Brotherhood of the Wolf

Rating:
Summary: "Brotherhood of the Wolf" is one of the best of all time
Review: Many French films will bore you to death. Post modernist navel gazing often seems to be the norm. However, this is definitely not the case with Christopher Gans' brilliant "Brotherhood of the Wolf." One is reminded of the recent Chinese "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" fantastically choreographed fight scenes. I have no hesitation placing the movie in the top one hundred of all time. Indeed, it is that awesomely wonderful and exciting. Gans deserves an Academy Award nomination for directing this fast paced story. Brotherhood, though, is neither for the squeamish nor the prudes among us. There is plenty of frontal nudity and instances where limbs are torn and the blood flows freely.

"Brotherhood of the Wolf' is a fantasy placed sometime before the French Revolution. A creature suspected of being a wolf is savagely attacking the citizens. Nobody is safe including the children. A scientist (Samuel Le Bihan) and his karate trained Iroquois spiritual brother (Mark Decascos) are committed to destroying this mysterious beast. They have many adventures in attempting to accomplish their goal. The former finds true love, but both men make full use of the local house of prostitution. Does the plot always make sense? Of course not, but the film doesn't claim to be an accurate depiction of that period in history. After all, how many American Indians actually studied karate some two hundred years ago? One should simply surrender to its almost comic book interpretation of reality. Brotherhood is visually beautiful and demands to be seen at least once on the big screen. Do you enjoy purely escapist entertainment with lots of gore? If so, this is the movie for you. I am giving it five stars and wish it could be six.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, just too much blood for me...
Review: Note: this movie is in French with English subtitles.
In a nutshell, Brotherhood of the Wolf is an excellent foreign film set just previous to the French Revolution about the search for a beast which is roaming the countryside killing people. I would classify this definitely as a "guy" movie with plenty of action, fighting, a little sex, blood & gore, and some fantasy/magic...and then some romance thrown in for the "gals". It well deserves the R-rating, so don't bring the kids. The sound quality could use a little help and at times the subtitles were a little fuzzy, but the costumes, sets, etc. are realistic, and the special effects were unique to me (very cool dream sequence & weapons). Beyond all of that, the dialogue and story-line actually have "substance" which elevates this movie from the typical "Halloween" and "Nightmare on Elm Street".

Rating:
Summary: French Action Thriller with Costumes and ... Kung-hu !!!
Review: You know, French people love kung-hu action films. See those hit films like "The Fifth Element" "The Crimson River," and "TAXI 2." They all include kung-hu fight sequences, and it is not coincidental.

So, it is not at all surprising to see Mark Dacascos (known in USA as the hero of TV series of "The Crow") shows his martial arts in the costume drama. You may think just because "Brotherhood of the Wolf" is a French movie, it should be a high-brow, art-house, serious piece. No. Sure, the film is loosely based on a mysterious legend (but not totally fictional) surrounding the massive killing of children and women in 1764 in the mountainous part of the south of France, but it takes great liberty of the event, and turned it into a comic book thriller-action film. And incredible thing is, it works.

The key of the success is the international cast and crew that only France can gather. The two leads investigating the murders among the country where political intrigues lurk are effectively played by Samuel Le Bihan (French) and Dacascos (born in Hawaii, but here plays Mani, a native American); one-armed Jean-Francois is played Vincent Cassel ("The Crimson River" and "Elizabeth") also from France, plus from Italy comes Monica Bellucci as a very ravishing courtesan. On top of those good cast, we have from Hong-kong David Wu as film editor, who did his job in "A Better Tomorrow" directed by John Woo, and Philip Kwok as fighting scene instructor, who was also responsible for 007 film "Tomorrow Never Dies" (in which he also appears as a Chinese general). Besides these faces from Asia, the cinematography is by Dan Laustsen ("Nightwatch" and "Mimic") from Denmark, and the deadly Beast is the work by none other than Jim Henson Creature Shop! Yes, the team behind those Muppet characters!!!

