Genres

Visitors Review

culbeda 2012-05-21 12:21:27

In a word: Perfect

You actually come out of this movie feeling better than you did when youwent in. It's light-heartedly amusing, sincerely touching, andintricatelywoven. And best of all... you don't have to check your brain at the doortoenjoy it!DC

meeza 2012-05-21 01:21:40

Nice Import but Not Great!

`Amelie' is being called the toast of France. Critics amor `Amelie'. Theyare calling it one of the best French films of all time. Now, I did think itwas cute but I do think that some of these critics are french toasted byincluding it in that illustrious category. The film is about a cute- petiteFrench woman who gets satisfaction out of doing favors for others andchanging their lives. Now, I did like the premise (especially in today'stimes). However, I did think the film dragged as long as the Tour De France.Guys- I do not think that you will like this film too much. However, I doknow a way to change that. Just tell your girl that you want to have a veryromantic French night that would have to include- viewing a French film like`Amelie", doing some serious French kissing during the boring scenes of thefilm, and maybe ask her to get a friend and do a serious menage a trois(that's French isn't) during the film's climax. If you view it that way, Iam sure it will be one of your favorite films of all time.*** Average

blackoffi 2012-05-17 12:00:12

What's the difference between a good and excellent movie?

This is a good movie, nobody can argue about that, but is it an excellentone? I'm sure it is. I went to see this movie two times in a week, somethingI hadn't done since a very long time. And the second time, I literallyadored this movie. Jean-Pierre Jeunet's directing is excellent; his cameraworks is breathtaking (cf. scene where Amelie playing at ducks and drakes,the opening sequence and so many others). The dialogues are perfect and thisis probably the best comedy ever made, since Dr Strangelove, and that's achange from `Walt Disney's' politically correct humor or the crude `AmericanPie's' sex jokes). All the characters are touching and unforgettable.Some scenes are really masterpieces, for example the scene where Amelieimagines that Nino is coming to see her and the curtains move (for those whosaw the movie, you know what I am talking about!). This movie is a subtlebalance between macro and micro, between logic and absurdity, between beautyand ugliness between dream and reality, in short this is a HUMAN movie).This movie is definitely going to change your life and to quote an Americanfriend I went with `This is the kind of movie we needed in those times'. I gave this movie a 10, a grade that I usually give on rare occasion, butthis movie definitely deserved a 20.

kayla-carrouth 2012-05-16 19:16:42

Amelie.

I'm usually incredibly apprehensive about watching Foreign films, butafter hearing the 4th person recommend Amelie I decided I might as wellsee why everybody thought I would enjoy it. I absolutely fell in lovewith this movie. It's a quirky, uniquely wonderful film. One of themain reasons people recommended this movie to me was because I was abig Pushing Daises fan, and Amelie and Pushing Daises both share thatcolorful, whimsical feel. The awkward love story and the awkwardcharacters and plot lines are everything I could ask for in a film.Audrey Tatou gives an amazing performance, and it's difficult not tofall in love with her by the end of the film. Amelie is one of thosefilms that changes your perception of things, and truly makes suchtrivial things seem so much more beautiful.

jmuru 2012-05-10 17:37:03

Great movie

"Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain" is an awesome movie. I saw it inFrance when it was in general release over there, and again tonight inBerkeley, and I have to say it was even better the second time watching it.Audrey Tautou is brilliant. She charms the audience, and can make almostanyone fall in love with her. The camera work is excellent, especially inthe last scene on the motorcycle, which is just perfectly filmed. The filmis funny and clever, and amazingly sweet, the perfect date movie, or infact, it's the perfect movie for almost any occasion.

Lady Targaryen 2012-05-10 11:55:11

She will change your life.

One of the best movies already made in history, totally deserves to bein IMDb's top250. The revelation of the beautiful and sweet AudreyTatou is also a mark in this film. (Can someone really imagine EmilyWatson as Amélie? Because the lead role was made at first to be forher!) The colors,the scenarios, the photography, the direction, theactors...there isn't a single thing that I can say that is not good inthis movie. It give us a romantic portrait of France, where Amélieworks as waitress in Montmartre café, in Paris. One day, she finds outa little box with pictures, toys and other 'precious'things for it'sowner, a guy who long ago lived in Amélie's apartment.Amelie gave backthe box (who has many memories of the childhood of it's owner) and gladto see how happy the owner was to have that box again,from now on shewants to make new changes in her life helping other people, and alsoherself.

pete36 2012-05-03 08:17:26

Funny and engaging up until the last second

At the start of this movie I was almost sure director Jeunet would never beable to keep up this incredible mix between different storylines,characters, colours, old movieclips, newsreels,.... for the whole runtime.But Jeunet succeeds admirably in holding on to this fast-paced rhythm untilthe very end. This is in stark contrast with many recent US movies (or others) which seemto run out of steam after about 2/3 of the total runtime. Not this one!PS : If you hate this movie and think it is unfunny, dumb, gloomy orboring, go out and seek some treatment before it's toolate.

jotix100 2012-05-02 09:54:26

Vive Amelie!

