Amelie

ruggedjackal46 · 2003-01-03T09:08:34+00:00

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…

driftingeagle27 Active Member

75 messages
joined Oct 2009

#41 · Jan 18, 2003

I’m starting to see that Amelie actually has the power to shift reality outside the theater. Zac asked how, so here’s the deal—you trash a movie on a forum just to make everyone else hate it, and then less than two weeks later you vanish from the site entirely because you finally realized you don't belong in a place like this. It's Amelie's revenge. Or maybe some kind of cosmic grace?

This whole thing is pretty fascinating, and I’m betting there’s more where this came from: basically, all these people who didn't dare cross me before I announced my exit over Anderlon's dishonesty and the way the moderators back such blatant unfairness, are now going to try and play these stupid little games of "mockery," like Michelle Howard2 is doing right here. Sure, I'll probably check back in on this place every now and then, just to watch the fallout from this mess (which is really just a victory for small-mindedness). But since I’m not one to drift off-topic, I want to point out the low blow Michelle Howard2 made in that quote about "Amelie"—which was obviously a transparent jab at me: I didn't ask HOW AMELIE CAN CHANGE A LIFE, because I'm smart enough to know that everything influences everything else without needing Coelho, Amelie, Michelle Howard2, or some cheap mantra to remind me; I asked how Amelie can make a person BETTER. Judging by your reaction, she didn't make you better, she just made you worse—gave you the nerve to cling to injustice and side with the shallow, pathetic substitutes for actual substance that clearly run the show on this forum.
So, that's enough about Amelie, and if you thought my leaving meant you could just dump a bunch of pseudo-intellectual garbage about me while I wasn't looking, you're dead wrong: I have zero tolerance for charlatans trying to mess with my dignity the moment I turn my back. Keep talking about me like this, and you'll keep getting exactly what's coming to you, regardless of the fact that I usually have no desire to grace this forum with my presence.

Edward Robinson6 Newcomer

7 messages
joined Jan 2003

#42 · Jan 18, 2003

driftingeagle27 - I'm 100% behind you on this one...😁

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btt - Amélie is such a killer movie. It’s not just about the plot, it’s about how it actually makes life feel a little less heavy... it’s one of those rare films that hits you right when you need it. It just makes everything feel a bit more charming and meaningful for a second...🙂

Michelle Howard2 Member

38 messages
joined Dec 2002

#43 · Jan 18, 2003

driftingeagle27 said:If you honestly thought that my announcement about leaving meant I’d just sit back and let you guys dump all your pseudo-intellectual garbage on me without a fight, then you’ve got another thing coming. I have zero intention of letting any of you smoke-and-mirrors types mess with my dignity just because I'm stepping away or turning my back. Seriously, keep dragging my name through the mud like this, and you can bet I’ll be right here to give you exactly what you deserve, even if I usually prefer not to grace this forum with my presence.

So, basically, nothing has changed. It's still the same old "Oh, what a shame" routine.

driftingeagle27 Active Member

75 messages
joined Oct 2009

#44 · Jan 18, 2003

Nothing ever stays the same; it’s kind of wild to me that you don't even realize that while you're busy getting all worked up over "transcendental" nonsense like Amelie Earhart. Sure, some things haven't changed much—for instance, I still can't stand being messed with by shallow frauds. I'm assuming your behavior will eventually just settle back into its usual pattern; now that you've seen how I track every little lie told about me, you'll probably go right back to trying to find a Similarity when it comes to me.

Kate Morales3 Newcomer

1 message
joined Jan 2003

#45 · Jan 18, 2003

I watched this twice in one night. It’s honestly just pure, swirling patterns.😉 .

Anonymous Veteran

3.6K messages
joined May 2005

#46 · Jan 18, 2003

Amélie is this sweet, whimsical little fairy tale told through Jeunet's signature expressionist visual style... It’s not exactly a life-changing cinematic masterpiece, but those two hours you spend watching it feel purely magical... honestly, it's almost like the feeling of spending an afternoon at a Luna Park or riding a Carousel...
While I was watching, and even long after the credits rolled, I felt this incredible sense of euphoria and pure energy... 🙂))

And Audrey Tautou is just adorable as Amélie; there’s this playful innocence about her that really reminds me of Audrey Hepburn... 🙂))

Michelle Howard2, if you haven't seen The City of Lost Children or Delicatessen yet, you absolutely have to check them out...

Richard Howard2, if you didn't catch it while watching Alien Resurrection, Jeunet hasn't lost an ounce of his unique style one bit. 😉

Anonymous Veteran

3.6K messages
joined May 2005

#47 · Jan 18, 2003

Personally, I absolutely loved Amélie. I think Spielberg really brought a unique charm to that modern-day fairy tale through his direction. I can't quite recall who the cinematographer was, but the visuals definitely command the screen, which just adds to the overall whimsical vibe of the movie. As for the comment about Audrey Tautou having that Audrey Hepburn quality—I couldn't agree more. That’s a spot-on observation. On another note, I was wondering if anyone knows why Amélie was actually rejected at Cannes? Also, looking through Spielberg's filmography, I'd have to say Delicatessen is one of my personal favorites. I'm also curious—if anyone has read the book he's currently adapting into a film, what did you think of it?