The result is a series of breathtaking photography with bone-crunching action scenes. The beauty of nature is captured with impressive, vivid colors, but truely astonishing thing is the beauty goes higher to very creepy levels. Actually, those beautiful images, especially that of quietly snowing mountains, greatly help to frighten our heart. Well, the storyline is sometimes very confusing, and I confess the last 40 minutes are too fast-moving to me. And as for the Beast in point, the special effect is uneven and far from perfect, but as a total an agreeable one. However, we should forget those shortcomings because after all, the visual aspects are the best thing you get in "Brotherhood of the Wolf." And if you have seen the director Gans's previous film "Crying Freeman" (which is based on a Japanese comic by Kazuo Koike & Ryuichi Ikegami), you can see he clearly knows what he is doing. "Brotherhood of the Wolf" is, in short, an exciting manga comic with a historical backdrop and gorgeous costume.

After you know those things, you cannot complain holes in the script. While watchig it, I thought it is overlong, and probably it is; and the film's camerawork is frequently showy, but let's forget about it, okay? Because of those flaws I thought of giving four stars, but because of stunning Monica Bellucci, one notch up. Who could speak bad things about her? Just enjoy the film's visuals and actions. They are so good. And so is she.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: Great Movie, involved plot amazing action sequences. Who said the French weren't good for anythiung? Would definitely see again and hope to see it out on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: worth every minute of my 2hr drive!
Review: Brotherhood of the Wolf is a great film, it includes every form of genre in one film. Unfortunately it doesn`t play in my town so me and some buddies drove a couple hrs. to see it. It was worth every minute of that drive. The film is about a European city in the 1700`s that is being terrorized by a "wolflike" beast. Two men arrive in this city to investigate and hunt down the beast, but it winds up that the beast`s motives for its hunger for destruction are part of a much bigger conspiracy. The story that involves the idea of state vs. church is very original and interesting with many twists and turns involving politics, religion, murder, etc. The two main characters Mani the native american warrior, and Fronsac a french doctor/soldier/extremely good martial artist,swordsman have great onscreen chenistry and really pull in the audience`s attention, as well as amaze you with their acrobatic kung-fu skills. The beast is very original looking and has a very powerful effect on the film, because when it has a scene you can`t help but sit forward waiting for it to strike. Anyway, this is a very great film and I`m not going to give any negatives because I feel there aren`t any as long as you don`t mind subtitles, so go see this film even if you have to drive a couple of hrs. to do so.

Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Film--It's So Unique, It's Hard to Describe
Review: At about the same time I was starting to wonder if the movie would ever end, I was also starting to realize I really didn't want it to end. There's never been a movie quite like this before. Try, if you can, to imagine a Merchant-Ivory costume spectacle crossed with _The Matrix_-style martial arts crossed with a truly frightening horror film. You're partway there. This was such a stylish, invigorating, over-the-top mix of genres. It really is hard to describe, but by all means, go and see it. It is perhaps the best movie I've seen since _The Matrix_, which I thought was an instant classic, and a movie I've watched over and over again, never tiring of. This will be a definite addition to my DVD collection when it is released--hopefully, it will be in a version with all sorts of extra goodies. I only hope the filmmakers involved in this production are working on something new right this moment. I can hardly wait to see what it might be.

