tnk

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10/10
A fairy tale for the digital age.
29 October 2001
Warning: Spoilers
After a long time he didn't direct a movie, Spielberg comes back on da scene. I wondered what the result would be...and it seems that, at least for Spielberg, directing is like biking : once you know it, you can always do it. A.I. is the living proof of this.

This movie is, as you might have guessed, an EXCELLENT one ! A movie that should embodies by itself the metaphoric power of major science-fiction works, and it makes no doubt to me this one will be a classic of the sci-fi genre.

The movie starts quite slowly - a bit too slowly maybe, that's the only negative point to it - but, even if it never really speeds up (on this point, it can be compared to 2001 : a space odyssey) , it gets more and more intense, and the final half an hour is to me one of the best and most original endings in sci-fi history, and without any doubts one of the deepest in terms of meanings and emotional charge. Don't expect a thrilling action movies full of gunshots and explosion, this movie is very far from it, very calm, almost "Zen". This is far behind a simple sci-fi story. It's a philosophical fairy tale for grown ups, something that puts hopes in our hearts during those troubled times.

The influence of Stanley Kubrick is clearly to be felt and the reference to 2001 obvious. Same theme (a computerized being's quest to become alive), same strange places especially at the end (the place - I'm referring to it in this very general term to avoid spoiling - where the end of the film takes place makes me think quite much of those white rooms in the end of 2001), Same rhythm.

The cinematography is really awesome and gives much sense to the movie. The same goes to the very ethereous, ambient-alike music John Williams composed.

Haley Joel Osment, who plays robot-child David, is to my opinion even better in this movie than in his previous masterpiece "The 6th sense" (This time, please give him the oscar!). Congrats, little big boy !

A+ also for the special effects. It should get at least an oscar nomination, And I even bet on it for winning the price this year ! It's also very interesting to have such high-level FXs in such a movie...this can show the people who don't like FXs that they can be used in many various ways, and not only to depcit big explosions after that Schwartzenegger, Stallone or Willis has said something like "Eat this!".

What else can be said about this true masterpiece ? Maybe that it is, with E.T. an Schindler's list, Spielberg's best work...I guess this says it all !!!

/TNK

Now some SPOILER (don't read it if you want to experience a total surprise) :

* * *

S P O I L E R

S P A C E

* * *

I will only reveal the content of one shot - that is not decisive for the story itself but that had a big impact on the audience in the theater I was watching the movie in : When our heroes reach Manhattan, we discover a skyline where almost every buildings are destroyed...except for the twin towers ! A very emotional shot that for sure Spielberg didn't do intentionally...but that has a very strong impact on us nowadays !
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Good Old Daze (1994)
Seems to come directly from the director's memories...
22 August 2001
This is one of the very few teenage movies that can be watched over and over again. It is the simple story of a group of teenagers in the mid 70s, with nothing really exceptional happening (no serial killers, no alien abductions,...), just the life of this group of teenagers who are very well written and acted : Almost everyone can find himself in one of the key figures of the movie. That's what makes it a movie you can watch over and over again. The plot manages to "link" intelligently the different sequences, a task in which most wanna-be realistic teenagers movies fail. For 70s music lovers, this movie contains a lot of 70s rock hits, so don't miss it !

For a trip back in the Paris of the 70s, rent this tape - time machines are still too expensive !
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Amélie (2001)
10/10
A sunshine in your life you will never forget.
29 April 2001
Tonight, I went to the movies, to see Jeunet's latest movie...and for sure the best movie I saw since the Truman Show...and the 3rd ever I saw people spontaneously applauding at the end of the movie (the 2 others were the 5th element and Titanic). Jeunet, the director of the wonderful "Delicatessen" and the very cool "Alien 4" once again showed us he is, with Spielberg & co, one of the 5 best directors in the world. The action takes place in Montmartre, in the 18th arrondissement of Paris turned in some kind of urban fairyland, to a bumpy ride into Amelie, a funny girl full of dreams's life. I won't tell you too much of the plot, but let me say that Tim Burton, another master of poetic-SFX packed extravaganzas has lessons to take here ! Congrats to M. Jeunet for those 2 hours of pure magic and for his very original use of special effects, to Audrey Tautou (who plays Amélie) and to the whole cast for their astonishing performance. Believe me, this movie is a real sunshine in your life, a sunshine you will never forget.

WE NEED MORE MOVIES LIKE THIS ONE !

Philippe "TNK" M.
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Finally we did it !!!
5 December 1998
When I went to see the 5th element, I thought it was another missed attempt to make a french sci-fi movie...I Was wrong !!!

For the first time in history, a french team managed to create a picture that could stand it against the biggest US blockbusters. SFX, Cinematic design, thrill fun, excellent music...all was in that movie.

The result among the audience was clear : everyone stood up at the end of the showed and applauded!

The next day in school, everyone spoke about it. Finally we did it! Our cinema was not anymore a boring one! It was really like a revelation for all of us !!! Thanks luc for that wonderful cinematographic experience!
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