HTF REVIEW: "Amelie" (Highly Recommended) (with screenshots) (1 Viewer)

[Peter Kline]

This is what films are all about. Delightful!
Wanna bet Hollywood in all its wisdom gets its grubby hands on this and remakes it with Pee Wee Herman or someone like that in the lead role? Ugh...

 

[Joel Vardy]

Great 'sight unseen' purchase. Thanks for the heads up. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this hidden treasure. May be one of the top 5 movies I've ever seen. BTW, I was able to pick this jewel up for $16.99 at Borders with an online coupon.
Joel

 

[DanaA]

Peter,
I was just thinking the same thing. Hollywood will get a hold of the rights and do a remake, probably with Julia Roberts or someone, and completely botch it up. They'd probably situate it in New York or near Santa Monica Pier. I know it sounds weird to cast someone as old as Julia, although she's not really THAT old, but Hollywood seems to be about box office and Julia draws. Anyway, I'll stick with Amelie, thank you.

 

[Aryn Leroux]

Anyone have this problem with their Amelie dvd ? at chapter 7, 57:15 it jumps to chapter 8, 1:05:00 hopefully this is not player related and just a bad disc.

 

[Peter Kline]

DanaA,

I was thinking of Reese Witherspoon actually. Julia is nice but too old for the part. Look for Disney to announce a remake before the end of the year (they own Miramax).

 

[Richard Kim]

If they do make an English version (shudder), they should cast Emily Watson, considering Jeunet originally had her in mind for the role of Amelie.

 

[Peter Kline]

Let's hope they don't!

 

[Patrick Sun]

My one word review: Charming.

Finally got around to watching Amelie this evening. I went in knowing nothing, except it was well received. The flow of the film, plus the camerawork is really tight, I don't think there's a wasted scene at all in this film. There is just a lot of chuckles, not belly laughs, in the film, but the underlying themes of making things right and making life into something you want are very cogent and clear without bopping the viewer over the head with it. It a case of showing and not telling that gets it over the hump of being a very good film.

I give it 3.5 stars, or a grade of B+.

 

[Carlo_M]

My girlfriend and I both give this movie high marks. Charming, witty, funny, all of these words apply. Yet it is more than just those things. The performances are great, and so is the direction, set design, etc. A film like this comes along only every so often.

And I do hope the *do not* make an American version.

 

[ScottL]

Well, I'll be the first to say it. I don't know. I was expecting something else I guess. I mean it's good, but it's not sliced bread. ;-) I guess I did not feel the magic everyone else did.

Great camera work and lighting though.

I'll have to rewatch it I guess.

Scott

 

[George See]

I definently felt the magic with this movie, absolutly loved it. In hindsite I shouldn't have wasted money on A rental I should have just bought it. The picture And colors on this DVD really astounded me, this one will definently be show off material for my TV. Even my wife loved it And more often than not she can't get into movies with subtitles but she really enjoyed this one. All in all I highly recomend this movie, 2001 is turning into a great year for movies for me. LOTR, memento, Ghostworld...And now Amelie.

 

[Paul O]

Im usually a sucker for films like this but i was HUGELY dissapointed by Amelie - i mean what is so "charming" about this movie? Sneaking into a neighbors apartment and making him insane? being infatuated with a porn shop worker? pointless references to Princess Di (way poor taste)which perhaps are still a running joke in France? The director went so overboard to make everyone "quirky" similar to city of lost children that i wasnt sure if we were supposed to empathize with them or laugh at them. The visual effects were also very distracting - when Amelie "melts" into a pool of water or the Zoom in to her heart beating - was it not enough for the actors to convey that an emotion is happening? On the plus side Audrey Tatou is quite revealing and plays her role in a deadpan sort of way well - would like to see more of her in the future in a better movie.

 

[R. Kay]

Ron shaved his mustache!

 

[George See]

One thing I can comment on is the Princess Di thing. In one of the inverviews on the second disc the director did say the Di thing was in there to give the movie A time frame. At the time I recall Di was everywhere here in america on the news in the papers discussed at the office watercooler I can only imagine it was even more so over seas. I didn't feel the Di stuff was overdone but i'm glad there wasn't more of it. The visual look of the emotions reminded me of Ally McBeal A show I dislike I'm also glad there wasn't more of that. I can easily see how someone could not find this movie charming, but it really worked for me. Lately the news is nothing but bad news And personally i've had a rough year so far with numerous deaths in the family And various other depressing things, This movie was A really great pick me up so maybee it just hit me at A time in life when I needed it most.

 

[Chad A Wright]

This film is probably the best blind purchase I've made (besides maybe Memento).

My wife loved it, even after griping about me "wasting $20 on a stupid French movie." So not only did I enjoy the film, I also got to enjoy the fact that my wife liked it, despite her wanting to hate it. I love being proved right.

 

[Peter Kline]

PaulO,

The Princess Di references are because the film takes place in 1997 and not in present day France.

The film is a fantasy, to be taken with some larage doses of whimsy. How many people know of a boss who bullies an employee? What she did was take revenge in the mildest of ways. If only one could do that in real life!

 

[ChrisMatson]

Saw this on DVD last night. I loved it in the theater, I love my limited edition Canadian box set, and I love this 2 disc set. Great picture and good sound compliment the excellent movie.

 

[DerrickRemmert]

I guess I'm one of the few who didn't enjoy this film. It was ok but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone or watch it again.

 

[Bruce Hedtke]

How many people know of a boss who bullies an employee?

I agree that it's a whimsical film...but I didn't get that from the fact that the boss was so over-the-top demeaning to Joseph. I had a freind who lived in France for about two years and we watched Amelie and she laughed about the grocer because he was so typical. She said it was pretty common for these bosses to be so smiling and good to the customers and then turn around and belittle their employees in front of everyone. So, sadly, that part of the film wasn't whimsy at all. Good to see how it turned out, however
Bruce

 

[JimmyK]

I normally don't buy movies I haven't seen, nor do I buy based on one review. In this case I had never heard of this movie. But something about this review really got me interested. So I took a chance and bought it. Wow! What a great movie! Thanks!

JimmyK