Product: Run, Lola, Run [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 5.0
Positively Unique
The Film:Positively unique. While I see parallels between Run Lola Run and its 1999 counterpart, Fight Club, the instances are only fleeting and probably have more to do with the fact that I saw the two films shortly after one another than they do with actual similarities. Or perhaps it's how both films have taken a novel idea and let it run its course, flaws and all, producing something that's much stronger when all's said and done.If the stranger who brushed past you this morning had walked an extra couple inches to their left, what kind of an effect do you think it might have had on the rest of your life? If the film is to be trusted, a bit more than you'd think. One woman, mere scenery in any other film, goes from lotto winner to baby stealer to bible pusher after her chance meetings with Lola. And that's where the real strength lies here. More than anything else, Run is a story about everyday lives, and how conceivably miniscule changes can alter an entire lifetime. Despite the imaginative camera angles and Quentin Tarantino meets Guy Ritchie storyline, the real focus of the movie is the interaction with the regular Joe, and the ultimate result of that interaction.Sure, there are some scenes I'd have done differently. But like they say, hindsight is 20 / 20 and everybody's the world's finest director from their couch (or, in this case, from behind their monitors). Some transitions are awkward, but the characters are there in full force, and the possibly-complicated plot is handled to perfection. Add to that the list of risky camera tricks that paid off in spades, and you've got a healthy package. Highly Recommended.9 / 10DVD Extras:Not exactly a stack of bonus features, but those that are present really do pack a punch. First, and most notably, is the option to watch the film in English or original German with English subtitles... which, if you've ever heard the American voice actors, you'll know isn't really that much of an option. Put plainly, the English dub blows. Go for German with the subtitles, and enjoy the original vocal inflections in all their glory.You also get a feature-length commentary from writer / director / producer Tom Tykwer and Lola herself, actress Franka Potente. This one's a real goldmine, if you're into insightful audio commentary, as the two reveal bits and pieces the uneducated eye would have blown past without a second thought. Honestly, the definition of what a DVD commentary track should be.Finally, there are the prerequisite Theatrical Trailers, which are nothing extraordinary, and a music video from the picture's phenomenal soundtrack. Again, nothing special... mostly just Potente mouthing along to the words of one of the few songs with a vocal track, screaming, and looking a bit bizarre without the bright red hair. It's no surprise the single never really shook the charts.Worth the extra bucks to pick up on DVD, without a doubt. Hell, they could've just given it the German dub and I would've been happy, but the audio commentary makes it all that much nicer.7 / 10