I saw this last night and was literally blown away.
The film is based on a novel by PD James and is in a near future where no children have been born for the last 18 years.
Based in a future Britain it is chilling how real everything looks, the technology blends seemlessly with the everyday we've seen for years in London. The production design deserves an Oscar. I really believe Britain could end up like this. And that scares me. Directed by a Mexican, he has captured Britain really well, perhaps like Sam Mendes caught America in American Beauty, Alfonso Cuarón saw Britain for it's reality, going beneath the gloss (in fact, ignoring the gloss altogether).
The special effects never seemed out of place and some scenes left you sitting there wondering 'how the hell did they do that?'
As dystopian goes, this is damning of our current ways and does not contain many laughs (although black humour does present itself), but the grim brutality and no holds barred nature of the plot made it more real than any other future based film I've ever seen. This film is harsh, in every way possible, and I loved every minute of it.
The acting is excellent with good turns from Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor (yes I had to look that spelling up) and newcomer Claire-Hope Ashitey. The characters were real, you were there with them every moment, which leads us to...
...the direction. Wow. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón it was simply amazing. Single shots were used extensively, but not with talky moments, with full on action scenes, no cuts. Imagine the opening of Saving Private Ryan without a single cut, all in one take. I want to watch it again just to figure out how he did that.
Nothing's perfect, a scene close to the end seemed a little 'neat' after everything else that had happened, but the end itself was genuine. And the projectionist was on holiday or something, the top of the film was cropped for about 10 minutes and the framing never seemed right after it was corrected, the direction or the cinema's fault, I couldn't say.
I haven't read the book, so don't know how it compares, but I thoroughly recommend the film, just don't expect many laughs.
Dave
The film is based on a novel by PD James and is in a near future where no children have been born for the last 18 years.
Based in a future Britain it is chilling how real everything looks, the technology blends seemlessly with the everyday we've seen for years in London. The production design deserves an Oscar. I really believe Britain could end up like this. And that scares me. Directed by a Mexican, he has captured Britain really well, perhaps like Sam Mendes caught America in American Beauty, Alfonso Cuarón saw Britain for it's reality, going beneath the gloss (in fact, ignoring the gloss altogether).
The special effects never seemed out of place and some scenes left you sitting there wondering 'how the hell did they do that?'
As dystopian goes, this is damning of our current ways and does not contain many laughs (although black humour does present itself), but the grim brutality and no holds barred nature of the plot made it more real than any other future based film I've ever seen. This film is harsh, in every way possible, and I loved every minute of it.
The acting is excellent with good turns from Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor (yes I had to look that spelling up) and newcomer Claire-Hope Ashitey. The characters were real, you were there with them every moment, which leads us to...
...the direction. Wow. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón it was simply amazing. Single shots were used extensively, but not with talky moments, with full on action scenes, no cuts. Imagine the opening of Saving Private Ryan without a single cut, all in one take. I want to watch it again just to figure out how he did that.
Nothing's perfect, a scene close to the end seemed a little 'neat' after everything else that had happened, but the end itself was genuine. And the projectionist was on holiday or something, the top of the film was cropped for about 10 minutes and the framing never seemed right after it was corrected, the direction or the cinema's fault, I couldn't say.
I haven't read the book, so don't know how it compares, but I thoroughly recommend the film, just don't expect many laughs.
Dave
I think I saw a preview for this movie. If a woman gets pregnant she is almost revered? Seemed like a Handmaiden's Tale -type theme, dystopian, as you say?
It looked pretty good. Thanks, Dave.
It looked pretty good. Thanks, Dave.
The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. ... The piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.
~ Howard Phillips Lovecraft
Is it theatres or did you see it on DVD? I haven't even heard of it and it sounds intriguing.
Scott
Jesus died for your sins, get your money's worth. Chad Daniels
I saw the preview when my daughter and I went to see Black Dahlia (don't bother - awful movie). Children of Men looks good. Reminds me of the early J.G. Ballard books.
Hazel Stone
(A true, blue Fan)
Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done and why. Then do it. RAH
Scott Miller Wrote:Is it theatres or did you see it on DVD? I haven't even heard of it and it sounds intriguing.In UK theatres from this Friday, nationwide in the US on 29th December 2006 (limited release from the 26th).
Minor spoiler for Jim
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Yes, it does involve the first pregnant woman in 18 years, I believe it is on the back of the book cover and is in a lot of reviews/plot synopsi (plural for synopsis?) so is not really a spoiler, but if you go in blind then it makes a nice twist (I already knew and it didn't spoil the film for me).
