Children of Men was easily the most visually impressive film I've seen in a long time. The production design and bloated-with-detail long tracking one takes are at times, jaw dropping to begin with. Mainly though, it's this creation of a new post 9/11 'not so distant future' world that even rivals the masterful Blade Runner in it's production design because let's face it, we do now live in a post 9/11 world and due to the subtle integration throughout the film in terms of technology etc, this world looks and feels disturbingly familiar and gives us a poignant potential of what could be.
I shouldn't go overboard though I suppose, because our future could never resemble the one in CoM precisely for the simply reason that we can still reproduce. That key idea/notion that is everything this film is about is what creates the world of chaos more so presented here, because literally, there is no future when there are no more children. This creates a much more hopeless, doomed apocalyptic atmosphere that is realised brilliantly through they way it's shot. There's no "..the year is 2027 and 20 years ago woman stopped.." at the start, which is good - most of the exposition comes from everything you're looking at and conversation between matter of factly characters. This is unique stuff for the genre really.
Some minor concerns include that we never really know how Kee falls pregnant after almost decades of infertility and there are a few situations, that while creating incredible tension, proved to be less plausible to me but play out nicely enough to have the story go in the right direction. But by no means is there no shocks or surprises, as it can be confronting at times. These are minor distractions in the end.
Everyone is on good form, but Owen is perfectly cast as the cynical, but once activist Theo. Plus he is given some cracking dark humour that is delivered at perfect moments throughout the film, regardless of tension to not make this a completely depressing affair. It's unflinching with it's action, a perfectly placed wit and a boldly portrayed future that is both amazing to look at, but contains a simple deep meaning that comes off as relevant to our world now as in this "what if?" scenario.
For me, Children of Men was a depressing portrayal of what might lie ahead for mankind. It's fast-paced journey through the horrors of chaos is almost difficult to keep up with and made me feel disconnected with the film. The performances, however, were strong and solid.
Alfonso Cuarón is possibly the best director working today. Children of Men covers so much ground in two hours, creating a depressing, but at the same time beautiful world in the not-so-distant future. It's dark, dramatic, and action-packed, but it also infuses a little bit of hope and humour into appropriate moments, and it's always entertaining, never preachy or pretentious like it could have been with another director. The camerawork and editing is so mind-boggling, you'll watch it many times over and still wonder how they did it.
So unbelivably boring and amateurish looking. -_- Shaky camera, the movie moves at slowest possible snailpace. I didn't care about any of the characters, did they ever get introduced in such a way you would care, or did they just talk, talk, talk? I could only take 30 minutes, then I turned it off.
I don't like the setting, the characters and the story. Clive Owen is a good actor, he actually did good in this movie, it just that I don't like the movie...I usually like Alfonso Cuaron's movie but this one is not my kind of movie.
The year is 2027 and it seems like mankind is facing it final days as humans since 2009 can no longer procreate. But a young woman named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) has somehow become pregnant. A former activist named Theo (Clive Owen) has to protect her and take her away from the chaotic England to a safe place overseas. "Children Of Men" has its fair share of good acting and is great visually (the 'war' scenes are awesome), but even if the plot of the movie is very interesting, the overall script does not come close to it's full potential. Most of the time I fell rather bored and uninterested watching it and the ending left me no comfort or satisfaction. I really thought this one would be great, with all the good feedback it got and such, but sadly "Children Of Men" turned out to be a big letdown.
the action scenes in this film are brilliant. some of the best i've seen in a film. unlike most of hollywood the actions scenes are not what would happen in real life. the action scenes in here are more like what would really happen along with very suspensful, they make you feel like your in the vehicle trying to get away.
