Rating: Summary: a great journey! Review: This movie made me think of the american movie "Forest Gump". A man, who is kind of a square, goes on a spur of the moment trip to a far away place chasing a dream, a dream of love. On this journey, he meets gyspies, soldiers, thiefs, the law, and fellow travelers. I've only cried out of happiness twice while watching a movie in my entire life, this being the third. If you've ever dreamed about being spontanious, traveling, trying mind altering drugs for the first time, falling in love when you least expected it, or just trying to find yourself then this is your movie. It's mostly in German and some Turkish with English subtitles, but you'll soon forget about it.
Rating: Summary: Fatih Akin's Funniest Review: Fatih Akin is a marvel. Since other reviewers have already provided you with a synopsis of the film, I prefer to compare "Im Juli (In July)" to other films by Akin that I have seen: "Kurz und Schmerzlos (Short and Painless)" and "Gegen die Wand (Against the Wall)". Short and Painless was his first film, and it was him at his rawest. It seemed to be a young director's dream film which included a little bit of everything that he's interested in. I believe a lot in the film was autobiographical. Against the Wall is a grown up Akin with a lot of pain and suffering. I remember twitching in my seat in a few scenes and as usual, I was baffled by the excellent character build up. In July is funnier and more relaxed than the other two. I think it's a good intro to Akin's filmmaking, his extraordinary yet out-of-life characters and his great sense of humour and eye for detail & observation. This film is highly recommended I can't wait till the DVD comes out!
Rating: Summary: Fatih Akin's Funniest Review: Fatih Akin is a marvel. Since other reviewers have already provided you with a synopsis of the film, I prefer to compare "Im Juli (In July)" to other films by Akin that I have seen: "Kurz und Schmerzlos (Short and Painless)" and "Gegen die Wand (Against the Wall)". Short and Painless was his first film, and it was him at his rawest. It seemed to be a young director's dream film which included a little bit of everything that he's interested in. I believe a lot in the film was autobiographical. Against the Wall is a grown up Akin with a lot of pain and suffering. I remember twitching in my seat in a few scenes and as usual, I was baffled by the excellent character build up. In July is funnier and more relaxed than the other two. I think it's a good intro to Akin's filmmaking, his extraordinary yet out-of-life characters and his great sense of humour and eye for detail & observation. This film is highly recommended I can't wait till the DVD comes out!
Rating: Summary: Fantastic, heart-warming film Review: First time I saw "In July", made me long for the days of taking to the road and seeing where it took you. Film is about Daniel, a shy teacher in Hamburg, who meets the beautful Melek. Daniel decides to drive to Istanbul and surprise Melek after their lone night together. However, Juli, the street vendor that's been interested in Daniel, hitchhikes with him across Europe. The film is really a metaphorical journey for the trials and tribulations that Daniel has to face, and the changes he undergoes during the whole experience. The cinematography is great, taking full advantage of the scenery and locations of Central and Eastern Europe as Daniel tries to navigate his way to Turkey, via a 4 wheeler, barge boat, or the classic VW van.
Rating: Summary: Deserves more credit than many would give it... Review: I first saw Im Juli (In July) my first month living in Germany, and it has been one of my favorites ever since. It is a light-hearted lark of a film, meant to replicate and expand on the contrivances of the Hollywood romantic road film. And director Faith Akin brings to the genre his own (distinctly European) sense of humor and whimsy.
Moritiz Bleibtreu and Christiane Paul as the film's leads are delightful - they play off each other with an easy chemistry and create winning characters for whom you cheer. The supporting characters are equally as likeable and altogether unusual for a romantic comedy, the difference that sets Im Juli (In July) apart from it's Hollywood counterparts.
If you're looking for a fun film and don't expect cinematic genious, Im Juli (In July) will satisfy your inner ham quite nicely. Considering the decidedly heavier offerings from Germany (Europe Europe, Wings of Desire, Big Girls Don't Cry, anything by Fassbinder), Im Juli (In July) is a treat. Along with Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run, The Princess and the Warrior), Faith Akin is one of Germany's most delightful and innovative directors.
Rating: Summary: A Mystical Journey for Love Review: I totally dig this movie. And, I'm a big action movie kinda guy! C'mon folks. It's not meant to be taken seriously. It's just a light hearted adventurous romp travelling throughout a different side of Europe. Involving a sundry cast of funny and interesting characters, it takes you along and away with them. Take a chance and have a fun night watching this movie. Much better than some of the garbage that passes itself off as "hip and edgy".
My next question is where can I find the soundtrack? There is some excellent music being played throughout the background of this movie.