Audrey Tautou has a great screen presence and it's a delight to see herthroughout the film, where she's the center of the action. Amelie isjust an exception in a world full of self-centered and unhappy people.She's willing to spice those lives she comes in contact with. The jumpystyle of director Jean-Pierre Jeunet sets the right tone for thismodern day fable set in the Montmartre of today. More than anything,the director has used this beautiful actress in ways that otherswouldn't have dared. At times she keeps reminding us of another Audrey,Hepburn, with those expressive eyes of hers. Long live Amelie andAudrey too. Let's hope other directors will use her too and very soontoo!

smakawhat 2012-05-01 15:17:34

Charming, good in its simplicity

I went to see Amelie and was quite surprised by the amount of buzz itgenerated. I am a big movie nut and see a lot of foreign films, instead ofthe regular Hollywood stuff [which I do see as well]. However, this littlepicture seems to be taking over. I went to the theatre here (early asalways) and found out that people were even buying tickets for the nextday.I would describe this film as a coloured washout view of Paris about anadorable qwerky woman who decides that her destiny in life is to make otherpeople happy, adding a dash of Run Lola Run hyper intensity. She, like allother people in the film is weird. There are no ordinary people in thisfilm at all which makes it that more interesting, and there are comicalmoments.I think most people seeing this film are drawn to its simplicity and thinkthat its unique, its really inspiring to them. For me it's a good film (nonot the best of the year [see my thoughts on Memento, Mulholland Drive, andSexy Beast, who knows I may see something even better still]) but I thinkIt's one of those films that will force people who wouldn't see alternativetheatre, to see something different [and maybe stick withit].The film does get a little slow, and has an overly romanticized view ofParis and Parisians. But you don't mind, even the cafe that Amelie works inreminds me so much of the cafe's I use to sit in when I was on a trip toPortugal. The movie is definitely a feel good film, and probably the bestfeel good movie of the year.Tautou is just enchanting as well and the movie has great magical scenessuch as when she remarks to the audience how when she goes to the movies,she turns around sometimes to see the smiles on everybody's faces. Thecamera pans back showing the audience in joy. It's that feeling you connectwith after seeing this film.Overly sentimental??, perhaps, best film of the year?? No… A film worthseeing, `Definitely'Rating 8 out of 10.

linkinem41 2012-05-01 01:47:06

i usually say FEEL-GOOD movie but this time its a FEEL-PERFECT movie...TRUST ME!!!

OK this isn't a simple movie........... it is clearly one of the mostBEAUTIFUL MOVIE I have ever seen... not just visually but also on itsSTORY level.... this is clearly one of the most magical lovestories.... where the two LOVE BIRDS create ROMANCE even withoutmeeting each other..... thts what magic is........... TOUTOU...is oneof the MOSTGORGEOUS women in the world......... she is such a delightto see.... and her acting is just top Notch......... OH HOW i wish thismovie had a SEQUEL..........and she would star on it..............anyways the story of this movie is SOOO SWEET and so GREAT... it willteach some chapter of life..........trust me... a very GOOD---FEELPERFECT movie............... 10/10

ladywolffyre 2012-04-27 10:20:07

Charming!

I have given out four 10s when recommending movies to others. This is oneof them.A charming story with creative film effects. Excellent narration withmuchhumor.Don't be intimidated by the thought of reading subtitles. It is worthit.

vostf 2012-04-26 20:58:27

Happiness come true to screen

It's all about happiness and how a few images can make it real and nearpalpable. With Amélie Jeunet fully succeeds to light the magic in lifethroughout his gallery of portraits. The way he deals with the contextto make it unreal may be disturbing but it's his poetic license to makeup the dull ends of life. Of course if you don't feel like being happyyou will rant you're fed up with those dreamlike images. You shouldhave known French directors do not only shoot distressing movies. Someof them are so ambitious as to make movies for more people than a bunchof ill-fitting brains.The simplest of stories leave much room for creativity to develop mostbeautiful images to eventually form magical movies. Movies that makeyou feel so well that you wonder how it is possible to deal about lifewith just a dozen reels. Jeunet distills a little nostalgia and amellifluous composition of other simple ingredients. The result is sogreat, marvelous that there is no point in analyzing the making.Questioning Amélie Poulain's achievement is the same as to say "I don'tlike the colors" "I don't like the characters" "I don't like thestory". When you're happy you don't wonder why and there's no point inasking for more than what you get. But afterward you ought to begrateful for the wonderful time (and rooting for more) while thenon-happy are still trying to word their own private impotence.

