A Bleak View Of TheFuture, But A Stunning View None-The-Less

Rating: 9/10 (22 February 2007)

The first thing a lot of fans of this film (or the novel it was based on) will be to draw comparisons between the two. However, the film is extremely different from the novel. If you are picking up the book after seeing the film or heading to the theater expecting a revival of the book, DON'T. Look at them as separate stories from the same world of the author. They aren't comparable.
That being said, after taking in both the movie and the book, I enjoyed the film much more. I watched the film with amazement and awe throughout. (The incredible cinematography and direction were stunning and should be at the top of the list for this year's, if not this decade's best) Clive Owen seemed born to play the part of Theo and Micheal Caine delivers an uncanny performance of.... well, Caine. (But it works amazingly well) The only actor that I questioned was Julianne Moore, not for her acting, but for the roll. Julian seems better played by a lesser-known. But she does a great job.
The most outstanding thing in this film is the utter realism it achieves through extended shots that seem to run forever, but never lose excitement. I don't have to tell anyone the two most spectacular shots in the film that use this. If you've seen it, you know. If you haven't, you will. Simply amazing! (They've sparked some interesting discussions for the fans, just take a look in the IMDb Forums) The tale of post-apocalyptic London and the dismal future of the world is nothing new. But the depiction of the "near-future" in C.o.M. is so subtle and organic, it comes across surrealistically.... real. It allows the viewer to look past the time and focus on the story. (We've all seen enough films that show us the bright and shiny, flashy as Epcot Center, FUTURE) It's nice to see this done so well while still being interesting and fresh.
Bottom-line, this film has heart. In a gritty war-torn scene of violence, to see the hearts of men and women so touched by the sight of a child made me tear up in the theater. (Just don't tell anyone) In the end, for all it's action and excitement, this film is about the heart of humanity. If not the survival of it.