The Fall (2006)

This movie is unique in many ways! A must have for any movie collection!

I have trouble explaining this movie because I have never seen any movie like it before. It's so different from the typical drama, action, or fantasy movie ever made. The Fall has no nudity, no profanity, and mild violence. Even with the lack of over-the-top special effects, it still manages to be a very fun movie. I had it added to my Amazon wish list years ago, but I waited until now to buy it. I regret my procrastination because I had a pay a king's ransom to get the Blu-ray version.

Delivered in less than 24 hours! Hard to find title. One of the most engaging and beautifully filmed movies I have seen (and I have seen a lot).

So here's what's up--this is one of the greatest movies of the decade, one destined to be seen as one of the greatest of all times. I do not say that lightly. I am writing from Ebertfest and while there were a number of interesting films screened, this one was in a class by itself.The story: we are in the silent-screen era of Hollywood, in Los Angeles in an unspecified year. A stuntman has been injured in a terrible fall and he is recuperating in a hospital along with a small girl, who has also suffered a fall and broken her arm. They encounter one another and he tells her an epic revenge story about a group of men who have been victimized by an evil governor. As the story develops we see that the individuals participating in the story have their lookalike counterparts among the patients and staff of the hospital. The story is part fantasy/part fairy tale, with scenes in India, Bali, South Africa and points east, west, north and south. The images are breathtakingly lush, though the use of CGI technology was kept to a minimum. What you see is actually what was there. The story is something like Peter Greenaway (on an optimistic day) meets The Princess Bride meets Lawrence of Arabia meets The Wizard of Oz. The evocation of the latter is particularly strong, though the director contends that he has never seen that film.The acting is stunning, particularly that of the injured stuntman and the little girl (Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru). The script is perfectly modulated as it moves between terror, humor, violence and utter sweetness. Ultimately, this is a movie about storytelling, particularly cinematic storytelling. It is a story about the ways in which stories save our lives, shape our world, develop our hearts and minds, stretch our imaginations and instill a sense of awe, wonder and delight. It is richly imagined, deeply moving and exceptionally satisfying.Ebertfest previously advertised itself as focusing upon `overlooked' films. That notion has sometimes been honored in the breach, for well-known films have been screened. The Fall, however, is quintessentially `overlooked' in that it should have received the recognition it deserves: a best picture, best director, best supporting actress and best script nomination at a minimum. This is a dazzling film--haunting, beautiful and in every way delightful. It is a realistic paean to cinema and an exploration of the wonders of the human imagination and the aesthetic forms in which those wonders are realized. Do not miss this film. This is a bona fide life-changer.

I came across this totally by accident -- I'd never heard a thing about it. But I like Tarsem Singh's work, and I loved Lee Pace on "Pushing Daisies," so gave it a shot.I was really glad I did. This is a beautiful and really unique film -- in a nutshell, a stunt man telling a fantastical tale to a little girl in a hospital -- but it's so much more. But you can discover the story for yourself -- I won't spoil it.Meanwhile, "The Fall" is a strange and lovely little story -- a fairytale, but with a dash of bittersweetness to it that makes the characters feel more real, and the action more fraught with tension. The visuals are absolutely stunning, and the performances are flawless. The little girl as played by Catinca Untaru is fantastic -- one of the best child performances I've ever seen. The sets and especially the costumes (by the late, great Eiko Ishioka) are incredibly beautiful.And Lee Pace, well, after seeing this movie, why this guy isn't a bigger star is totally beyond me. He's an old-fashioned movie-star in this, and carries the whole film effortlessly, bringing charisma, poetry and darkness in equal measure to a grieving man who nevertheless takes a kind interest in a lonely little girl. (And side note: Thank goodness there's never a hint of creepiness to their friendship -- we really do feel a deep bond between the two that is very much parent-child.)As far as the film's rating and viewability -- I'd say it's okay for older kids, but it's definitely too intense for little ones -- there's some violence as well as some pretty wrenching emotional violence.If you like movies with a hint of fantasy or folklore, you'll love "The Fall." I'd highly recommend it to anyone who loved "Pan's Labyrinth," "The Princess Bride," or any great fantasy films, from the LOTR series to Narnia. It also has that slight edge and unpredictability to it, that might make "The Fall" worthwhile for those of you who like films that are a little off the beaten path, from David Lynch to Cronenberg.I found myself thinking about this movie a lot afterward. It's a really unusual, richly rewarding film.

La película vino bien embalada e intacta

Bella película, maravilloso arte y fotografía, vale la pena verla una y otra vez! Las locaciones son hermosas y la química entre Lee Pace y la niña Catinca es simplemente adorable. La recomiendo mucho, aunque no tiene subtítulos en español.

Le film est un must see baroque cryptique et exubérant. Rien à dire c’est top !Je viens d’acheter ce blu-ray pour la 2eme fois puisque quand j’ai voulu le revoir récemment le premier était illisibleJ’ai hésité à le racheter mais le prix est vraiment dérisoire et je tenais à revoir ce filmJe ne me fais pas d’illusion cependant, le pressage doit être le même qu’a l’epoque (d’ou le prix) Il finira encore probablement à la poubelle dans un an ou 2.Mise à jour juillet 2019: je confirme, certains chapitres de ce 2eme blu-ray sont déjà illisibles 😬

前から欲しかった〜

This is one of those gems-of-a-movie that hardly anyone has heard about! Everybody needs to see this. I discovered it on YouTube and it was my go-to thing whenever I was going through a difficult time in my life. The acting is superb, the scenery is spectacular, and the story is timeless.It was shipped to me in a matter of 3 days, the product was in amazing condition, and is now in my basement next to the TV, just waiting to be watched!! I'm so glad I own it now so that I can watch it over and over again.