Amelie

Rating:
Summary: Au-dela des mots!!!
Review: Although I have studied French @ University to PhD Level & have therefore been influenced by French cinema, I can objectively say that Amelie is a movie that can inspire & mesmerise the most hardened anglophone. Perhaps one of great cultural changes of recent times has been Hollywood's embrace of more & more foreign language movies (Life Is Beautiful, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Ring, Audition to name but a few). Amelie's appearance is therefore as timely & strategic as it is wonderful. The film embarks on a magical journey of a young & naive girl who works as a waitress in Montmartre & the quirks of her everyday life & the people with whom she encounters. Amusing & touching, & perfectly shot, the tight script & gripping colours & cinematography render this oeuvre a captivating watch which shall mesmerise again & again. Audrey Tatou plays the ingenue with such wit & charm (as the cheeky cover alone suggests) as a woman who influences others more than she wishes her own life to be influenced. Some of the most captivating scenes are Tatou dashing pebbles across the water (it's ony about 15 seconds long but majestically shot) & the character introductions at the beginning (her parents are wickedly hilarious) & the evil greengrocer & Amelie's revenge on him. If there's one movie you should consider purchasing it is definitely this. Perhaps my favourite French movie now (along with Les Visiteurs, Manon Des Sources & Cyrano de Bergerac), it shall get repeated plays on my DVD player. Great extra features too!

Rating:
Summary: Look Past the Cover Art!
Review: I first noticed "Amelie" when going through the local DVD rental store... A woman told me that she couldn't get past the cover art of the washed- out face of Amelie to try renting the movie. The exterior art, honestly does no justice whatsoever to the gem of a disc inside (the character does not look pale like the cover photo suggests).

I get very curious about the obscure titles -- especially the foreign films -- that wind up on the shelves of the rental stores, so I write down title names and surf imdb.com (internet movie database) to learn more about titles I haven't recognized. And after reading the reviews, I decided to grab the less- than- attractive box and check out the movie.

Immediately as the root menu is accessed, some rather inviting music accompanies the animated menu. So I set up the audio (no English dub, it's French language in digital 5.1 audio) and was blown away from the moment the opening scene played.

I knew from the first scene that this had the potential of being a well- written, acted, scripted, and produced movie. And as the credits rolled at the end, I wanted to see more of Amelie, who was a wonderful and genuine character, one you wished lived in your own neighborhood. And I also believe that both women and men would really enjoy this. Most guys would fall in love with Amelie's eyes, and more women would enjoy the sensitive style of creatively showing a woman's emotions. But I get the sense that a few women may not care for Amelie's character, honestly.

The original music (no lyrics) of composer Yann Tiersen will stay in your head, even if you can't get past the subtitles. Tiersen did a fabulous job of creating a score that suits every scene it's played in. The audio is rich and expansive, and can be enjoyed with even the most basic speakers.

"Amelie" makes me wish that I had learned French, and I envy anyone who understands the language for being able to understand the dialogue without having to read a translation. It can be a little difficult to have to watch two things at once -- subtitles and a movie -- because early on, you'll feel like you're missing the movie everytime you have to read the translation. But trust me on this, "Amelie from Montmartre" is a movie that you'll enjoy watching again and again. It's a rare treat to find a movie that doesn't get "tired." And as you watch "Amelie" again, you'll enjoy more of the cinematography and the lush, saturated colorful scenes.

The DVD has many different options to dive into, which is a great thing since you'll probably fall in love with "Amelie."

PS- For lovers of traditional blues, watch for a B&W clip on the television of an elderly one- legged man tap dancing. His name is "Peg Leg" Sam (Jackson), and there are two CDs of music that this late singer recorded, "Kickin' It" and "Early in the Morning." Well worth the search.

Rating:
Summary: A most wonderful movie.
Review: A shy young woman (Amelie) wants everything to be well with the people she knows so she plans and plots to bring a little happiness to each one of them in different ways. But she is shy about meeting her own true love. She hatches a scheme, a complicated mystery tour to catch the man of her dreams.

This is why I love the movies. Amelie is not your everyday dark film of murder, mayhem and ugly behavior; this is a dream world and the beautiful place I want to be taken too when I suspend reality at the door.

I watch in wonder at how the filmmaker embellishes such a simple story to create a delightfully rich tapestry, ripe with incredible images and subtleties of life. This is an excellent example of how all the cinema arts can be directed to create total magic.

Amelie is so full of originality, whimsy and nuance in this modern world of fast people and obvious everything. It is such a pleasure to be captivated by something that I would call a modern work of art.

This is a soft, lovable, puppy dog of a film. Catch it while you can and be transported to an amazing world far beyond the normal.

Rating:
Summary: SMART ENTERTAINER
Review: This is a modern-day fairy-tale of a simple city-girl, in a seemingly idyllic backdrop, which actually is ruffled is a lot of ways, due to its rather 'disturbed' characters, whose lives, while this beady-eyed waitress tries to solve, finds herself in a similar situation, where she herself ends up needing some help.

