Terror has never been depicted more realistically

Rating: 7/10 (17 November 2006)

"Children Of Men" might go down in history as the movie that did for the depiction of terror what "Saving Private Ryan" did to battle scenes. It's gruesome, it's brutal, it's real. The whole movie is like a kick in the guts. Although the story is set in the future, it draws a lot of parallels to what is happening today with some references to the prosecution of Hitler's regime and the biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ as one precious life is being protected in the midst of chaos and mass murder.
With the shaky camera-work this movie sometimes feels like watching the news, which is not to say that "Children Of Men" hasn't got any storytelling offer. This is an exciting and thrilling movie. Every time you think that the movie is starting to get slow another plot point is made and keeps you interested.
The story itself sometimes seems a bit holey. We never really know who exactly is fighting who and for what reason. The main characters' moves sometimes aren't comprehensible and some details and developments seem a bit implausible.
However, Alfonso Cuarón more than makes up for these flaws with his fantastic direction and the bleak atmosphere he creatrs. There are three moments in particular that I found totally amazing. The first is a scene where the main characters are being attacked by terrorists in the woods. The second is a car chase with cars that have to be pushed. It's like the reverse of a high speed chase but it's twice as thrilling. The third key moment is a sequence near the end of the movie where all hell breaks loose in a ghetto. In an amazingly long and well executed tracking shot we are shown absolute mayhem. There's blood sprinkled at the camera, it's as if we were right there with the main character. This is the sequence that I was talking about when I said terror has never been depicted more realistically and it is this scene that will stick in your mind after you have left the cinema.
This is a very unusual film, comparable maybe to "12 Monkeys" or its predecessor "La jetée". This one has got a message that comes through in its pictures more than in the actual story. Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro González Iñárritu are still fighting for the title "Best Contemporary Mexican Director". I haven't seen "Babel", yet, but to top "Children Of Men" it must be really good.