Memento (DVD, 2002, 2-Disc Set, Limited Edition)

When this movie first came out in the year 2000, I was so struck by the concept of it that I had to see it in theaters, even though that meant driving an hour and a half away to the nearest theater that carried it in its limited release. To this day, a movie has not impacted me personally more than this film did when I first saw it. At the time, it was just so different in terms of story and structure and directorial style that it just turned all the basic film conventions I had become accustomed to on their heads. Since then though many people, especially independent productions, have attempted to rip off some of the style and magic of this film thus making the original not quite as original as it once was. Still, though many probably won't be affected as much by it as I initially was, it is still a truly remarkable thriller full of great twists that still holds up well today as I'm sure it will for many many years to come.

The basic premise of the plot is that a man was struck on the head just after witnessing his wife's murder, and ever since then he has not been able to make new memories, though he remembers everything perfectly before the accident. As a result of his condition, he forgets everything every few minutes or so, which makes it necessary for him to leave himself notes and pictures and even tattooing the most important info he finds out on his body. This becomes very interesting considering his one focus and goal in life now is to find his wife's killer. His condition makes it easy for people to use him and trick him, and thus it is hard for him to trust people, though a few complex characters who may or may not be how they appear weave in and out of the plot all throughout the story plunging our ill-fated anti-hero ever closer to his ultimate fate. Will he find his killer? Has he already found his killer? Can he ever trust anyone, even himself? Will he forever be on an unending quest? These are just a few ideas this movie will touch on. Just be prepared for a very original script with some fine acting from Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano, and oddly enough Carrie Anne Moss from the Matrix films.

One other very important thing about the film that was really what got me to see it in the first place is that................THE ENTIRE FILM PLAYS BACKWARDS. The first scene is actually the last scene, and you spend the rest of the film figuring out how our character arrived at that point. I think other films have done this since, but this is the first film I ever saw that did it, and for this particular story it is VERY effective. If you really lose yourself in the story you'll feel disoriented just like the main character which is why I was so affected by the film. No other film has made me feel like the character like this one has.

Now, as for the DVD, the packaging is like a case file for our main character. It's packaged like a folder with notes about him and his condition. There are few nice extras too including a good Direcotor's commentary. The trouble is they made half the extras hidden in a maze of menus you have to navigate to ulock them. It's very tedious, and I'm not sure that I've even found them all yet. That's the only quip with this DVD. It is a good 2 Disc set though overall and the only way to own this movie for fans.

The Director Christopher Nolan went on to direct the remake of Insomnia and Batman Begins. So I'd say you'll be seeing his work for quite a while to come.

This "fantastic noir"(title) is shown in the same fashion as the main character's memory. After his wife is raped and killed by John G, he is injured and develops a condition where he is unable to create new memories from the time of the event. It shows his new memories in short segments and then flashes back to the previous memory. Thus, the movie is essentially shown in reverse. This ploy raises the film from a great thriller, to a brilliant film experience. This DVD version of the film is absolutely brilliant, presented as his psychological profile. The discs menu's are by far the greatest use of a menu I have ever seen in a DVD, needing to solve puzzles, and playing with your memory to figure out which buttons go to which pages. Usually selling at media stores for over $25, I was able to snag on on eBay for $6.95, easily the greatest eBay find this year for me. Excelent movie, excellent purchase.

I have always been a fan of Memento since I saw it several years ago. This Limited Edition Set is great for fans with the additional content, and the ability to watch the story in reverse order. The DVD menus however are rather beguiling. Set up as a psych test, you find yourself performing a number of button pushes just to start the film or the features playing. I ended up searching online to find exact instructions on how to access each feature. Other than the confusing navigation, this is a solid edition of a great film!

This is a movie that you either like, love or hate. I like it, but its so confusing sometimes, as it is a backwards movie, meaning the beginning of the movie is actually the end and it goes backward/forward (which ever suits you) . I have my opinion on what happened to Guy Pearce & who he actually is concerning the story but its one of those movies that everyone can have a different opinion in the end. And its kind of confusing trying to keep in mind, that it is going backwards to the beginning when you start to watch it.

My wife and I watched this movie together. I loved it, she hated it. It is like nothing I have ever seen before and because it it did not go from beginning to end, but from end to beginning, on the surface it is very confusing and different hence my wife not liking it. Also some of the language 'got in the way' I think. Anyway I cannot wait to see it again, this time by myself, and get to know how the director thought this film out. The excellent 'making of' extra will make the second viewing as good as the first. If you like simple and straightforward films stay away from this one but if you like something really different I highly recommend it!!