Memento

Rating:
Summary: Memento: A movie for none and all
Review: This is one of those films that's too "out there" for the Hollywood crowd, who call it abstract, artsy-fartsy, and so on; at the same time, film school students will find it very Hollywood nonetheless -- it's no Fellini flick, and everything here has been done before.

That said, Memento takes a couple of basic film techniques and really runs a clinic -- what it does, it does really well, and the performances of the stellar cast are nuanced, memorable, and overall quite excellent.

Film school students: let your hair down and enjoy this one, it's actually very entertaining, very accessible, and at the same time difficult enough that you can admit you liked it. Hollywood buffs: just once, pay close attention to a film -- don't talk, don't get up for food or a bathroom-run, just leave the noggin' on while you watch; it's a great little film, and it may even make you feel like you understand film students better than you did before!

Rating:
Summary: Who? What? Where?
Review: I suppose the only reason I could suggest this film to anyone is if I have a sincere desire to torture someone else, or the person I'm referring it to is just as confused as this movie is. The movie from beginning to end is exactly that, confusing. The constant "rewind technique" the film seems to use is part of the love/hate issue I experienced. I think it's very trendy technique though. It's just they use it way to often. You get 5 minutes ahead only to go back 10. It's very frustrating for me to watch. The only reason I finished the film was that I wanted to see if all this rewinding/fast forwarding was going to pay off. Somehow it never did.

Rating:
Summary: sdrawkcaB
Review: It is rare these day to see a truly original movie. Momento fits the bill. It is a bit more cerebral than most Hollywood flicks so you'll have to pay a little more attention than usual. Not to give too much away, but it is about a man who has lost his short term memory and is forced to tatoo himself with words to help him remember his mission to avenge his wife. The movie begins at the end and works its way to the beginning, resulting in a very thought provoking and enteraining film. I highly reccommend it, and would give it 4 1/2 stars if possible. Movies only get 5 stars if they are one I would never tire of. This movie I could watch a few times and not need to see again. But see it, you won't be dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, bad packaging.
Review: The packaging for this dvd is simply stupid. It's a cardboard sleeve that you pull a plastic folder out of that unfolds to reveal a stack of phony doctor reports (relating to the lead actors roll) that fall all over the floor because their just sitting in the sleeve, and the discs. The plastic folder that pulls out is so tight in the cardboard sleeve, it takes a good effort and frustration to get it out.
I like things that are simple and straight forward...the discs are so confusing to navigate, with misc words scattered everywhere and you get to pick which ones might lead to a menu....or not. All the interactivities really have nothing to do with the movie either. I just gave up and have put it away...and I'll never take out disc 2 again and only access the 'watch' feature on disc 1.
I wish I had bought the original dvd instead of the special edition.

Rating:
Summary: You can't turn it off!
Review: I was flipping thorugh the channels very close mindedly a couple days ago, and I came to this movie in the beggining thinking, "I wonder what this is". So as I tried to determine what it was, I couldn't change the channel because I was so interested to see what would happen next. I found this movie to be very well acted, well done, and pretty much perfect. It was so neat how the film started with the end and ended with the beggining. I reccomend this to anyone who likes watching interesting films that cause you to think.

