The Film Critique for 2006: The Top DVDs to Watch Out For - Page 2

Children of Men: Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic films intrigue me very much, highlighting our ever-present obsession with end. I am not sure what the intention of Children of Men was, but to be honest, this movie left me thinking and most importantly it left in my mind an impression that was unsettling and disturbing. Set in 2027, it's a post-apocalyptic drama/adventure that traces the journey of Clive Owen as Theodore Faron to help a miraculously pregnant girl, in an age where humans are sterile, to sanctuary. The film is both emotionally and intellectually evocative and left me thinking "that could be us" as it deals with the near future, making it very nearly frightening, engaging and certainly moving.

It might leave you flinching in your chair or drive you to tears, yet, as far as I'm concerned, the best characteristic of the film is that it feels real and is a portrayal of a future that could happen, a future we can avoid. A MUST watch!

A bit of trivia: There is a hysterical woman screaming in Sinhalese clutching onto her dead son: is this the future? It is the present for a number of Sri Lankans who are afflicted by the war. Maybe that's the only flaw of these post-apocalyptic/apocalyptic movies: we see past the problems in the present and look to their consequences on the future rather than deal with the present fallout. It was one of the most poignant moments of the film to me because back home that is what I used to see on the news everyday.

V for Vendetta: I didn't see this until 2006, although it was released in late 2005, and it is definitely a favorite of mine. Natalie Portman's performance as Evey Hammond was stellar. I hadn't really seen Natalie Portman in anything other than one of the new -Star Wars movies. (People think it's positively criminal that I haven't really watched the classic Star Wars. Trust me, I know — and that is definitely a part of my summer plans — get acquainted with Star Wars.) Anyhow I loved her performance in V for Vendetta, yet another post-apocalyptic adventure.

I bow down to the screenwriters for such clever dialog. If you are a word buff like I am you will find the V alliteration positively entertaining; the best line of the film: "The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." The character of V portrayed by Hugo Weaving of The Matrix (Agent Smith) and of course The Lord of the Rings (Elrond) is a lovable protagonist/antagonist (depending on which side you’re on) with wit and charisma who is never revealed to the audience. Most importantly this film embodies a distinctive, positive hope and witty spirit that I think is absent in many post-apocalyptic flicks.

Article Author: Vindi

An opinionated college sophomore studying History of Art and Social Anthropology who also drinks far too much coffee for her own good apart from having a lot to say most of the time.

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