One of the most amazing films I have EVER seen. Not so much a sci-fi, but more of a futuristic story. THIS MOVIE, totally redesigns the genre. It is the most brutal, harsh, yet beautiful futuristic movie I have ever seen. The movie is about the future, where women are infertile and can't reproduce anymore, which leads to mass riots, and collapse of countries, where the only country that is still somewhat civilized and still standing is Britian. Clive Owen finds the last pregnant planet on the planet, which is a miracle, and has to transport her to safety, which leads a very thrilling and exciting story or courage, passion, and perseverance. It is directed be Alfonso Cuaron, acclaimed director of such films like Y Tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Great Expectations, and A Little Princess. This is his fifth film he has made, and is allready considered one of the greatest directors currently still working. Clive Owen is fantastic in this, one of his best performances. Juliane Moore is great as allways, as is the case with Michael Caine, reprising his usual role that is hard not not love. The performance that really did it for me though was that of the not well known, yet one of my favorite actors: Chiwetel Ejiofor. He was dramatically intense, and is one of the best African american actors in my opinion. Him and Djomon Hounsou are probbably my two personal favorte, allthough Denzel Washington and Jamie Foxx are both great, I think they are highly over rated because they are house hold names.
For mature audiences only, it's based on an interesting premise. The only real appeal of the movie I guess is watching people overcome impossible circumstances, but it wasn't very relatable.
Bleak, depressing but also thought provoking and intelligent.This vision of the future from Alfonso Cuaron really does get you thinking but it's also a dramatic action thriller that gets you on the edge of your seat.In 2027, the world's women have become infertile due to the state of the world around them.But when one pregnant woman is discovered it's up to Clive Owen,a disillusioned goverment agent,to get her out of the country to safety.Great idea, brilliantly executed,well acted and directed in a real unapolagetic way by Alfonso.Brilliant film.
I hope our world doesn't become like that. It was incredible by the way that all the fighting stopped for one moment because of them seeing the baby. The ending was kinda good and kinda bad.
PLOT REVEALED. YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ. SO JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT AND SEE THE MOVIE!
This is one of the most disturbing films I have ever seen because of how true it shows human nature it is. A future world in which for some reason women can no longer conceive children. There is war, poverty, and famine in all parts of the world. But by miracle a woman becomes pregnant and its up to one man to protect from those who wish to exploit her and the unborn child. But when the baby is born amongst gun fire and bombings people rush out of the hiding places to the sound of the cry that many have never heard in the entire lives. And the fighting stops to allow this man, woman and child safe passage out of the war zone. Once they are safely out of the way sadly the fighting resumes. What becomes of these 3 people who knows. Hopefully they make it to their destination of safe haven.
Not a fan of Alfonso Cuaron.The origional story was good where there was no more children being born.The war scene at the end was also good.BUT the ending is what put me off.
A fantastic film that was superbly directed by Cuaron. The performances from the cast were all excellent and the set design was stunning and very detailed.
Future Britain is brutal and cruel and the use of long, continuous shots is a stroke of genius, allowing you to truly experience what a horrific place the future is (11.5.07) (10.10.08)
Words cannot express how good this movie is. Some people won't like the ending, but I think that it worked extremely well.
Clive Owen was great, as he always is, and Michael Caine was perfect as his hippie friend. Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Pam Ferris round out a perfect cast. It is an extremely deep film, excellently portrayed through Alfonso Cuaron's direction. Compares with, and surpasses in every level. Disappointed that it didnt get a nomination for Oscar.
When my friend showed me this I was partially interested, but I enjoyed it. A story about infertility in the world sending people to do terrible things is one interesting story. There is also some really depressing bits in the movie, yes I did cry in this. The acting was superb by Clive Owen, Michael Caine, Julianne Moore and Clare-Hope Ashitey. I was really into it and was just waiting for the final scene and when I saw it...I wanted more.
Typical Clive Owen movie, where it sounds like it could be cool but then you watch it and something is off. Yet you still can't help but like him. What boosted this rating for me was the real time feel camera walkthrough when they were trying to escape the "city", I have to admit that was some nice action.
This is the second time I've watched this. It felt like a documentary to my date, so i wouldn't recommend it as date material.. BUT holy SHIT.. this is an amazing psychological movie... This is absolutely the most frighteningly realistic dystopia I've seen on screen. Loved it.... Except for the ending.
MCT:November 19, 2008
MCT:November 19, 2008
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