Rating: 
Summary: hated it
Review: ... The effects were trendy unimaginative trash, the story was lame, the charactors were so cheesey it was upsetting(the native american martial arts warrior with a wolf totem or something). Not worth the time.
Rating: 
Summary: Brotherhood of the Wolf
Review: This movie was by far the best foreign film i have ever seen. I saw it for the first time in the movie theater with the English subtitles, and I thought it was so great that I saw it again three days later. When I got the DVD in the mail, I watched it in English at it was 10 times better. It was easier to understand. I appreciate this movie because of the cinematography, music and story.
Rating: 
Summary: Style Over Substance, Sometimes That's All One Needs
Review: This is one of those movies that is hard to put a numerical value on. So much is really fun and other parts of this movie are pretentious and boring. Le Bihan and Mark Dacascos are good as our action hereos. Le Bihan is the naturalists sent by the King to investigate the disturbing news of a crazed "wolf" that is killing off the inhabits of this small province. Dacascos is effective as the sidekick Native American and martial arts expert.The movie's villain is obvious but still effective. Vincet Cassel does a good job playing one of the primary villians. Monica Bellucci is interesting and sensual as the 'lady of the night' who is more than she portrays to be. The other charaters are less interesting, including the overly emphasized love story between Le Bihan and Emile Dequenne. This story takes up so much time from the movie and makes a 90 minute flick into two and half hours. Further, it isn't very believable. The cinematoghraphy is masterful. The scencery is expansive and a real treat. The fight sequences are fun and when the action is going - one is mesmorized. Dacascos is truly a joy to watch. He is a truly gift martial artist and his talents are displayed. I want to give this movie more stars, but cannot. It is a big movie that at times is convulted and boring. While there is much to enjoy, there is also a lot to sleep through. Buy this movie, watch it through once, then review it by using that wonderful scene selection and enjoy the great action sequences.
Rating: 
Summary: Damn Canadians
Review: First damn you canadians for getting the best version on dvd while we get the also ran. But on to the film...where is the Oscar for foreign film of the year? Its true 10-15 minutes could have been shaved from this movie because of minor relevance but hey its worth dealing with for a very enjoyable movie. Ladies and gentlemen the matrix doesn't own the copyrights on slow mo effects so save your comparisons and just enjoy the film for what it is. It takes the conventional historically based story and breathes new and exciting life into it. The plot was much more do-able than most of the other gunk that were in the theaters this year, cinematography was a beautiful combination that worked perfectly in the end. If you could bare seating through crouching tiger hideen boredom then you'll love this movie. If you need further proof rent it, luv it, then buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty much as I expected....
Review: I have been waiting quite some time for this movie to be released on DVD as I was unable to catch it in the theaters, for all of my friends who had seen it recommended the movie highly. Well, I was certainly not let down.
The movie had a very similar feel to "Bram Stokers Dracula", with lush set pieces, colorful characters and an intricate plot (which, unfortunately, suffered a bit due to loopholes); although the aforementioned film contained no martial arts. This made the film all the more enjoyable to watch, though not in very smooth continuity with the time period and setting. Mark Dacascos is a very talented martial artist (I'd seen him previously in "Crying Freeman", "Drive", and the Crow tv miniseries) and handles the character very well, standing in as a great "sidekick" to Samuel le Bihan's character. The monster did look a bit cheesy, and the explanation of its origins were vague at best (it almost looked like an armored wolf). However, despite the film's few shortcomings, I still would have rated it as 5 if not for the stripped-down American DVD release. The Canadian/French version had 3 cd's, including the entire, uncut movie, and documentaries regarding the making of the film and legends behind the Wolf of Gevaudan. While this version does include the deleted scenes, it needed a bit more to fully accentuate the grand scope of the film. Excellent otherwise...
Rating:
Summary: Pretty much as I expected....
Review: I have been waiting quite some time for this movie to be released on DVD as I was unable to catch it in the theaters, as all of my friends who had seen it recommended the movie highly. Well, I was certainly not let down.
The movie had a very similar feel to "Bram Stokers Dracula", with lush set pieces, colorful characters and an intricate plot (which, unfortunately, suffered a bit due to loopholes); although the aforementioned film contained no martial arts. This made the film all the more enjoyable to watch, though not in very smooth continuity with the time period and setting. Mark Dacascos is a very talented martial artist (I'd seen him previously in "Crying Freeman", "Drive", and the Crow tv miniseries) and handles the character very well, standing in as a great "sidekick" to Samuel le Bihan's character. The monster did look a bit cheesy, and the explanation of its origins were vague at best (it almost looked like an armored wolf). However, despite the film's few shortcomings, I still would have rated it as 5 if not for the stripped-down American DVD release. The Canadian/French version had 3 cd's, including the entire, uncut movie, and documentaries regarding the making of the wolf and legends behind the Wolf of Gevaudan. While this version does include the dleted scenes, it needed a bit more to fully accentuate the grand scope of the film.
