City Of Lost Children

[Foxbat]

City Of Lost ChildrenRegion 2 DVD

1.85:1 picture, stereo sound.

Krank lives on an old Oil Rig with his companions: a brain in a tank on castors(Uncle Irving), seven clones that suffer from a sleeping disorder, and a midget matriarch.

Krank has a problem: he is ageing prematurely because he cannot dream. He needs to steal the dreams of children to conduct his experiments and create a cure - but the children only have nightmares. The Cyclops – a sect following a path of biomechanical perfection (best described as clockwork Borg) set out to steal the children from the city in return for technology.

One, a former harpooner and fairground strongman allies himself with Miette – an urchin from the streets. Together they try to trace the whereabouts of Denree – One’s little brother who has gone missing. Along the way, they encounter wonderful and strange characters such as The Octopus and the man with the performing fleas.

Directed by Jean Pierre Jeunot (who also made Delicatessen and Alien: Resurrection).

This is a visually stunning film - a compelling modern-day fairytale that is just a joy to watch. The acting of the sorely underrated Ron Perlman is first class and the supporting cast of children are mature in their craft well beyond their years.

This is a film full of treasures: characters, visuals, comedy, adventure – it’s got almost everything. The best way I can think of to describe this picture is as a kind of Fantasy Film-Noir (in colour!). Think of Pinnochio on LSD. Some people say that Delicatessen was Jeunot’s finest but, for me, this is the one.

Picture quality is good and sound adequate. Music provided by Angelo Badalamenti and costumes by Jean Paul Gaultier.

But there’s a downside. This film has, quite simply, been mutilated when transferred to DVD. There are various opinions on the use of subtitles or dubbing. Personally, I prefer subtitles. So here I go, all set to switch on subtitles and have the film play out in French.

No subtitles. No French. Only English with all that wretched out of kilter lip-synching. I can’t believe the sheer stupidity of whoever released this version. Maybe I was a little stupid myself to have the audacity to think that a French film would actually be in……French! …….Doh! ……….How idiotic of me!.

How difficult would it have been to include an option for the original French with subtitles? Was this not the very kind of thing that the DVD format was designed to provide?

The film comes in at 8 out of 10
The DVD transfer 2 out of 10 (I was feeling generous).

[dwndrgn]

I agree that it is a film full of treasures. It's a darned shame that they didn't give it the respect it deserves when making the DVD.

[Tsujigiri]

I didn't realise that this was actually a book!!! I enjoyed the film but felt that there was somethign missing. I'll have to visit the library and see if they have a copy!

[Kai]

I was devistated when i finally got this film for my personal collection that it was in English. I've seen the subtitled French version and it is far superior to the dubbed.

This is one of my favourite films ever. Is the film based on the book or the book on the film?

There's a Playstation 1 game too.