Rating: Summary: The movie that has everything Review: I'm writing this review because I would like "In Juli" to get the attention it deserves. I saw it in New York about 2 years ago. It literally was shown for 3 days and then completely disappeared. I know no one who saw it, or even heard of it,and that is a shame. "In Juli" is a comedy, a mystery, a road story and it has fabulous scenery of eastern and southern Europe. But, best of all, it has the most romantic line, I've ever heard in a movie - we'll it's at the top of the list, along with all the best ones you've heard. I won't say what it is, you'll just have to buy the video. The acting is splendid, my favorite one being Christianne Paul playing Juli, the lead female character. She is beautiful, smart and knowing and has a terrific smile. Moritz Bleibtreu plays Daniel, the male lead and it is wonderful watching him transform to someone who is basically not present in his life, to someone who can have adventures, fall down, get up and fall in love. The acting, overall, is excellent and as the story builds, you end of liking and routing for all the characters. One of the many levels the movie is about is having to travel and have experiences that ultimately help you grow and change, and finally be able to see that the real love that you are looking for is right in front of you - you just need to be open to see it.
Rating: Summary: The movie that has everything Review: I'm writing this review because I would like "In Juli" to get the attention it deserves. I saw it in New York about 2 years ago. It literally was shown for 3 days and then completely disappeared. I know no one who saw it, or even heard of it,and that is a shame. "In Juli" is a comedy, a mystery, a road story and it has fabulous scenery of eastern and southern Europe. But, best of all, it has the most romantic line, I've ever heard in a movie - we'll it's at the top of the list, along with all the best ones you've heard. I won't say what it is, you'll just have to buy the video. The acting is splendid, my favorite one being Christianne Paul playing Juli, the lead female character. She is beautiful, smart and knowing and has a terrific smile. Moritz Bleibtreu plays Daniel, the male lead and it is wonderful watching him transform to someone who is basically not present in his life, to someone who can have adventures, fall down, get up and fall in love. The acting, overall, is excellent and as the story builds, you end of liking and routing for all the characters. One of the many levels the movie is about is having to travel and have experiences that ultimately help you grow and change, and finally be able to see that the real love that you are looking for is right in front of you - you just need to be open to see it.
Rating: Summary: And that's a roundup from the 2.5 stars I'd give if I could Review: Let's see...
Characters: wow... next to no development here at all, and VERY hard to believe. Daniel, a straight-laced, risk-aversive teacher who in only a few days is transformed into a car-stealing, dope-smoking, free-wheeling and carefree dude, who'll do it all for... love! Yeah... right. Juli (named after the German name for the month of July), a supposed free-spirited, worldly gal with hippy braids, and anything-goes mentality who just HAPPENS to fall in love with this guy named Daniel, and comes across as almost virginal, being inexperienced at spooning, despite having hitch-hiked across LARGE parts of Europe with strangers. Geez...
Plot: I really wanted to like this movie, and it was better than "Sleepless in Seattle" but only marginally. Plot was WAY predictable (it was like a PG-13 version of "Something Wild" with Melanie Griffith). I tend to like European movies a bit more than the normal "Hollyweed" products in the states, but this one seemed to aspire to and happily achieve all the cliches that "Hollyweed" seems to revel in.
Acting: VERY cardboard-like defined characters, and acting to aptly suit those characters. Bleibtrau is capable of much more, so it was kind of disappointing to see him so underutilized here.
All in all, not a terrible movie, but it just seemed WAY too predictable and uninspired. No boundaries pushed here, and if you like your movies that way, then you'll probably like this as well.
Rating: Summary: The Trip of a Lifetime Review: Moritz Bleibtreu (of 'Run Lola Run' fame) is Daniel, a young instructor in Germany. His boyish good looks are appealing enough to his female students but his dull class certainly is not, particularly when they are all in the grip of summer break fever. For his part the unimaginative Daniel intends to sit out the summer in his Hamburg apartment. To and from class he often comes by a peddler in the local marketplace, played by the handsome and charming Christiane Paul. Her goal is to spend the summer with Daniel but he easily misses the point. She twists a plot so that he can't avoid her intentions but happenstance spoils its execution and he sets off on a wild goose chase of a Turkish girl who has left for Istanbul and whom he mistakes for his soul-mate. A frustrated Christiane Paul then decides to flee Hamburg, going where the first car willing to stop for her hitch-hikers thumb takes her. That car is driven by none other than Daniel. Along the trip, filled with narrow escapes, motor vehicle mishaps, and bribeable border guards ("No passport, No Romania"). Daniel greatly increses his guile, tenacity and daring, but can he see the forest for the trees? This film uses inventive techniques, a small host of marvelous characters, all of whom spend just the right amount of time on the screen, and never takes itself too seriously but doesn't cross the line into screw-ball comedy despite its frequent belly laughs. All the while it provides a nice travelog of south/central Europe, a locale rarely witnessed by American filmgoers. This movie will remind any 30 year old of his greatest adventures, and provide any college freshman with a preview of the challenges and thrills a young life might undertake. This movie stays in the psyche a long time after the first viewing and is bound to make numerous personal top-ten lists after it gains a wider audience. A perfect date movie for those unafraid of subtitles. Don't miss it.
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