TPWW Movie Club #1 - Children of Men

[RoXer]

Hello.

I never really signed up to do this but apparently I'm first so I decided to not be a stick in the mud and to actually give this a shot. I personally don't think there will be more than 3 of these but who knows.

A few days ago, I read a post by Thee Destroyer about how he has started watching the Harry Potter films. (http://www.tpww.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3952514&postcount=6014) I told him he should look forward to the next one as it is my favorite of the series, probably best out of the franchise, and directed by Alfonso Cuarón (http://www.tpww.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3952799&postcount=6019).

This got me wondering if he has any recent projects I may have missed or any new projects on the horizon (which he does (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_%28film%29)).

So reading those posts is what originally got me in an Alfonso Cuarón mood. Since it was my turn to choose (even if I didn't really want to), I decided I may as well choose a film that is one of my favorites and has received positive reviews rather than to roll the dice on one of his recent projects which I haven't seen. Plus, it wouldn't be fair to leave some posters behind since we all can't fit into my time machine to travel into the future to see this new film he made. We also, apparently, have to discuss the film in this thread and it's a real hassle having to return to normal spacetime with a group of superior sailors of the spacetime sea and try to talk to ignoramus inbreds who are ill-informed about an event which hasn't happened yet. Trust me.

CHILDREN OF MEN (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/)

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/children_of_men_poster.jpg



So instead, let's travel forward in time in a fictional universe. Children of Men is about a book I haven't read.

No wait, Children of Men takes place in the year 2027. For some reason, women cannot get pregnant. This creates a dystopian (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dystopia) society around just about the entire world. The UK is the only functional region of the world. Immigration becomes an issue when you're practically the only country remaining. But then, Clive Owen... actually, I'm going to stop typing here because I don't want to spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it yet.

DVD Rip (http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/4292578/Children_Of_Men%5B2006%5DDvDrip%5BEng%5D-aXXo)
720 (http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/6346014/Children_of_Men_%5B2006%5D_720p_BRRiP_x264_AAC_-_ExtraTorrentRG)
1080 (http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/5931792/Children_of_Men_%28BDrip_1080p_ENG-ITA-FRA-GER-SPA_-_DTS%29_multisub)

[RoXer]

Fallen Angel, please do not post about how you think the 3rd Harry Potter movie is awful. Don't even quote this post with a response. It's a bad opinion to have and I don't want to get sidetracked.

[Requiem]

I am pretty sure Shisen Kopf was first in the list, BUT I am fine with you line cutting because I do not want to watch Freddy Got Fingered.

[Requiem]

Have seen this a long time ago but I will download it now and watch it some time this weekend.

[CSL]

I have seen this, it's alright. At one point it's like "oh that's where they're going?" and the whole film just kind of struck me as Here's a world where people can't have children. Oh, there's a pregnant woman. Will the baby survive? Yeah. Cup of tea? The end. Maybe I was expecting too much.

[El Fangel]

I am going to watch this tonight I believe.

Also, RoXer, I am stating that since the 3rd book was my favorite, I expected a bit more then most and that is why I didn't like it. I doubt it would have ever met my expectations.

[whiteyford]

It was better than I thought it would be honestly, could kinda see where it was going but I don't think that took anything away from it.

[El Fangel]

Alright, who has seen this.

[mitch_h]

I would like to take part in this TPWW movie club but I have watched this particular movie 800 times because it is a personal favourite. Cuaron is the best and I know nobody cares about cinematographers but Lubezki is incredible.

[Destor]

This movie is EXCELLENT. All the action sequences being one shots is seriously one of the most impressive things i think i've ever seen on film.

[El Fangel]

Well feel free to take part in the discussion once people have seen it. I am sure you will be able to point out some things we likely all missed.

[Shisen Kopf]

I am pretty sure Shisen Kopf was first in the list, BUT I am fine with you line cutting because I do not want to watch Freddy Got Fingered.

Oh I see how it works here. Fucking hipster movie snobs! Tom Green is a genius. I guarantee Freddy Got Fingered is better than this Children of the Corn 8 or whatever it is.

[Jura]

I had this weird feeling after I watched the movie for the first time. It had a weird effect on me.

[XCaliber]

Saw this flick years ago and thought it had a good concept but poor execution particularly in the 2nd half it became rather dull.

[Lock Jaw]

Gonna go watch this now.

[El Fangel]

Good movie, nice choice Roxer.

[Lock Jaw]

This was my second time watching this movie. First time was ages ago.

I think I may have enjoyed it greater this time.

