Rating: 
Summary: Philisophical follow up to Run Lola Run
Review: "The Princess and the Warrior" is a strange and often times disorienting movie. Ostensibly speaking, the plot follows Franka Portente's character (Lola from "Run Lola Run) attempts to find the man she believed has saved her life. However, this movie often defies basic convention and should not be viewed in this manner. Director Tom Twyker seems to be using the film as a vehicle for some greater philisophical purpose. Like his last film Run Lola Run, it is difficult not to be engrossed by Twyker's fantastic command of visual style. Unlike Lola though, this movie is not as frenetic and as "post MTV." In fact, this movie manages to convey a great number of ideas without ever being obvious. Ocaisonally it veers towards banality but the film always manages to hold together nicely. The film explores many of the themes of "Run lola Run," but takes them much farther. The concept that small events have an enormous impact on individual destiny is of critical importance. "The Princess and the Warrior" comes across more like a kind of philisophical meditation than any kind of conventional movie where plot and dialogue are key. There are moments of great silence (the bank robbery sequence works so well because it stealthily muses on the gravity of the situation rather than having people scream their heads off) that resonate long after the film's ending. One could dub this film as trite and boring but that seems to be completely missing what the film is trying to say. Ultimately if you are expecting a thrill-ride on the level of "Run Lola Run" you will be sorely dissapointed. If you keep an open mind and are willing to let the philisophical elements cinematically play themselves out, then there is no way you will be unsatisfied. Quietly and discreetly powerful.
Rating: 
Summary: Ranks with Run Lola Run and Das Boot as tops.
Review: I'm not quite sure why but this film didn't garner the same wide release that Run Lola Run did here in the States. Like that previous work, Princess and The Warrior is ultimately beautiful not only on the outside (cinematography and actors) but on the inside (emotional resonance and humanity). The soundtrack is amazing and the visuals stunning. Especially notable is the fact that the events in the film are not rushed and the film as a whole has a somewhat quiet, floating quality to it in spite of the sometimes intense goings on. Potente is great as always and newcomer Benno Furmann impresses in both the acting and looks departments. The few people I know who've seen this film all had the same reaction; surprise at discovering some kind of masterpiece...
Rating:
Summary: Lola slows down, becomes more emotional
Review: The Princess and The Warrior
2/14/2002 The Princess and The Warrior revisits territory familiar in Tom Tykwer's films, but is well crafted to keep the viewer interested and engrossed. The story centers around Sissi [Franka Potente], a devoted nurse at Birkenhof asylum. One day on a trip with one of the asylum's patients, Sissi is stuck by a car and is saved by the young man who caused the accident, Bodo [Benno Fürmann]. What follows is Sissi's search to find the identity of the man who saved her, and is now appearing in her dreams. In the latter part of the film, focus is on whether fate or coincidence is responsible for the character's meeting. Techniques from Tykwer's previous films [Run Lola Run, Winter Sleepers], are once again present, such as repeating musical sequences, and long panning views of the characters.
The finale of the film, gives the characters even more depth and ties the package into a nice package. The final scenes, although initially confusing to some viewers, have a dramatic impact on audiences once the reasoning is found. Some Run Lola Run fans may be turned off by the dramatic reduction of pace from the previous film, but those able to accept the change of pace will be treated to a chain of events that is just as exciting and rewarding.
Rating:
Summary: Now, I can finally choose a "favorite"...
Review: Tykwer is astonishing. All 3 films are pure pleasure to watch and each not to be missed for its own reasons. Rarely have I seen such beautiful filmmaking. He doesn't skimp on content, either. The common theme running from this film back through LOLA and WINTER SLEEPERS shows that he is a man obsessed with the ideas of fate and destiny. His talent for writing a compelling story, scoring the perfect actors for every role, managing all the various subplots and then realizing the final product in such a visually and philosophically stunning way make him the best writer/director working today. He is a real artist in an industry that continually lowers its standards and the joy and excitement he must feel for getting to do what he does comes through in every scene... PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR is entirely its own film and has as much, if not more, to say. So does WINTER SLEEPERS, for that matter. All are worth the time of at least one viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Winter Sleeper is a must see
Review: Tom Tykwer makes great films, some better than others. Run Lola Run is Tykwer's most widely known film in the U.S. but Winter Sleeper is his best. The Princess and the Warrior is not up to paar with Run Lola Run. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN WINTER SLEEPER DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND BUY IT BEFORE YOU CONSIDER THIS ONE.
