Rating: 
Summary: Excellent thriller
Review: First of all, I suggest that you watch this DVD in French with English subtitle on as the english dubbing really distrupt the feels and the emotion of the movie. Jean Reno did his own dubbing but not the rest of the cast and it is annoying. It is about 2 detectives investigating 2 different crimes at 2 different places but apparently their cases are related as their investigations lead them together. It is nicely photographed and directed and frankly it is quite exciting although not the same level as the Silence of the lambs.The DVD is good. The picture is sharp except in dark indoor scenes, the picture looks grainy (probably intentionally) and the 5.1 sound (I watched the French 5.1) is super with many surround effects. If you don't mind reading subtitle, this is a must own DVD for serial killing genre.
Rating: 
Summary: A really good french movie.
Review: French movies are usualy intelectual and borring, based on books that no one ever read or scenarios that would be able to give you a headache after the first 5 lines. But 10 years ago some new directors like Luc Besson, Matthieu Kasovitz or Christophe Gans gave french movies a new look. So this is one of the first good french Thriller that is not 30 years old. The directing is great, some mistakes but nothing really bothering. The mood from the book is present, this is a very dark movie. So if you don't like to feel unconfortable don't watch this movie. But if you like creepy glaucous mood and murder story this movie is for you. The acting is also great, however some of the jokes in that movie would not have the same impact, because of the difference of language. Hope you will enjoy it. Yawgmoth
Rating: 
Summary: Stylistic Thriller Fizzles at the End
Review: How to rate The Crimson Rivers? Much of the film is terrific--terrific acting by Reno, and fair to good acting by the others; great atmospheric tableaux and sets; wonderful cinematography; and a creepy and unusual plot that takes full advantage of its locale--this movie couldn't happen as convincingly anywhere else. Those aspects of the film deserve four stars. But there's another aspect, the one that prizes style over substance, where a Hong Kong-style kick-boxing/kung fu fight with computer game music and commentary superimposed is gratuitously grafted into the movie, merely at the director's whim, and where the final plot payoff is as tired a cliche as they come. I'm not going to give it away, but suffice it to say that when you get to the final scene you will surely be as disappointed as the other reviewers here. Furthermore, there's some rather sad comic relief intended which fails miserably to do anything except destroy the plot's momentum. For that, the film deserves no more than three stars, and maybe two. So close, and yet...
Rating:
Summary: Overall worth it
Review: I actually bought this at Amsterdam's airport. After seeing the previews and reviews overseas last summer, I knew that it would at least be a good movie. I did read the book before getting my hands on the movie. My preference to watch it is in the French, regardless of my lack of French, with the English subtitles. I would highly recommend that people read the book. It explains a lot more, and has much less of a "wrap-up cheesy" ending. Which is why it only gets the four stars. The acting is great as is the chemistry between Reno and Cassel.
Rating:
Summary: Do yourself a favor leave the English Sub-titles on!
Review: I bought this straight from a distributer paid full price. I read the reviews here and thought it would be a safe bet..... It was good don't get me wrong but I would suggest checking out the Auction various sites to purchase it. I would not want to spend the full dollar amount on it again, in fact as soon as I saw it I decided it was not good enough to go into my collection so I turned around and put it up for auction. In the same genre/feel of "Silence of the Lambs" and of course I love just about anything Jean Reno is in, but do yourself a favor if you use the dubbing STILL keep the sub-titles on because you loose a lot of what is said. The premise of this movie was 2 cops come together in 2 seperate countries with cases that (they find out)are linked. The mystery is such a good plot and a adaption to a book. If you get the DVD watch the comments afterwards the movie makes SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much more sense after seeing the Director and the Author describe this movie. It is rather gory in some of the murder scenes actually much more graphic than "Silence" but hey this is a foreign flick, they don't have the same guidelines as we do. I'm not giving any spoilers but I must say that I didn't care for the ending it was rather ludicrious but watch the movie, as with other good supsense/thriller movies there is a really good plot here that you have to figure out and when it is revealed you will like.......... OH! OF COURSE! Respectfully Reviewed
Rating:
Summary: watch it in french, not english
Review: I first watched this film, dubbed in English, and putted about my room without paying too much attention to it... left it for a few months, and just watched it again, with friends, and in French, with the English subtitles. no need to give my critical review, as the editor's is pretty much right on... just a slick thriller, and one I'm glad I watched again... the 'proper' way.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie - Misleading DVD
Review: I just wanted to note a few specifics things about this Region 1 release of The Crimson Rivers- 1. On the back of the case it only lists an English dubbed audio track as being in Dolby Digital 5.1. This is incorrect. The French audio version is also 5.1 Surround. There is also a second English audio track in standard 2.0. 2. "Cast & Crew Commentary". When I first saw this I was suprised that they would record a second english version (the original European special edition DVD has a commentary). Well, you had better get out your High School foreign language book, because the commentary is in French. Understandable, yes, but not properly marked on the case. 3. The DVD video quality is crisp. I can't be sure if this is the THX certified version used for the European version, but it's still rock solid. I just want to say that with the French commentary track, it's suprising that they didn't include the 5.1 isolated music score/composer commentary that was on the European release. The music itself is worth the price of admission, on top of the goregous visuals and wonderful performances. Overall, if you're a fan of Seven or the film noir genre in general, I highly recommend The Crimson Rivers. It just would have been nice if Columbia Tristar had a done a better job describing what exactly is on their Special Edition disc.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointing--They Gutted a Great Book!
Review: I know it isn't wise to compare films to the books that inspire them, but in this case, I must. I'd been looking forward to this film ever since I read the book by Jean-Christophe Grange and read Roger Ebert's wildly enthusiastic review. That's why the actual experience of viewing the film was such a disappointment. They took a riveting book and threw out so much of what made it memorable, that the resulting film doesn't make a whole lot of sense (if you watch the documentary included in the DVD, wherein the writer and director talk about some of the changes, you'll get a sense of just what's missing). The reason a film like _The Silence of the Lambs_ was so successful was because the screenwriter and director had such respect for the book it was based on. _The Crimson Rivers_ bears very little resemblance to its source material and it is all the weaker for that very reason. All I can say to those who're raving about this film is: READ THE BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Fell A Little Short
Review: I like the movie. I enjoy the DVD. The movie does an excellent work in setting the atmosphere, ambience, and the tone of The Crimson Rivers. I rate these qualities over the story. Watch it. I believe you will experience what I feel. I could relate to the coldness, eccentricity, foreigness, suspense, and many dark emotions that the movie expresses. I like the story too. I am a sucker for stories that developed from few isolate incidents to a grandeur scheme involved almost everyone. From the excellent bonus interview that is included in the DVD, I believe the book would be a much better interpretation of the story. Although, I have to argue that the interviewee are not too modest nor subtle. Almost a classic, but I definitely cannot say it is... just a good movie that you would discuss quite a bit after watching it.
Rating:
Summary: I like thees feelm veery mooch...
Review: I luve Jean Reno. Let mee say zat frum the verry start, okay? Hee iss zo...ummm...ce qui est lui...so mooch of a man! Oui! A Man's man. Theese film was evrry good, and I nevar closed my eyess enav wun time, OK? It iz made in France and wee are so happy that you silly Americans can zee that we are reel fimmachers. Pop! (Hand strikes pursed lips - Ed.) Zo...please to procure zees "Discomatheche de Vidocinemathique Directouvefrontelevouissse le Tower de Dataeffilcamerbaert de Bicyclete Unicycle de Computeere Le Personele", or "DVD" as you strage peeepol like to say.
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