It isn't a perfect movie by any means, but it is shot "really well".

The action scenes alone pretty much make this movie worth watching, with their long takes. Pretty "incredible".

[Lock Jaw]

When Kay and Theo were going out of that building with the baby, though it was like.... come on.

The whole thing was that they were afraid that the government would take the baby and give it to someone who isn't foreign. Then they just waltz past the army with the thing. I can buy that some of the troops would be "shocked" and "amazed" into inaction, but I gotta imagine that there has to be some sort of standing order about this thing... or that the leader of the squad woulda taken action.

Felt like a "cop out" to end the big action scene.

Also, Theo being shot at the end was kind of like a wrestler remembering "Oh yeah, I'm hurt, I guess I should start selling this". I don't even know when he got hit, but he no-sold it like a champ until it was like "Oh yeah, I'm dying".

[El Fangel]

When Kay and Theo were going out of that building with the baby, though it was like.... come on.

The whole thing was that they were afraid that the government would take the baby and give it to someone who isn't foreign. Then they just waltz past the army with the thing. I can buy that some of the troops would be "shocked" and "amazed" into inaction, but I gotta imagine that there has to be some sort of standing order about this thing... or that the leader of the squad woulda taken action.

Felt like a "cop out" to end the big action scene.

Also, Theo being shot at the end was kind of like a wrestler remembering "Oh yeah, I'm hurt, I guess I should start selling this". I don't even know when he got hit, but he no-sold it like a champ until it was like "Oh yeah, I'm dying".

This. Entirely this.

Still, I liked the movie.

[GD]

I found the ending to be a downer. Nonetheless, I had enjoyed the film. I believe I saw it back in 2007 or 2008.

[Requiem]

Just watched it. Really like this movie. I dig these sort of 'alternate reality' themes, especially set in the future. Police states, crazy disasters, rebellions, that whole lot.

Saw this flick years ago and thought it had a good concept but poor execution particularly in the 2nd half it became rather dull.

Gotta disagree there. Felt the concept was done incredibly well. The blend of future with a dystopian society was excellent. Felt really depressing and bleak. Like there was no hope for a future anymore and people had given up. Only some people were fighting and it seemed like, from watching people on the street, that everyone was really disconnected with what was going on. Just wasting away and watching the world die and fall apart.

Felt they built the first half up well with the themes and underlying agendas, and then suddenly everything starts going badly and he realizes the importance of the situation and is willing to die for it. The action at the end was brutal. People dying left and right. A man's upper torso clinging to life when Theo enters the building to find the girl.

Couldn't have seen the end going any differently really. It was suitable. People haven't seen a baby in 18 years. The fighting stopping like that was really powerful, IMO. Felt just as moved this time as I did the first time I watched it years ago. It reminded us that even the soldiers are people too, with emotions and dreams, and probably families. Some of them probably had kids of their own and siblings. They weren't just a faceless government army at that point.

[Requiem]

When Kay and Theo were going out of that building with the baby, though it was like.... come on.

The whole thing was that they were afraid that the government would take the baby and give it to someone who isn't foreign. Then they just waltz past the army with the thing. I can buy that some of the troops would be "shocked" and "amazed" into inaction, but I gotta imagine that there has to be some sort of standing order about this thing... or that the leader of the squad woulda taken action.

Felt like a "cop out" to end the big action scene.

Also, Theo being shot at the end was kind of like a wrestler remembering "Oh yeah, I'm hurt, I guess I should start selling this". I don't even know when he got hit, but he no-sold it like a champ until it was like "Oh yeah, I'm dying".

Think really, the adrenaline would have taken over at that point. Also he might not have wanted to scare the girl, as they needed to get to the boat ASAP as they didn't know how soon it would be there/gone.

As for the army thing, already kinda addressed that in the last post. They are all people too. They were also fighting a pretty intense battle at the moment, and I doubt that after 18 years anyone had any idea what to do if they found a baby. Who the hell would expect something like that in the heat of battle? Had they stuck around, I'm sure something might have happened, but they were shocked back to reality and went back to fighting pretty instantaneously.

[El Fangel]

I really must commend Roxer on an excellent choice.

[Lock Jaw]

Soooooo..... will there be a #2?

[El Fangel]

Yep, just wanted to make sure peeps had a chance to see it. Next up, help us is Shisen with Freddy Got Fingered.

[Shisen Kopf]

Freddy Got Fingered is a most excellent movie. Don't know why all the hate for it.

[Shisen Kopf]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/FGF.jpg