Rating: 
Summary: What do you expect?
Review: The book? No, this is a movie - a completely different medium for getting this wonderful story by Peter Hoeg across to the masses - and who wouldn't want to? When I first saw that there was a movie of this - my favorite read of the last ten years - i was initially disappointed; but it seems as if director Bille August understood the limitations here and looked instead at what he could portray in a movie that can't be portrayed as effectively in a book - the wonderous beauty of the greenlandic landscape, the haunting innocence of a deaf Isiah and the domineering power of snow, ice and water - the concurrent themes throughout this story. No, nothing will beat the book (does it ever?) especially in terms of the prose Hoeg uses, but this as close to relaying the original writing as it can be. I would like for everyone to know this incredible story, and if they won't read it, why not show them the movie?
Rating:
Summary: Atmospheric but naive
Review: The dark and snowy atmosphere definitely makes this movie a pleasure to watch, but the plot falls apart into a Hollywood-type ending.
Rating: 
Summary: Fade to white
Review: The Inuit people of the north are said to have a myriad of ways to say snow. There is snow in the morning, snow in the evening, snow that has freshly fallen and snow on the ground for a week. Snow seen and snow felt. Snow that has turned to ice. Just as we have many ways to say money--moola, loot, cash, dinero, lucre, wampum, etc.--because it is so important to us, so it is with snow for people who live in it all year round. Thus we have the seminal idea for this flick: Snow-savvy Smilla (Julia Ormond) knows that the six-year-old boy she had befriended didn't just fall off of a roof to his death. She can tell that he was running from someone in fear of his life because of the appearance of his footprints in the snow on the roof. (If only the logic of the rest of the movie were as plausible.)In some ways Julia Ormond as Smilla reminds me of the French La Femme Nikita (1990) starring Anne Parillaud. Smilla, who was born and raised in Greenland and therefore knows all about snow, affects a snappy anti-social stance, an abiding cynicism and a foul mouth while displaying the physical prowess of a lioness. She also has Nikita's abhorrence of being locked up. But I wouldn't want to make too much of the comparison since this movie, which begins sprightly enough, soon deteriorates into a murky, cliché-enriched, murder yarn that eventually morphs into a grade "B" science fiction thriller gone astray. The striking sense of originality (obviously the product of the popular novel by Peter Hoeg) gives way, under Bille August's direction, to a tiresome vapidity reminiscent of bad TV. This is not to say that this movie doesn't have some redeeming qualities. Ormond does a creditable job although we can see from the shots of her running in the snow that she's not exactly a world class athlete and therefore not capable of some of the heroics of her character. She's nice to look at, though, and director Bille August keeps the camera on her interesting face as much as possible. The edgy, amusing and psychologically veracious relationship between her and her father's very young wife is one of the highlights of the movie and might have been expanded. The snow is beautiful and affecting, and the work of some of the bit players is excellent. Vanessa Redgrave's cameo, however, seemed unconnected and extraneous. Bottom line: let this fade to white before the final credits and catch up on your sleep.
