Alfonso Cuarón - Children of Men

[tazmanian devil]

I definantly going to watch it again. One of the most perfect and moving films ive ever seen. The uprising in the camp was just

I love that the end just... ends. Very bleak despite the small uplifting moment with the naming of the baby.

[CrispinG]

Egads, man. Spoiler. Someone, somewhere might not have seen the trailer.

[tazmanian devil]

the pregnant lady isnt really a spoiler.

thats like saying that batman being bruce wayne is a spoiler

[Rsdio]

I didn't know the woman was pregnant until reef posted it earlier, better safe than sorry and all that.

[Strawp]

the pregnant lady isnt really a spoiler.

thats like saying that batman being bruce wayne is a spoiler

I say it is. You don't find out until about half way through. Up until that point you're wondering what Julie-Anne wants with him.

[Goose]

The pregnant lady might or might not be a spoiler, but the general description of the end of the film in the post certainly is.

[tazmanian devil]

all i said it was a bleak ending with an uplifting note...thats not a spoiler.

[Shoes]

I think going to see it again next week. I've never done that before.

[Shoes]

I don't go to the cinema often, so going again was a big thing for me too.

I could easily see it for a third time

Lets have an RLLMUK Children of Men meet!

I can't wait for the DVD, although part of me doesn't want to watch the inevitable 'making of' incase it ruins the magic. I don't think I'll be able to resist.

[Varcan]

In the top three films this year surely. Of course, this year has been really really shit for films. But Children of Men would be found near the top of any other year too I reckon. Absolutely cracking.

[utopastac]

I really, really enjoyed it. Not sure if it's been said, but it really reminded me of Speilberg's War of the Worlds in it's relentlessness and, I suppose, the way in which it was shot. Albiet a much grittier version. I thought Ejiofor was the weak link in the cast and gave certain scenes a very 'made for TV' feel which was a shame- he was MUCH better in Inside Man.

I think the Empire review this month for this was absolutely spot on.

Thinking about it, for some reason it reminded me of a modern ay 'Romper Stomper'. I have no idea why.

[Chosty]

Saw this at the weekend. Loads of people were queuing to to see World Trade Centre rather than this. My thoughts:

It's a very powerful film. Astounding in places. Terrifying in others. There's a real sense of foreboding throughout. It's a very intimate film despite dealing global issues.

It seems very real - more so than many films. It's because we're with the main character virtually all the time. From the moment that Theo walks into the coffee shop, I think he's in every single scene until the end. That's rare. We're very much in the film as Theo, watching events from his point of view. Even when the focus of the scene is on other characters, he's always there, so we hear, see, learn things at the same time as he does, or should that be the other way round? At times I was reminded of the intimacy you get when reading a book but which is very difficult to achieve with film.

Technically, it's superb and must surely get nominated for a few awards (cinematography, production design, sound, etc). In the end battle, I felt more in the middle of action than I've ever done while watching a film, perhaps more so than Saving Private Ryan. Compare it with a Michael Bay film, which cuts evey few seconds to create a glossy, hyperkinetic illusion of action. Children of Men instead uses choreography and handheld camera work to create a sense of being there. I never feel 'there' in a Michael Bay film. The audience is very much a spectator. We're so close to Theo - all the time - that we want to duck with him, run away, avoid being shot. Incidentally, I do think that there are a couple of hidden edits in that scene. There were two places where the screen went very dark for a split second as Theo walked round a corner or through a doorway, and I reckon they could have palced an edit point there (like Rope but much less obvious). Even if that's the case, it's still an incredible achievement. The childbirth scene, too, in one shot. I thought they'd cut at the moment of childbirth, but was really surprised when they didn't. I've never seen that before. Amazing. Special effects, but subtle, how I like it.

I loved the way that things are rarely explained to us. Again, it adds to the realism. 99% of the time, expository dialogue is clumsy and is obviously written in to inform the audience. It sticks out. Here, we just get dropped in to the coffee shop and take it from there.

God, there's a million things to talk about. The reaction to the death of the youngest person, surely a nod to Diana's death. The political and social comments - never pushed home because they're never really explained. It's very much more a case of 'This is how things could be...' rather than making an overt statement about what's wrong. In fact, it's pretty simple from a narrative point of view. Boy finds girl, boy protects girl, essentially, but I don't mind that. I'm glad there weren't oodles of twists and sub-plots, which can get a bit tiresome and artificial.

So, in summary, excellent. It's a special film that I can't see myself watching too many times because there's the risk it becomes too familiar and loses it appeal. For that reason, I'm not sure I'd want to watch 'Making of' documentaries and commentaries that will undoubtedly accompany the DVD release.

[Wroth]

Loved it.

btw that ping pong ball was CG

[utopastac]

Saw this at the weekend. Loads of people were queuing to to see World Trade Centre rather than this. My thoughts:

It's a very powerful film. Astounding in places. Terrifying in others. There's a real sense of foreboding throughout. It's a very intimate film despite dealing global issues.

It seems very real - more so than many films. It's because we're with the main character virtually all the time. From the moment that Theo walks into the coffee shop, I think he's in every single scene until the end. That's rare. We're very much in the film as Theo, watching events from his point of view. Even when the focus of the scene is on other characters, he's always there, so we hear, see, learn things at the same time as he does, or should that be the other way round? At times I was reminded of the intimacy you get when reading a book but which is very difficult to achieve with film.

I love the way Theo has a sense of primal protection rather than vengence or anything else - he clearly never understnads what is going on around him, and he doesn't care to understand. Must have been an unbeliveably hard part to act.

[Chosty]

I love the way Theo has a sense of primal protection rather than vengence or anything else - he clearly never understnads what is going on around him, and he doesn't care to understand. Must have been an unbeliveably hard part to act.

