The City of Lost Children (1995)

I’m not sure if anyone has brought this movie up on the forum yet, but I found myself quite taken by it, so I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks... It honestly feels like only the French would come up with something like this—dropping that kind of massive budget on an indie art house flick.

It’s an interesting flick, I’ll give it that, but honestly, doesn't it feel like a bit of a cliché whenever people start reminiscing about that whole wave of 90s indie cinema? It feels like such a predictable talking point! You look at what Johnny Depp and Tim Burton were doing, and they just kept doubling down on that exact same vibe they established back in "Deli"... you know, that dark, twisted fantasy aesthetic... those retro sets, the absolutely killer costumes and masks, and characters that are just beautifully warped. They certainly aren't short on imagination, are they? 😁

Ugh, bummer, I totally missed him when he was on TV recently 😢
that game was absolutely killer

Visually speaking, this movie is absolutely stunning. Personally, I’ve always thought Roger Deakins was a genius... his specific style is just irreplaceable. As for the other elements of the film? Well, there was definitely room for improvement.

Zachary Bennett3 said:Visually, the movie is stunning. I’ve always thought Roger Deakins was a genius... his style is just irreplaceable. As for everything else... well, there was definitely room for improvement.

Could you be a bit more specific regarding those "other elements"... thanks.

Bradley Morgan3 said:Could you be a bit more specific when you mention those "other elements"... thanks?

Well, take the script, for instance. I mean, credit where credit is due regarding the core concept, but it just didn't quite click for me. It felt like all that weirdness was somewhat forced, wouldn't you agree?

I don't know if I’m totally stepping in anyone's territory here, or if people are even going to vibe with this, but I can't help feeling like there's this massive overlap between Jeunet and Terry Gilliam. They both seem obsessed with building these worlds rooted in pure character whimsy—you know, those fever dreams where reality and imagination just kind of bleed into each other. The real kicker, though, is that Jeunet approaches the whole thing with a much more poetic touch.

That’s why I always look at his films as these deeply personal, dreamlike snapshots of how specific people see the world. Like, with Amelia, you get the gist immediately, but then you look at Deli and it’s this dark, gritty take on apartment living, and then you have New York City, which feels like this wide-eyed, childlike vision filled with oddities—strange dark figures, circus performers, Siamese twins, or even just the strongest man alive. And don't even get me started on that bug killer guy.

😎

Daniel Martin72 said:While we all know exactly what makes Amelia such a standout, the other films offer such different perspectives. In Deli, you get this gritty, dark look at urban tenement life, whereas in New York City, the world feels almost childlike—filled with strange figures like circus performers, Siamese twins, or the strongest man alive. And don't even get me started on the creepy character of the scavenger.
😎

Wait, are we talking about Aliens?🙂

Zachary Bennett3 said:Let's talk about the script... I mean, credit where credit is due regarding the concept, but it just didn't click for me. The whole sense of weirdness felt a bit forced.

Forced? You mean exaggerated or something? Look, I agree the movie is strange—when I saw it for the first time, I was completely lost as to what was actually happening. But on the second viewing, I realized that the "weirdness" isn't just there for show; it actually serves a symbolic purpose (and don't worry, I'm not one of those critics who tries to find deep, hidden meanings in everything like they do in Buffy the Vampire Slayer)😛 That’s why you really need to watch COLC a few times and, if possible, actually sit there and wonder what the poet was trying to convey.

Bradley Morgan3 said:That’s why I think COLC is worth watching a few more times. It really makes you stop and wonder what the poet was actually trying to convey.

Well, maybe I just will...

I thought the movie was decent. Every character is weird and twisted, which is cool, but they aren't exactly hilarious on their own. Honestly, I couldn't quite figure out who the target audience is supposed to be. Is this for kids, adults, or just indie film buffs? You could compare New York City to The Bandits, though the latter is definitely the better flick. It’s been a long time since I last saw it, so maybe my take isn't totally spot on 🙄
Anyway, I'd still love to give it another watch...

Zachary Bennett3 said:Aliens?🙂

I feel like Alien is a bit of an outlier here—mostly because Jeunet didn't even touch the script, he just stepped in to capture it with that signature poetic visual style of his. Honestly, the beauty of Aliens is all in those tiny, gritty details, which is exactly what makes it feel so disconnected from the first three movies.

I can't help but wonder... what would Aliens have looked like if someone like Terry Gilliam had been behind the camera instead?

I honestly think this movie is incredible. That whole vibe, the cast... and man, especially that opening scene with Santa Claus... heheh...🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

I’ve always had a soft spot for anything directed by Tim Burton. This was actually the first one I ever saw—I think it was playing on HBO late at night—and man, it just blew my mind.

The only thing I can't wrap my head around is how he could let himself get roped into something like Alien 4. 🙄 It feels like such a massive stain on an otherwise incredible career.

Such a great vibe, especially right at the start 👍

What an absolute masterpiece! 😉 It’s got that distinct, sophisticated flair you just don't see much of anymore... Honestly, this director managed to squeeze every ounce of brilliance out of that mediocre last Alien installment! 😉 Every single person in the cast was spot on... With a creative mind and vision like his, I truly believe surreal, twisted cinema has a massive future ahead, even if he decides to film everything in Hollywood! 😉

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve rewatched this masterpiece. Honestly, it’s hands down one of the best films I’ve ever seen from across the pond—just absolutely overflowing with imagination and visual flair. And that little girl? She was incredible. 👍 👍 His other movie, Delicatessen (or maybe it's just called Delicacy, I can never remember), is just as brilliant—weird, dark, and hilarious all at once. If you're looking for something truly original, I can't recommend these enough, especially since finding movies with this kind of soul is such a rarity these days. 👍