199. The Fall (2006)
Are you trying to save my soul?
Title: The Fall
Date Watched: 1/27/2013
Original Ranking Out of 10: 8
Revised Ranking Out of 10: 8
Synopsis: A stuntman injures himself and sits in a hospital bed, depressed, making up a swashbuckling story of revenge for a young and attentive girl
The Good: A never ending orgasm of awe-inspiring visuals. A lot of clever elements to the story that many people may not catch after just one viewing.
The Bad: Pacing issues. Feels a lot longer than it is.
Why Do I Own This Movie?: Blockbuster going out of business sale. Hey guys, remember Blockbuster?
Should I Still Own This Movie?: Yes.
What Did I Notice That I Didn't Notice Before?: Blu-ray transfer has some mild DNR issues. Whoever said that the movie doesn't have any CGI is full of shit. There are at least a few shots that had to have been accomplished with computers. Most of it still probably wasn't, though.
Other Impressions: The Fall strikes me as a darker version of The Princess Bride that involves itself more with the storytelling process than the story. And, thankfully, it doesn't end in a cheesy "you can do anything you want as long as you have your imagination" message or something like that. I'm not even sure that there is a message. The movie ends on a good note and I appreciated the filmic references (I feel like this is a better love letter to silent cinema than The Artist or Hugo were), but none of that is why I have this movie in my collection.
A movie doesn't need to do everything. It doesn't need to make me laugh, cry, scream, and think. If it makes me do even one of those things consistently, then it's fantastic. The Fall is all about the visuals. Yes, I liked the two main characters and how the story within the story was influenced by the main plot, but The Fall wouldn't lose much if you watched it without sound. It's a seemingly endless visual feast, with something amazing around every corner -- and the bright colors look great on a plasma screen.
The Fall was criticized for its story elements, but they don't bother me. They provide a pathway for the visuals in much the same way that a good action movie uses its plot to move from one set piece to another. And, maybe I'm just deluded, but I do think that, though the beauty of The Fall is its main selling point, it doesn't let the other elements suffer.
The narrative of the movie rests on the shoulders of Lee Pace, who's very good, and the little girl, played by Catinca Untaru, gives one of the most charming performances I've ever seen. Poor English skills can be detrimental to actors, but here it works really well for the character. There's a playfulness to her performance as if she's not acting at all and, from what I heard, she may not have been.
The Fall is a special movie. I've recommended it to other people who haven't been particularly impressed with it, but it holds a place in my heart. I know I'm easily wowed by beauty and visual splendor in movies, and perhaps that's a failing of mine, but I don't care. There's not a strict definition as to what makes a great movie -- it's just the feeling you get when you leave the theater.
And I really like the feeling that The Fall leaves me with.
The List
Title: The Fall
Date Watched: 1/27/2013
Original Ranking Out of 10: 8
Revised Ranking Out of 10: 8
Synopsis: A stuntman injures himself and sits in a hospital bed, depressed, making up a swashbuckling story of revenge for a young and attentive girl
The Good: A never ending orgasm of awe-inspiring visuals. A lot of clever elements to the story that many people may not catch after just one viewing.
The Bad: Pacing issues. Feels a lot longer than it is.
Why Do I Own This Movie?: Blockbuster going out of business sale. Hey guys, remember Blockbuster?
Should I Still Own This Movie?: Yes.
What Did I Notice That I Didn't Notice Before?: Blu-ray transfer has some mild DNR issues. Whoever said that the movie doesn't have any CGI is full of shit. There are at least a few shots that had to have been accomplished with computers. Most of it still probably wasn't, though.
Other Impressions: The Fall strikes me as a darker version of The Princess Bride that involves itself more with the storytelling process than the story. And, thankfully, it doesn't end in a cheesy "you can do anything you want as long as you have your imagination" message or something like that. I'm not even sure that there is a message. The movie ends on a good note and I appreciated the filmic references (I feel like this is a better love letter to silent cinema than The Artist or Hugo were), but none of that is why I have this movie in my collection.
A movie doesn't need to do everything. It doesn't need to make me laugh, cry, scream, and think. If it makes me do even one of those things consistently, then it's fantastic. The Fall is all about the visuals. Yes, I liked the two main characters and how the story within the story was influenced by the main plot, but The Fall wouldn't lose much if you watched it without sound. It's a seemingly endless visual feast, with something amazing around every corner -- and the bright colors look great on a plasma screen.
The Fall was criticized for its story elements, but they don't bother me. They provide a pathway for the visuals in much the same way that a good action movie uses its plot to move from one set piece to another. And, maybe I'm just deluded, but I do think that, though the beauty of The Fall is its main selling point, it doesn't let the other elements suffer.
The narrative of the movie rests on the shoulders of Lee Pace, who's very good, and the little girl, played by Catinca Untaru, gives one of the most charming performances I've ever seen. Poor English skills can be detrimental to actors, but here it works really well for the character. There's a playfulness to her performance as if she's not acting at all and, from what I heard, she may not have been.
The Fall is a special movie. I've recommended it to other people who haven't been particularly impressed with it, but it holds a place in my heart. I know I'm easily wowed by beauty and visual splendor in movies, and perhaps that's a failing of mine, but I don't care. There's not a strict definition as to what makes a great movie -- it's just the feeling you get when you leave the theater.
And I really like the feeling that The Fall leaves me with.
The List