Babel - Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 30 Dec 2006, 14:14

Tis out over here next week (4/1) and I shall see it without fail, since Inarritu is the new Jesus. Anyone want me to write a mini-review afterwards?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 30 Dec 2006, 15:13

Yes please. I can't wait to see this.

It's out 19th of January over here.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 05 Jan 2007, 11:10

5/5
Jesus has done it again. Presented in Jesus's typical fragmented non-linear structure, it works marvellously utilising another flawless Arriaga script. Santaolalla haunting guitar score is as marvellous and pulling as it was 21 Grams and Amores Perros; as is Prieto's grainy cinematography.

As anyone with half a brain can figure out - the central theme is communication; it is explored in a similar fashion to "the value of life" and "how love is not easy" were in the previous outings. Discussions explored in the film include:- The consequences of ignoring communication, the isolation brought by a lack of communication, misunderstandings of communication, communication over cultural and political barriers, the loss of communication between significant others.

Brad Pitt really surprised me, this is probably the performance of his career.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 05 Jan 2007, 11:13

Hey, is this cut in the UK? Gael's character graphically rips a chicken's head off.

EDIT: It was passed uncut.

LOL, another classic IMDB thread.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Jan 2007, 19:35

Thanks Eva. I'm even more excited now, it will be a long 2 weeks

. Isn't there an R1 next month?

EvaUnit02 wrote:Hey, is this cut in the UK? Gael's character graphically rips a chicken's head off.

It must be fake.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 06 Jan 2007, 00:36

bradavon wrote:Thanks Eva. I'm even more excited now, it will be a long 2 weeks . Isn't there an R1 next month?

Yes, 2-disc SE according to various e-tailer sites is out on 20/2 (HD releases on same day). I'll pass though, as this film is one that demands HD for any justice to be done.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Jan 2007, 01:41

One more DVD to eventually upgrade won't make much difference

I'm not going to stop collecting DVDs or getting films I want just because one day I'll get HD.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 10 Jan 2007, 00:36

Innaritu's hatred of the DVD format continues:-
Paramount Home Entertainment have announced the Region 1 DVD release of Babel for 20th February 2007 priced at $29.99 SRP.. ...
A barebones release, the film is presented in Anamorphic Widescreen with English (DD5.1 & DD2.0 Surround) and French (DD5.1 Surround) audio options and English and Spanish subtitle options.
source= dvdtimes

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Jan 2007, 01:01

DVD Active say it will have a trailer, whoopy doo. I can't work this out when he gave Amores Perros such a wonderful release.

Fingers crossed the Non-R1 may get something, like 21 Grams. I'll wait just to be sure.

DVD Active news: http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/babel.html

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 Jan 2007, 08:01

You gonna see this tomorrow then Brad?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Jan 2007, 21:37

EvaUnit02 wrote:You gonna see this tomorrow then Brad?

Hell yes I'm going Saturday night. Tickets pre-ordered. I'm not risking it being sold out on opening w/e.

I've convinced my Bro to come along too. Woo-hoo I can't wait!

I'll probably wait for the UK DVD to emerge just in case it has some extras, or I may just wait and get the BD (I won't be getting a player until I get a Combo anyway). There is no HD-DVD right?

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 20 Jan 2007, 02:39

bradavon wrote: There is no HD-DVD right?

You know very well that a HD-DVD is coming from Paramount.

Damn, you have one dreadful memory, it's a miracle that you haven't forgotten how to breathe.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Jan 2007, 13:10

Good to see both HD-DVD & BD. I wonder if the AV will be any different. In theory the BD will have more space but are they still using MPEG2?

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 20 Jan 2007, 16:37

bradavon wrote:Good to see both HD-DVD & BD. I wonder if the AV will be any different. In theory the BD will have more space but are they still using MPEG2?

Sony releases, yes. Fox releases, no - they use MPEG4. Paramount, Warner and Lionsgate, no idea.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Jan 2007, 16:47

EvaUnit02 wrote:Sony releases, yes. Fox releases, no

That's good to know thanks. I'll definitely be getting the HD-DVD if the BD is from Sony then.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 20 Jan 2007, 16:49

bradavon wrote:
EvaUnit02 wrote:Sony releases, yes. Fox releases, no
That's good to know thanks. I'll definitely be getting the HD-DVD if the BD is from Sony then.

If a BD is released by Sony, then there won't a be a HD-DVD.

FYI Babel is a Paramount title.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 21 Jan 2007, 20:51

I saw Babel last night and as expected bloody excellent.

I thought of the 4 stories the Japanese one was the most effective, that story had so much power and intensity. Rinko Kikuchi's portrayal of a deaf-mute was excellent, she managed to convey so much power and hurt through very little dialogue. This I suspect was partly done to try and cut down on the subtitles. I bet it shocked a few people, only part of the film is in English. A lesser director would've opted for all characters to speak English (man I hate this).