Richard Howard2 Active Member

128 messages
joined Dec 2002

#48 · Jan 18, 2003

Look, I didn't say he lost his touch or that the quality dropped. Personally, I think Alien Resurrection is great. My only gripe is that there isn't any real indication that we're actually dealing with the same person. I don't know about you, but that's how I saw it...

driftingeagle27 Active Member

75 messages
joined Oct 2009

#49 · Jan 18, 2003

Does anyone actually know why Amelie was snubbed at Cannes?

Probably because they actually have standards there.

There isn't even a hint that we're talking about the same person.

That really says everything I need to know about your ability to watch movies. It’s painfully obvious it’s the same guy, even if Amelie is a massive step down from Alien Resurrection, which is already a huge drop from City of Lost Children... honestly, it's just one of the most impressive creative collapses by a single director in cinema history, and there's a pretty simple reason for it...

Anonymous Veteran

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joined May 2005

#50 · Jan 18, 2003

Who even cares about Hollywood being in America? Cannes picked Shrek instead of Amélie for their opening film... 🙄Honestly, Cannes has just turned into a total circus lately anyway... but on the bright side, Jeunet won the top prize at the Toronto International Film Festival with Amélie 🙂)) 😳

Michelle Howard2 Member

38 messages
joined Dec 2002

#51 · Jan 19, 2003

Zac, seriously, walk me through why you think Amélie is such a flop. You’re just out here trolling without actually dropping any real arguments. Everyone else in this thread has weighed in, but your whole "eloquent" contribution was basically just a vomiting emoji. I’m actually looking for some different perspectives here. While you're at it, maybe throw out a few actual classics that you don't absolutely hate? Don't worry, I'm not like you—I don't just wake up with a default setting to trash everything I see. I'm genuinely just curious.

driftingeagle27 Active Member

75 messages
joined Oct 2009

#52 · Jan 19, 2003

Look, I’m not trying to be toxic, just having a discussion, and it’s totally wrong to claim I hate everything; if you actually did your job as a moderator and looked closer, you’d see plenty of my praise for other movies. To put it simply, Amélie is a bad film because it treats the audience like idiots, using this shallow, forced manipulation to pull at the most basic, kitschy emotions, which means it misses the mark for me by a mile. As someone who actually appreciates those earlier works from Jeunet, what really rubbed me the wrong way was this cheap, trivial attempt to mimic that incredible Marc Caro approach to the visual style of the film, which just makes Jeunet's work look like a caricature of those amazing worlds they built together, including Alien Resurrection where Caro handled the design even though Jeunet directed it.

Michelle Howard2 Member

38 messages
joined Dec 2002

#53 · Jan 19, 2003

driftingeagle27 said:I think Amélie is a terrible movie because it treats the audience like idiots, trying way too hard to manipulate our most superficial, cheesy emotions, which means it totally missed me "by a mile."

Zac, man, you still haven't actually said anything about the movie itself.
Look, when I head to the theater, I’m going there specifically to let myself be manipulated. Honestly, isn't that how everyone watches movies? I surrender to the director; if they're any good, I'll let them lead me wherever they want. And wouldn't you know it, even being that "foolish" allows me to get an actual artistic experience out of a film—to feel something, to pick up a few themes, maybe even stumble upon some wisdom. On the flip side, you're basically admitting the movie failed to move you at all based on what you wrote above. I certainly don't claim to be perfectly objective, and I'd hope you don't either. So, who actually *saw* the movie better here? You, with your sensors completely jammed (probably thanks to that cynical worldview of yours), or the rest of us who were naive and open enough to let the film hit us full force, letting it mess with our heads and leave an actual impression? Since the movie "missed you by a mile," I'd say you don't even have the right to talk about it. Because you didn't see it. You're blind! A total Technician!

(That whole second part of your reply regarding the film's aesthetic is just a prime example of empty, "pseudo-intellectual" fluff where you fail to say anything remotely relevant about Amélie.)

Matthew Lee15 Newcomer

4 messages
joined Apr 2003

#54 · Jan 19, 2003

Cliché emotions?!? 😕 I guess you've got me a little confused there.

It seems to me that "Amélie" is one of those movies that was crafted specifically to appeal to everyone. It feels like the team behind it (and I really mean the entire crew) worked so hard to ensure the film had no glaring weaknesses; it’s almost as if they anticipated every single criticism a reviewer might throw their way and then preemptively neutralized them. Personally, I find "Amélie" to be a lovely film precisely because it stirs up emotions. Art, at its core, is meant to be a medium for escape—a bit of fantasy, a touch of unreality, perhaps a representation of a parallel world, or just a glimpse of our dreams.

