Children of Men (2006)

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  July 9, 2007

  brooklynspo

  Nope, I didn't like it. And yes, the elaborate single takes annoyed and distracted me to no end. I thought the film was a murky mess.
  
  Pull my finger. Exactly

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  May 22, 2012

  FrizzDrop

  An almost futuristic dsytopian society, yet realistic and seemingly true, Children of Men is an engaging and fraught with tension thriller that pushes the boundaries of acceptable worlds. Though many films misuse the term futuristic to include out of this world inventions, catacl... read moreysmic empires that reach vast lengths, ruled by some evildoer, and an inconceivable universe Children of Men takes place only a bit down the line, knows when to keep cool under pressure, and advances its plot based on the characters and not a contentious ideal of what the future will be like in twenty years. Some amazing acting from a cast that reaches down deep, including an activist Julianne Moore, scientist Michael Caine, and our lead Clive Owen, a man who has given up hope though in his youth he was just the same wild idealist as his former partner. The film moves at a fast pace, and explains itself as it goes. The main idea seems to be that human life, however eroded by greed and corruption, is worth preserving, and even in a world that seems to have ordered chaos, there is always a hand climbing out of the darkness to capture you. I thought the performances were the best part, especially that of Michael Caine who plays a role so unlike him, and yet works well with his own talents. Owen is usually the brash action star or the quiet man behind the scenes, but here he downplays his entire involvement, conceding that the mother of the first child in the world is obviously the hero of the story, and leads her to Earth's victory, however bittersweet. I loved the cinematography, the one shot action scenes of explosions and subterfuge, and the story itself, which stands as one unobstructed by petty villains, insidious government actions, and high brow heroes with inferiority complexes. Though cultural and political differences are shown in an almost heavyhanded approach, I liked it still, because it was somewhat honest and looked to the future with a broad understanding of socio-economic ties, as well as the intentions of the media and the roles of poor individuals and their motives and ensuing actions. Really a stark realization of what lies ahead.

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  March 9, 2012

  fb1463751009

  "Children of Men" has breathtaking cinematography; the camerawork is reminiscent to "Saving Private Ryan" and the attention to detail reveals how colorful - though it is a world coming to its end - the world is. This is an incredible tense-filled thriller. This movie may not answ... read moreer many of the questions it brings up but the direction the movie goes is not for the sake of concept. This is an incredible movie.

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  October 27, 2011

  fb729949618

  This is honestly nothing less than a masterpiece, and I rarely use that word to describe films. Don't want to spoil that much, but the themes and ideas used in this film are genius. It really gets you thinking and asking yourself what the world would be like if something like "th... read moreis" happened. Aside from the themes, the most astonishing aspect of this film is its cinematography. It REALLY puts you in the film! Probably one of the best chase/climax scenes that I have ever seen in a movie. Truly one of a kind and definitely a must see!

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  October 21, 2011

  cosmo313

  Based on an acclaimed novel by P.D. James, this is a film adaptation about a near future dystopia that posits a scenario that is actually (and this is what's scary) rather plausible.
  
  It is 2027 and the world is plagued by infertility. It's been 18 years since the last child was... read more born, and, as a result, the world has crumbled into a chaotic mess. England has managed to be the last remaining society that hasn't totally collapsed, but even it is ravaged by a fascist government and the activites of violent protestors and resistance groups. On top of that, the government is severely cracking down on immigration, only further adding to the mayhem and collapse of society. All of this madness really gets otu of hand when a former protestor turned civil servant, is tasked by his ex (the leader of the resistance) to escort a young woman to safety out of the country. The kicker: not only is she an immigrant, but miraculously enough, she's pregnant.
  
  Plot-wise, that's pretty much it. This is some very high concept stuff, but the film is deceptively simple with it all. Not a whole lot really happens, yet we really feel like we know this world, thanks to the brilliant mise-en-scene. Most of the plot is given in spnippets, and not always through dialogue. I thought this was an excellent way to get the audience involved in the film, and indeed, this is a very engaging and absorbing piece of work. This film is one of the greatest directed and shot films I've seen in quite a while. This is a powerful film, but it's even more effective because the world of the film is grounded in reality, influenced by contemporary events and society, and unlike similar films, doesn't get too futuristic or too low tech (a la Mad Max).
  
  The casting is great, and I think that I'm officially a Clive Owen fan. I've liked the guy for a few years now, but I think he's really become a guy whose films I'm gonna start following more closely now. Probably the most fun part in this film is the one played by Michael Caine- an aging hippie and former political cartoonist. It's a new sort of role for him, and he does a great job. Julianne Moore is one of my favorites, and she too also does a really good job. Hell, basically there's not really a bad performance to be found.
  
