Reviews (34)

All around perfect film-making
This is such a complete movie...The soundtrack is great with some hip hop raggae french mix and the three kids act so natural that it seems like a documentary...I've seen the movie numerous times and pick up more each time...This film is so great that it really bothers me that I don't know french so I can pick up on the real cliches and phrases that they use even though the subtitles are done very well...I highly recomend this film to anyone, both teens and adults...Very enjoyable and dramatic and thought provoking...Just an all-around perfect film...

Strikes the audience in the forehead like a nail-pegged bat
Hate is a strong film about lost youth where the apparent message strikes the audience in the forehead like a nail-pegged baseball bat. The story is set the day after nightly riots in a Parisian ghetto after the young Arabian man, Abdel, was brutally assaulted by the police. Vinz, Said, and Hubert are three friends of Abdel that are set adrift in anger toward the police as they try to find reason and justice within their social environment. The impulsive Vinz, performed by Vincent Cassel, acts tough as he knows that he has a gun that he found after a police officer had accidentally lost it in the riots. Said is the follower who glorifies the violence and strives to be respected as he has a twisted view of what respect is. Hubert dreams of getting out of the ghetto as he does not glorify the violence within the ghetto while his two friends do. The audience follows these three characters throughout a full day as they are sitting around, getting into trouble, and learning through their errors. Kassovitz creates an authentic and explosive atmosphere which becomes the grounds for an exhaustive examination of the socioeconomic milieu of young adults in a poor Parisian ghetto. In the end, Kassovitz succeeds in developing an excellent persuasive and disturbing cinematic experience.

Meaningful
Three friends (Vinz, Hubert and Sayid) are from the ghettos of France, living in the projects and there is seemingly no way out of that life for them as the society and especially the police discriminate against blacks, arabs from the projects... At least that is the message the movie seems to project to me. I had a really hard time following the things the actors say because the movie is in black and white and the subtitles are in black and white AND they overlap the movie picture... needless to say, many words are unreadable most of the time and taking the time to guess what they said is perhaps most exasperating when in this sort of low budget movie, the conversation between the characters matters A LOT! However, the movie's plot was easy enough to follow... police beat up their friend Abdel during a riot, who dies in hospital, and Vinz who is not too intelligent or able to control his temper gets ahold of a police pistol during the riot. He vows to shoot a police if they piss him off (actually he will shoot anyone who dares piss him off). These 3 boys take the train to Paris where they look for a friend who owes Sayid a bit of money. I will not go into details here but basically their voyage into Paris was a disaster as these boys from the 'hood cannot resist doing something "naughty" every hour. They miss the last train and spend the entire night finding things to amuse themselves, including breaking into people's cars and starting a fight in a classy art exhibition and also later a scuffle with skinheads in the streets. It all end in tears eventually, with at least one of them dead and maybe one police officer dead too, I shan't say who. The movie was, on the whole, thought-provoking for someone like me who grew up in an urban environment but never lived in a ghetto and can only empathise with what the central characters (or anyone else living in that situation) feels. If that's what the director set out to do, he certainly succeeded, so I am giving the movie 3 stars for making some impact. It could have been a better viewing experience however, if only something was done to make the subtitles more readable. The movie is shot in semi-documentary style so it might not appeal to those who prefer something more like your usual run-of-the-mill drama movies.

Simply a masterpiece!
If 6 stars could be given for this film, then I would not hesitate to offer it just that. La Haine (aka HATE) is a superb film about 3 urban Parisian youths who have one common link : an unrelenting displeasure for the police and what they symbolise. This film is full of exciting scenes and explosive performances from all the 3 main actors (Vinz, Said and Hubert). It focuses on the gritty and harsh other side to the Paris that most people are not accustomed to. At first sight, it might seem hard to get into but after a few moments, you become so absorbed in the film, you forget that you are watching a film and feel part of what Said, Hubert and Vinz are experiencing.

In my view, this is ground-breaking cinema that should not be ignored by anyone.

