There’s been a lot of buzz about this movie out on the blogs I read because this is by the same director of the pants creamingly good (thanks for the analogy Chris!) GRAVITY comparing his efforts on which one is better and this and that so I took it out for a test run to see if it played. I have to say that I liked it but I didn’t love it. There’s an extended scene towards the end that has to be seen to be believed that’s HOLYFUCKINGSHITCRAP good – and if that really was all taken in one shot then that’s a fucking masterpiece of direction and management but the rest of the movie didn’t totally work for me. I hope you guys don’t unfollow me.
One thing that really bothered me about this thing – Michael Caine’s character. I know he’s not in it a lot but the scenes where he is in it, I didn’t like them. He’s a pot growing hippy with a brain dead wife who listens to hard core death metal. Turned WAY UP. Oh – and he also farts a lot.
I think this is based on a book and I haven’t read the source material but I didn’t really follow why the world descended into chaos, rioting and terrorism because the women couldn’t have kids any longer. There’s also a hugely melodramatic scene toward the end that bothered me spoiler: I mean really?? Both sides of the big combat / war scene all stop fighting because Barker is walking through them holding a baby?? 
… Oh well – I think this is a good movie but I’m not sold it’s a classic – maybe I missed something? I don’t think this is better than Gravity in any way and for most of the movie I felt like this:
Sorry if I upset anyone : (
Isaacs Picture Conclusions 
… Michael Caine did what?! I am horrified!!!
I will have to check this out though!
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Yes, you do. It is very good. 🙂
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Will put it on my watch list!
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It’s definitely worth it – it just didn’t blow me away like I had hoped… : (
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Dammit, so disappointing when that happens.
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Agreed, mostly. The plot doesn’t always make perfect sense when you parse it out.
But that never bothered me as I watched the flick, the first, second or third times. Because the movie makes it feel sensible. It builds such suspense and intrigue and makes us care so much about the people, that I was able to simply accept what Cuaron gives us.
Now. Do I think this is a classic? No. Is it better than Gravity (even with the latter’s abuses of outer space)? Again, no. But Children of Men is still really freaking good!
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It’s totally good – I think I just got my expectations up too high when I saw people were saying it was better than Gravity – because it didn’t hit me like that.
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That’s fair. It doesn’t hit me like that, either. 🙂
It just hits me is all.
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SWEET!
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Hehe. Dammit, dude! This is a great movie! Oh well – I’ll still follow you. 🙂
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I’m glad you ♥-ed it so much – it just didn’t do it for me. Thanks for following!! You ROCK!!
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This is a great piece of cinema. I understand why you didnt love it probably because of the mood and tone of the film. But at least you acknowledge the brilliant one shot takes.
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Totally – thanks Issy!!
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Obviously the world descended into mass chaos because nobody had to save money for braces and college tuition, not to mention outdoing one another buying shitty toys at Christmas, so there was nothing to strive for.
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I like it! Very plausible!
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Hahaha!
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I was soooooo close to unfollowing after this post ;).
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You were my target audience for that sentence.
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Good review. So very thoughtful, and yet, so very tragic. But somehow, there is a shine of light seen at the end, which touched me in more ways than I expected it to. Great movie, one of Cuaron’s best, which isn’t something easy to say.
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Thanks Dan – I don’t know except for two or three scenes this just felt flat to me – but those three scenes were works of brilliant art…!
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The thing that stuck w me most about this movie was Jarvis Cocker’s song “running the world” seemed like the perfect button at the end for this – and I had never really paid attention to him or Pulp before (or after) – but I didn’t ‘love’ the whole movie – liked it –
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Howdy Lem – thanks for your patronage!
I think the thing that stuck with me the most wasn’t the huge battle scene but when they finally make it to the boat and they get in and Owens simply says “Well… that was quite a day.” I loved it.
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This film is great, but I feel you. It’s so damn depressing that I think it’s hard to really love it. Also, “pregnant boobs?!” Hahaha you would.
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HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
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*whispering* I didn’t like it either.
A little bit of population control couldn’t hurt, right?
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Especially the dummy dum dums!!
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lol, precisely!
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There are some big plot holes that distract me in this film and at times I got bored 😦
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YEP…..
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I stopped following you when you said Devil’s Pond was your favorite movie! 🙂
I have heard a lot of people who say they like Children of Men, but I just can’t bring myself to watch; it looks so ultra boring. And I just can’t take it serious when make-up and the director actually okayed Michael Caine’s hair weave. He looks so corny.
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His character REALLY bothered me but, overall, the movie is quite good – but it does drag a few times… you should probably give it a shot just to see the artistry that’s in that last tracking shout – it’s amazing.
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I found it boring. I really don’t understand why people like it so much. I thought Michael Caine was the best thing about it though. I HATED the ending. Sickly sentimental gunk! Yuk yuk yuk!
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HA!! YUK YUK YUK!!
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I think this film is awesome. Nice to see a science fiction movie set in my own country.
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I may have to stop following you, bud. As far as I’m concerned, Children of Men is one of the best, if not THE best movies made in the last ten years. Also worth mentioning that the scene towards the end is incredible, but the car chase out of the ‘safehouse’ is also done in one take. Both are incredible. I think it suffers from you seeing it AFTER Gravity as well. I still love you though.
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I think your last point is probably accurate – if Gravity hadn’t blown my balls off, this would probably have been more significant to me.
Please don’t stop following, my life is nothing without you.
: (
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We have a dvd of this…. to be honest, I didn’t get it… i mean she is the only one who’s pregnant, so why is her life in danger? I’m sure i missed something.
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Hi Ren!! Are you in Paris yet??
*whispers* I didn’t really get the whole thing either…. and also – why him and not some army?
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LOL ! Paris was so one year ago ! But, I had so much to share about the tour ( one month tour of Europe) that after one year, I’m not done yet. He he he… I post two times a month is another reason.
I know. Just like this movie ( heh, what’s the title of that ? ) where a small group of army men bring down aliens ( in LA ) … what’s funny is that the aliens can be killed with simple guns… I’m sure gangs of LA can do it better and faster…. also, where’s the army?
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YES. This movie also didn’t do much for me. It was good, and well shot, but I didn’t see the masterpiece other people did.
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*covers mouth with backside of hand*
*glances across the room*
I didn’t really either….
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Man, what’s going on with your opinions these days? 😉 This is one of my favourite movies but you did give it a Four, so I won’t complain much.
Boat Drinks!
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HA!! I think this came with too much “best movie ever”-ness and it fell kind of flat for me… I can see why so many people love it though…
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