Rating:
Summary: Cockamamie [bad]!
Review: Having just seen this at the theater, it is (unfortunately!) still fresh in my mind... This movie is a ridiculous combination of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'(the absurd martial arts mummery) any Sam Pekinpah spectacular you care to name (the slowed down 'action' sequences), with musical scoring courtesy of Sergio Leone (The Good, The Bad & The Ugly). The point is, there is practically nothing cinematically original in this movie, and as far as the storyline is concerned, it is nonsense from start to finish! How many Mohawks in 18th century France (or anywhere else for that matter!) would know anything about martial arts (let alone any Frenchmen!)? Some explanation should be forthcoming, but it never arrives. Why would 'Mani the Mohawk' have anything to do with our hero, when the hero (Fronzac) freely admits he actively participated in the massacre of Mani's tribe via bedding infected with disease, followed by active bloodletting? Why would they seek to destroy the Mohawks in the first place, seeing as how my history books indicate they were allies against the English during the time period (French & Indian Wars)? You would think Mani would be the first to cut Fronzac's throat (but doesn't, more's the pity!)! Next issue involves the evil thugs of the 'Brotherhood.' Mani manages to slaughter most of them with his trusty Kung-Fu tomahawk before being shot in the back (I don't know why more Kung-Fu fighters are not similarly dispatched!). Then, and for no apparent reason, the same characters/actors in the same costumes reappear to fight with Fronzac in the final scene (and get bloodily killed. Again!). Was this because too much of the film budget was spent on crap 'special effects' instead of additional extras? Your guess is as good as mine! And then there is the 'Brotherhood' itself. Supposedly, this is a secret organisation created by the Catholic Church to somehow frighten the King of France for some reason. Or perhaps it's to frighten the people, who might not be frightened by the King. Or something. Why, is never explained, nor why some much more simple method, such as assassination, was not considered sufficiently efficacious. Whatever. In any case, this 'Brotherhood' supposedly gets out of control, so the Pope sends a special agent to make sure it gets suppressed. And what agent was sent? A collection of tough Jesuit priests? The Inquisition (no-one expects the Inquisition!)? The Swiss Guard? Nope! Apparently, all the Holy See could muster is a single Italian hooker with a slight penchant for S&M! Look folks, if you want to waste your money on some French trash in order to see some nudity (and trust me, there is nothing but a bunch of exceedingly worn-out has-beens from the Bois de Boulogne to be seen, in a single, and totally gratuitous bordello scene), then you would be much better off buying a straight-up [dirty] film. If it is a quality film you are looking for, with a quality storyline and believable actors, you had best look far, far away from this claptrap!

Rating:
Summary: sceptical of reviews that mistakenly label the beast . . .
Review: The editorial review mentions this movie is about the hunt for a huge wolf . . . and then goes on to list aspects of the movie which fell short of the reviewers expectations. How seriously should I take a review which misses one of the most important revelations about the beast?
Loved this film. It was wonderful on the eyes, the ears, the mind; yes, I'll admit it attempts to be many things. Romance, action-adventure, drama, thriller, but for me it succeeded on all levels. And this comes from someone who noticed that the beast was not a huge wolf.

Rating:
Summary: brotherhood of the wolf
Review: I JUST RECENTLY SAW BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF AND I MUST SAY IT IS OF OF THE BEST MOVIES I'VE EVER SEEN. I HAVE SEEN IT TWICE ALREADY AND EVERYTIME I SEE IT, I WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN. THE CLOSEST THEATRE IT IS PLAYING IN IS IN TORONTO WHICH IS ABOUT
1 1/2 HOURS AWAY FROM WHERE I LIVE BUT IT IS WELL WORTH THE TRIP. IN TOTAL I'VE BROUGHT 7 PEOPLE WITH ME TO SEE IT AND EVERY PERSON HAS SAID THAT IT IS AMAZING. I CANT WAIT UNTIL IT IS FOR SALE BECAUSE IT WILL DEFINETLY BE ON MY LIST.

Rating:
Summary: Come ci...... come ca......
Review: I waited a long time for this film to hit theatres because I love costume drama's that have a lot of action in it. I am also a big Mark Decassos fan because of his turn as Crying Freeman.

Suffice it to say Decassos was the best thing in this film and it really, really is a tremendous shame that he was not the lead,instead of Le Bihan who really was the weakest link. His attempt at being a ladies man was cheesy and fell flat, as was his turn at being a kung fu artist in the final third of the movie. He seemed to think that he was "all that" and he certainly was not. Monica Belluci as the mysterious prostitute was also quite excellent and I wish she had been in the movie much more as well.

I also agree that the film was way too long and I felt every minute of it. Visually it was stunning and the parts which were meant to be suspensful (ie. the monster) were.

While this movie may be boring, I will probably see it again just to feast my eyes.