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Amelie - good blind buy?

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Old 02-02-04 | 01:04 PM
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Amelie - good blind buy?

Subject says it all ... With my store's sales this week, I can get it for $11, and I've read alot of good press on it. What do y'all think?
Old 02-02-04 | 01:38 PM
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Well since you gave me some advice I figure I'll give you some.

The movie is essentially a romantic comedy but not like the traditional cheesy or lame ones you usually watch. The movie is shot absolutely beautiful and has a really warm feel that goes great with the movie.

I'm not the best at explaining movies but this movie is a really cute , warm and funny movie that has a great story that is told really well.

I think it's a great movie and worth a purchase but you may want to check out some reviews here or watch the trailer if you havn't seen it and it will give you an idea of the feel of the film.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/amelie/
Old 02-02-04 | 02:29 PM
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Well said, Nakai. This was a blind buy for me and I loved it.
Old 02-02-04 | 02:46 PM
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Within 10 minutes, you'll predict the entire story, and from-there-on-out your degree of enjoyment will be proportional to how much you enjoy wide-eyed whimsy and cutsey-wutsey. But the hyperactive style of the film may distract you from the cloying sentimentality that might otherwise annoy you no end, and that shot of the goldfish staring up out of the water is quite wonderful.

This movie is great in exactly the way "The Brotherhood of the Wolves" is... which is to say, it ain't great at all, but it's festooned with enough gew-gaws and hyperactivity that you may not even notice. Still, totally forgettable unless you really go in for the high-fructose sap.
Old 02-02-04 | 04:35 PM
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Yes, good blind buy. It is also a great date movie.
Old 02-02-04 | 05:03 PM
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Originally posted by Richard Malloy
Within 10 minutes, you'll predict the entire story, and from-there-on-out your degree of enjoyment will be proportional to how much you enjoy wide-eyed whimsy and cutsey-wutsey. But the hyperactive style of the film may distract you from the cloying sentimentality that might otherwise annoy you no end, and that shot of the goldfish staring up out of the water is quite wonderful.

This movie is great in exactly the way "The Brotherhood of the Wolves" is... which is to say, it ain't great at all, but it's festooned with enough gew-gaws and hyperactivity that you may not even notice. Still, totally forgettable unless you really go in for the high-fructose sap.
Well, that seems a bit severe.

"Amelie" is one of my favorite films of the past 5 years, and I usually harbor a deep hatred for "high-fructose sap." Jeunet is totally in control of his filmmaking art here, and this film is a delight from beginning to end. Sure, it's whimsical (even in a "wide-eyed" way), but "cloying sentimentality"? I don't see any of that. All I see is a magic-realist fantasy that won't fail to make you smile with its smart humor and incredible production design. And damn if Audrey Tatou isn't absolutely adorable.
Old 02-02-04 | 08:06 PM
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I think this would be one of the best blind buys. 9/10 People like it, from my experience.
Old 02-02-04 | 09:05 PM
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Probably the best blind buy i have ever purchased. great movie.
Old 02-02-04 | 10:27 PM
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Hmmmm... 2 disc card board case, my favorite. Yes, it's a good blind buy.
Old 02-03-04 | 12:23 AM
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Speaking as another blind-buyer, I really enjoyed it! It's a great date movie (meaning guys can actually enjoy it, and not just check it out to 'score points').
Old 02-03-04 | 02:03 AM
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A friend of mine told me I should see this and I'm glad she did. It's a really, really charming movie. Great movie. Guarantee smile on your face, trust me. Buy it!
Old 02-03-04 | 10:18 AM
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Originally posted by Richard Malloy
Within 10 minutes, you'll predict the entire story, and from-there-on-out your degree of enjoyment will be proportional to how much you enjoy wide-eyed whimsy and cutsey-wutsey. But the hyperactive style of the film may distract you from the cloying sentimentality that might otherwise annoy you no end, and that shot of the goldfish staring up out of the water is quite wonderful.

This movie is great in exactly the way "The Brotherhood of the Wolves" is... which is to say, it ain't great at all, but it's festooned with enough gew-gaws and hyperactivity that you may not even notice. Still, totally forgettable unless you really go in for the high-fructose sap.
And I thought I was a cynic!

