Rating: 
Summary: An artful commentary on eternity vs. the temperal and sin
Review: Dir. Wim Wenders captures the imagination of angels. The story is about an angel who wishes against wishes that he could be human, to know time and how he could be a better messanger. He quickly finds out that modern man is far too easily blinded to see spiritual truths. His own descent into sinnful acts affirm mankind's depravity. Poetry and stark imagery wisp you along as does the music of (former Velvet) Lou Reed and U2. Reed makes an apperance in the film and his song "I want to be good" is good redemptive music reminiscent of VU's third album. Reed, Peter Falk and Mikhail Gorbachev all making apperances as themselvs adds a sense of reality to the dreamy idea of angels watching us. Far Away So Close makes Berlin feel like Jerusalem with eternity so close yet so out of sight. May the light of this film hit your eye and make you happy. You will keep thinking of it long after you've seen it.
Rating: 
Summary: A major dissapointment
Review: I liked Wings of Desire so much that I rented and watched this sequel. Frankly it was major dissapointment to me. It seems Wenders tries to have a "real plot" and some "action" in the movie. But the story is incoherent and laughable at some points.
Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: If you are tired of watching the same movies, you should try this one. The story of angels walking between humans and their effort to understand them is a wonderful chance to understand a little bit more about ourselves.Cassiel and the other angels teach us how beautiful life is, despite all problems we have to face. In addition, the music by U2 and the images of Berlin are just another reason to watch it. Enjoy it!
Rating: 
Summary: Wenders' Tale
Review: If you have NOT seen "Wings of Desire", you will not like this film, because its understanding draws from your experience of its predecessor. If you HAVE seen "Wings", you will not like this film, either. Because in "Wings" are poured all the film-maker's reflections on Life and its loneliness. No more original ideas are left to make its sequel a viable continuation. Perhaps that's why "Far away..." looks so tired, so exhausted of creative impulse, undecided between the tragic and the comical. The devices that are impressive in "Wings", such as the internal murmurs, the down-to-earth dialogue between angels and an "inspired" Peter Falk, don't work here with the same impact. Apparently Wenders attempted to make up for the lack of original ideas with a more story-like narrative, but that is a poor compensation. Telling an entertaining story with plot is never Wender's forte. I miss the haunting imagery and the sad timelessness of "Wings". Cannot wait to see it on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: If you liked "Beautiful Mind" so don't even think about to read this. OK, it's dense. But it's quite fine and useful for further analysis. especially if you are reading or working out Heidegger and existentialist thought as well. To see over and over again. A masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Not even close!
Review: In Wim Wender's follow-up to "Wings of Desire," the angel Cassiel (Otto Sandler) becomes human and struggles with the depravity and the spiritual blindness of mortals to establish a moral life. Becoming confused along the way, he flirts with addiction and criminality. The previous film was nearly plotless, achieving its effect by revealing the thoughts of random humans so that we could perceive ourselves just as the angels perceive us. The result was surreal wordplay juxtaposed with provocative images.
By contrast, this film is nothing but plot, as Cassiel meets so many people and becomes involved in so many outlandish events that it becomes impossible to care about any of it. Peter Falk's cameo as a former angel doesn't work this time around, nor does veteran Velvet Underground rocker Lou Reed, whose inclusion seems to be nothing more than an egregious case of star worship. Throw in gangsters, circus performers, and a rescue by bungee cord that climaxes the film, and you are left with a complete mess.
Rating:
Summary: SEEKING MEANING
Review: More than sex, food or survival, we are creatures driven to find meaning in our lives (or so it's said by those who claim to know such things). A recent film that taps into that mindset, with success, is now available in a fine digital edition. FAR AWAY, SO CLOSE is a subtle, almost ephemeral film that dares to tackle the profound question of why we humans have such a hard time experiencing, explaining and understanding the spiritual as ultimate reality (the rest is merely phenomena). This superb companion piece to Wim Wenders much praised 1987 "Wings of Desire" works best with the least amount of foreknowledge. Let go and consider the wonder, beauty and truth that we are indeed spiritual beings having a human experience. Highest recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: SEEKING MEANING
Review: More than sex, food or survival, we are creatures driven to find meaning in our lives (or so it's said by those who claim to know such things). A recent film that taps into that mindset, with success, is now available in a fine digital edition. FAR AWAY, SO CLOSE is a subtle, almost ephemeral film that dares to tackle the profound question of why we humans have such a hard time experiencing, explaining and understanding the spiritual as ultimate reality (the rest is merely phenomena). This superb companion piece to Wim Wenders much praised 1987 "Wings of Desire" works best with the least amount of foreknowledge. Let go and consider the wonder, beauty and truth that we are indeed spiritual beings having a human experience. Highest recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as its' predesessor
Review: Most of the previous comments are appropriate. My question is: how on earth can anyone justify having this available in DVD format as opposed to the far superior Wings of Desire, which remains available only in VHS?
Rating:
Summary: Faraway Opens with Promise Then Meanders
Review: Movie sequels are rarely as strong as the original, and "Faraway, so Close" is a good example. "Faraway, so Close" gets off to a good start-it's great to simply get caught up on what the characters have been up to since the mesmorizing original. After a while, though, it gets bogged down in the middle with a far-fetched mix of gangsters, angels, and more circus trapeze artists. The action-packed climax, which I won't reveal here, seemed more from a Stallone film than anything in "Wings of Desire."
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