Reviews

A remake of Vittorio De Sica (director) and Cesare Zavattini (script)neo-realist classic I Ladri di Biciclette (soon to be released by Criterion on bluray) from 1948... This one holds itself rather moderately on the basis of the strength of the original film.. Nice move to take the story today's USA... Good and earnest performances from the leads and an excellent acting job from the child actor... And the question is, there is this excellent film before you, why on earth make a remake? I am not moved by this film, competently, professionally done but not an earth-shaker...I miss the soul of the human drama...I should say, why bother?

Hey guys, have you all noticed John Russell, dancing in the town hall towards the end of the film? As a film it was timely.... sentimental... I agree with all of you that Gene Tierney was terribly miscast and I didn't quite catch it why she should be a blonde? An unbecoming blonde as well.. The rest was OK, I guess. Lots of stereotype Italians, and the familiar camaraderie between the GIs and Navy etc... I guess it was filmed on the back lot of the Fox studios.. it shows that too.. OK for 1945.... But today it sounds rather naive and very nostalgic... Actually they do NOT make such films anymore.... Stanley Kramer tried a similar theme in 1969 and Blake Edwards too in 1966 with bigger budgets (and failed miserably) but this one is a cute relic to cherish from the past.. I gave it a 7!

Just awful....... It doesn't make any sense at all...... It is not a comedy, not a thriller, not a caper movie... It is just nothing.... Why on earth do they make such stupid, inane movies??? I haven't any good or say, better, movies the two leads act in.. It is high time that ms Ryan cuts her hair, brush it and give it a good wash... She looks awful! Senor Banderas! Time to pack up and go back to Spain.. perhaps Pedro Almadovar will help you to rescue what's left of your once promising career.... I am glad I haven't paid any cent for this sordid affair... I wonder whether it has made any cent at all???? It puzzles me to read the few favorable lines on this film... I can not find one good thing in it... Just awful.....

I've read all the reviews above...... The American ones are thumbing down the film; and the rest of the world giving thumbs up... I join the latter group.... A courageous film (not a movie!); says what it wants to say in an understandable, simple way and yet becomes very moving.... This is not a film for people from NYC or Texas (see the very first reviews above); let them go to see the Transformers or Jumper; who'd rather sit back with a half a gallon soda in one hand and bucket of popcorn in the other and enjoy mindless flicks.. Finally an American filmmaker came up with a thinking-man's film and he is to be congratulated.. This film should be prized and shown to every war-blind and ignorant American who still blindly support the invasion of Iraq. Of course it is not a perfect film (one can never make a perfect film over such a horrible story) but yet very moving and pushing one to think over the empty definitions of NeoCons over democracy, freedom; liberty and humanity... A companion piece to In the Valley of Elah, I should say, and very well done Mr DaPalma...

Horrible....... in 2007 they do dare to make such an outdated film.... what is worse it is a very fascist film..... typical for Neocons of the US Bushites..... I watched the film, cringing in my seat and left the cinema finally with a bad taste in my mouth.... Leni Riefenstahl made such films back in the 1930's dear readers... Do you remember her? She was later crucified for her great, mythic spectacles and justly so.... This film is an insult for those who suffered the consequences of the actions of that "uber-mensch" mentality, who dehumanize the people in order to make them a mass, so that they are easily manipulated...... One can see the film from another point though... reverse the roles of the Spartans and Persians with today's Iraq and the US/UK governments.... The Iraqi people become the defenders of their homeland and survive in order to live like decent human beings...... This might the interesting thing that comes out from this miserable excuse for a film.... Utterly deplorable, in my opinion.

What a waste of time and talent...... Kline, Martin, Reno... They should have known better, considering their age, talent and somewhat rich past. In this new Panther NOTHING works! Everything is SO mediocre and banal.... Sad to see Martin finally sank to fart jokes! Y'know the rest.... It gives one goose-pimples just to hear the actors speaking in English with Frech accents! There is also this very embarrassing scene where Closeau tries to learn the right pronunciations.... Man, c'est horrible! Why do they churn out such idiotic films in nowadays Hollywood? Do they have no talent left or do they think we the audience such stupid mushrooms????? Avoid at any cost!