talking about. I'm with loyal - the scene isn't continuous and they cleaned off the blood around 3:54. Great editing, if so. The cinematography and direction rocks.

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T61ufvuu5_Y" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed>

Great direction, good film.

Yeeahh... I'm happier to be in the first group than the second (I made a change in my head that includes my name in Mike's post, between andaroo and yoshue).

I feel more intelligent.

I wonder is this the best reviewed film in KJ history?

[font=century gothic]Yep, I just got back from seeing it a couple of hours ago. Although it isn't my favorite film from '06, it's easily the most thought provoking and best made film from last year. Just like other people have said, the handheld scene towards the end of the film is just jawdroppingly good, but I also liked the scene with Owen in the woods right after Julianne Moore is unexpectedly gunned down.[/font]

There's actually many scenes that are all one continuous take. Most of the opening scene, the birth, when they escape from Sid etc.

Oh, yea. I think that this one is probably the most remarkable, if only because of the huge amount of synchronized action taking place.

It's awesome.

I wasn't completley blown away, but then again with the massive "best movie everzz!" hype from this thread, I don't see how I could be.

It was very very good though. I'll have to sleep on this one. I'm thinking at least an A- at this point.

Children of Men is so purely, aggressively cinematic. Thus, it should be seen in a cinema. This isn't rocket science. Some of you are robbing yourselves of something beautiful.

I can not think of a theater experience as harrowing as this one. My insides knotted up when they reached the farm and didn't uncoil until the title hit at the end. I felt like I needed oxygen at points.

I'm a small towner, and since I won't be going to the city anytime soon, I wouldn't be able to see this theatrically... otherwise I would! I'd never download a film I could see in the theatre by choice.

To be fair I'm not really a dystopia fan, so an A- from me is quite a victory. Clockwork Orange was one of the most disappointing watches I've seen anytime recently(C+), V for Vendetta was one of the worst movies I've ever seen(F).

Well crafted scene but looks very inspired by video games. With some movies you might think "I feel like I've seen this before," with this one I feel like I've played it before.