SweetDave 2012-04-24 05:37:36

Ah! What a movie!

After hearing some critics about that movie, I told to myself. Ah Well!Let's go see that movie. And I did. And I loved every second of it. I didn'tknow I could enjoy myself at the movies again. And like some users here fromimdb, after the movie, I wanted to see the movie once more (or again andagain). I saw that movie yesterday and I am still thrilled by it. I recommend this movie all the way. I hope it wins the césar for best movieand the oscar for best foreign film and simply I wish the movie wins bestmovie. Anyways, one can always dream.All that to say that the movie Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain is amasterpiece, a must-see, a gift, hmmm there is so much to say about thatmovie. For those who didn't see it, go right ahead!!!!!! I will give 15 out of 10 lol!!!

Pierre Bourgeois 2012-04-23 19:15:34

Exquisitely touching and moving... 11 out of 10!

An exciting event happened two nights ago: a new movie title entered my Top10 list of all times: "Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain". I've seenhundreds of movies from all over the world during my short 40 years lifeexperience, but few moved me and put me back instantly in my child's happyand careless life as Amélie. The last movie to enter this special list was"La Vita è bella".Seen on opening night in Montréal with the two persons who have the mostimportant place in my life, we looked at each other when the lights went onat the end and we all wished only one thing: to remain seated and live thisexperience immediately all over again. I cannot wait to own this preciousgem on DVD and use it as an antidepressant to life difficulties and graymoments.I do not want to reveal anything from the movie since too much has alreadybeen written here and by critics. I just wanted to share my excitementwithother moviegoers and my pride in telling everyone that - at last! - theFrench movie industry produced one of the best movies in my mother tongue.Fresh, imaginative, breathtakingly beautiful and impeccably played. Amoviethat makes you smile, laugh, cry and feel so alive without the need ofviolence, cruelty, vulgarity and using just a bit of sex in good taste. Ihope the Americans will learn more about "necessary" cinema when they'lldiscover this masterpiece in a few weeks and that they will be cleverenoughto award it the Best Foreign Film Oscar on March 24, 2002.As many other IMDb users wrote, you feel so light and joyful when you goback in your real life after seeing Amélie that you really want to kisseveryone on the street and begin seeing the world differently. A must-seefor permanent unhappy and selfish people on this planet. From now on, Iwill always enjoy going in a Photomaton and might leave a few picturesthere... If I'm lucky enough, Amélie and Nino might find them and invitemefor a trip in their surreal exciting world!P.S.: I simply don't understand the people who find that 2 hours or so istoo lengthy for Amélie's fabulous destiny... It could even be longer and Iwould not mind at all. Jean-Pierre Jeunet and the film editor applied theperfect pacing and have a wonderful sense of rhythm in telling us aboutAmélie's original dreams and magical accomplishments.

hellenicabella 2012-04-21 20:40:16

Sublime!!!

POSSIBLE SPOILERSThis film is incredible - talk about instant good-mood!!! Is it isdeparture for Jeunet as well? I'm not sure, all I've seen of his work is"Alien Ressurection" and "Delicatessen"!It is the story of the lovely but introverted Amelie Poulain (AudreyTautou), who grew up as the only child of emotionally repressed parents, whowouldn't let her have a goldfish because its suicidal tendencies stressedthem out too much. She eventually leaves home, and when the film begins,she is a waitress in Montmatre in a cafe called the TwoWindmills.After finding a boy's old treasure, Amelie embarks on a quest to do good -anonymously - to those arround her. She uses a garden gnome, a polaroidcamera and the help of a stewardess friend to convince her father to travelthe world. She helps her hypochondriac co-worker to find love with ajealous, but passionate customer (played by Dominique Pignon fromDelicatessen - he's hilarious!!). She tapes images from television to showthe world to The Glass Man, her neighbour who has brittle bones and can'tsee it for himself.And along the way, she finds a photo album belonging to Nino (MatthieuKassovitz), an eccentric young man who collects discarded passport photosfrom photomatic machines in the metro stations, and reassembles them. Hemay just be her soulmate. In order to bring him closer she engages him inher own brand of cat-and-mouse flirtation, yet is terrified of actuallysucceeding. Nino, however, is determined to get to know her and put thegame to an end.More than anything, Ameilie looks beautiful as a film. The cinematographyis breathtaking,and you really believe that Paris is as beautiful as itlooks (luckily it is!). The aerial shots of nuns playing badminton at SacreCeour are amazing. Audrey Tautou is a gorgeous heroine, and her supportingactors all contribute something unique. Four and a halfstars.

