Children of Men at DVinfo.net

Mathieu Ghekiere · October 25th, 2006, 03:35 PM

Who already saw this film?

I saw it in Belgium tonight, and it promptly got a place in my favorite movies of all time.

Very raw, and if I should describe it into one word, it would be: INTENSE!

The movie has sequenses that will give you emotional and fysic chills, I thought some sequences, by their cinematographic intensity, could match Saving Private Ryan.

Everyone who loves the darker and better mainstream film, go see this magnificent film!

Keith Loh · October 25th, 2006, 05:10 PM

Thanks for the note. I really liked the trailer and it has a good pedigree.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/childrenofmen/

Mathieu Ghekiere · October 25th, 2006, 05:51 PM

Yes, I already now saw the movie will come out in USA only in december, so that suck's for everyone in America.
Please don't download it, because you really should see it for the first time on the big screen for it's impact!

First half hour was okay, for me, nothing more, but then a very shocking scene happens (you'll know which one if you see the movie) and from then on, it's non stop intense.

Very dark and depressing and harrowing, however, not for the faint of heart. And some scenes give me such chills, at one time I felt a bit jealous that I didn't make that movie.

My compliments for everyone involved, you all did a bang up job.

Ps: Keith, I expected a very good movie because of the trailer too, and the good reviews (in Europe) and the movie was able to top it.

Andrew Todd · December 23rd, 2006, 09:18 AM

ive seen the film and loved it. gave me the same sort of feeling that the better parts of 28 days later did.

i havent seen or heard anything here in canada in anticipation to any sort of release.. just all on the internet.. which is a shame because this is in my opinion one of the better movies of the year.

Emre Safak · December 23rd, 2006, 11:11 AM

How come I missed this thread? I put it on my "to see" list as soon as I saw the the Alfonso Cuarón and the trailer. Glad it turned out better than "The Fountain", the other film I had hopes for this year.

Tyson Perkins · December 24th, 2006, 04:37 PM

This was one the best films i have ever seen - in terms of cinematography - the climatic scene toward the conclusion of the film - with the single camera run, was nothing short of amazing - highlight of the year in film. In a year packed with great films - it really stood out for me.

Nick Hiltgen · January 2nd, 2007, 07:06 PM

This is a great film in terms of moviemaking but seemed to fall flat on story to me. Maybe I went in expecting more, I dont' know. You should go see it, if only for how well it was shot.

Keith Loh · January 8th, 2007, 12:26 PM

I agree with you about the story but I think some films are more about a feeling than being plot-driven.

I wasn't bothered at all that they never got to the bottom of the overarching conflict. It was more about the journey and the fact that the characters were willing to sacrifice themselves for hope - even if the hope was undefined.

The production and action elements were outstanding. At least three great action set pieces that never once made you feel like it wasn't real. The director and his cinematographer's work was astounding. I was riveted. The use of hand-held, the continuous work, extras, choreography, totally amazing.

Also graphics geeks are going to drop their jaws.

Keith Loh · January 8th, 2007, 12:26 PM

By the way, a very similar movie with similar ambiguity is Michael Haneke's "Time of the Wolf". Again, the central conflict is never resolved. In fact it is not important. What is important is how people survive and deal with the situation.

Mathieu Ghekiere · January 8th, 2007, 01:04 PM

Nice to read you already saw it in the meanwhile, Keith!

I agree with you by the way: the movie is about the character's reaction on a practical hopeless climate, with lots of terror, emotions, drama and sacrifices.

It's a shame to see that Universal didn't promote this movie properly and released it really badly in the States.

Yi Fong Yu · January 25th, 2007, 08:11 AM

if you've ever played Half-Life and its sequel PC video game, then you've already experienced this sorta' post apocalyptic world. if HL was a movie, this would sorta' be what it'd feel like.

again, it's not so much the story/plot elements as how cuaron stylized it. cuaron is the guy that is original, not the story archetype (going back to there's only 7 stories in the world, etc.).

i loved it, it was awesome. there's a lot of humanity/compassion behind the work. it's also one of the very best SF movies to have come out in a looong, long time.

Marcus Marchesseault · January 28th, 2007, 02:54 PM

I agree with the Half-Life reference, but it's Half-Life 2 that is similarly stylized as opposed to the first game. The styling of Half-Life 2 was the best part of the whole game. I can't believe the producers of Children of Men were able to get that whole city set to look right and to be able to shoot in such a flowing manner. It really gave a great sense of the place and the intensity of the action. Only Saving Private Ryan has had comparable battle cinematography. Of course, the best part of Children of Men is that it wasn't at all like Saving Private Ryan except where needed. They did a great job of showing the everyday life of people in this fictional world.

I really liked the writer's view of politics that came through in the movie. I don't want to start a political discussion, but I really hated all political sides in the movie as I usually do in real life. Once you see the movie, you will know what I mean. I really liked how almost nobody was the good guy for their own various reasons.

"Don't forget! Saaaddd fuji faces!"