Rating:
Summary: the second best movie ever
Review: what can i say about memento? SEE IT. it changes nothing. but still it's the second best movie ever. how?! SEE IT. can't say more.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Psychological Thriller
Review: The antsy, short attention span buzz thriller of the year is a perfect one for the digital age of shuffling and rearranging, of scrambling. I would say that it's easily the most frustrating and imaginative film I have seen this year, but nothing about it is easy. For all its complications, it's only fair to say that Memento is also unnervingly clever, possibly the best thriller in a long time. It has an old noir feeling, altered for our modern time. The intelligence and freshness behind its tightly constructed plot make it meaty and genuine, and prevent it from turning into the innards of a fancy vehicle. It is superficially absorbing, compelling on a level of sheer entertainment. It's ahead of its time and behind the times. Those who have a tireless mind for jigsaw puzzles, cryptograms, and crosswords will, I imagine, gleefully work at deconstructing its tangled web. Others who are less concerned with logic but like a solid two hours of good, shallow entertainment will also find themselves pleased.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie... Terrible disc
Review: If you're looking at the limited edition disc of this movie, it's a safe bet you're familiar with the movie, plot, acting etc etc. So I'll focus on the discs themself. The first disc is fine, the menu I can understand. But when you get to the commentary... that's when we start to slide down the surface of things. See... at the last 15 minutes... the track is backwards. Like something out of Twin Peaks but not played forward and without subtitles. Too bad we can't play it in reverse and hear what Mr. Nolan is saying. For all I know he could be making fun of us for buying this overpriced coaster and listening to his commentary spoken backwards.
The second disc is a mess. I was able to find the movie played in chronilogical order, but in the week I had it (I sold it and bought the normal version) I couldn't even access the trailer. You have to take these tests and if you answer wrong you go to backwards, and there are soooo many questions that it's hard to keep track of the path you're on. I was also able to see the foreign posters and a special that was on IFC. Rumor has it that there are more features but I couldn't find them. It's a great idea... but it's too dang complicated. I don't mind the occasional easter egg on a disc but when the whole disc is one? Forget it. Call me old fashioned but I am happy with my normal not so fancy version of the movie where I can access the trailer, and TV spot and original short story without going through hoops and laddrers. Ugh. I think I know why this is limited edition... because it will create many ticked off viewers. Like I said though... the movie is great, just not the Special Edition disc set.

Rating:
Summary: Navigational Nightmare Extremely Frustrating
Review: The film is great, don't get me wrong. It is a five-star film. Just do NOT buy this special edition without being warned. The "special" part of this is that the director made it almost impossible to actually watch the movie. All of the great extra features on the disc 2 are not available unless you figure out some sort of puzzle and answer random questions the way that the director thinks they should be answered.

There are cheat sheets for navigating the menus available on the web, but you really shouldn't have to do a Google search in order to watch something that you paid for!

Rating:
Summary: A movie to 'remember'
Review: Wow! "Memento" is one the best films I've seen in a long time. Only a couple of small inconsistencies stop me from considering it a masterpiece. It is however, the type of film that makes you think and pay attention as you watch. If you like to just sit back and relax while the movie pleasantly and neatly unfolds from beginning to end and everyone lives happily ever after, this one may not be for you.

The gist:
Leonard Shelby wakes up, looks around, and realizes he's in a motel room. But for how long? Could be a day, a week, he's not sure. Sounds like a really bad hangover, huh? Actually, he suffers from memory loss. Not the typical amnesia you've seen in about a hundred previous movies. Instead of not knowing his past or who he is, Leonard has exactly the opposite problem. He can remember everything in his life up to 'the incident'. But now, due to his 'condition', he can't make any new memories. He can only remember things for a few minutes and then it fades away. Interesting concept. To function in society, he must write important things down and take Polaroid pictures of people and places in order to 'remember' them later. Really important facts he tattoos all over his body. Early in the film, we find that Leonard's driving force is to hunt down the person responsible for wrecking his life. A monumental task considering he can't remember people or know whom he can trust.

An interesting aspect of this movie is that is viewed in reverse. It starts with the last chronological scene and works it's way, scene by scene, backward to 'the incident'. This, no doubt, contributes to the confusion some people have expressed. In my opinion, Christopher Nolan makes it work quite well. It is arguably the only way to shoot a plot of this nature. If it moves along chronologically, the audience knows (and remembers) everything that happens while poor Leonard forgets everything after a few minutes and looks like an idiot. The other effect that the reverse chronology had on me was that after viewing the film, I immediately wanted to see it again. How often can you say that about a movie? The desire to watch a particular movie more than once is the reason we buy them anyway, right?

There are no mega star actors, no acclaimed director, no multi-million dollar special effects, and was shot in 25 days. But it is an exceptional film due to excellent directing, acting and thought provoking original plotline. Hollywood should take a good look at this and consider overhauling their usual cookie cutter movie-making machine.

The plot wasn't logically perfect and there was one piece of the puzzle that didn't neatly fit (I can't elaborate without giving spoilers), but it was altogether too good to nitpick. If you like to be challenged a bit by a movie as opposed to lulled to sleep, this one's definitely a 'Must See'.