Rating: 
Summary: Ormond is the best thing in uneven, but satisfying drama
Review: The title has to do with how Smilla Jasperson has a knowing sense about snow the same way some people have a sense about God, as she tells former Greenland Mining accountant Elsa Lubing when investigating the death of Isaiah, a six-year Greenlander boy Smilla played with and cared about. According to Copenhagen police report, Isaiah fell to his death from the roof of the apartment building she lives in. Smilla, examining the boy's footprints, is convinced that it was murder, not an accident, and investigates. She's not very sociable otherwise. In flashbacks, she initially refuses to let Isaiah in to read to him, and even bluntly tells him he stinks. The next scene has her giving him a bath. Isaiah's mother Juliane is very neglecting of her offspring, often drunk and having parties. Smilla spent time reading stories to Isaiah, and the latter feels a connection because Smilla is part-Greenlander on her late mother's side. She is automatically suspicious and hostile to a neighbour of hers, a man billed as the Mechanic, who is attracted to her. At one time, he asks her why her tongue is so rough. She shoots back with "I try to be rough all over" before leaving. The Mechanic also claims to have cared for Isaiah, and wants to help her, but she is reluctant. It doesn't help matters that she has a checkered past, and the police try to use that, and exploiting her claustrophobia to get her to mind her own business. As she spent her childhood in Greenland, being used to the wide open spaces, her personal hell is being locked up in tiny spaces. Her moment of philosophy comes when she tells the Mechanic why mathematics is like human life. The positive integers are the numbers of a child, but longing comes when his/her consciousness expands and fills with longing. Negative numbers thus become the equation for longing-"the formalization of the feeling that you're missing something." And fractions represent the spaces in between stones, people, etc. Math is thus a large landscape, much like Greenland, where the horizons never end and always recede. Even her father, a doctor, is difficult to connect with, because he is now married to Benja, an annoying blonde who goes out of her way to irritate her. At lunch, when Smilla asks her father of a suspicious result on Isaiah's autopsy, Benja loudly says she's put off her food. However, her father is patient enough with her and firm enough with Benja to provide a balance, precarious as it is. Clues lead Smilla to Greenland Mining, where Isaiah's father worked and died in an accident a few years ago, and Andreas Tork, the head of GM. She also puts a Dr. Loyen, the doctor responsible for the autopsy as another suspect. There is clearly a conspiracy or coverup going on. Things go into espionage mode towards the end, and that's where things lose credibility. As the mostly unsmiling anti-hero Smilla, Julia Ormond gives a full portrayal of someone unapproachable, headstrong, rough with people, regardless of feelings, but someone who wants justice and the soul of her young friend to be at peace. So different from her title character portrayal of the remake of Sabrina. Robert Loggia is the only other laudable character as her father, Moritz. Gabriel Byrne turns in a so-so performance as the mysterious Mechanic. The cold grayness of Copenhagen and the vast snowscape of Greenland add to the forbidding atmosphere of the film, but the unevenness between the slow-drawn investigation to James Bond-like espionage leaves much to be desired.
Rating:
Summary: Read the book first.
Review: There seems to be two schools of thought on this movie; either it was very good or very bad. I think it depends on if you read the book first. Those who did not would be hopelessly confused by the movie in my opinion. It was not a good adaptation and left out many, many plot points that would explain so much of what was going on. Those who did read the book might like the movie better, but will still find it lacking in so much of what made it a good novel. The problem is Hoag's work was far too complex to wrap up in a two-hour movie, especially one that would appeal to the masses. Gabriel Bryne and Julia Ormond both deserve credit for their roles; they did a fantastic job. I recommend reading the book and then checking out the movie; it will be a much more enjoyable experience.
Rating: 
Summary: its worth the time
Review: this is a smart persons movie- you have to pay attention andkeep track of events. im not a huge movie person, but i can watch thismultiple times. if you want a true movie experience this is great- its completely un-generic and exciting, it think it is definatly worth the hour or so to watch
Rating:
Summary: Sleek and Stylish
Review: This is one of my favorites. The movie is very stylish and captures the aesthetics of the northern climes.
Rating:
Summary: Julia Ormond is incredible!!!!!
Review: This movie if full of suspense. The scenery is so awe inspiring. I never realized how beautiful Julia Ormond is until I saw her in this movie. As soon as it comes down in price, I will buy a copy for my film library.
