Children of Men

[sal]

Since there's quite a few threads going around about the excellent new releases currently in theaters, I want to make sure that this film doesn't get swept under the carpet. This film was astonishing.....the story was interesting, but the way this film is presented is where it really shines. Everything is so believable, both in its visual presentation as well as its concept of the not-so-distant future. On a technical level, this is one of the best films to come around in a long time, but the film has so much heart as well. Performances are excellent all around. See this one!!

[RDK]

Excellent film!

The sequel, though - Children of Women - is fairly routine.

[Scott Dolan]

Thanks, sal.

I've already got this one on my list since somebody recently referred to it as being in the same mold as Bladerunner.

Is it a cautionary tale like Bladerunner was? Man, I love those not so distant in the future cautionary tales. No matter how bad they ultimately are, like Minority Report for example.

[sal]

  Scott Dolan said:

Thanks, sal.

I've already got this one on my list since somebody recently referred to it as being in the same mold as Bladerunner.

Is it a cautionary tale like Bladerunner was? Man, I love those not so distant in the future cautionary tales. No matter how bad they ultimately are, like Minority Report for example.

I hadn't thought of it like that, Scott, but yes....when I think about it, it is reminiscent of Blade Runner in its dark tone and message about the future. However, I think this film is better. Its much better paced, and it ultimately plants a small seed of hope in the viewer despite the pessimism of the future, unlike the Blade Runner directors cut, which makes one want to reach for the fifth of Jack.

[Scott Dolan]

What's wrong with reaching for a fifth of Jack?

Either way, count me in. I'm a sucker for these types of flicks. Hell, I was one of the three people on the planet who really dug A.I.

[sal]

I love A.I!

[Scott Dolan]

What a coincidence!!!!

I wonder who the third person is?

[John Tapscott]

I like P.D. James. The book is certainly very good and thought-provoking, IMO, and ends with a bit of much-needed hope (which Sal indicates has been captured in the movie.) Glad to hear that that book seems to have translated well onto the big screen. That doesn't always happen.

[jlhoots]

Excellent film (Children Of Men - not A.I.).

[.:.impossible]

Hmm... my cousin and uncle told me on Saturday never to see this movie. They were very vague though. Glad to hear a conflicting opinion.

[RDK]

  .:.impossible said:

Hmm... my cousin and uncle told me on Saturday never to see this movie. They were very vague though. Glad to hear a conflicting opinion.

No, no, definitely worth seeing - one of the best of the year.

[sal]

This fine film came out on DVD today. I took it over to a friends house this evening, and there were a couple people there seeing it for the first time, and everybody really liked it. The DVD is very nice and it was great to see the film again, but to those of us folks who saw it in the theater, we are a fortunate bunch. This is truly a "movie theater" movie.

[Rooster_Ties]

Any notable bonus features?? (Meaning on the DVD.)

I did see it in a theatre (and found it to be one of the most interesting and facinating films I'd ever seen).

Edited March 28, 2007 by Rooster_Ties

[sal]

  Rooster_Ties said:

Any notable bonus features?? (Meaning on the DVD.)

I did see it in a theatre (and found it to be one of the most interesting and facinating films I'd ever seen).

I haven't gotten the chance to view the bonus features yet, as I only got the DVD yesterday. But here are the features listed on the box:

The Possibility of Hope: a documentary by director Alfonso Cuaron about the state of today's world and how it ties into the concept of the decaying future portrayed in the film.

Under Attack: a featurette about filming the movie's most dangerous moments

"Children of Men" Comments by Slavoj Zizek

Theo and Julian: a conversation with Clive Owen and Julianne Moore

Futuristic Design: how the filmmakers came up with the futuristic look of the film from concept to execution

Visual Effects: creating the baby

[skeith]

  John Tapscott said:

I like P.D. James. The book is certainly very good and thought-provoking, IMO, and ends with a bit of much-needed hope (which Sal indicates has been captured in the movie.) Glad to hear that that book seems to have translated well onto the big screen. That doesn't always happen.

I have read this book quite recently. However, from what I have heard about the film, the film emphasizes points that I felt were not so emphasized in the book and I believe the NY Times review indicates that there were significant alterations in the plot and meanings.

[skeith]

watched the DVD last night and this film rather substantially changes the book. That is not a bad thing per se unless you are attached to a book - you just accept that they are different animals.

My general impression of the film on its own was not so positive, again perhaps because I have read the book, because much of what is explained in the book is left rather vague in the film - too much seems to be happening that did not make sense to me.

Edited March 29, 2007 by skeith

[sal]

I'm not so sure if what I'm about to talk about is what you refer to, skeith, when you talk about events being vague and too much happening that did not make sense. But one of the things I loved about the movie is that the member of the audience really gets a sense of being thrown into the middle of the madness that Theo (Clive Owen's character) finds himself in. The fact that many aspects of the events taking place in the future were NOT explained, but merely just hinted at, to me gave the film a considerable amount of tension and suspense that woult not have existed if the audience had been given a more detailed explanation of the circumstances. Theo is just a normal guy living his life in this dark, hellish future, and he's thrust into a situation that is more important than anything. I think the film gave that sense to the audience as well, and we really feel like we are riding along with Theo on his adventure. Things we see and experience come as a surprise (at least for those of us who didn't read the book). Of course, the director's techniques play a big part in this as well, but because we as the audience are just kind of placed there, and not given a long, drawn out description of why things are they way they are, I think it made the film extremely exciting.

Edited March 29, 2007 by sal