So Far, So Good.... Is That A Cow?
La Haine is basically a day in the lives of three guys from ghettos on the outskirts of Paris. After an apparently race-motivated police beating/murder, the ghettos are rife with looters, rioters, and many bigoted and intrusive police(or pigs, as the characters fondly refer to them), suspicious of anyone not caucasian or under 30. In its most reductive form, it's about a flawed society whose seams are bursting under the pressures of ignorance, intolerance, and various -isms. In the movie itself, this tends to remain below the surface of the characters' existences, but for in a few moments (namely encounters with police and skinheads) and brought to the forefront with a bathroom scat anecdote and repeated reference to a (very bitter) joke involving society, man, and rabbit jumping off a building (the movie is frequently funny). Although it takes place in France, where these issues are perhaps less closeted (what with Le Pen getting 15 percent of the vote...), any close examination of pretty much every "modern, 1st world" nation will reveal just how ingrained these problems are in the present state of the world. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Different and Original!
This is such a cool movie because it takes a different look at romantic and racial relationships today in contemporary Europe. Kassovitz doesn't try to be politically correct and talks straightforward about the realities of racism. The movie is well scripted and directed. I also like how Kassovitz trys to show the diverse opinions about interracial dating; Europeans are not as accepting to these types of relationships as a lot of people think. An interesting movie about interesting people!

Matthieu Kassovitz est chouette!
Cafe au lait is an excellent movie. In HATE and Cafe Au Lait he artistically condemns racism and the walls that we build around ourselves. Kassovitz challenges us and makes us re-evaluate the categories we put ourselves in. C'est comme nous voyons des anges!

It will capture your heart!
A truly endearing fun movie with a great sound track that isn't available in stores or anywhere! The movie's so neat I rented it twice in one week! See also HATE (la haine) by the same director with the same characters - produced by Jodie Foster! ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Ultra-commercial Gallic thriller
CRIMSON RIVERS [Les Rivieres Pourpres] (France 2000): The discovery of a corpse in the French Alps brings together two high-powered police investigators (Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel) - both working on apparently separate cases sixty miles apart - in search of a serial killer whose crimes are linked to a forgotten tragedy and a mysterious university steeped in blood and horror...

Ultra-commercial thriller from director Mathieu Kassovitz (LA HAINE), teaming Gallic superstars Reno and Cassel in a high-concept exploration of human callousness and depravity, reminiscent of similarly-styled murder mysteries like SE7EN and MESSIAH. Not as gruesome as those offerings, but certainly as sober, CRIMSON RIVERS - based on the novel by Jean-Christophe Grange - locates its horrors within the panoramic grandeur of the French Alps (gorgeous widescreen cinematography by Luc Besson's regular DP Thierry Arbogast), loaning the film an intense cinematic quality, typical of recent European blockbusters. Kassovitz keeps his camera moving at all times, maintaining a breathless pace as the protagonists wade through an accumulation of clues and details, some of which may elude less attentive viewers, and Maryline Monthieux's razor-sharp editing keeps the pot boiling throughout. Reno and Cassel are perfectly cast in the role of mismatched detectives, each dedicated to the task at hand, each using very different methods to solve the mystery unfolding around them. Dynamic set-pieces include an Argentoesque confrontation with the killer following the discovery of a murder victim arranged in ghoulish splendor, resulting in pursuit across an icy landscape at midnight, and a thrilling night-time car chase on a lonely mountain road, conceived and executed with genuine visual flair. The film's climactic revelations are so convoluted as to be virtually impenetrable, but the finale is suitably explosive, and even if you're able to guess the killer's identity before he/she is unmasked, screenwriters Kassovitz and Grange have more than one surprise up their sleeve during the closing sequence...

Aside from one significant flaw, Columbia TriStar's DVD is magnificent, with faultless sound and picture quality. Viewers are advised to choose the original 5.1 French soundtrack to experience the movie as Kassovitz intended, though the dubbed English option (in both 5.1 and 2.0 surround) is adequate, and Reno dubs his own voice. Viewers are advised that the killer's identity is easily deduced from comments made in an insert included with the DVD, in which Kassovitz talks about a particular cast member's ability to play two sides of the same character, which kinda gives the game away. Same goes for the lengthy supplementary materials, featuring a series of filmed interviews with the movie's principal participants, in which they discuss the film's production and the genesis of several key scenes (Kassovitz and producer Alain Goldman emphasize the film's strengths whilst also conceding areas in which things could have been better). First-time viewers are warned these extras contain extensive spoilers, along with a detailed explanation of the killer's motives, which makes up for some of the confusion generated by the film itself. There's an audio commentary involving the director and some of his cast, but in French only, with NO subtitles!! Columbia TriStar have been aware of this problem since the disc was first issued, but they STILL haven't corrected the mistake, which renders this crucial extra completely redundant.