AMELIE can be considered a story of stories, tied together by just a single link, in the form of a girl called Amilie. Living in her own shell, this girl discovers the Samaritan in her, when she successfully tracks down and gives the previous occupant of her apartment, a box containing objects of his childhood playthings that she accidentally finds in her house, and brings out the tears of joy in his eyes, as he reminisces his days of childhood, watching and feeling the contents of the box. This experience overwhelms her, and she decides that she would now on, do whatever she could, to straighten other people's lives, and herein lies the stories, which make the story of the movie.

The movie is made up of bits and pieces, showing the rather weird nature of the various people, that Amilie tries to help. The magic of the movie lies in this aspect of how beautifully each character is depicted, with some handicap or the other disturbing their lives, which this lonely but good-willed girl tries to fix. Be it the 'obsessed' neighbor, who is more than happy to read out letters from her deal husband, or the painter, who is so touchy about how names are pronounced, or the bullying vegetable-vendor, always belittling his hapless assistant, or the loveless boyfriend and the loveless hotel-waitresses, or the young man, who sifts for torn photographs of people, and reassembles and sticks them in the album that he maintains of reassembled photos of people he doesn't even know, or even Amilie's own father, who is obsessed with his ceramic gnome, each one of them is so carefully and delicately defined, that it overshadows the ambiguity in the story, which is what it intends to do, in the first place.

Though the story has a naïve fairy-tale-like feel to it, it actually turns out otherwise, by its messed up characters. Hence, the movie, far from being a sappy and drab tale of feel-good, is actually quite an interesting take on the most unusual and uncanny facets of the human nature. Moreover, the slick cinematography and the music-video like feel of the movie, coupled with the swanky voice-over comments make it not only a visually splendid movie, but also an exciting joyride, with a lot of areas worth pondering on.

AMILIE has a mischievous undertone, with a visually pleasing and amiable exterior. When one sees beyond the pleasing epidermis of the movie, it provides for interesting food for thought, when it comes to analyzing the bizarre characters in it. For its glossy appearance, or for its underlying unapparent starkness, or for its feel-good aura, or just for its wacky imagination, AMILIE is an entertainer with brains and brawns.

Rating:
Summary: How random kindness can change the world...
Review: This is a jewel of a film. At times quirky and sentimental without being mawkish, ~Amelie~ is a cinematic experience which transports the viewer into the lonely but highly imaginative life of a young woman, whose random and conscious acts of kindness changes the destiny of those around her. ~Amelie~ shows us that even little things can cause people to fall in love again, alter their views of themselves and make life worth living.

Amelie Powlain (Audrey Tautou) is a beautiful girl living in Paris, who waits tables at a local restaurant, and discovers that pleasure can be found in simple things: skimming stones across water, cracking the top of her Creme Brunee with a spoon, and ultimately taking a genuine interest in the lives of the people around her.

The direction of Jeunet and the magical photography of Bruno Delbonnel, creates an otherworldly Paris, a Paris that Parisians knew existed but is now almost forgotten. There's no graffitti on the walls, the charming streets are rubbish free, and the soft hue of that special Parisian light, which is well known to some of us, is captured with subtle intensity. This is truly another world that we can only wish for.

It is certain that viewers of this unusual and beguiling film will come away with the feeling that life is about simple pleasures, and kindness, random acts of kindness, can change the destiny of people around us in profound ways.

~Amelie~ is nothing less than a five star experience.

Rating:
Summary: A visual treat!
Review: This is a film of exquisite beauty, for eye, ear, mind and heart. The plot is simple, but some of the insights are mind-blowing! Quite profound! The use of color has rarely been so magnificent, and it all is SO important to understanding where sweet Amelie is coming from. Lovely fantasy stuff, mixed with the real world. I avoided seeing this film, but I borrowed the 2-disc version from the library, and was thoroughly entertained. Audrey Tautou reminds me of a young Audrey Hepburn, as well as Julia Roberts...without trying to imitate them. She's endearing. All of the supporting roles were done with conviction and strength, especially Mathieu Kassowitz, as the object of her obsession. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, like some of our other GREAT directors (Scott, Cameron, Fincher) got his big break directing an "Alien" film. The second disc tells that he was so upset with the Hollywood process and lack of artistic control, that he's gone somewhat independent since then. He's given us wonderful stuff like "Delcatessen". It's a sweet story, but if you're into visual art, be sure to see this film. Also, the music of Vann Tiersen will draw you more and more into this fantasy. It's wonderful!The 2.35:1 Letterbox shows off gorgeous sets and cinematography. "Amelie" is definitely worth a look.

Rating:
Summary: A breath of Fresh Air
Review: I am 23 years old, and admittedly quite jaded with life, society, and just about everything about the good ole Earth. I got wind of this movie over New Years, and have since watched it several times, always with different people. Not one has been disappointed, so I believe that Amelie is truly a movie that appeals to everyone. For those of you that can't get past subtitles, you probably went and saw the Passion, so you should check this out too. This will contrast that so wonderfully, and probably fill you with a new zest for life.

