Rating: Summary: Watch Lola run Review: When her boyfriend Manni, in a panic, absent-mindedly leaves a bag of crime money on a subway in an effort to evade the police, Lola (Franka Potente) comes to the rescue, knowing that Manni's crime boss will suspect a double-cross if the 100,000 marks is not found or replaced. She does so in three separate sequences a la Rashomon or Jackie Brown (two imaginary, one apparently real) with varying degrees of success.Tight, exhilarating film which starts with way too many MTV-like gimmicks (animation, under-cranking, over-cranking, video, film, black and white, color) but eventually settles into its own beautiful pace and never lets up. Potente delivers an excellent performance as the frantic redhead, running running running (for what seems to be a quarter of the film), her bright mane of flames crackling behind her as she sets the streets afire in her single-minded quest. With all this rushing, it's a small miracle that director/writer Tom Tykwer is able to build these characters as well as he does. Even more amazing, though, is that in under 80 minutes they become one of the most believable on-screen romantic couples of the year, enough to make this one of the year's best films.
Rating: Summary: Challenging the mainstream concept of linear time Review: Jean-Paul Sartre preferred the movie above all other art forms because of this medium's ability to express temporal movement. Run Lola Run is clearly a postmodern expression of this temporality; the positivist notion of a universally-accessible, knowable universe is up for grabs; as well as the secular question of fate to boot! All under 2 hours! With minimal dialogue, this is a philosophically astute piece of work. I was unprepared for this movie: luckily, I was the first of my social group to see it. I was almost unnerved by the intensity! The movie met my only workable definition of "good art": I left the experience wanting to carry on with the artists' creation. One of the best movies I've seen.
Rating: Summary: Run to get this DVD Review: Some have remarked on the originality of the film's concept. In fact, this is one of the science fiction genre's more cliched premises. What makes it novel, perhaps, is that it's applied to a non-science fiction setting. But, as interesting as the concept is, it does other films and television shows an injustice to regard _Run Lola Run_ as an entire innovation. What separates _Run Lola Run_ from other films is not the story itself so much as the way the story is told. Director Tom Tykwer is an auteur run amuck. From the opening sequence, we are completely at the mercy of Twyker's powerful vision. _Run Lola Run_ is the collision of German expressionism, Czech animation, and MTV. So much of this film is told though this blend of visual styles, in fact, that one could turn off the subtitles and understand most of what was going on. This is not to say that the film is a vacuous visual metaphor. Far from it. Tykwer has crafted a genuine story here, with a great moral center. It's just that that morality is not exposed through pages of dialogue. Tykwer, instead, uses so many techniques, so well-edited together, that the characters are largely defined visually before you even know what's happening. Clearly, this is a must-have film for anyone seriously interested in the craft of filmmaking. Not only will you learn a lot from the cacophony on display in the film itself, but the commentary (only in English) is especially enlightening. This is one of the very few secondary audio commentaries on DVD in which the lead actress plays a part, and her insight is invaluable. It's extremely intriguing to hear scenes relived from both sides of the camera. More interestingly, though, Tykwer's explanation of how he pulled off his vision is something that will energize even the most casual filmmaker.
Rating: Summary: The kind of movie you can't tear yourself away from. Review: My daughter was watching this video when I stuck my head in the door to ask her a question. Over an hour later, I'd forgotten the question but asked her how she'd heard about this incredible movie. Word of mouth - she told me. Everyone was raving about it. "Run Lola Run" moves so fast you're afraid to blink. Every brief part has an important element in the film's plot. As the prior reviewer said, she has to solve what seems to be an impossible conundrum. Yet the resolution that she arrives at is itself quite a twist. The problem with reviewing a film like this is that it is near impossible to discuss substantive elements of the flick without giving away the plot! The acting is very good. The music is fantastic and captures the essence of intrigue. And the plot leaves you thinking those deep thoughts for some time. I loved it. And I don't even like foreign films!
Rating: Summary: truly an art film! Review: This movie was introduced to me in my German class. From the first frame I was very much interested in the film's artistic qualities. This piece is truly original and should be watched again and again. The director of this film is a genious because of its cast and technical qualities. Great soundtrack, as well! Watch this film...you will like it.
Rating: Summary: The most viscerally entertaining film in awhile... Review: This picture deservedly won the Best Film award at the 1999 Seattle Film Festival. Not only does it seamlessly integrate pulsing electronica music into its soundtrack for a post-modern urban-techno feel but it proves once and for all that Doc's make good running shoes. Not necessarily a deep film (despite the toying with notions of causation and effect) but tremendously entertaining.
Rating: Summary: Ein toller Film! Review: This is one of the greatest films to have come out of Germany in a long time (subjectively speaking of course). It is a unique film with a unique feel to it, and it is also one of the more daring films of the '90s - almost at the same level as Fight Club. The soundtrack is also an excellent buy. And if this is your initiation to German Film, may I also suggest these titles: Metropolis, The Nasty Girl, The Marriage of Maria Braun, and (one of my all time favorite films) The American Friend.
Rating: Summary: Great audio commentary! Review: I loved the film. There is not much more that I can add to what has been already said of the content of the film by many of my co-reviewers. I had to say that the audio commentary by the film's writer/director: Tom Tykwer and star: Franka Potente was quite informative and entertaining and the best audio commentary I have yet heard from people whose native tongue is not English (it's more lucid than many of the commentaries I have heard from native speakers of English). This will make a fine addition to your DVD library.
Rating: Summary: My favorite! Review: I originally saw Lola 3 times in the theater in the summer of ninety nine. I have watched it 11 more times on the VHS (I have the DVD but no player yet). This is my favorite all-time movie. It is enjoyable on many levels. The Soundtrack kicks. Rent, buy, and enjoy. I also enjoy the many Lola Rennt message boards on the net.
Rating: Summary: Worth checking out Review: Claims of best movie of 1999 are a bit much, but Run Lola Run is definitely one of the better films, and worth checking out. In my opinion the third, and last, 'scene' ruins a bit of the film, as it was rather...lame. Regardless, I enjoyed the movie.
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