Rating:
Summary: Astonishing
Review: "The Princess and the Warrior" is the fourth feature length film from 35 year old German wunderkind director, Tom Tykwer. This astonishing film cements Tykwer's reputation as the most original director to emerge since the enigmatic David Lynch in the 1980's. It will invite comparisons to his technical tour de force, "Run Lola Run", but the leisurely pacing of "The Princess and the Warrior" is the work of a more assured director. Tykwer continues to examine his career long preoccupation with the themes of syncronicity and the existential cruelty of death, but the dizzying camera work and fast cut editing of "Lola" is kept to a minimum. Instead, Tykwer employs his displays of techincal brilliance to his advantage, using it to enhance our understanding of the characters in the film. We become deeply involved with the motivations and the aspirations of his troubled characters. Franka Potente, who served as Tykwer's muse in "Lola", plays Sissi, an empathetic pyschiatric nurse who is hit by a truck. Bodo, played by Benno Furmann is a troubled millitary vet who performs an improvised tracheal bypass, in an exraordinarily tender scene, that is filmed completely underneath the semi-truck. Events spiral out of control as Sissi becomes obsessed with her rescuer, following her recovery. The cards of fate are shuffled and Sissi becomes enmeshed a botched bank robbery caper, involving Bodo, the object of her obsession. The word "potente" means strong in Italian and Franka Potente is an actress that conveys the strength of her ancestory. Potente is a cameleon-like actress and her transparent face is capable of revealing conflicting emotions on cue. Ingrid Bergman possessed a similar quality...a rare and unspeakable inner beauty that could be captured on celluloid. Potente intuitively understands that dialogue is perephrial to acting, and the disiplines of facial and body language are the mark of a brilliant actress. Her leading man, Benno Furmann, is an accomplished actor that pushes his outer limits under Potente's dazzling aura and Tykwer's assured direction. Tykwer composed the soundtrack (as he does with all of his films), and it serves as a beautiful counterpoint to the cinematography. Frank Griebe is without peer in his technical skills. Griebe's camera is capable of composing lush Monet-like scenes, dizzying bird's views, and unconventional angle shots, with a dreamy surreal quality. Tykwer's music and Griebe's camera are what make "The Princess and the Warrior" a sensual feast. In 2002 I am looking forward to Tywker's first English feature, "Heaven" starring Cate Blanchette; and Potente's first English leading lady role with Matt Damon, in Robert Ludlum's thriller, "The Bourne Idenity."
Rating:
Summary: Unfair to compare to "Run Lola Run"
Review: This movie is so good! The mistake a lot of people make is to compare it to Tom Tykwer and Franka Potente's previous film "Run Lola Run." "The Princess and the Warrior" takes it's time revealing information and development, but when it gets the end, everything is worth it! So good! It may seem slow to American audiences used to fast paced action thrillers, but is well made and worth seeing in it's own right.
Rating:
Summary: Twyker soon to be recognized . . .
Review: . . . as one of (along with Amenebar) the emerging European masters. Such a shame really that most were expecting Lola 2, having missed Winter Sleepers. This movie is a MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT from so many perspectives and will retrospectivly be judged as one of the finest films of the year, if not the best outright. And if Franka is not the most subtle actress on the planet I don't know my own name.
Rating:
Summary: The Princess and the Warrior
Review: According to DVDempire.com, the DVD region 1 release of "The Princess and the Warrior" will include deleted scenes, a "making of" featurette, director and cast commentaries, and "much more." I am really looking forward to the release of this DVD the film is wonderful and it'll be great to hear Tykwer and Potente discuss their 2nd collaboration. Hopefully all these features are indeed included. Unfortunately, we won't be getting the 2 disc special edition those in Germany can enjoy. Oh well.
Rating:
Summary: Looking for Franka? Tykwer inspires again.
Review: Not "Run Lola Run" but on it's own a great movie. Franka Potente is of course gorgeous. in this film there are themes that Tywer likes to use: 'right place right time', the 'what if?' scenarios. these themes are what make him such a good writer. his chracters are likable unlikables. he explores them indepth and with no caution. and there is no typical hum drum drama here. instead there is the engrossing, relentlessly bold writing and direction that we love.
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