Rating:
Summary: This DVD OK But GEt Canadian Version
Review: It's not ture that you can only get the Canadian version on ebay you can try North American DVD, HMV, or other canadian outlets that have online stores. I found my 3 disc set for 30.00 dollars american money not bad for a 3 disc set. This movie is incredible and a must own but only in the special edition and the Canadian version does have the English dub but you won't want to watch it anyway its one of the worst dubs ever. But go for the 3 disc set and don't pay the high prices on EBAY.
Rating:
Summary: A Genre-Bending Masterpiece...
Review: The Brotherhood of the Wolf somehow manages to successfully combine a variety of disparate elements into one cohesive, immensely entertaining film. It is at once a spooky horror film in the Hammer tradition, a Sherlock Holmes mystery, and an awesome live action anime picture with story-driven martial arts action. That it comes from France is stranger still, given French cinema's tendency toward less adrenaline-soaked subject matter. The basic premise puts two "monster hunters" on the trail of a murderous beast that is stalking the French countryside. Naturally, the creature has roused the locals into a state of panic. Before long, it becomes clear that nothing is truly as it seems in the region, and action must be taken to put an end to the madness. Oddly enough, some of this is based on fact, which makes Brotherhood's genre even harder to determine. I guess you could call it a "semi-fictitious mystery horror adventure creature feature with a touch of romance" if you're feeling no shortness of breath. To say that it's original and unique is an understatement of epic proportions. Hollywood should take note. Just because a film has action doesn't mean it has to come up lacking in plot, atmosphere, and originality. In the end, The Brotherhood of the Wolf is a film with clashing elements that absolutely should not work - but against the odds, it does, and it does with a fury. Don't be turned off by the French subtitles (or the mediocre dubbing on the DVD if you elect to employ the feature), or you'll be missing an absolute modern classic. Brotherhood of the Wolf is one of the very best films of 2001. Final Score: A (or 5 stars) If you enjoy Brotherhood of the Wolf, I also recommend:
The 13th Warrior
Blade II
From Hell
Rating:
Summary: don't believe the hype
Review: Save your money and rent the video.
It was not worth the price of the blank that it was copied on.
Yet, it had it's high points maybe an hours worth total!
The basic movie could have been edited down to forthy-five min.
Rating:
Summary: The French Love/Hate Affair
Review: Let's face it: you can sift the reviews on-line here at Amazon or elsewhere on the Web, or poll your close friends, but people either love or hate 'Brotherhood of the Wolf.'
On the whole, there is more to admire here than to despise. This is a full-blown, costumed adventure movie with some of the most incredible cinematography to come down the pike in ages. There are nods to great philosophical debates in the Age of Reason, and while the movie takes its liberties with actual historical events, the intellect of the movie lies in men and women's uncomfortable relationship with Nature in a scientific age. However, the movie's libido is entirely male-driven, beefed up with wild kung-fu fighting sequences. Such historical anachronisms seem to be the way of other modern costumed adventure tales (anyone remember 'Plunkett & MacLeane'? I do, and fondly, at that!).
'Brotherhood' is a strange animal, because it feels more 'Hollywood' than films one might normally associate with French cinema. In fact, there is a liberal dose of good ol' American know-how here, including the Jim Henson company's interpretation of the Beast. You have to wonder what the French Cultural Ministry would think of such an Americanized approach to film being so popular amongst theatre-goers! The bottom line is, 'Brotherhood of the Wolf' is superb fun -- most of the time. The ending action sequence still looks to me like it is taking place on the cheesiest set ever, and the action requires an immense suspension of disbelief -- straining the camp of the movie nearly to the breaking point. I have not seen the DVD for the Canadian or French markets, but I have to admit that this American DVD bothers me. For one, it instantly assumes that you WANT to watch the movie dubbed in English. Yes, you can go and change the format so that you get the French actors speaking (ohmigod!--) French and you can read the subtitles -- but I don't thank the movie industry for assuming that fans of the movie are so dumb that the English dubbing should come first. Second, this is the first DVD I have bought to include a PREVIEW -- When you hit play, hey, there's Matt Damon ready to swing into action in The Bourne Identity. Come on! I liked buying DVDs without being exposed to previews, and I dislike having to skip over the preview EVERY TIME to see the movie I dropped my cash to own. But hey, the profit imperative has to creep in and ruin everything, doesn't it? Enough griping: kill an evening with this, mademoiselles et monsieurs!
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