The premise: Amelie is a single waitress that decides to pass on living for herself, and makes an attempt to affect the lives of everyone around her. You might find her meddlesome, but it is never contrived, and normally to a person's benefit. That is until she meets Nino, a pornshop clerk, who has a weird habit of collecting torn photographs from beneath photo booths, and reforming them in albums (I realize that sentence has horrid grammar, but I'm typing faster than I think). This romance is what got me. IF there is something so innocent and pure as the chase depicted here, then perhaps humanity is not all bad. At first, it might seem a tad obsessive, but when placed within the quirkiness and oddities of the characters within the movie, it seems completely normal.

I took many things from this movie. Aside from some profound discussion with my friends after seeing it, I got a newfound desire to actually give people a chance. In addition, I also got a rather insatiable appetite for Audrey Tautou, whose childlike innocence, alabaster skin, and melodic voice is something to behold. This is probably the best film made within my lifetime; not because of special effects or cinematography, but because it tells a wonderful story in a wonderful way. You should see it, it's only $4 or so.

Rating:
Summary: Look Past the Cover Art!
Review: I first noticed "Amelie" when going through the local DVD rental store... A woman told me that she couldn't get past the cover art of the washed- out face of Amelie to try renting the movie. The exterior art, honestly does no justice whatsoever to the gem of a disc inside (the character does not look pale like the cover photo suggests).

I get very curious about the obscure titles -- especially the foreign films -- that wind up on the shelves of the rental stores, so I write down title names and surf imdb.com (internet movie database) to learn more about titles I haven't recognized. And after reading the reviews, I decided to grab the less- than- attractive box and check out the movie.

Immediately as the root menu is accessed, some rather inviting music accompanies the animated menu. So I set up the audio (no English dub, it's French language in digital 5.1 audio) and was blown away from the moment the opening scene played.

I knew from the first scene that this had the potential of being a well- written, acted, scripted, and produced movie. And as the credits rolled at the end, I wanted to see more of Amelie, who was a wonderful and genuine character, one you wished lived in your own neighborhood. And I also believe that both women and men would really enjoy this. Most guys would fall in love with Amelie's eyes, and more women would enjoy the sensitive style of creatively showing a woman's emotions. But I get the sense that a few women may not care for Amelie's character, honestly.

The original music (no lyrics) of composer Yann Tiersen will stay in your head, even if you can't get past the subtitles. Tiersen did a fabulous job of creating a score that suits every scene it's played in. The audio is rich and expansive, and can be enjoyed with even the most basic speakers.

"Amelie" makes me wish that I had learned French, and I envy anyone who understands the language for being able to understand the dialogue without having to read a translation. It can be a little difficult to have to watch two things at once -- subtitles and a movie -- because early on, you'll feel like you're missing the movie everytime you have to read the translation. But trust me on this, "Amelie from Montmartre" is a movie that you'll enjoy watching again and again. It's a rare treat to find a movie that doesn't get "tired." And as you watch "Amelie" again, you'll enjoy more of the cinematography and the lush, saturated colorful scenes.

The DVD has many different options to dive into, which is a great thing since you'll probably fall in love with "Amelie."

PS- For lovers of traditional blues, watch for a B&W clip on the television of an elderly one- legged man tap dancing. His name is "Peg Leg" Sam (Jackson), and there are two CDs of music that this late singer recorded, "Kickin' It" and "Early in the Morning." Well worth the search.

Rating:
Summary: made for american market
Review: this movie could never become a "FILM". It could be based on phoney bourgeois hopes for a "better world". A woman-child is a perfect vehicle to express the fake altruistic feelings, unassailable in their naivete, who could dislike or even hate this display of aborted opinions ? In France, "Amelie" did not cause the ticket lines to wind up around the block, in fact it did not even get a notice in "Le Figaro".
We still remember our better film makers who did not have to resort to a sentimentalist subterfuge of an innocent social worker hero. We, and they, knew that our society desperately needs a cheap Aristotelian catharsis, and they said "no", you do not deserve it and we will not give it to you... Henri Clouzot, Claude Autant-Lara, even Jean Cocteau and Rene Clair avoided this poison in the '50s and '60s, but think about the so called "New Wave" directors, totally ignored by American audiences, for a good reason.
Little Amelie's been born yesterday and knows nothing about her own country, that is how is she written up in this movie. As if the makers of this movie knew that, somewhere, in the industrialized world, there are millions of customers seeking this type of escape from their own hitory. A damn cool calculation, if you ask me.. And that is the reason why she has this enormous appeal with people who aspire to be like her, in any country, but especially... the college students in America.
Watched the movie, teared up some 20 minutes in, for it was clear to me that its victims might as well be sickly young gazelles in an African savannah.

Rating:
Summary: you must watch this!!
Review: An uplifting, feel good love story with a message. Great acting and the camera work is incredible. This is one of those movies you could watch numerous times and never get sick of it. A definite must have for your DVD collection.