105m 39s
2.39:1 (Panavision) / Anamorphically enhanced
Dolby 5.1 / Dolby Surround 2.0
Dolby Digital/DTS [theatrical]
Optional French (original) and English (dubbed) soundtracks
Optional English subtitles and closed captions
Region 1

Excellent thriller
First of all, I suggest that you watch this DVD in French with English subtitle on as the english dubbing really distrupt the feels and the emotion of the movie. Jean Reno did his own dubbing but not the rest of the cast and it is annoying. It is about 2 detectives investigating 2 different crimes at 2 different places but apparently their cases are related as their investigations lead them together. It is nicely photographed and directed and frankly it is quite exciting although not the same level as the Silence of the lambs.

The DVD is good. The picture is sharp except in dark indoor scenes, the picture looks grainy (probably intentionally) and the 5.1 sound (I watched the French 5.1) is super with many surround effects.

If you don't mind reading subtitle, this is a must own DVD for serial killing genre.

looks good but doesn't satisfy
Reno is always a pleasure to watch, but this run of the mill serial killer film holds no surprises.

I like thees feelm veery mooch...
I luve Jean Reno. Let mee say zat frum the verry start, okay? Hee iss zo...ummm...ce qui est lui...so mooch of a man! Oui! A Man's man.

Theese film was evrry good, and I nevar closed my eyess enav wun time, OK? It iz made in France and wee are so happy that you silly Americans can zee that we are reel fimmachers. Pop! (Hand strikes pursed lips - Ed.)

Zo...please to procure zees "Discomatheche de Vidocinemathique Directouvefrontelevouissse le Tower de Dataeffilcamerbaert de Bicyclete Unicycle de Computeere Le Personele", or "DVD" as you strage peeepol like to say.

watch it in french, not english
I first watched this film, dubbed in English, and putted about my room without paying too much attention to it... left it for a few months, and just watched it again, with friends, and in French, with the English subtitles.

no need to give my critical review, as the editor's is pretty much right on... just a slick thriller, and one I'm glad I watched again... the 'proper' way. ... Read more

Reviews (145)

Yet another Ghost Ship....
I always thought that the producers of Dark Castle Entertainment would actually bring us some original horror entertainment but apart from the wonderful Halle Berry and Robert Downey Jr., this flick just ends up with same taste in your pallet as you got from Thirteen Ghosts or Ghost Ship.

Yes the locations, costumes, cinematography, lighting and set design are all on top form. The casting is done well. The first 30 minutes of this film will have you amused, maybe even scared at times as a psychiatrist (Berry) finds herself on the other side of the bars in an institution for the criminally insane with a somewhat overfriendly psychiatrist (Downey) probing her mind for reasons why she murdered her psychiatrist husband with an axe. Then the plot takes a turn and Berry starts to remember seeing ghosts before the murder and then the ghost appears for real and tries to help her escape and then the story just totally goes off the rails and becomes some sort of a twisted snuff film production murder mystery with missing women. Then the movie turns to total farce for a special effects grand finale as the murderer is unmasked in Scooby style and whatever may have been plausible is now well and truly just another direct-to-video story with some good acting and higher production values than what it really deserves.

Does this mean you should not watch it? To be honest you have seen a lot worse than Gothika and maybe it is worth a look for Berry alone but when all is said and done this is still a poor movie with MTV production values. The bottom line is that Gothika is all special effects driven with a terrible third rate story that is more apt for television and not a movie. Berry looks great and does wonders but is wasted by a nonsense script. This is yet another nail in Dark Castle's coffin.

A HALLE HORROR STORY
Halle Berry dominates the screen when she's on it. And not just with her obvious beauty. But her presence is so 'BIG', you can't help but keep your eyes glued to the screen. Halle elevates GOTHIKA with a performance that is both subtly performed and wildly erratic at times. I did wonder if perhaps her character had gone insane. GOTHIKA is a moody, creepy and engrossing ghost story that pulls some weird twists and some real shocks. Berry is given excellent support by Robert Downey as her psychiatrist friend; John Carroll Lynch as the sheriff who was also her husband's best friend; Penelope Cruz as the tormented patient Chloe; and Charles Dutton as her doomed hubby. By the time the movie reaches it's climax, you'll slap yourself on the head and say, of course! But, at the same time, how does Halle get off the hook---the movie never explains and it's "sixth sense" ending is also a little disturbing, hence only the four stars. GOTHIKA is no where as bad as most critics have said; it's a good ghost story and a wonderful performance from Ms. Berry.

