Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Children of Men 2006

This is topic Children of Men 2006 in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Justin Gorka (Member # 3727) on 09-21-2006, 05:51 PM:

Because of the subject matter and the level of violence and swearing I doubt if the US will get this in its origianl form (look what you did to The Whicker Man!).

(political comment deleted)

The thread of the film is believable but it is in the whole background that the film is set that makes the difference, I can see it happening now in the UK (and no I'm not a pinko- I'm a Tory!). I do hope you get the real film because, your distributors, are making twats out of you all!
Look at how many British films have been watered down by your govermants lack of spine!

[ 09-21-2006, 08:21 PM: Message edited by: Aaron Sisemore ]

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 09-22-2006, 04:06 AM:

Mr. Gorka,

What the hell are you talking about? Our governments lack of spine? Seems to go right against your other statement of the distributors being at fault. Regardless, if you think that our government has something to do with films getting cut down for content or just not shown at all, just shows that you have no idea what OUR country is all about over here.

You really should thoroughly just stop and think a moment and then research your opinion to see if it can hold water or not.

Our government does not censor movies. Movie theaters in America have wide lattitude to show whatever the hell they want, to ANYONE THEY WANT.

While it is possible that many a film have been butchered because of content, this has absolutely nothing to do with our government... PERIOD!!! It has all to do with marketability and profit margins.

You might have looked into this country's history before looking like a dork-o-matic. [Eek!]

It was founded by puritans, and has always had a very conservative streak that has prevented films arriving in one piece. Once again, not the fault of any government we have here.

The US does have the FCC that monitors open air broadcasts of radio and television to make sure that the content being shown is in line with current societal expectations. There are some opportunities to push the envelope during later hours, which leads to futher softening of overall rules of monitoring and fines. This is the government you speak of, but has nothing to do with movies... PERIOD!!!

The MPAA (our ratings board) is not run by the government. It is a private entity to provide guidance to audiences as to general content. Theaters are under no obligation to enforce MPAA suggestions. That is left to parents... PERIOD!!!

So take your suppositions about american government and conspiracies of censorship and shove them up Tony Blair's crankhole... [evil]

Awwww... im just razzin ya, ya goof!!! [Razz]

I didn't really mean that about dork-o-matic, but it was cool! I am going to use that at work tomorrow.

Ciao [beer]

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 09-22-2006, 09:36 AM:

Mr. Gorka: I had heard that Brits were literate. In your case I was obviously mistaken. You might try the "Spell Check" function as it even allows fools like us to appear partially educated. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 09-23-2006, 02:48 PM:

In the words of the great comic Dat Phan:

"Wut da hell?"

Posted by Justin Gorka (Member # 3727) on 09-24-2006, 03:40 PM:

Ok then, distibutors lack of spine! Sorry, I'm not anti-American just get pissed off with the dire remakes when there is so much good material out there. I don't use the spell check 'cos it takes too long!
I also like to wave the flag for us Brits now and again who do not follow our goverment like sheep!

Posted by Edwin Sheldon (Member # 4001) on 10-03-2006, 05:03 AM:

Does anyone else have anything to say about the actual film? I am a big fan of Cuaron's work and I am eager to see this movie.

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 10-03-2006, 09:15 AM:

Yeah I will agree I am tired of this country and its inherent lack of willingness to meet art half way.

As for the film, I have not seen it, however I have had some interest, but when I saw the preview, well my mind shifted a bit.

The preview was constructed very poorly and did not play the film as being entertaining at all in any way. I will wait until I can netflix the thing and then make up my mind.

Ciao

Posted by Patrick de Groot (Member # 858) on 10-28-2006, 05:31 PM:

It's a shame no one has said anything usefull about this movie here. Children of Men is really a very good movie. It shows a rather depressing view of the nearby future with good storytelling supporting it. Drama, action and shockeffects. The film has impact and I recommend it to anyone interested in seeing a film with a serious subject. It is a well made film.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-02-2007, 09:34 PM:

What Patrick said. I didn't think of it as being political--it's just a well-made film. Recommended.

(Currently in limited release in the US.)

Posted by Ross Oba (Member # 3433) on 01-02-2007, 09:57 PM:

I was able to catch an early screening of this movie and I thought it started off slow, but picked up rather nicely. The ending was a bit abrupt, but I guess it just makes you assume what will happen next.