"Amélie" is the kind of movie that will leave anyone watching it feeling "opened up" (as Michelle Howard2 mentioned) and will brighten up at least that hour and a half in the theater, along with the time right after the credits roll. But, at the same time, it’s a film that might "nudge" most viewers to reflect on things that seem trivial at first glance. And maybe, in certain life situations, it could lead someone to choose an option they perhaps hadn't considered before. The better one. 😉

Jessica Nguyen85 Active Member

162 messages
joined Jul 2003

#55 · Jan 19, 2003

Matthew Lee15 👍

Anonymous Veteran

3.6K messages
joined May 2005

#56 · Jan 19, 2003

driftingeagle27 said:It’s not about being hateful, it’s about having a discussion, and it’s just not true that I have a negative take on every single movie. If you actually did your job as a moderator more thoroughly, you would have seen my praise for various other films. To put it simply, Amelie is a bad movie to me because I feel like it treats the audience like idiots, trying to manipulate the most superficial, kitschy emotions in such a banal, forced way—it missed the mark for me "by a mile." As someone who loves the earlier Steven Spielberg projects, what also bothered me was this disgusting, trivial attempt to replicate that fantastic Marc Caro approach to the film's aesthetic. By doing this, Jeunet made the movie look like a caricature of those fascinating "worlds" from the movies they directed together, including Alien Resurrection, which Caro worked the design for even though Jeunet directed it himself.

There he goes again. Look, I'm just pointing out your last post so everyone can see how much nonsense is being written here! Honestly, Michelle Howard2 is right, pull yourself together; you're just spitting venom for no reason. Were you bullied as a kid, or is this just part of your DNA?😢 We all (the teenagers 😁) are wondering when the admin is finally going to ban you permanently. If it were Michelle Howard2 (and we know it isn't), she would have kicked you out ages ago because she's a brave woman! By the way, Michelle Howard2, I couldn't send this to him privately, so I had to jump in here! 🙏 Anyway, the movie is good—a solid three stars! Thanks!

driftingeagle27 Active Member

75 messages
joined Oct 2009

#57 · Jan 19, 2003

So, who actually *got* the movie better? You, sitting there with your sensors all blocked off—presumably because you're just too jaded to feel anything—or the rest of us who were naive enough to let the film hit us full force, letting it mess with our heads, play us for fools, and actually leave a mark?

Me. (If having a worldview that keeps me from breaking down in tears every time some trashy soap opera comes on TV—you know, the kind where the protagonist's brother is in a wheelchair and her sister just lost a baby—makes me a cynic, then I’ll wear that badge proudly. My sensors aren't "blocked," they're just sharpened. Try to grasp that "subtle" distinction.)

And if any conversation about cinema that goes beyond basic "I liked this" or "I hated that" is too heavy for you, that doesn't make my posts excessive; it just makes your whole presence in these film threads pretty pointless, and honestly, acting like you're the moderator of this subforum is just ridiculous.

driftingeagle27 Active Member

75 messages
joined Oct 2009

#58 · Jan 19, 2003

I feel like "Amélie" is just one of those movies designed specifically to be universally likable.

Yeah, totally; honestly, it kind of turns my stomach.

driftingeagle27 Active Member

75 messages
joined Oct 2009

#59 · Jan 19, 2003

Here we go again with this guy, just using your last post as a prime example for everyone to see how much nonsense can be crammed into one thread. Look, Michelle Howard2 is telling you to pull yourself together because you're just spitting venom for no reason. Was it some childhood trauma or is being this toxic just baked into your DNA? Every teenager on this board is basically counting down the days until the admin bans you permanently; if it were Dante, he would have kicked you out ages ago since he actually has the guts to do it. By the way, Dante, I couldn't figure out how to DM you this, so I had to jump in here. 🙏

And this whole mess needs to be scrubbed from the board because it’s both incredibly rude and a total derailment of the topic. For the record, my inbox is always open, so I find it hard to believe you "couldn't" send me a private message. Also, if you have an issue with the moderators, you can 🙏 them via PM instead of making a scene here.

Jack Harris3 Regular

451 messages
joined Dec 2002

#60 · Jan 19, 2003

rabbit, you’re being such a snob. 😁
Seriously, you'd probably try to give a "professional" critique to a laundry detergent commercial if you had the chance. 🙄
No matter how much you hated it, Amelie is genuinely a movie for everyone, and most people actually had a great time sitting through those two hours at the theater.
Look, if you have gripes, fine. That's your business. But is it really necessary to frame your complaints in a way that implies anyone who actually enjoyed it is just some mindless idiot? Because that’s honestly how your comments come across to me. 🙂

Besides, what are you actually so bitter about? Is it because it's a bit cheesy or because it pulls at the heartstrings of the masses? Well, isn't that exactly what it was designed to do? 🙂