HALLE HAS DONE IT ONCE MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Halle berry has proved once more that she is an AMAZING actress in her role as Dr.Grey.This is one of Halle greatest films YOU GO HALLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!this film is just another reason Halle is my favorite actress

Unsatisfying
Gothika starts off well and seems to be establishing a truly unique story, then quickly spirals downhill into a boring and cliched ghost story. I was unfortunately expecting something great, especially with the incredible Halle Barry in the lead, but was utterly disappointed in the outcome. It's worth a watch, but ultimtately ends up as unmemorable and unsatisfying. The ending is especially ridiculous.

Tired
The plot was boring and when it did hit a twist/turn I didn't have the interest to care. Halle's character barely developed beyond the screaming and I am still trying to figure out whether they ran out of ideas at the end or money? Either way, this movie is a waste. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Ultra-commercial Gallic thriller
CRIMSON RIVERS [Les Rivieres Pourpres] (France 2000): The discovery of a corpse in the French Alps brings together two high-powered police investigators (Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel) - both working on apparently separate cases sixty miles apart - in search of a serial killer whose crimes are linked to a forgotten tragedy and a mysterious university steeped in blood and horror...

Ultra-commercial thriller from director Mathieu Kassovitz (LA HAINE), teaming Gallic superstars Reno and Cassel in a high-concept exploration of human callousness and depravity, reminiscent of similarly-styled murder mysteries like SE7EN and MESSIAH. Not as gruesome as those offerings, but certainly as sober, CRIMSON RIVERS - based on the novel by Jean-Christophe Grange - locates its horrors within the panoramic grandeur of the French Alps (gorgeous widescreen cinematography by Luc Besson's regular DP Thierry Arbogast), loaning the film an intense cinematic quality, typical of recent European blockbusters. Kassovitz keeps his camera moving at all times, maintaining a breathless pace as the protagonists wade through an accumulation of clues and details, some of which may elude less attentive viewers, and Maryline Monthieux's razor-sharp editing keeps the pot boiling throughout. Reno and Cassel are perfectly cast in the role of mismatched detectives, each dedicated to the task at hand, each using very different methods to solve the mystery unfolding around them. Dynamic set-pieces include an Argentoesque confrontation with the killer following the discovery of a murder victim arranged in ghoulish splendor, resulting in pursuit across an icy landscape at midnight, and a thrilling night-time car chase on a lonely mountain road, conceived and executed with genuine visual flair. The film's climactic revelations are so convoluted as to be virtually impenetrable, but the finale is suitably explosive, and even if you're able to guess the killer's identity before he/she is unmasked, screenwriters Kassovitz and Grange have more than one surprise up their sleeve during the closing sequence...

Aside from one significant flaw, Columbia TriStar's DVD is magnificent, with faultless sound and picture quality. Viewers are advised to choose the original 5.1 French soundtrack to experience the movie as Kassovitz intended, though the dubbed English option (in both 5.1 and 2.0 surround) is adequate, and Reno dubs his own voice. Viewers are advised that the killer's identity is easily deduced from comments made in an insert included with the DVD, in which Kassovitz talks about a particular cast member's ability to play two sides of the same character, which kinda gives the game away. Same goes for the lengthy supplementary materials, featuring a series of filmed interviews with the movie's principal participants, in which they discuss the film's production and the genesis of several key scenes (Kassovitz and producer Alain Goldman emphasize the film's strengths whilst also conceding areas in which things could have been better). First-time viewers are warned these extras contain extensive spoilers, along with a detailed explanation of the killer's motives, which makes up for some of the confusion generated by the film itself. There's an audio commentary involving the director and some of his cast, but in French only, with NO subtitles!! Columbia TriStar have been aware of this problem since the disc was first issued, but they STILL haven't corrected the mistake, which renders this crucial extra completely redundant.

105m 39s
2.39:1 (Panavision) / Anamorphically enhanced
Dolby 5.1 / Dolby Surround 2.0
Dolby Digital/DTS [theatrical]
Optional French (original) and English (dubbed) soundtracks
Optional English subtitles and closed captions
Region 1

Excellent thriller
First of all, I suggest that you watch this DVD in French with English subtitle on as the english dubbing really distrupt the feels and the emotion of the movie. Jean Reno did his own dubbing but not the rest of the cast and it is annoying. It is about 2 detectives investigating 2 different crimes at 2 different places but apparently their cases are related as their investigations lead them together. It is nicely photographed and directed and frankly it is quite exciting although not the same level as the Silence of the lambs.

The DVD is good. The picture is sharp except in dark indoor scenes, the picture looks grainy (probably intentionally) and the 5.1 sound (I watched the French 5.1) is super with many surround effects.

