I'm not as active on Ciao as I used to be due to the slow time it takes for pages to load caused no ...
I'm not as active on Ciao as I used to be due to the slow time it takes for pages to load caused no doubt by the multitude of irritating adverts on every page. But thanks to all who have recently highly rated my reviews - I always try to return rate.
Member since:03.01.2008
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This is probably one of my most favourite films that I saw in 2007. It has an intelligent screenplay and is skilfully edited to keep you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what is happening or what will happen next. It's only about two thirds of the way through that you begin to understand what it's all about and the underlying message of the film seeps through. I know that a few of my friends couldn't stand it perhaps because they were expecting a more typical Brad Pitt movie or the fact that there is a quite a lot of subtitles.
The film's title is a reference to the biblical story in which God punishes humankind for its ambitious attempt to build a Tower of Babel that would reach to heaven. God punishes the people by scattering them into different races each speaking different languages. Communication is thus much more difficult. The film is an attempt to express this as a contemporary theme whereby today's scattered races still have difficulty communicating, especially over issues such as terrorism, immigration and globalization. There is also reference to the international news corporations that complicate matters further by translating events into fickle news entertainment.
Babel is the product of writer Guillermo Arriaga and director Alejandro González Iñárritu. It is similar in theme and style to Iñárritu's two previous films, 'Amores Perros' and '21 Grams'. I've only seen '21 grams' and I think it compares well with that movie. The story line follows episodes in the lives of people in separate parts of the world: Morocco, Mexico and Japan. Fundamentally it's a film about a globalised world and expresses the way disparate people are linked together by the most subtlest of connections. I particularly enjoyed the way each storyline was totally immersed within the culture of the different locations - the contrast between the simultaneous lives of people in Japan, Morrocco and Mexico was intellectually stimulating and very effective.
The performances are all quite exceptional with Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt playing convincing roles, but they are by no means the central characters of the film and I like the way the non-American lesser known actors are given equal status. I particularly like the Japanese storyline about a businessman (Koji Yakusho) and his emotionally distant daughter who is deaf. The portrayal of this girl's world from her own perspective was in itself a beautifully and effective piece if cinema.
I feel that any significant plot detail would spoil the full pleasure to be gained from watching this film and I'm glad I watched it without any previous knowledge. So if you haven't already done so, I would urge you to watch the film without reading any other reviews on film websites as I feel that they would all to some extent spoil the plot and overall enjoyment of this film.
Also published on dooyoo.co.uk
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Brilliantly conceived, superbly directed, and beautifully acted,Babelis inarguably one of ... more
the best films of 2006. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu and his co-writer, Guillermo Arriaga (the two also collaborated onAmores Perrosand21 Grams) weave tog...
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Brilliantly conceived, superbly directed, and beautifully acted,Babelis inarguably one of ... more
the best films of 2006. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu and his co-writer, Guillermo Arriaga (the two also collaborated onAmores Perrosand21 Grams) weave tog...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Interesting look at different cultures. Good acting all from all the cast. Disadvantages: un-believable story with loose conections between plot lines. Somewhat drawn out
curious_george 15.03.2007 (15.03.2007)
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Review of Babel (DVD)
![Babel [DVD] [2006]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/127176071.jpg "Babel [DVD] [2006]")
Jul 15th, 2009
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