Yar, you be here: City of Angels > Customer Reviews

City of Angels Customer Reviews (43 - 45 of 51 Reviews)

The best supernatural romance since "Ghost."
There is an offbeat sense of style and passion which sets "City of Angels" apart from most other romantic films, a sense that comes from the movie's refusal to cast flashy, young stars amidst a cliched plotline. Instead, the film enhances a highly original story through two very enticing leads, Meg Ryan and Nicolas Cage, who have a pulsating chemistry that is intrical to the overall effect of the film. Director Brad Silberling's visual style and an enigmatic soundtrack all converge to create one of the best romances of all time.

The story begins by introducing us to Seth, an angel who brings freshly dead souls to Heaven ("I always asked them what they liked best about life"). He is not alone on Earth: there are many other angels on the planet, circulating throughout the city of Los Angeles in black trenchcoats, making their way to the beach to watch the sunset... heck, their local hangout is the public library. We are witness to many different situations, deaths and one convenience store robbery, where the angels interact in order to instill their sense of calm over people.

Seth is a very complex character, his charming and calm attitude and his handsome looks making him an ideal angel. On his arrival to take a dead hospital patient to Heaven, he meets eyes with Maggie, or thinks he does (she can't see him), and he is immediately drawn to her beauty. He later learns that if he wants her to see him, then she will in her own time, which, fortunately for him, is sooner rather than later. Maggie does not believe in angels or God, so the many strange occurances that surround her meeting and her getting to know Seth will test her faith in her beliefs.

Of course, this big question is whether or not they will end up together in the end. This is something that the movie toys with immensely as it examines the relationship between Seth and Maggie, which is more fragile than you would think. Maggie's insecurities about her newfound love and Seth's naivety of the ways of human life provide some heartwarming and sometimes tear-jerking moments which further enhance the bond between them. And once Maggie finds out about his origins, the relationship takes an entirely different avenue, which I'll leave you to discover on your own.

There is a nice amount of chemistry between the two lead acting talents. Nicolas Cage is the perfect choice for Seth: his angelic looks and his sensitive demeanor evoke feelings of serenity and calmness while the audience is graced by his onscreen presence. His character is very complex when it comes to making new discoveries about life, and Cage brings out all of the confusion quite convincingly. Meg Ryan is outstanding, as always, in her role of Maggie, who is required to experience big shows of emotion. Ryan does this superbly, and one scene that comes to mind takes place in an empty hospital stairwell, where Maggie cries for her patient. This scene gives the actors a chance to show what they are really made of, while subtly bringing to life to budding chemistry between the two that will culminate later on.

Two supporting roles of this film also add to the movie's story. Dennis Franz plays a fallen angel who chose to leave his heavenly status for a woman he fell in love with, and once he meets Seth, he begins explaining his experiences to his new friend in order to help him get a grip on his feelings. Andre Braugher plays Seth's confidant angel, who helps him keep his head on his shoulders. Both of these characters offer interesting insight and element into the secret life of angels, which makes us think of what really does exist out there.

The overall sense of style and grace that the movie charms us with seems a bit more sophisticated than most romantic films. The images are easy on the eyes: we are given everything at a steady pace, which allows us to pay more attention to the love story. Silberling's brilliant shots tell the story in such intricate and enlightening ways. Tight shots of the actors bring us more into the emotion of the film, while beautiful beach shots of the sunrise as underwater filming are breathtaking. Seth's "fall" will certainly be talked about for its wonderful composition: there is such a momentus amount of intensity and awe in that moment, which makes it one of the film's defining turning points.

The soundtrack is also a major key element to the success of this film. Most of the music centers around the theme of loneliness, wanting someone back, and (what else?) angels. The most evocative song of the film is Sarah McLachlan's "Angel," which rings outs its haunting melodies and meaningful lyrics to a scene that practically melts my heart. The score for the film, done by Gabriel Yared, combines new age influences with modern beats that keep it interesting and emotional. The score certainly fits the film, as do the many songs.

I deeply enjoyed "City of Angels." This is a movie that I can sit through and not have to worry about bashing: it has all the classical elements of a romance with a new twist, which is carried out meticulously by superb acting and a tremendous directorial effort. This is the best supernatural romance since "Ghost."

Awestruck by an angelic piece of Poetry
This is one of the most beautiful love stories you can find on film. No better an angel than blue-eyed Cage and no better the love of his life than mesmorizing blonde curly-haired Meg Ryan. Even though this is being put down as a "chick flick" :-) I know of a lot of guys who really liked the movie (though they hate to admit to it, of course :-)), so don't let yourself be discouraged by bad reviews. Instead, make the journey yourself - follow angel Seth through his tormented journey to be with a human - to feel, touch, smell... "I'd rather have one touch of her hand, one smell of her hair, one kiss of her mouth than eternity without it. One." Poetry in motion. Amazing. Funny. Stunning yet simple. I wish I had an angel like that fall for me :-). Don't forget your hankies and get the soundtrack when you're done watching :-).

The "touch" of love
I could go on about how GORGEOUS Meg was, or how well the movie was made, or how great the cast was, but the others have done that already. The one thing that stuck out at me after watching the movie was the call (I felt) to revel in the simple things of life, the things that are common for us, that we take for granted ("touch", for example). I like the part where by lookig through the eyes of the "fallen" angel, you discover the joy of being alive. That's a fresh perspective that caught my attention fully. The movie is very emotional, but at the same time, deep. It doesn't get into melodrama as a lot of other other romantic movies do. All in all, I'd say it is a movie for lovers, but I'd reccommend it to anyone who wants a fresh perspective in life. Awesome soundtrack. Not exactly John Williams stuff, but still touching. You'll cry if you let yourself!

Previous Page

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Next Page