Rating: 
Summary: Almost Perfect and yet French . . . Go Figure.
Review: This is the freshest, most original movie I have seen in years. Just when my dislike of France had been almost perfected, this film comes along and makes me think they might just have a reason or two to be so snotty and superior. From the opening childhood scenes to the climaxes of discovery (I loved who the man in the photos turned out to be) there was absolutely nothing about this movie I did not like. Most DVDs should be rentals - you watch them once and then they gather dust on the shelf - but I'm sure I'll be watching this one for years to come. Did I mention how much I liked this movie?
Rating:
Summary: the surprising romance of photobooths
Review: Supposedly charming movies I have hated: "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Pretty Woman," "Serendipity." Of course, serial infidelities and street prostitution *are* pretty delightful, so it's probably just me being a pill... Instead of taking rather ugly situations and insisting without any particular proof that they are adorable or romantic, "Amelie" shows the effect that a particular mindset can produce, making the very ordinary into something magical. While not exactly an advertisement for the Power of Positive Thinking, the advantages of a mischievous, curious approach to life are certainly amplified here. "Amelie" is not all sweetness and light. Despite her appeal, the character Amelie is sly and secretive and has an unsettling disregard for the consequences of her actions. Her playfulness takes on an air of cruelty in her treatment of the mean-spirited greengrocer, and I began to wonder if she orchestrated the romance for her co-worker out of friendship or spite... However, it is her playfulness that, for better or worse, makes things happen. Unlike most movies meant to entrance audiences (i.e., like those named above), "Amelie" takes place in a recognizable world where all the ordinary rules apply. Except for the contrivance of Amelie's occasional asides to the camera, demonstrating the workings of her busy mind, nothing happens in this movie that could not happen in real life. The charm of this film rests on these practical underpinnings, and it is Amelie's imagination which provides the glow. Having never been to Paris, I can only say that the Paris of this film looks and feels exactly like Paris is supposed to: twisty little streets, tilty old buildings, wheezy accordions, and ample evidence of le chic which happens to be very shabby. And so far as the look of Amelie herself, so much has been said about Audrey Tautou and her doll-like, anime-eyed darlingness that I needn't say anything more on the subject. Oh, OK, one more thing: she makes a very sexy Zorro! So Amelie's love interest works in a porn shop. So people in France have (not-very-graphic, actually) sex. The sexual content is minimal and struck me as being mostly farcical - it's romance that is taken seriously here. I have no kids, but I think many would find it OK for older children, especially since there's so much else to enjoy - I would be more concerned about a child's ability to read the subtitles and keep up with the story!
Rating:
Summary: Visually exciting and novel, lovely script
Review: This is a magical film with surprising and witty visuals that fit the story perfectly. If you do not come to this film with a soft heart, you may not get it. It is unabashedly sentimental. In the mood for an uplifting, romantic, very French film? This is it.
Rating:
Summary: Visually exciting and novel, lovely script
Review: This is a magical film with surprising and witty visuals that fit the story perfectly. If you do not come to this film with a soft heart, you may not get it. It is unabashedly senitmental. In the mood for an uplifting, romantic, very French film? This is it.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: hey this movie is just great, ihave seen it about 5 times now and i'm still fascinated of the details and the little pleasures of life which it shows to us. i just can say: WATCH IT!
Rating:
Summary: amelie
Review: The Amelie DVD is so wonderful because of all the extras. You already know what an excellent movie this is so I don't need to address that in my review. .... I completely indentify with the character Amelie and grew up under similar situations as she. The sex in the movie is insignificant. As an only child and one having strained relationships with her parent(s), and also being that she did not attend school, relationships are an especially strange concept and she doesn't know how to deal with them. She's not necessarily a shy character, but she does not know how to act with people. She's become very observant because of this. The reason she feels something for Nino is inexplicable and nothing like before, since it's only a feeling she's gotten, her destiny. She has not had that feeling before. And so even though it was awkward at first, she did not know how to go about things with him, when he's there at her door everything falls into place. If you watch the movie repeatedly like I do, or at least decide to give it a second go-round, this will all be apparent. In fact many many many more things will become apparent or subtly apparent as you watch this movie again and again.