If you don't mind reading subtitle, this is a must own DVD for serial killing genre.

looks good but doesn't satisfy
Reno is always a pleasure to watch, but this run of the mill serial killer film holds no surprises.

I like thees feelm veery mooch...
I luve Jean Reno. Let mee say zat frum the verry start, okay? Hee iss zo...ummm...ce qui est lui...so mooch of a man! Oui! A Man's man.

Theese film was evrry good, and I nevar closed my eyess enav wun time, OK? It iz made in France and wee are so happy that you silly Americans can zee that we are reel fimmachers. Pop! (Hand strikes pursed lips - Ed.)

Zo...please to procure zees "Discomatheche de Vidocinemathique Directouvefrontelevouissse le Tower de Dataeffilcamerbaert de Bicyclete Unicycle de Computeere Le Personele", or "DVD" as you strage peeepol like to say.

watch it in french, not english
I first watched this film, dubbed in English, and putted about my room without paying too much attention to it... left it for a few months, and just watched it again, with friends, and in French, with the English subtitles.

no need to give my critical review, as the editor's is pretty much right on... just a slick thriller, and one I'm glad I watched again... the 'proper' way. ... Read more

Reviews (145)

Yet another Ghost Ship....
I always thought that the producers of Dark Castle Entertainment would actually bring us some original horror entertainment but apart from the wonderful Halle Berry and Robert Downey Jr., this flick just ends up with same taste in your pallet as you got from Thirteen Ghosts or Ghost Ship.

Yes the locations, costumes, cinematography, lighting and set design are all on top form. The casting is done well. The first 30 minutes of this film will have you amused, maybe even scared at times as a psychiatrist (Berry) finds herself on the other side of the bars in an institution for the criminally insane with a somewhat overfriendly psychiatrist (Downey) probing her mind for reasons why she murdered her psychiatrist husband with an axe. Then the plot takes a turn and Berry starts to remember seeing ghosts before the murder and then the ghost appears for real and tries to help her escape and then the story just totally goes off the rails and becomes some sort of a twisted snuff film production murder mystery with missing women. Then the movie turns to total farce for a special effects grand finale as the murderer is unmasked in Scooby style and whatever may have been plausible is now well and truly just another direct-to-video story with some good acting and higher production values than what it really deserves.

Does this mean you should not watch it? To be honest you have seen a lot worse than Gothika and maybe it is worth a look for Berry alone but when all is said and done this is still a poor movie with MTV production values. The bottom line is that Gothika is all special effects driven with a terrible third rate story that is more apt for television and not a movie. Berry looks great and does wonders but is wasted by a nonsense script. This is yet another nail in Dark Castle's coffin.

A HALLE HORROR STORY
Halle Berry dominates the screen when she's on it. And not just with her obvious beauty. But her presence is so 'BIG', you can't help but keep your eyes glued to the screen. Halle elevates GOTHIKA with a performance that is both subtly performed and wildly erratic at times. I did wonder if perhaps her character had gone insane. GOTHIKA is a moody, creepy and engrossing ghost story that pulls some weird twists and some real shocks. Berry is given excellent support by Robert Downey as her psychiatrist friend; John Carroll Lynch as the sheriff who was also her husband's best friend; Penelope Cruz as the tormented patient Chloe; and Charles Dutton as her doomed hubby. By the time the movie reaches it's climax, you'll slap yourself on the head and say, of course! But, at the same time, how does Halle get off the hook---the movie never explains and it's "sixth sense" ending is also a little disturbing, hence only the four stars. GOTHIKA is no where as bad as most critics have said; it's a good ghost story and a wonderful performance from Ms. Berry.

HALLE HAS DONE IT ONCE MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Halle berry has proved once more that she is an AMAZING actress in her role as Dr.Grey.This is one of Halle greatest films YOU GO HALLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!this film is just another reason Halle is my favorite actress

Unsatisfying
Gothika starts off well and seems to be establishing a truly unique story, then quickly spirals downhill into a boring and cliched ghost story. I was unfortunately expecting something great, especially with the incredible Halle Barry in the lead, but was utterly disappointed in the outcome. It's worth a watch, but ultimtately ends up as unmemorable and unsatisfying. The ending is especially ridiculous.

Tired
The plot was boring and when it did hit a twist/turn I didn't have the interest to care. Halle's character barely developed beyond the screaming and I am still trying to figure out whether they ran out of ideas at the end or money? Either way, this movie is a waste. ... Read more