Children of Men (DVD, 2007, Anamorphic Widescreen)

CHILDREN OF MEN is not a popcorn movie. With its almost relentlessly bleak perspective on the future, Alfonso Cuarón's film doesn't make for pleasant viewing. But it's an exhilarating experience because the picture is an amazing dystopian drama that lacks all the typical trappings of the genre. Set uncomfortably close to the present, it paints a frighteningly realistic picture of the future. In 2027, every woman on earth is infertile. With the loss of the ability to have children, the world has also lost hope. Clive Owen (CLOSER) plays Theo, an Englishman attempting to make a life in a hellish world. His estranged wife (Julianne Moore) convinces him to help transport a young woman to safety. When Theo learns that the woman is pregnant, their journey takes on a significance--and a danger--he never imagined. This is Cuarón's best film to date, a strong statement considering his wonderful HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN and Y TU MAMA TAMBIÉN. Filmed using a handheld camera, the action draws the audience close, making the horror that much more real. In addition to its remarkable car-chase scenes, the film features impressive acting. With his expressive face and voice, Owen gives a nuanced performance that ranks with the best of his career. As a reclusive hippie, Michael Caine shares a charming counterculture view of the crumbling world. Chiwetel Ejiofor (DIRTY PRETTY THINGS) brings gravitas to the role of a terrorist. Just when the film threatens to overwhelm with its sense of dread, small moments of comedy show through in Owen's wry sense of humor and Caine's perfect delivery. When the credits roll, CHILDREN OF MEN leaves the audience feeling shell-shocked, not only because of its brutal prophecy, but also because of its brilliance.

The apocalypse arrives on film once again in a plot so simple it's horrifyingly believable. It's 2027 and the world is close to annihilation because no child has been born in 18 years. London office worker Theo (Clive Owen) is offered cash by a radical ex-girlfriend to escort a refugee (Claire-Hope Ashitey) to safety. Their lives are soon at risk from both government and revolutionaries.

Although the camera work and cinematography is nothing short of stunning the focus always with our protagonist, ensuring we're kept in the middle of the action throughout. It is also undoubtedly one of Owen's finest performances to date. Theo is never far from danger yet he struggles on with convincing dignity. Occasionally baffled but far from stupid - Theo is essentially a reckless, underplayed action hero that doesn't jump at every opportunity to arm himself with a gun. This works well with the international ensemble of incredible talent: Michael Caine's charming pot dealing hippie, feisty Julianne Moore, key role Claire-Hope Ashitey, the wonderful Pam Ferris, the increasingly busy, excellent Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Huston and writer/director/producer Peter Cullen (gloriously sadistic Syd) to name a few... This is surely a casting coup to be jealous of.

The episodic nature of the story makes Children of Men difficult to place into one genre alone. Briefly glimpsed futuristic sci-fi technology is grounded in reality and looks entirely achievable while grey, graffiti ridden concrete locations provide an excellent backdrop for the near satirical look of our current social and political climate. There's poignant drama interspersed amongst exhilarating action and yet enough twists to call it a thriller.

This is not to say it's flawless. Some exposition is handled better in places than others for instance. However Alfonso Cuarón has achieved a completely remarkable experience. Arguably the film could have been longer given how strong most of it is. The only really hard pill to swallow is the comedy juxtaposed with some stark imagery that looks all too familiar to anyone who has ever seen the News from the past few decades. Nice to see a Pink Floyd reference though (pigs might fly!), and someone finally found a use for Battersea Power Station.

Ideally an audience should see this film with no preconceptions and know as little about the plot as possible. This will be unlikely though due to a staggered box-office release schedule, word of mouth and a plethora of reviews and trailers that are eager to give much of the game away. Ironic then perhaps that it must be said - Children of Men is a cinematic milestone. Great special effects and an effective soundtrack accompany this heartfelt, moving and thought-provoking film. Easily one of the best films in recent memory.