Rating:
Summary: it's the details that count
Review: What a great movie! The main reason why it's great: it focusses on the details of life. The joy of skipping stones. All the other little things that make life worth while. It's a great fairy tale about the way in which you can manipulate your life in a subtle way. It's a shame to tell you more, except that we are talking about a feel-very-good-movie.
It's a bit warmer then Delicatessen or The City of Lost Children.
Rating:
Summary: Amalie is cute as a button!
Review: Amalie is the enchanting story of a young Parisian woman who lives a rather solitary, introspective life. Gradually, however, she starts meddling in the lives of her neighbors and co-workers and finds that she loves doing it. She becomes fascinated by a man who collects discarded instant-photos in the train station and, with the use of some clever photos of herself, they fall love. The thing that makes Amalie so utterly irresistible is the script: Amalie talks directly to the audience and shares her candid thoughts throughout the movie. She is funny and clever. The star, Audrey Tatou, reminds you instantly of Audrey Hepburn. She is petite, perky, and has her own style. She is simply adorable. I saw it twice and I'm going to get the video. I enjoyed hearing the beautiful French spoken in the film; it added to the film, making it seem lighter and more joyous. Amalie makes life seem wonderful!
Rating: 
Summary: You don't have to be a fan of foreign movies
Review: Wow. This movie was so unusual, the visual style was so lush and gorgeous, the story was so captivating. Even my husband, who won't sit still for subtitled movies, liked it and chuckled a few times as I saw him watch the movie over his newspaper! (And, not to take anything away from either actress, but Audrey Tautou reminded me of another famous Audrey. She had that same "je ne sais quoi". That's the limit of my high school French!) The movie has what is missing in so many American movies and that is multi-layers-- mini-stories that don't detract from the main story but add a lot to it. The only bad thing I can say was I had a heck of a time accessing the subtitles and getting them in English. Maybe the DVD (a rental) had a glitch in it but it wasn't a very friendly menu and unfortunately, I don't understand French well enough to follow it in a movie. Liked the music, too. And what a city Paris looks like in this movie! Check it out and give it a chance.
Rating:
Summary: A film to put a smile on your lips!!
Review: have just returned from seeing this movie for the third time at my local cinema, and it is just as good as the first time.
Despite the fact that i have always had a liking for horrormovies and that sort, this has turned out to be the best movie experience i have ever had, and it is definetely NOT a horrormovie. It is the wonderful tale of a young girls struggle to make other people happy and thereby making herself happy. Should you think that this sounds really boring, then let me tell you that in the hands of any other director than Jeunet it probably would be, but he manages to make it into not only a fantastic story but an audio-visual experience beyond anything i have seen in a long time.
Not only is the story funny, charming and welltold, but the technical side of it all is also topnotch. The actors, especially Audrey Tautou(Amelie), the rest of the cast, the director Jeunet and the rest of the crew behind this film, has simply given themselves 110 procent. There is simply not one weak link in this movie.
So if you are looking for a movie to cheer you up, or if you are just looking for something a little different than the usual hollywood-run of the mill, then give this great movie a chance. I promise you it is better than alcohol, drugs and pills, at least it put a big smile on my lips all of the times that i have seen it! PS. And if you can stop from falling helplessly in love love with Amelie then you must surely have a hard of stone or a very bad taste in women!
PSS. Dont be fooled by the fact that Jeunet also made ...Alien 4, he has made a gigantic comeback here with Amelie.
By the way while youre here, buy a copy of his two earlier french films "Delicatessen" and "City of the lost children", although they are not quite as good as Amelie, they are still very entertaining.
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