Posted by Anslem Rayburn (Member # 1267) on 01-03-2007, 06:38 AM:

We open it this Friday, and it's the only film I am looking forward to until "300" comes out in March. It sounds original, has a great cast, and has a director I respect. 3 things you don't find in a typical January movie.

Posted by Edwin Sheldon (Member # 4001) on 01-05-2007, 08:26 PM:

Great movie...well worth the HOUR DRIVE to the nearest theatre showing it after its "expanded" release. I should have predicted this situation when I moved back to the South. [puke]

Speaking of [puke]

, the fine folks at The Grand 18 in D'Iberville, MS should learn how to make clean splices. And the vertical jitter managed to make the shaky-cam shots of the movie feel like a roller-coaster ride.

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 01-07-2007, 09:53 AM:

One of the best movies i've seen in over a year. Totally entertaining and never boring...yet also a realistic warning of what could happen 20 years down the road... a must see!

Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 01-09-2007, 08:30 PM:

quote:
...yet also a realistic warning of what could happen 20 years down the road... a must see!

TWELVE posts on this film in this thread, and the above is the only hint of the content of this film!

C'mon, guys, can't we do better than that?
Is it not possible to say more within the limitations of this website's guidelines?

My wife's grandniece is seeing the film at this minute, and she's promised to tell me about it when she returns. She tried to see it twice before, but it was sold out. The young lady sees almost a film per night, which I don't discourage, since her grandfather was a famous director (in her country) and I think she may have inherited some of his love of film expression.
Having recently attained a degree in international economics, she may want to enter the business side of film production someday.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 01-09-2007, 10:25 PM:

Patrick de Groot had a comment about the films contents above, certainly no more descriptive than Pauls though.

Posted by Edwin Sheldon (Member # 4001) on 01-10-2007, 01:23 PM:

The only word I can use to describe the whole movie is 'shocking'...and we're not talking shocking in a cliche horror flick kind of way. It's shocking in that the violence, atrocities, societal breakdown, etc. are all presented in a no-nonsense first-person perspective (as if you are a comrade following Theo around and witnessing the decay of society firsthand). None of the violence is made over-the-top, nor is it sugar-coated. Furthermore, the action sequences in the movie are all shot hand-held sequentially (that is, with no -apparent- cuts).

Also of note is that much of the story is told by the set itself rather than the actors. Photographs, art, newspaper clippings, boxes of syringes, etc. tell many important parts of the story quickly without their having to be tediously narrated by a character.

This is one of the most depressing movies I have ever seen, but rarely have I ever enjoyed a visual experience as much as I did with Children of Men.

Posted by Paul Burt (Member # 3743) on 01-13-2007, 11:22 AM:

An extraordinary film. It takes the science-fiction concept of universal female sterility (the cause is never explained) and extrapolates the results on society after 18 years. Chaos and catastrophe, basically, but Britain "soldiers through.". And then it adds the story of a young woman who gets pregnant, and the struggle to get her to safety from the groups who want to use the baby for their own purposes. Extraordinarily effective cinematography, terriffic acting and effects. Gripping and believable. Worth a journey to see.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 01-21-2007, 07:26 PM:

Today 01/21/2007, 11:45AM, Regal Cinema World 8 in Eugene, House #5. Attendance around 15 or so.

Virtually every frame of film was scratched, sometimes badly. Ads, trailers, Regal Roller Coaster, and especially the feature. All scratched. Vertical scratches running through the entire frame. Sometimes the scratches were green (emulsion?). In addition the image was offset to the right by about a foot: missing the masking on the left, overshooting on the right. The analog sound was horrible, but the digital sound was fine. Presentation gets a D-minus.

"Children of Men" is a disturbing story of a plausible and very bleak future. Although it's not outwardly political, as a viewer you can't help but ponder where we are now, the direction we seem to be headed, etc. The acting and camera work are all first-rate. There's at least one long scene with no cuts in it that's amazing. The soundtrack is pretty darned good, really adds to the feeling of anarchy and hopelessness.

I give this 4 stars out of 5. Very highly recommended.

Regal Cinema World 8 probably has no more than six weeks or so of operation remaining before it's permanently closed. It will be replaced by the nearly-completed Regal Valley River Center Stadium 15 across the street.

Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 01-22-2007, 02:05 AM:

I loved it! Really intense and for me it felt fast paced which a good thing, acting was awesome as well. I would definitely recommend it [Smile]

He kept turning to me and telling me "this is such and intense movie!!" Half the time he was covering his face because he was getting so into the story. [beer]