  The real star of things, besides the world building, is the cinematogrpahy. There are a few really superb long takes throughout (particularly, but not exclusively) during action scenes, and they actually benefit the film by serving the story and not sticking out as being flashy just for the sake of it. I'm in awe of how they got these scenes choreographed and executed. Also, there's some killer needle drops as well, and those too feel like they have a purpose. This is a really intense film at times, and it fills me with dread, but this is a film I'm in awe of, and really think is worth thinking about and discussing.
  
  This is an action movie, yes, to a degree, but not in a real conventional sense. It's done with care, intelligence, style, and a great sense of skill. I can't belive it too me this long to finally see it, but I'm so glad I finally did. This is some truly excellent stuff, and there's some wonderful stuff going on. I can definitely see this one becoming something quite important and hailed as one of the greats.

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  October 1, 2011

  fb701560354

  Alfonso Cuaron is a great director and with Children of Men which takes place in the year 2027, where society is without hope since humankind can no longer procreate, he brings the desolate world to stark reality. It blew me away from the very beginning. It's beautiful cinemato... read moregraphy juxtaposes all the violence in the world, and the script brings it closer to home, but I had to watch it twice to fully understand the reasons for the major events in the story, and there were some story lines that met dead-ends that I would have liked to have seen completed. It's definitely a powerful, beautifully shot film.

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  August 13, 2011

  FilmFanatik

  Children of Men blew me completely away when I first saw it, and it still does everytime I see it. Nothing compares to seeing it on the big screen with the amazing sound. It's quite an experience. Alfonso Cuaron is one of modern cinema's true greats. His body of work is sparse bu... read moret the output rate isn't as important as the quality of the work that he does. This was my favorite film of 2006 and it's still one of my favorite films today. Absolutely powerful filmmaking.

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• 
  
  July 16, 2011

  Deano78

  A very good bleak look at the future. A well made film, with a good cast. I found it a little slow to get going, but the modern look of London was interesting and technology. The best scene was a battle scene in a run down part of town as the activists clashed with the military. ... read moreAll the while Clive Owen is dodging bullets and trying to protect the only child on earth. It really draws you into the thick of a battle, caught in the middle trying to stay alive. After all the build up I felt the film finished a bit short, not the conclusion I was hoping for.

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  June 23, 2011

  murphmann93

  Great film! Full of suspense and action! Great story! A must see!

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  June 16, 2011

  DreamExtractor

  What a tremendous and original film. I had only recorded this film on TV, and as I watched I loved it more and more. Clive Owen is a great actor, he is truly rising as one of the best. The plot keeps giving us more and more to watch and never stops being cool, its not a futuri... read morestic action like Minority Report, it a futuristic drama with a lot to say. They really go all out with production and truly do a great job on making it feel in the future, and they realize that technology wont be as advanced as we hip in 20 years. The cast is great, original plot, a few slow parts, great music and camerawork making it one of the most inventive films ever.

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• Clive Owen as Theo Faron
• Julianne Moore as Julian Taylor
• Michael Caine as Jasper
• Chiwetel Ejiofor as Luke
• Claire-Hope Ashitey as Kee
• Pam Ferris as Miriam
• Charlie Hunnam as Patric
• Danny Huston as Nigel
• Peter Mullan as Syd

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

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• • Theo Faron: It's a girl, Luke.
• • Theo Faron: Same as every other day. Woke up, felt like shit. Went to work, felt like shit.
• • Miriam: As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in. Very odd, what happens in a world without children's voices.
• • Theo Faron: I can't really remember when I last had any hope, and I certainly can't remember when anyone else did either. Because really, since women stopped being able to have babies, what's left to hope for?
• The Year 2027.
• In 20 years, women are infertile. No children. No future. No hope. But all that can change in a heartbeat.

• Name the Actor who does NOT appear in Children of Men...  Answer »
• Who played Theodore Faron in "Children of Men"?  Answer »
• Which movies has this quote: "The world was stunned today by the death of Diego Ricardo, the youngest person on the planet, the youngest person on earth was 18 years, 4 months, 20 days, 16 hours, and 8 minutes old."  Answer »
• Find the common actor in "The Italian Job (1960s)" "Batman Begins" and "Children of Men"  Answer »

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• Long Takes
• Children Of Men Scene: The Group Leaves Jasper At The House
• Children Of Men Scene: Luke Finds Kee And Thorn In The Barn
• Children Of Men Scene: The Group Is Attacked By The Zeds
• Children Of Men Scene: Theo And Julian Argue On The Bus
• Children Of Men Scene: Theo Asks His Cousin For A Favor
• Children Of Men Scene: Theo And Jasper Talk About Refugees In The Car
• Children Of Men Scene: Theo's Coffee Shop Is Bombed

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