Yes. I was wondering whether he'd seek revenge against the dreadlocked guy and was pleased when he didn't.

[utopastac]

Yes. I was wondering whether he'd seek revenge against the dreadlocked guy and was pleased when he didn't.

I thought that guys death was one of the best moments in the film, of which there are LOADS. I kind of wish Sid wasn't so camply insane; I wish the ex-widwife was slightly more subtle; I wish the 'Joseph/Mary' style walking down the stairs bit was slightly] shorter. But scenes like that bit, just carelessly picked off, out of focus - a non event - really make the film.

[CrispinG]

I thought that guys death was one of the best moments in the film, of which there are LOADS. I kind of wish Sid wasn't so camply insane; I wish the ex-widwife was slightly more subtle; I wish the 'Joseph/Mary' style walking down the stairs bit was slightly] shorter. But scenes like that bit, just carelessly picked off, out of focus - a non event - really make the film.

His third-person tick was a bit OTT, admittedly. I thought the 'joke' he made when Theo first meets him was a brilliant bit of characterisation and also an insight into police/military brutality, though.

[utopastac]

His third-person tick was a bit OTT, admittedly. I thought the 'joke' he made when Theo first meets him was a brilliant bit of characterisation and also an insight into police/military brutality, though.

Oh yeah, I had high hopes at the introduction, purey becasue the film had allready taught you to expect anything - I love how much unspoken Silent-Hill style menace that whole setting has.

[Rsdio]

His third-person tick was a bit OTT, admittedly. I thought the 'joke' he made when Theo first meets him was a brilliant bit of characterisation and also an insight into police/military brutality, though.

This was the first time I'd seen Peter Mullan in anything since My Name Is Joe, it was nice seeing his name in the opening credits without knowing beforehand he was in it. I'm suprised he hasn't done more higher profile stuff.

[deerokus]

This was the first time I'd seen Peter Mullan in anything since My Name Is Joe, it was nice seeing his name in the opening credits without knowing beforehand he was in it. I'm suprised he hasn't done more higher profile stuff.

he's done a lot of smaller things, he's quite picky about only doing interesting films i think. a film he wrote and directed but doesn't appear in, orphans, is a very good dark comedy, although it seems to only really best appeal to people who 'get' glasgow/gallows humour.

drinks in one of my locals B)

[Fireproofradiator]

I'd absolutely recommend anyone to go and see this, but I did come away a bit disappointed. Main reason - it seemed to break lots of rules of storytelling (which isn't necessarily a problem) without having a clear understanding of what to put in it's place. I'm noticing this more and more in movies these days - the technical stuff is just incredible but the storytelling gets forgotten, which is a shame cos it's the latter that I think makes movies more than just fairground rides.

Don't get me wrong - some of the film was jaw dropping, and I'd love to see the director do something like Die hard 4 instead of the guy who did Underworld cos that way I think you'd probably wind up with a better balance between the polemic and the story - but there was too much medicine and not enough sugar if you ask me, and it came across as a bit self-indulgent at points. A movie like this should be getting out to a huge blockbuster audience cos everyone involved clearly has the talent to do so. Is it's reluctance to meet a mainstream audience half way gonna prevent it achieving this?

[utopastac]

I'd absolutely recommend anyone to go and see this, but I did come away a bit disappointed. Main reason - it seemed to break lots of rules of storytelling (which isn't necessarily a problem) without having a clear understanding of what to put in it's place. I'm noticing this more and more in movies these days - the technical stuff is just incredible but the storytelling gets forgotten, which is a shame cos it's the latter that I think makes movies more than just fairground rides.

I don't really understand that - what more did you want from the story?

Flasgbacks to Theo's past with the girl and their son? Boardroom scenes with melodramatic plotting by the government?

It is a fairground ride for the characters involved; I just don't think it needed any pointless exposition of the details. There is no story really, that's why I made the comparison to War of the Worlds. You could fill in the story with the details packed into the background of every scene.

[K]

Don't get me wrong - some of the film was jaw dropping, and I'd love to see the director do something like Die hard 4 instead of the guy who did Underworld cos that way I think you'd probably wind up with a better balance between the polemic and the story -

To be honest, I'd rather see the director die in a car crash than see him do Die Hard Fucking 4.

[utero2001]

That was one of the best films I've ever seen at the cinema

the most stressful experience in a film, the action sequences were brilliantly scripted and composed, and the long takes towards the end of the film were fantastic

[Eighthours]

Just went to see this. Absolutely fantastic, and I echo most people's comments on it. Absolutely outstanding cinematography. The stuff they can do now in post to integrate with handheld stuff is just astonishing. I literally couldn't see the joins.

Clive Owen was great too.

[Lovelyman]

EDIT - was pissed

[Graham S]

I found it intensely, powerfully moving. I was in bits.

[essell]

Beautiful, brilliant filmmaking.

I found myself holding back a real sadness during the first half of the uprising / final war scene - feeling totally breathless, and cold inside at what the world and its people have come to. I don't think I've ever felt more emotionally immersed for the entire length of a film.

[utopastac]

Bloody beautiful, brilliant filmmaking.

I found myself holding back a real sadness during the first half of the uprising / final war scene - feeling totally breathless, and cold inside at what the world and its people have come to. I don't think I've ever felt more emotionally immersed for the entire length of a film.

Yet at the same time, I couldn't help but think 'Escape form New York' for some reason.

[Kagemusha.]

Just saw this last night, I had really been looking forward to it.

I loved the sound, it was staggering, I can't remember a film sounding so good, I generally don't pay attention to the sound. This was something else.