Paris, je t'aime

[Ilmater]

I tried to watch this yesterday, and it was terrible. Did anyone outside of critics like this film? Does anyone here like it? I mean, I honestly can't stand the French for the most part, but that had nothing to do with me not liking this movie. It just wasn't about anything at all. The bit with Steve Buschemi was pretty entertaining, but that was it.

Am I missing something? Does something happen at the end (fell asleep, couldn't stand to try again) that would make me like this movie? I just don't get it.

 

[Vageetasjn]

I saw it like eight months ago so my memory is a little fuzzy. What you have to remember is Europeans (and especially the French) have a greater sense of whimsy.

I happened to see it with a date and iirc, I got more enjoyment out of it than her, but not by much.

 

[Ilmater]

Whimsy... does that mean "love for absolute crap movies?" If so, then yes, they're full of whimsy.

 

[mordantmonkey]

you sound like the kind of guy who probably doesn't like character study films either. not saying it was one as i haven't seen it.

btw, what was the last movie you saw that you liked?

 

[loup garou]

I haven't seen it; I thought the concept was interesting though and planned on renting it at some point.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Ilmater
Whimsy... does that mean "love for absolute crap movies?" If so, then yes, they're full of whimsy.

pretentious crap yup

 

[sandorski]

French movies are great(haven't seen this one though) if you're in the mood for something different. They are usually not about Events, Situations(though they provide some backdrop), and definitely not Action. They seem to always revolve around Intellect or Philosophical concepts. Exploring Ideas and the Soul(not Religious "soul", but what makes a person unique and do why they do what they do) seems to be the entertaining aspect of French movies.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
you sound like the kind of guy who probably doesn't like character study films either. not saying it was one as i haven't seen it.

btw, what was the last movie you saw that you liked?

This was far, far from a character study film.

The idea was interesting, but didn't have much substance for me. I wasn't left with any positive impression. There are plenty of French films that are enjoyable to watch.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: sandorski
French movies are great(haven't seen this one though) if you're in the mood for something different. They are usually not about Events, Situations(though they provide some backdrop), and definitely not Action. They seem to always revolve around Intellect or Philosophical concepts. Exploring Ideas and the Soul(not Religious "soul", but what makes a person unique and do why they do what they do) seems to be the entertaining aspect of French movies.

erm, well the ones they import here sure. generally their other films can't compete with us films.

paris jetaime isn't so much a french film as a buncha films set in france plenty of the suckiness was made by all nationalities in that film, a nice melting pot of pure cr@p.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: sandorski
French movies are great(haven't seen this one though) if you're in the mood for something different. They are usually not about Events, Situations(though they provide some backdrop), and definitely not Action. They seem to always revolve around Intellect or Philosophical concepts. Exploring Ideas and the Soul(not Religious "soul", but what makes a person unique and do why they do what they do) seems to be the entertaining aspect of French movies.

erm, well the ones they import here sure. generally their other films can't compete with us films.

paris jetaime isn't so much a french film as a buncha films set in france plenty of the suckiness was made by all nationalities in that film, a nice melting pot of pure cr@p.

This film might suck, I dunno, but regarding French films not competing with US films, that's true at the Box Office no doubt. US films are more Pure Entertainment focussed, while French films are not. As it happens most people watch films for entertainment and not intellectual stimulus.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: Ilmater
I tried to watch this yesterday, and it was terrible. Did anyone outside of critics like this film? Does anyone here like it? I mean, I honestly can't stand the French for the most part, but that had nothing to do with me not liking this movie. It just wasn't about anything at all. The bit with Steve Buschemi was pretty entertaining, but that was it.

Am I missing something? Does something happen at the end (fell asleep, couldn't stand to try again) that would make me like this movie? I just don't get it.

Culture, intellect?

 

[marketsons1985]

paris jetaime isn't so much a french film as a buncha films set in france

That's true. And all by famous directors. The Coen Brothers, Gerard Depardieu, etc.

The point of the movie was to give a bunch of short vignettes portraying life in Paris.

From the American tourists (Buscemi, the postal worker at the end) to the young student types (guys by the river with the Muslim girl, Paint assistant) to the old at heart (Bob Hoskins and his wife in the strip club, the couple finalizing a divorce). The facets of life in Paris are endless (though often times oddly portrayed such as Elijah Wood's crazy crazy vignette)


Help at all? It's a great film. Just because it's in French doesn't mean it's intended as a French film.

 

[Lorax]

each of the "chapters" takes place in one of paris' boroughs (hence the chapter names). i figured the thing was just a giant collection of short films, each one hit or miss.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Saw it, fell asleep, my friend loved it.

 

[dr150]

Watch "La Haine"

Great modern movie!!

 

[2Xtreme21]

Originally posted by: dr150
Watch "La Haine"

Great modern movie!!

Agreed.

And you have to be able to appreciate the French style of movies to be able to tolerate them. They're different... and they think American movies are very boring and predictable (which, for the most part, they are).

There are some that I think are unwatchable, don't get me wrong. Others though shine a light on a certain aspect of culture you wouldn't be able to appreciate if you didn't live there and live in it.

 

[scott916]

I thought it was excellent, but I generally enjoy foreign cinema.