Amelie

I haven't seen a thread on this movie yet, so I hope the moderators won't mind me starting one. Has anyone else actually sat through this? Before it started, I honestly assumed it would just be some pretentious, overblown piece of art from a Frenchman, and I only went in because I didn't have anything better to do with my evening. But man, was I wrong. It’s an absolute masterpiece. Honestly, my life feels a little bit brighter now just knowing that I finally stumbled upon the perfect film 👍

Haha... You’re definitely not alone there, man...
So, come on, what was your favorite part... besides Amelia, obviously. 🙂

Aside from Amelia, obviously, 😁 what really stuck with me was the opening—you know, that moment at 18:28:42 when a fly, buzzing away at some ridiculous 14,200 wingbeats per minute, just lands right there on the street. I also loved how the characters were fleshed out; those little trivial, endearing quirks, like how they’d rather peel wallpaper than deal with any sort of flowery language like "fruit of the womb." And the script? Absolutely brilliant. Especially that bit where she’s adding sugar to the liqueur, swapping out the door handle, and winding her watch at 4:00 😁 .

While the movie is playing, everything feels perfect—sweet, beautiful, and just wonderful. But once it ends and reality hits you again, everything tastes so BITTER, making life feel even worse than it did before.
Still, I am beyond happy that I sat through it 👍

Taylor Cruz7, you’ve got a great eye; I honestly can’t stop watching it 😉

but honestly, Amelia's got more charm😉
---------------------this movie is just stunning... it’s got that warm, bittersweet, happy-sad vibe, you know? it feels actually human, unlike that total trash from F. Psrvnj🙂 🙂

Personally, I was expecting a hell of a lot more from this movie than what we actually got.
It’s way too long—bloated, really—and honestly, there just isn't enough substance to justify the runtime... Is this supposed to be some American take on the beauty of life, or what?
I fail to see why everyone is acting like it’s such a masterpiece.

Man, I finally sat down and watched it today 😳 and it’s actually great... weird, offbeat, and just fun. Honestly, those Frenchmen have been killing it with their cinematography lately; their films look way more striking than most Hollywood stuff.

French cinema has always had that edge over Hollywood—provided they actually put in the effort.

I’m a huge fan of Amelia, too. Honestly, we’re on the exact same page regarding Sid.

Though, it’s probably for the best when the neighbor girl decides to tune out the world every once in a while... hehe...

And what about those little gems featuring the guy sending out postcards?😁

Jack Harris3 said:French films have always been better than Hollywood movies—provided the French actually put in the effort.

I don't know about that... it's not like you can just wake up and decide, "Alright, I'm gonna make a masterpiece today!"😁

Lately, though, the visuals have been stunning, even if the stories were pretty mediocre (think *The Revenant* or *Lone Survivor*). But *Amelia*? That one actually holds its own... and it does it beautifully.

Has anyone seen this film?
I’ve always held onto the theory that Delicatessen shares a ton of DNA with Amelia, but I haven't found anyone else who agrees with me yet.😁
Both are absolute masterpieces, obviously.

Well, I guess it’s all fun and games until the girl next door decides to mess with your signal... hehe...

Man, that was cold 😲 😁

Yeah, I also find myself trying to guess how many couples actually reach the finish line (honestly, I’m better at it than playing Monopoly). It’s a pretty solid movie. I haven't seen anything by Tarantino yet, so now I'm curious—is he actually any better or worse?

Timothy Cox2 said:Has anyone actually sat down and watched this movie?
I’ve always been low-key convinced that Delicatessen shares a ton of DNA with Amelia, but I haven't found anyone else who sees it.😁
Both of them are absolute masterpieces, obviously.

Well, duh—they were both directed by Jeunet. His style is unmistakable...

Joseph Williams3 said:Personally, I was expecting a lot more from this movie.
It drags on way too long, yet there’s just so little substance to it... some sort of French take on the beauty of life, maybe?
I honestly don't get why everyone calls it so wonderful.

Too long? I don't recall it running any longer than your average two-and-a-half-hour flick.
Not enough substance? Aside from the main plot—which is actually pretty meaty—there's a ton of subtext and extra layers woven in. What do you mean by "too little content"?😕
The film is incredibly original, witty, and visually stunning. The story is beautiful, and if my memory serves me right, the soundtrack was excellent too.

That vision of the "beauty of life" isn't some uniquely French thing; it's about the individual journey of finding one's own purpose, which is a pretty universal theme.
And hey, if anyone actually manages to follow my train of thought right now, more power to them—I can barely keep up with my own rambling at this hour of the night.😁

[ graniteangler10 said:"]I didn't really get that vibe... it's not like you can just sit down and say, "Alright, I'm gonna make a masterpiece right now!" 😁

Honestly, those classic French films? They’re all little masterpieces. 😁 (Generalizing here, obviously...) Newer stuff isn't quite there—though there are exceptions.
The thing is, those filmmakers really have an eye for what makes a movie work.
Even when they're working in Hollywood. J. Annaudov's La Rose is actually one of my favorites... 😁
Or Truffaut's Fahrenheit 451... (Look, PBE, I know you think Jules & Jim is better. 😛)
I can't really think of any others off the top of my head, but there's definitely some great stuff in French cinema.

Jack Harris3 said:Or maybe Truffaut's Fahrenheit 451..

G. Pes: Which book would you pick?😁

Encyclopaedia Britannica 😁😁😁

(It’s about how long it takes to burn through, not what’s actually in there. 😁🙂)

That movie is a perfect example of how revolutions end up devouring their own children.
Back in the day, Americans made a film that reminds me intensely of what we were just discussing: Rollerball.
Personally, I think Truffaut’s The 400 Blows is even better... that scene where the kid is running and the camera follows him while the scenery shifts behind him is absolutely legendary.
Now ruggedjackal46 😁 is wondering what on earth Amelia has to do with it... Indirectly, I'm sure there's a connection. They come from the same country, share the same mentality, the same sense of humor, watched the same movies, etc. As Oprah says—half of health is staying pure...

Timothy Cox2 said:rollerball.

Man, I haven't seen that movie in forever! But I do remember it being absolutely wild. It actually came out on DVD, though I totally blanked on picking it up... thanks for the reminder, honestly. 😁

Oprah would...

I'm not even going to try. You might have a shot at it, but I know when I'm out of luck... 😁

My daughter isn't usually one for this kind of cinema, but she was absolutely beaming by the end. She actually asked me, "That was amazing... why don't they make movies like that anymore? How am I supposed to go back to the stuff I used to watch?"

Look, let's just put it this way—No Country for Old Men is great, but Blue Eyes is a masterpiece.
Timothy Cox2, quit spamming my thread with your laundry stories. We all know you only wash your clothes once a year at Christmas! 😛 😁