Amelie is a great film. You have to really set out in advance to hate it to come up with an opinion like that.
Old 02-03-04 | 12:43 PM
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Marvelous. Incredibly cute, sweet, and charming.
Old 02-03-04 | 09:48 PM
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It's a great movie, one of the best feel-good movies you'll ever see.
Old 02-03-04 | 11:47 PM
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Originally posted by Richard Malloy
Within 10 minutes, you'll predict the entire story, and from-there-on-out your degree of enjoyment will be proportional to how much you enjoy wide-eyed whimsy and cutsey-wutsey. But the hyperactive style of the film may distract you from the cloying sentimentality that might otherwise annoy you no end, and that shot of the goldfish staring up out of the water is quite wonderful.

This movie is great in exactly the way "The Brotherhood of the Wolves" is... which is to say, it ain't great at all, but it's festooned with enough gew-gaws and hyperactivity that you may not even notice. Still, totally forgettable unless you really go in for the high-fructose sap.
let me guess...

You love foreign cinema....French films in particular!!
Old 02-04-04 | 12:22 AM
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I loved Amelie!

I usually don't go for French films but I must say this movie made me want to put aside my prejudices concerning French movies and branch out. I know I would love to see more of Isabelle Nanty who played Georgette the cigarette counter girl and of course Audrey Tautou who played Amélie.

Oh, another plus for this movie is it's look. You see parts of France you don't see often in films as the director pointed out in his commentary. It's a gorgeous film.

Now that I think about it I'm gonna pop this one into the player tonite.

Last edited by Giantrobo; 02-04-04 at 12:25 AM.
Old 02-04-04 | 01:33 AM
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Originally posted by Josh Z
And I thought I was a cynic!

Amelie is a great film. You have to really set out in advance to hate it to come up with an opinion like that.
no, he doesn't.

The film was very forgettable.
Well done, for what it is - an offbeat, romantic comedy that isn't all that funny, or romantic.
Old 02-04-04 | 09:56 AM
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I too picked this up as a blind buy and really enjoyed it. I say go for it. It's only $11.

Actually, the only blind buy I regret is "Freddy Got Fingered."
Old 02-04-04 | 11:27 AM
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It's one of my top 5 out of about 200. I found it quite refreshing. It didn't have that Hollywood feel to it. Not that I necessarily mind the Hollywood feel, but it was quite refreshing to try something different for a change.

The only caution I'd throw out is that it doesn't have an English dub track. So if you can't stand subtitles, stay away.
Old 02-04-04 | 11:39 AM
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Originally posted by pro-bassoonist
let me guess...

You love foreign cinema....French films in particular!!
They're called Freedom films now, silly.
Old 02-04-04 | 02:10 PM
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Originally posted by Josh Z
They're called Freedom films now, silly.
sure

Salute!!

Old 02-04-04 | 04:04 PM
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Originally posted by pro-bassoonist
let me guess...

You love foreign cinema....French films in particular!!
J'adore cinema francais! Vigo, Renoir, Bresson, and Tati are among my alltime favorite filmmakers. I also love the films Bunuel made in France, and I like the work of most of those la nouvelle vague fellars from Cahiers. It's just that "Amelie" doesn't deserve to be considered in the same company as the films of these true French Masters.
Old 02-05-04 | 09:17 AM
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Richard,

I have no idea what you are talking about. I looked above and you are just about the only person that mentiones Tati and the rest of the other great directors in the same group as Amelie. I dont think that anyone up until your post stated that they "consider" Amelie to have had the same impact as the works of these masters.

Anyhow....this is a board where film fans share their passion for films so if you did not like Amelie...you had every right not to. I however think, and there appears to be an agreement on this issue, that Amelie was quite original and times better than most of the mish-mash Hollywood produces these days.

Good day,

Pro-B
Old 02-06-04 | 10:27 AM
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Originally posted by pro-bassoonist
Richard,

I have no idea what you are talking about. I looked above and you are just about the only person that mentiones Tati and the rest of the other great directors in the same group as Amelie. I dont think that anyone up until your post stated that they "consider" Amelie to have had the same impact as the works of these masters.
Of course not. Only a fool would think such a thing.

What I was responding to was your insinuation that I didn't like foreign cinema, and particularly French cinema, as though that would explain my aversion to "Amelie" (or perhaps my general ignorance of world cinema).

And so I pointed out that I, in fact, adore French cinema, listing my favorite directors, and then listing some others I also admire, and finally suggesting simply that "Amelie" doesn't belong on a list with any of them.

Glad you agree!
Old 02-06-04 | 05:08 PM
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As a casual movie goer I thought Amelie was a very good movie. I came away from this film being very much infatuated with Audrey Tautou, as a quiet heroine. It's far better than most of the crap released here in the U.S.


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