Renegade (aka Blueberry)

Rating:
Summary: Cassel + Shaminism = A Wild Western Trip
Review: Among the best comic book movies, very much a cinematic cousin of "Hulk"--moody, atmospheric, with cgi that seems to grow organically from the film and theme. All the performances, especially Vincent Cassel and Eddie Izzard, are clearly exercizes in stretching their individual acting skills... these actors are working "it" and shooting for something heavier than a stylized western. Trippy, cool, and heady, this is a wild ride that begs for repeat viewings.

Rating:
Summary: The Destination is never as important as the Journey
Review: And this film proves that to me in leaps and bounds. I have never had the pleasure of reading the comic books, but now having seen the film...I feel that tracking some of them down would be a very worthwhile endevour.

As a student of spiritual mysteries I was completely enthralled by this film. The story line moves very quickly, with unearthly undertones to even the most mundane of scenes. This is not a film that you watch...it is a film that you feel. Delving into the world of the mind of the Shaman is something that must be purused with caution, especially when it comes to the media of film. Beyond any doubt however, this movie captured the truth of this with such depth and heart...there aren't really words that can do it justice.

As far as acting and directing...again, very well executed. If you are a fan of either Vincent Cassel or Michael Madsen you will not be dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Good movie but can't replace the comics
Review: First of all why was this movie not released in the theaters ? then I am not sure why they choose this title, since the french movie is called something else ?
I am a Blueberry comic fan so I can't help compare the movie to the classic art work of a comic book. Excellent cinematography and graphics but I must say the movie left me feeling empty inspite of all the lessons on shaminism. Perhaps now I know why they say that it is important to read the book (well in my case, the comic book) than watch the movie ! I guess , in story telling, when the media is less direct, one can use his/her imagination more and make the experience more fullfilling and personal. I would still recommend watching the movie as it is an unlikely western. More than that I would recommend getting hold of some Blueberry comic books which are hard to find but still available and thoroughly enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: Blueberry!
Review: Having read all the Blueberry "comics" by Moebius & Charlier, I was excited to learn a film adaptation was in the works...

The original graphic stories were a sprawling pastiche of just about every cliche' you've ever seen in a western film! They closely resembled the popular "spaghetti" westerns of Sergio Leone. They were excellent story-telling in spite of this!

This film adaptation could have gone in just about any direction. The direction it did take was a pleasant surprise!

It is evident that Director Jan Kounen is also familiar with Moebius' other works and chose to focus this story on some of the more spiritual underpinnings that are the best part of the French illustrator's fantastic creations.

In short, this is like no other "Western" you've ever seen.

I'd love to know what Jean "Moebius" Giraud thinks of this film!

Rating:
Summary: Trippy Cowboy Film?
Review: I got to see this movie in the original French, and I opted to see it largely because I'm a huge Eddie Izzard fan (Mr. Izzard, by the way, is all but unrecognizable in a beard and perfect French accent).

Anyway, what I expected going in was a cowboy film; what I got was a TRIPPY cowboy film! This movie is extremely bizarre, but I find it very pretty from an artistic standpoint, even poignant at points, and with one great plot twist. They might have even done without the whole people-going-into-the-sacred-mountains thing- the true story is in the purging of the main character's inner demons.

Rating:
Summary: Relax, and keep breathing.
Review: I just watched this movie last night. During the final scenes of the movie dealing with the plants, I felt like what I imagine the guy I had seen as a child in a movie theatre freaking out during a screening of Platoon must have felt. This guy just started screaming "That's how it was!! That's how it was!!!"

If you are at all familiar with plant shamanism than you should see this film. I am amazed at how well they were able to capture the sights and sounds, the awe-fulness, the fear, sadness, agony and eventual bliss of the experience.

I hope that eventually the ratings here will average out much higher than it is doing so far. It will be a trojan horse to some, but in time this movie will quietly become a cult classic and will never be forgotten.

Rating:
Summary: If you are into Shamanism get this film
Review: If you have any interst in Shamanism get this DVD. The Shaman CGI journey in this film coveres the entire price of this DVD.

I will watch this DVD for many years to come.

Rating:
Summary: This Really the jan Kounen film BLUEBERRY
Review: Just so you know this is the latest work by sadistic "Dobermann" director Jan Kounen. It's perhaps worth checking out.

Rating:
Summary: A PSYCHEDELIC "SOUFFLE" WESTERN
Review: Man...Id love to see the look on some BILLY JOE-BOB's face after returning this rental to his Local Mega-Video Chain. Packaged as a typical B-movie western, this Car Wreck (I never could quite shut this sucker off) of a "French?" made Western features such Cult Movie Icons/Actors as VINCENT CASSEL(Irreversible, Brotherhood of the Wolf),MICHAEL MADSEN(Kill Bill, Resevoir Dogs)AND such ludicrous, atypical & diseperate elements as DJIMON HOUNSOU sans Scalp, Boba Fett as Indian Shaman, Western Genre Contractual "Hunt For Lost Treasure", GEOFFREY LEWIS sans "Clyde the Orangutan", Homages to LEONE, KUBRICK and JODOROWSKY, ERNIE BORGNINE sans Tim Conway, CG Spider-Caterpillar-Spirit-Thingies, EDDIE IZZARD with Beard-sans Ladies Wear, and JULIE LEWIS's Bush! Oh yeah...and the lead character's name is "BLUEBERRY". Comic Book Fan-Boy geeks will have you believing this Trippy Mess is worthwhile. Beware-Brother-Beware!!
This Flick went Straight from the Festival Circuit to Video for a reason.

Rating:
Summary: RENEGADE Had Promise...
Review: This nice looking and surprising western had a great premise, but was slowed down with not enough nicely cherographed action sequences, along with a miss-cast of the leading man.
Hugh Jackman, along with not so high-dollar actors could have played this leading role to better execution.
The storyline was excellent, but the pacing and the skinny, boring lead actor made this hard to swallow.
The special effects, especially near the ending, would have been more exciting - and more properly executed - if the Good and Evil spirits would have battled it out.
Instead, we are thrown in some cool looking images...but quickly had me and my friends saying - "Enough already!"
I love half-breed type westerns, and the filming and scenes in this movie are magnificent, but the lack of a strong lead actor, along with scenes that felt unfinished and/or polished, made this film in much need of some explosive, Sam Peckinpah-type action.
Look up DUST. That's a better western.