Oh Man, yes! Children of Men deserve the rights to be call all-time masterpiece. It's one of my favorite movies

Rating: 8/10 (30 March 2017)

Loosely based on a novel of the same name by author P.D James, 2006's apocalyptic thriller 'Children of Men' tells the story of Theo Faron (Clive Owen), a disillusioned bureaucrat who spends most of his days wallowing in drunken self-pity as the world around him, dies a little each day, due to the fact that the human race has been rendered infertile. But that all changes when he's abducted, and force by his ex-wife turn refugee freedom fighter, Julian Taylor (Julianne Moore) to agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman, Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitney) around a war-torn England to a sanctuary at sea. Without spoiling the movie, too much, while, certain audience members might hate this movie for the lack of exposition. I have to say, does do enough, as the movie opens with a new casting. Even without that, 'Children of Men' still explores the themes of hope and faith in the face of overwhelming futility and despair, so well, with visual effects and well-crafted music that it didn't need to tell it through words. You see how the world deals with issues like immigration through the background and sounds that it plays. You know that something isn't right. The War on Terror looks more like the Holocaust. It tells you in an interesting subtle way by lingering on it, even if the foreground has pass the camera frame. It's brilliant filmmaking. It also rich in symbolism, both historic, political, religious, and cultural. You can't help, seeing images that remind you of arts, ranging both modern and classic. Works like Sandro Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus' to Michelangelo's 'Pietà hit you very strong with feelings. The film's visuals is also full of references to famous literature works such as George Orwell's novel 'Animal Farm' to T.S Eliot's poem 'The Wasteland'. Plus, you can't get away from all the Christ imagery. While, some of these imageries can be a bit heavy-handed. Most of it wasn't annoying like other films. Plus, I like how the visuals for this movie, help influence other works like 2013's video game 'Last of Us' & 2016's film "Logan". The cinematography from both Emmanuel Lubeski & director Alfonso Cuarón was amazing. The use of dark color palette really shows the bleak dystopian future, the film was going for. However, the most obvious achievement for this film, was the consistent use of long takes. Scenes like the 'Car Ambush' & 'the Tank' moments are some of the best well-shot sequence, I have ever saw, in a movie. The film is full of top-notch action scenes like that, that comes off as chaotic, despite being meticulously planned out. Cuarón shoots most of these scenes like a combat documentary, using hand-held cameras. Thank goodness, for no shaky cam. I also like how the film used natural light wherever possible. You see, a lot of it, in early dawn in the urban centers, and the forest sequences. While, the camera shots are impressive; the acting in this movie is just as good. The people in this fictional world is reflection of our current society. It shows a range of human emotions: ranging from anger to violence, hopeful to religious, disengage to hedonism, and downright depressing to defeat. Everybody in this film has a role to play, and all the actors pull it off, even Michael Caine as Jasper; whom I think, is the weakest of the characters. I think, they pull it off, even if in order to bring the book to the big screen, several key character roles were switched and streamlined. Theo as a government worker rather than an Oxford Historian, makes more sense. Other great things, the film change or delete, was the way, Theo's kids die, and his unneeded love triangle with Julian and another man, and Theo's over the top brotherhood with cartoony evil villain of warden Xan. I also like, how the film stick to a one place settling, rather than going with the novel's idea of Theo going on vacation to a different continent. It makes it, seem that travelling is dangerous and not easy to do. However, some of the changes felt a bit not wised. Julian's new role as the rebel freedom fighter, rather than the carrier was somewhat a downgraded; seeing her original role, not only affect with the people around her, but also the whole country. Also, the new ending with the ship of 'Tomorrow' felt a bit, out of place. I get the Human Project, part, but why would a reproductive medicine team would need be in the ocean to do their studies. Did I miss, something, political here? As much, as I hate the Xan being comically evil in the novel; I would still rather have the 'coronation ring' ending, instead. Despite that, I did think the film did the right decision, with switching the infertility from male to female. It makes the film's ending, a lot more ambiguous, & bittersweet. Overall: As far as dystopia sci-films go, it doesn't go much higher than this movie. 'Children of Men' is quite simply one of the best sci-fi films ever made. Thought-provoking and spry. It will aged well, overtime. You will get a lot with repeat viewings. Highly recommended.