This is NOT a chick flick. It is NOT an upbeat movie. It is a GRIM & GRITTY movie that is worth watching.

In the year 2027, every woman on earth is left infertile. It has been that way for 18 years.

With that loss of the ability to have children, the whole world is bleak with no hope in the world to leave anyone to.

Clive Owen portrays Theo, an Englishman in the United Kingdom surrounded by immigrants that the government is rounding up to deport.

His divorced wife, (played by Julianne Moore), is a leader of one the revolutionary groups that is trying to change the UK. She attempts to convince him to get involved by taking a young black woman to safety outside of the UK.

It is only when Theo learns that the woman he has been asked to help is pregnant, that his life becomes endangered.

Michael Caine portrays an eccentric hippie, who in his prime cartooned the ruling elite. He assists Theo and the young woman on their way.

Everyone is suspect in trying to harm the young woman or use her and unborn child to champion their own cause.

This is a good film to watch as long as you can stand the bleakness and utter futility of this life in the future as portrayed by the director.

Definitely a rental movie!

This movie is about the fight for mankind's survival.In the year 2027 on a isolated road in a wooded backroad, 5 of the main characters are in a compact car driving near Canterbury, England.One of the passengers (Julianne Moore) is on a mission for the "Fishes" an underground orginazation that fights for immigrants rights.After some small chit chat out of nowhere a group of radicals start to push down a car that is on fire to block the main road they are traveling on, in attempts to hijack the car they are traveling in.When the car they are driving in doesn't make it in time to pass the car before it hits the end of the hill, it blocks them from pashing when it comes crashing down the side of the hill.With no other choice left the driver of the car goes into reverse to try to make a speedy getaway.The radical carjackers chase them on foot and motorcycle.Suddenly the passenger (Julianne Moore) is struck by a bullet almost instantly killing her.It is a downhill spiral from here to try to get to safety. After turning around in the opposite direction they were headed, the police stop & pull them over after they have barely gotten away from the radical group.It's then that the driver then shots both the police officers. The group in the car all become fugitives and are now on the run for their lives.When getting to safe place of an aquiantance of the driver, it is then that Theo Faron (Clive Owen) learns of the secret between Julianne Moore & the woman traveling with them.Learning of her pregnancy (Claire-Hope Ashitey)a refugee, then becomes Theo's top priority to make sure her safety is his main goal, to get her to something known as the Human Project.Since this is the first pregnant woman in over 18 years, Theo & her travel to get her to safety through Britan.When the safe house they were staying at soon turns into a not so safe place with government finds them.On the run they get some help from a old hippie (Michael Cane) and soon have a plan to get to safety, but it's a long way and dangerous.Most of the movie takes place in a war zone, with terrorists,rebels and refugees that will keep you on the edge of your seat on wondering what will happen next??This was a good movie & was worth renting.

This great movie contains the best acting by Clive Owen to date. Heck, I nearly threw my chair at the TV when I heard he wasn't nominated for Best Actor. The movie is based on a novel by P.D Williams with the same title. Children of Men is as unforgiving as it is relentless, with no child being born for eighteen years, Human life and its moral self is eroding into extinction. The year though, is not too far off into the future, in fact in 2027. If my math is right then the last child was born on 2011(4 years away!)The world goes into hysterics when the youngest child of 18 years is killed. One thing though is holding a certain few with hope. That is, the birth of the first baby in 18 years. Clearly the poster-child of a rebirth campaign."Set in and around a dystopian London fractious with violence and warring nationalistic sects, Children of Men follows the unexpected discovery of a lone pregnant woman and the desperate journey to deliver her to safety and restore faith for a future beyond those presently on Earth." Written by Production Magazine. Clive Owen plays Theodore Faron, a man intrusted with the protection of this woman and her baby, the only problem is, everyone wants it. The government, kidnappers, immigrants and countless populats of others. Great acting on everyone's behalf, the starring cast AND the supporting cast. This is definatly the MUST BUY OF 2007, heck, id say its the single best movie of the 21st century.