Rating: 
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: I saw this thinking that I was getting a sci-fi thriller, but instead found a terrific story along with fantastic visuals. If you think that Haley Joel Osment is a terrific young actor, then check this out for Judith Vittet.
Rating:
Summary: A Stunning, Surreal Masterpiece!
Review: This film is just one big WOW!!!! There's nothing really more that I could add here that hasn't been said better elsewhere. I can't recommend this film enough, it's a real stunner. If you are a fan of Terry Gilliam's Brazil then you'll really admire this film. This is a DVD that is a must for your library.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous visuals, and the soundtrack is great, too.
Review: I am so glad to see all these 5 star ratings for this film. I felt like I was alone in enjoying this movie. I've not seen any movie with this many unique dark world visuals. It is hard to image the time era of this film. It's dark and early industrial looking (like "The Elephant Man", only this is in color). This music is timeless.
Whenever I try to share this movie with a friend or another family member, they don't see the uniqueness of these visuals as I, or the rest of us reviewers do. And yet, they thought "The Matrix" was so wonderful for the visuals. I guess what's missing is the senseless violence the shallow people enjoy.
I too, saw the trailer for this film on my "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" DVD. The trailer sold itself well as a wordless collage of cool visuals, and a haunting instrumental passage. I know I had to see this movie entirely although the trailer gave you no idea about the plot. Perhaps, that's probably an important point about watching this movie. Never mind the plot for awhile. Enjoy the visuals!!
I really can't understand why this movie got an "R" rating. Why, because some dancers ran out of a bar topless? Or, was it because two dogs were "going at it" on the bridge? Their isn't any fowl language in it either.
I wish there were more films like this. And, I wish I could get more people to see this film as we all do. ....
Rating:
Summary: Best Strange Film
Review: Very Strange Film. It is one of those movies that sucks you in and makes you feel strange after watching it. The soundtrack is outstanding, one of the best I have ever heard. If you like bizarre movies that actually have a plot to them... then you will love this one.
Rating:
Summary: Wow.
Review: "Amazing" is how I would describe this movie. I saw this in a local video store and the cover art attracted me. Though I knew nothing about this movie at that time, I rented it anyway since I couldn't find a movie in the store that interested me at that particular day. I went home, watched it, and, boy was I amazed. Stunning visuals. Curious gadgetry. Perfect portrayals by the actors (especially by Judith Vittet). Nice fairy tale plot. A balance of character strength, warmth and sensitivity. Plus, as a bonus, the DVD comes with a quite funny and engaging commentary by the director and the lead actor. The very next day, I went out and purchased the DVD. It is a must-own for me. The only complaint I have with the DVD, is that it does not come with a 5.1 dolby digital option. But even with that, I would strongly recommend this movie to anyone who wants a unique movie experience or to anyone who simply wants to be amazed.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic! The essence of brilliance in filmmaking!
Review: I had never heard of this film until I saw the trailer for it on the Monty Python and the Holy Grail DVD. At first, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but the astounding music and and the immersive art direction engrossed me in the atmosphere of it within no time at all. Having finally seen the film in its entirety, I can easily say that The City of Lost Children is a shining example of how good movies really can be! Never before have I seen such a beautifully dark and rich story presented so well! I should mention that the film's "R" rating is slightly exaggerated. It felt more like a "PG-13" film to me. At any rate, this is certainly an extraordinary motion picture that anyone with any sense of appreciation for imagination should own.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy at its' best! Wonderful DVD transfer!
Review: If you love Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits and Brazil, or Fellini's La Strada or Blade Runner, then don't let a chance to see this film get by. If you have only seen the VHS version, you haven't really seen it until you see the masterful transfer to DVD represented here. Picture quality and detail about as good as it gets. Right from the terrifying opening scene (about as scarey as it gets...imagine a small child encountering an army of malevolent Santa Clauses with the scene growing progressively more surreal) the film gets stranger and stranger. Use caution airing this film with a very small child...it really would be very unsettling to some children, albeit wonderfully rewarding for adults. One of the lesser known gems of the cinema and a must see for adventerous viewers.
Rating:
Summary: 'HAUTE HORROR!"
Review: Another brilliant French Import - seldom seen on the big screen [limited viewings in Los Angeles], but thankfully [and beautifully] captured on DVD, with perfect, just perfect sound.SEE this one as it was meant to be seen - in FRENCH, no subtitles, it works for itself and you can easily follow this deliciously groetsque fairy-tale involving a mad-scientist, his pint sized female companion, also a tanked, pulsating brain , crazy clown clones, not to mention multiple-Santas [phew, a nasty moment], a gorgeous strongman [Ron Perlman], and a never-ageing female Peter Pan - magnificently captured by the very adult-child Judith Vittet [a classis French beauty]. The others? We have the very synchonized, siamese twins, "la Pieuvre" [dual Wicked Witches of the West], they should join the "Gormenghast twins" and there's much more to meet the eye! The photography is superb, likewise to art direction [limited almost vintage 3D red and green tones], and the costume design is by Jean Paul Gaultier! Say no more. There's even a theme song by Marianne Faithful - worth waiting for. If you loved "Brazil", "12 Monkeys" and "Dark City" - get this DVD - another gem for your collection!
Rating:
Summary: Surreal steampunk classic!
Review: I've been wanting to see The City of Lost Children ever since it first came out. It was worth the wait! I would include this film on my list of favourite movies of all time. This is a delicious piece of surreal steampunk, tying together elements of fairy tale and mythology. It's exactly like one of my dreams, but you can think of it as Blade Runner meets Popeye and Oliver Twist. The film opens with a little kid watching Santa Claus emerge from the chimney. I thought, "That's one creepy-looking Santa!" but the kid didn't seem to mind. Then there was a good reason for the kid to get good and freaked out, so my first impression was vindicated. Some reviewers focus on the scenery of this movie, which is admittedly top-notch, but I am enthralled by the characters. I'd like to know how this movie was cast. Did the director do a cattle call for weird-looking people? I think he must have, because the only folks who fit in the middle of the bell curve are the children and one prostitute. The director walks a thin line with his imagery. With a slightly different cant, it could be considered kinky and fetishistic. A lot of attention is paid to bare feet. Two scenes show a dog lovingly licking a man's foot for a prolonged period, and another scene exhibits One giving 9-year old Miette an equally loving foot massage. Somehow, it doesn't seem pervy, but strangely appropriate. The City of Lost Children has obviously become an influential movie. For example, The Matrix borrows heavily from it. Just watch the dream-sharing sequences of City and compare it with the matrix-entry scenes of The Matrix. If that doesn't do it for you, compare the names of the central heroes.
Rating:
Summary: Vivid, Gorgeous, Touching French Surrealism
Review: This is a wonderful French film, which here in America gets tagged as an "art film" because it's so different from most of our pictures. The scenes involving Santa Clause are so incredibly creepy you won't believe. The imagery is truly fabulous. Does anyone else think Dominique Pinion is one of the most "different" looking people you've ever seen? A friend said I was understating it a bit when I made that comment after viewing Diva. I must say, though, that Jeunet was absolutely incompatible with the Alien series, and never should have been involved with the fourth film. His surrealist irony just doesn't mesh well with sci-fi horror.
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