Brad Pitt as you say was very good. I expected Cate Blanchett to be good but Brad surprised me, for once didn't look like a pretty boy, the grey hair and beard really worked. It was also great to see Gael García Bernal working with Alejandro González Iñárritu again.

What I love about Alejandro González Iñárritu's work is every shot, every scene, every character feels 100% real. There are no Hollywood humans here. Japan felt just like how I imagine Japan to be, as did Morroco and Mexico. It's not often you get to see a film that is truly international.

I am a massive fan of Alejandro González Iñárritu's work but I do hope however we will see something different next time. I do feel I've now seen the same basic story 3 times. It's an odd thing to say as Alejandro González Iñárritu does it so well.

I'd love for Alejandro González Iñárritu to make a small scale Mexican film.

As I feel I've seen the film before a little I'll be giving Babel 8 out of 10. Like I said it's excellent but hurt a little by having a similar structure to his prior two films.

The experience was spoilt a little by a complete knob and his girlfriend sitting next to me. I don't expect people to be silent for the whole film but this guy I kid you not talked (not whispered) to his girlfriend for about 70-80% of the film. She seemed so thick he had to explain everything to her as well as their general conversations.

I usually say something and I wish I did but I didn't. I hate having to do so as it takes you completely out of the film and then everyone hears you. It's so fucking rude. I couldn't be it he didn't stop talking.

While I was walking out with my brother one other couple were discussing it and the guy said it was bollocks. I HATE it when people completely dismiss a film so easily. You've sat through a 141 minute film and all you can say is ONE word. He did go on to say the film had tenuous links between each story, so what? It's the power and emotion that's much more important than the nit picking.

Another guy said it was angst ridden. Hello! Have you never seen 21 Grams? I guess not. Most cinema goers seem to be completely against any form of cinema which isn't happy and packaged in a nice shape.

I asked a mate if he wants to go and he said "it looks heavy I'll give it a miss". Jeez talk about only wanting to see films which are so vapid and empty.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 21 Jan 2007, 21:04

As for the DVD I'm in two minds. On the one hand I could pick the R1 up next month but on the other I'd like to wait for the UK DVD in the hope it has even minimal extras (like what happened to 21 Grams).

This is a Paramount release though and we all know how generally rubbish at extras they are. It's a shame the HD-DVD isn't a Combo as I'd snap it right up.

EvaUnit02 wrote:If a BD is released by Sony, then there won't a be a HD-DVD.

I meant if a different distributor has the rights in another country.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 22 Jan 2007, 00:52

While I was walking out with my brother one other couple were discussing it and the guy said it was bollocks. I HATE it when people completely dismiss a film so easily. You've sat through a 141 minute film and all you can say is ONE word. He did go on to say the film had tenuous links between each story, so what? It's the power and emotion that's much more important than the nit picking.

Everybody is entitled to his/her opinion.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 22 Jan 2007, 08:33

Yes, but everybody is entitled to an opinion on other people's opinions

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Jan 2007, 20:11

Exactly Grim

. I didn't say anything out loud and kept it to myself.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 22 Jan 2007, 23:07

Just saw it at the theatre. 4/5 in my opinion. Very strong, but not as awesome as I expected it to be.

But still, very powerful.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Jan 2007, 23:49

Have you seen his two prior films? I'd rate this the weakest of the 3 but even a weak Alejandro González Iñárritu is still bloody excellent.

Mark Kermode (UK) gave this an absolute slating. He said it was self indulgent with lots of tenuous links. Fair on the latter the connection between the Japanese story and the rest is a bit silly but you know what when it's handled as well as this I really don't care.

The Japanese story has so much power. As for being self indulgent I have to completely disagree. I thought idea of connecting a film internationally is a really good one.

Still he also thought 21 Grams wasn't that good, which I thought was outstanding. I can't help thinking Alejandro González Iñárritu works best on smaller scopes.

I can't fault his first two films. I have a couple of minor problems with this one. I also think with the exception of Rinko Kikuchi the acting in his prior two films was stronger (a lot to with the outstanding scripts they have).

If his two prior films didn't exist I'd probably feel a wee bit more about Babel than I do but they do exist so can't be ignored.

Babel is still bloody excellent though. I'm deliberately nit picking.

I need to check Amores Perros out again, it's been so long since I last saw it.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 23 Jan 2007, 00:48

bradavon wrote:Have you seen his two prior films?

Only "21 Grams".

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Jan 2007, 01:55

Better, worse or the same?

You should check out Amores Perros too. It's outstanding.