Theo Z 2012-04-20 22:56:35

Couldn't expect less from French cinema...

French cinema has presented superb movies over the years. I am glad to seethat it still does. "Amelie" is one of these movies. It's a hymn tohopefulness.There are great ideas that are presented on the film with the bestpossibleway. The humour is very elegant and intelligent (there are some scenesthatI couldn't help myself from falling about). Romance and hopefulness areshedall over the movie. Wrap them all together with a very good direction andyou make a film worth seeing.Well, enough with words... Go find out yourself...9/10

bandw 2012-04-17 04:37:32

Take off those orange colored glasses please

This movie tries so hard to be cute and clever that its concentratedsweetness gave me a high for about five minutes and then I crashed forthe rest of it. Amalie (Audrey Tautou) has the demeanor of a spoiled little girl whogrew up thinking she was ever so cute. She seems to be saying, "Look atme, can you resist me?" And then she gives off a self-satisfied smilewith the hint, "You thought I was cute before, aren't you blown away bymy smile?" Ugh.But the thing that really bugs me about this movie is Amelie's conceit.She presumes to know what will make others happy and meddles in theirlives. Among the things this adorable girl does is break and enter anapartment to do mean things to its owner's possessions, send falseletters, short out people's TV's at peak moments, lie to people aboutwho loves them, make anonymous phone calls without having the integrityto speak with the callee, and steal one of her father's prizepossessions.I know that we are supposed to accept the fantasy nature of this filmwhere photos talk, statues wink, and people always answer publicphones, but my patience for this kind of thing wore thin very fast. Weare told, shown actually, that Amelie's mother was killed by a suicidalperson jumping off of Notre Dame and landing on her. How are are wesupposed to react to that? Is it supposed to be funny? Wasn't to me.Then there is the agonizing game that Amelie plays with the guy shefalls far. She gives him hints and, given the opportunity to makecontact, shies away. You just want to shake her and tell her to justtalk to the guy for heaven's sake. Finally at the end they meet and thefirst thing they do without saying a word is kiss and have sex. Whatkind of message is that? The whole movie is filmed through some kind of orange filter that Isuppose is meant to cast some sort of romantic candle-lit effect overthe proceedings, but for me it was just one more barrier that preventedme from getting close to this movie.

Martin Teller 2012-04-16 13:47:50

three cheers for Amélie

The truth is the movie doesn't run very deep. I do love it, though, andespecially the main character. Amelie Poulain an unstoppable agent ofjoy, anonymously bringing peace to those around her. But she's alwaysone step removed from human contact -- communicating through pictures,metaphors, trinkets, one-sided phone calls, secret manipulations,windows and spyglasses. She's not exactly shy or anti-social orawkward. In fact, she appears to be quite content with her interiorlife... until the possibilities for real connection arise, somethingthat both entices her and terrifies her. When she finally gives in,it's a joyous occasion.In typical Jeunet fashion, the film's visual style is jaw-dropping,with a fistful of clever tricks, gorgeous splashes of bright colors,and a dynamic camera that keeps you on your toes. Jeunet uses cinema toenhance the significance of the details, in such a playful and generousmanner. Audrey Tatou is charming, but really the entire cast isexcellent.A modern masterpiece of wit, whimsy, romance and warmth. A breathtakingcelebration of the things in life that are lovely, in ways large andsmall.

The_Yellow_Wallpaper 2012-04-11 11:26:22

Amelie disappoints.

I went into this film expecting one of the greatest films of all time -and maybe that was my problem. Amelie is good, well directed and wellacted, but that didn't really add up to the masterpiece it's made outto be.The film is worth a watch, if not only for it's candy coated sceneryand direction. And also, Audrey Tautou is not bad to look at.The modern fairy tale (with adult themes) is good, but nothing more,and it's one I wouldn't care to watch again. It's not worth the top250, but like I said, it isn't awful, not even bad, and it's somewhatfun to watch.

David Peckham 2012-04-11 06:43:08

amelie

this is a really great movie, a welcome change from a lot of violent crimemovies that i mostly watch (because i think those are the best done films.) This was an uplifting and funny movie that was creatively directed withgreat colors and a wonderful soundtrack. it really sucks you in with thefirst 5 minutes, the scenes describing amelies childhood as well as thelikes and dislikes of the people around her are funny and well directed. the film does slow its pace towards the end but as long as you switch gearswith it you should keep on enjoying this movie. amelie didnt "change mylife" but it did make me feel good after watching it 10/10