Teringer
An Exercise In Nonsense
FuzzyTagz
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
Ginger
Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.
billcurry-24603
I think the movie's more of an anti war protest than a period romance. Also, I had trouble with keeping up with who was whom. The French soundtrack track was so low I could barely hear it. The worst, though, was the unbearably anticlimactic ending. Even with amnesia, the guy should have shown some sign of recognition, showing the audience that the woman's quest was not in vain. As it is, there should have been a sequel, with scenes like her requesting him to carve MMM. And if he shoots no recognition, just an odd attachment to it, he asks about it. She says she'll tell him later. And we're on our way. People would flock to it. Hey, Ron Howard, you told me once a script would have to be interesting for you to consider it. Here it is. PS--I'd like to be co-writer. Au revoir, pour maintenant.Et Jodie, J'aime beaucoup votre Français. Je vous ai vous sur TV5.IMDb--Sorry 'bout the French. But ts was only a bit and it was s French flick and my first review. You may cut it if you wish.
bobsgrock
Jean-Pierre Jeunet's epic tale of love amidst the backdrop of The Great War is terribly sad, empty, loving and heartfelt all simultaneously. It captures exquisitely what it might have been like to be among the unspeakable carnage and destruction which characterized the trench warfare of the war as well as tells a thoroughly engaging and brightly acted love story about a determined young woman searching and hoping that her fiancée remains alive after the war.Audrey Tautou, perhaps the closest actress alive who resembles Audrey Hepburn in both looks and personality, plays Mathilde, a polio-stricken orphan living in the French countryside with her aunt and uncle holding on to the belief that her lover, thin and fresh-faced Manech, will return to her from the war. Jeunet cuts swiftly between her tale which she narrates and that of another woman in search of her lost love. This second female is played by Marion Cotillard in a brilliant performance filled with both intense passion and longing sadness. In many ways, her character sits at the crossroads which this movie places itself at. The intention of looking to intensely at the destruction of the Great War and the long-term effects it had on society is summarized in her actions, which are grotesque and yet strangely understandable.Tautou carries the film mostly but Jeunet's direction is impeccable. The cinematography is gorgeous in its widescreen landscapes depicting both the heavenly countryside and the hellish warfield as accurately as possible. The narrative structure is free-flowing and engaging, leaving us to pick up the pieces along with Tautou as she searches. Anyone interested in early twentieth century history should see this film for its accurate and bold look at how one war changed the course of the humanity's future while everyone else should see it for its visual strength, bold narrative, breathtaking acting and themes as universal as the events it depicts. This is truly a modern classic.
philipfoxe
I'm pretty hard to please when it comes to film so I am so pleased that French cinema exists. I just can't even watch Hollywood films anymore. They are even contriving 'indie' films now, and the soul has been relentlessly driven out of everything that issues forth so that the best of it is just not too trite and sentimental. When a French film is sentimental it actually brings tears to your eyes. This film is about a lot of things; the imagined innocence of childhood; the reality of growing up; the kindness of strangers; the tragedy and pain of happiness ripped away. We peep over the shoulder of our protagonist, praying for her hopes to be realised but wanting to say to her 'I'm sorry my little one, so sorry ,but life must go on' In the midst of it all, the barbarity and corruption of War-its utter pointlessness and criminality. We see the damage it does to all the humans involved; there are no heroes involved, just real human lives being torn to shreds. And what else? Ah yes. Poignancy, humour and life.
manendra-lodhi
The film has Audrey Tautou. And that alone is sufficient for anyone to watch the film. I had watched Amelie already and that movie is close to my heart. So this film may be it was because of those expectations is not up to the mark. It is good and a definite one time watch but somehow I felt they tried to regenerate the Amelie phenomena and failed. Anyhow the way the things are shown is truly remarkable. The concept is somewhat same as that of Cold Mountain. But in this case the girl is finding the man. But I would say I liked cold mountain more than this. Overall it was a very nice film if you keep your mind free and do not compare with any. Moreover the narrative style was amazing and in the same way as it stole the show in Amelie so it did here."A recommended watch for all."