Rating:
Summary: Be Thrilled and Chilled..,once again with Richard Harris
Review: This review refers to the 20th Century Fox(2000) DVD edition..... The late great Richard Harris will thrill you with his performance in this suspense yarn. Based on the novel by Peter Hoeg, there are also wonderful performances by Julia Ormand, Gabriel Bryne,Robert Loggia, Jim Broadbent, AND Vanessa Redgrave! There are two wonderful locations that the story takes place in. First in beautiful Denmark, a 6 year old Inuit boys falls to his death from a roof top covered with snow.Only his little footprints remains. His neighbor, Smilla Jaspersen(Ormand), who has befriended the boy and grown close to him is devasted by the loss. She is also from Greenland, has lived in the vast snowy wastelands, and has a deep sense of anything to do with snow and ice. The authorities are ready to wrap up the case, as a child playing on the roof and falling to his death.One look at the footprints and Smilla realizes this is not the case. She begins her own investigation, and begins to unravel a dark and dangerous secret. Her investigation takes her on an action packed and suspense filled voyage back to Greenland. The boat's passengers are mysterious and meancing characters, including a powerful researcher(Harris), and her lover(Bryne), who is also as dark and mysterious as the case itself.Smilla is tough and smart and will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth about the boys death. The director, Billie August(Les Misarables), has given us an intellegent mystery as well as some beautiful photography as the film was shot on location both in Denmark and the snow and ice covered Greenland.You'll be intrigued every step of the way, and mesmerized by the wonderful performances of the entire cast, and the score by Harry Gregson Williams and Hans Zimmer as well. I could not bring myself to go any less than 5 stars for this film, as it is one that will be watched again and again. The DVD is excellent as well. The Anamorphic Widescreen picture(2.35:1) does justice to the wonderful cinematagraphy. Colors are deep and vivid. Even the snow is crisp and white.You have the choice of 5.1 surround or stereo surround and it sounds great. There's an informative featurette which was done on location in Greenland with interviews with the director and the actors, including Richard Harris in which he demonstrates how he did his own stunts.Language choices are English and French(Stereo), and there are subtitles in English and Spanish for those who may need them.
One other little note, I noticed on the technical information that the release date of this DVD is Dec 17 2002, the edition I have as mentioned in the opening is from 2000 but looks to be the same package. Maybe a re-release? So get the popcorn ready, and maybe a warm fire or blanket as you'll be thrilled and CHILLED to this one......Laurie
Rating:
Summary: Underrated
Review: Though Peter Hoeg's novel is excellent, reading it was more like seeing the film of the
book. With the movie, I felt I was reading the novel it was based on. Hoeg's novel is of
much worth, and without it there would have been no film; many of the finest moments of
the film come from it, yet, the movie was so additionally contemplative, expansive of the
human qualities of the novel, so filled with characters, emotions and events, dark and
lovely, so utterly otherworldly, that it pulled me totally in as the book didn't. The film's
prologue starts over one hundred years ago, with a cauldron of nightmare screaming down
from frosty skies to crash into frozen ice Greenland. It is a perfect opening, for it says
listen and watch; you have never been here before. The rest of the film constantly proves it
right. Julia Ormond is so superb as Smilla, she made me tremble. How could one not love her,
who does not trust love, this woman of dignity and intelligence, who champions a hurt
lonely child, and all losers and misfits, because she is as they? The film is a celebration of
logic and endless winter. Smilla's mathematical definition of longing is inspiring. I see
magnificence in math now, when never before. The movie could not work anywhere else
but in ice and snow. It is a major character. There are passages in the book that take place
in hot summer. They seem wrong. It is a delving into something that is so gigantic that one feels the sky is going to be pulled
back and we shall see what is behind existence itself. But it never forgets the little six year
old boy who dies, and the people who surrounded him, hurt him, helped him. To Smilla,
regardless of how far from home, that is not her home, she travels, to her former home,
that is no longer hers, this is the flame in her mind, finding the murderer, because when
someone is killed, their soul is offended, and she wants the child to rest in peace. If there
is one overriding trait in Smilla, it is an intense loyalty. When the mystery is revealed, her
heart still holds the memory of this child above all else, for he remains the essence. How
could he not? It is a dark world exploration of snow and secrets and a totally unblinking view of real
reality, and how such an injustice to a boy who never got to really live towers above the
unveiling of what nightmare fell from the sky so long ago, and killed a child in the 1990's.
It is of perfect, mathematical symmetry. Snow, ice, expansive wilderness, icebergs and
tundra blend with the warmth of humans beginning to heal, the humans needing all of the
seeming contradictions. It also is about a daughter (Ormond) and father (superbly played
by Robert Loggia) finally beginning to make peace with each other. The film is a tapestry
of the compact some humans make with other humans, so small against such vast lonely
breathtaking vistas, in order to survive . At the top of the world, there is freedom that is dizzying and ultimately liberating.
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