October 25th, 2006, 03:35 PM	#1
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	Children of Men Who already saw this film? I saw it in Belgium tonight, and it promptly got a place in my favorite movies of all time. Very raw, and if I should describe it into one word, it would be: INTENSE! The movie has sequenses that will give you emotional and fysic chills, I thought some sequences, by their cinematographic intensity, could match Saving Private Ryan. Everyone who loves the darker and better mainstream film, go see this magnificent film! __________________ http://productionsofthe3rdkind.com http://pr3k.com

October 25th, 2006, 05:10 PM	#2
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Thanks for the note. I really liked the trailer and it has a good pedigree. http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/childrenofmen/ __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

October 25th, 2006, 05:51 PM	#3
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	Yes, I already now saw the movie will come out in USA only in december, so that suck's for everyone in America. Please don't download it, because you really should see it for the first time on the big screen for it's impact! First half hour was okay, for me, nothing more, but then a very shocking scene happens (you'll know which one if you see the movie) and from then on, it's non stop intense. Very dark and depressing and harrowing, however, not for the faint of heart. And some scenes give me such chills, at one time I felt a bit jealous that I didn't make that movie. My compliments for everyone involved, you all did a bang up job. Ps: Keith, I expected a very good movie because of the trailer too, and the good reviews (in Europe) and the movie was able to top it. __________________ http://productionsofthe3rdkind.com http://pr3k.com

December 23rd, 2006, 09:18 AM	#4
Andrew Todd Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Saint John, CANADA Posts: 633	ive seen the film and loved it. gave me the same sort of feeling that the better parts of 28 days later did. i havent seen or heard anything here in canada in anticipation to any sort of release.. just all on the internet.. which is a shame because this is in my opinion one of the better movies of the year. __________________ video : xl2 / letus35xl / bogen 503 photo- canon 1dmkII - bronica etrsi

January 2nd, 2007, 07:06 PM	#7
Nick Hiltgen Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,427	This is a great film in terms of moviemaking but seemed to fall flat on story to me. Maybe I went in expecting more, I dont' know. You should go see it, if only for how well it was shot. __________________ I have a dream that one day canon will release a 35mm ef to xl adapter and I'll have iris control and a 35mm dof of all my ef lenses, and it will be awesome...

December 23rd, 2006, 11:11 AM	#5
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	How come I missed this thread? I put it on my "to see" list as soon as I saw the the Alfonso Cuarón and the trailer. Glad it turned out better than "The Fountain", the other film I had hopes for this year.

December 24th, 2006, 04:37 PM	#6
Tyson Perkins Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: sydney, australia Posts: 221	This was one the best films i have ever seen - in terms of cinematography - the climatic scene toward the conclusion of the film - with the single camera run, was nothing short of amazing - highlight of the year in film. In a year packed with great films - it really stood out for me.

January 8th, 2007, 12:26 PM	#8
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	I agree with you about the story but I think some films are more about a feeling than being plot-driven. I wasn't bothered at all that they never got to the bottom of the overarching conflict. It was more about the journey and the fact that the characters were willing to sacrifice themselves for hope - even if the hope was undefined. The production and action elements were outstanding. At least three great action set pieces that never once made you feel like it wasn't real. The director and his cinematographer's work was astounding. I was riveted. The use of hand-held, the continuous work, extras, choreography, totally amazing. Also graphics geeks are going to drop their jaws. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

January 8th, 2007, 01:04 PM	#10
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	Nice to read you already saw it in the meanwhile, Keith! I agree with you by the way: the movie is about the character's reaction on a practical hopeless climate, with lots of terror, emotions, drama and sacrifices. It's a shame to see that Universal didn't promote this movie properly and released it really badly in the States. __________________ http://productionsofthe3rdkind.com http://pr3k.com

January 25th, 2007, 08:11 AM	#11
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	if you've ever played Half-Life and its sequel PC video game, then you've already experienced this sorta' post apocalyptic world. if HL was a movie, this would sorta' be what it'd feel like. again, it's not so much the story/plot elements as how cuaron stylized it. cuaron is the guy that is original, not the story archetype (going back to there's only 7 stories in the world, etc.). i loved it, it was awesome. there's a lot of humanity/compassion behind the work. it's also one of the very best SF movies to have come out in a looong, long time. __________________ bow wow wow

January 28th, 2007, 02:54 PM	#12
Marcus Marchesseault Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,961	I agree with the Half-Life reference, but it's Half-Life 2 that is similarly stylized as opposed to the first game. The styling of Half-Life 2 was the best part of the whole game. I can't believe the producers of Children of Men were able to get that whole city set to look right and to be able to shoot in such a flowing manner. It really gave a great sense of the place and the intensity of the action. Only Saving Private Ryan has had comparable battle cinematography. Of course, the best part of Children of Men is that it wasn't at all like Saving Private Ryan except where needed. They did a great job of showing the everyday life of people in this fictional world. I really liked the writer's view of politics that came through in the movie. I don't want to start a political discussion, but I really hated all political sides in the movie as I usually do in real life. Once you see the movie, you will know what I mean. I really liked how almost nobody was the good guy for their own various reasons. "Don't forget! Saaaddd fuji faces!"