Dave
Alfonso Cuaron is an outstanding director. He hasn't missed one yet. I've got to see this movie when it opens here.
His first film that I saw was "Little Princess" and I loved it.
"Y Tu Mama, Tambien" is terrific.
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is the best Potter film, period. Head and shoulders above the rest. It's on my list of top 20 favorite films and I can watch it endlessly, which I have, all because of Cuaron's direction.
Cuaron's version of "Great Expectations" is a visual delight and a highly intelligent retelling of Dicken's tale. Again, arresting direction.
I believe every word you say, Dave. I'm looking forward to "Children of Men."
His first film that I saw was "Little Princess" and I loved it.
"Y Tu Mama, Tambien" is terrific.
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is the best Potter film, period. Head and shoulders above the rest. It's on my list of top 20 favorite films and I can watch it endlessly, which I have, all because of Cuaron's direction.
Cuaron's version of "Great Expectations" is a visual delight and a highly intelligent retelling of Dicken's tale. Again, arresting direction.
I believe every word you say, Dave. I'm looking forward to "Children of Men."
Reading is freedom.
The mind soars, no earthly cares,
no limitations.
A Maggers Haiku, 2005
Years ago my mother used to say to me... "In this world, Elwood, you can be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
Well, for years I was smart.
I recommend pleasant.
You may quote me.
Elwood P. Dowd
Dave Wrote:In UK theatres from this Friday, nationwide in the US on 29th December 2006 (limited release from the 26th).Yep that's the one. It did look really good. I meant that as questioning whether this was the plot I was thinking of, not WHY a pregnant woman would be revered, btw .... if that makes any sense.
Minor spoiler for Jim
.
.
.
.
.
.
Yes, it does involve the first pregnant woman in 18 years, I believe it is on the back of the book cover and is in a lot of reviews/plot synopsi (plural for synopsis?) so is not really a spoiler, but if you go in blind then it makes a nice twist (I already knew and it didn't spoil the film for me).
Dave
The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. ... The piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.
~ Howard Phillips Lovecraft
Maggers Wrote:Alfonso Cuaron is an outstanding director. He hasn't missed one yet. I've got to see this movie when it opens here.
His first film that I saw was "Little Princess" and I loved it.
"Y Tu Mama, Tambien" is terrific.
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is the best Potter film, period. Head and shoulders above the rest. It's on my list of top 20 favorite films and I can watch it endlessly, which I have, all because of Cuaron's direction.
Cuaron's version of "Great Expectations" is a visual delight and a highly intelligent retelling of Dicken's tale. Again, arresting direction.
I believe every word you say, Dave. I'm looking forward to "Children of Men."
I hadn't realized he was behind the camera for LP(which I second as a wonderful movie) and YTMT because they couldn't be more different. Just last night I watched HPATPOA for the first time as was blown away. What a sumptuous film; there is magic in nearly every scene and the action never flags. It is so much better than the first two installments.
Scott
Jesus died for your sins, get your money's worth. Chad Daniels
Thanks for the review, Dave. Sounds like a winner, though I'm always hesitant about seeing the movie if I've read the book. The book by P.D. James is absolutely fantastic. I've read it at least a couple of times and now you've got me wanting to read it again. 
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It's Thirteen O'Clock
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"I said, Hey Senorita - that's astute, I said, why don't we get together and call ourselves an institute?" --Paul Simon
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"In the final analysis, the last line of defense in support of freedom and the Constitution consists of the people themselves." -- Ron Paul
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
I was invited to an advanced screening of Children of Men a few weeks ago. Great movie. But it is not that the pregnant woman (girl, really) is revered, it's that without new births, mankind would succumb in 50 years. Adios muchachos, hola cucarachas. That's all I'll say about the flick, except to echo the sentiments of those who have seen it already: Damn good movie.
AC
P.S. The director was there to answer questions after the screening but disappeared before I could snatch an autograph on my program.
P.P.S. Thank you to Hope Olmos, sister of Edward James Olmos, for the invite. I gave her a copy of The Tomb and await her opinion. Maybe she can join our Burbank get-together next round.
AC
P.S. The director was there to answer questions after the screening but disappeared before I could snatch an autograph on my program.
P.P.S. Thank you to Hope Olmos, sister of Edward James Olmos, for the invite. I gave her a copy of The Tomb and await her opinion. Maybe she can join our Burbank get-together next round.