Children of Men (UK/USA) (Universal Pictures) (2006) **1/2Year: 2006iMDB
Director: Alfonso Cuaron Cast: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine
I have a question: what does everyone find so great in this movie? Granted, the camerawork is masterful and the whole cinematography is immersive. However, the script is about on par with Terminator 2. Without the humor. Or Total Recall. I even grew further appreciation for V for Vendetta which I was originally disappointed with.
Clive Owen ends up having to take care of a pregnant woman in a world that has not seen any childbirth in 18 years. Of course there is rioting and war all over and even those presumably protecting the woman are only interested in using the child for political benefits. The script does point in several interesting directions, but they are all unsufficiently expanded and we end up with a fairly ridiculous hide-and-seek action movie as the unwilling hero escorts the woman towards a meeting with a secret society of scientists that can study the child and mother and perhaps figure out a cure for mankind. And, of course, she gives birth in a refugee camp, escapes with the baby while buildings are blown away and tens killed around her and manages to get to the meeting with the elusive group that noone knew for sure it even existed.
Good acting, great visuals but mediocre story despite intellectual ambitions.
Posted by TheCasualCritic on January 23, 2007 09:47 PM