Started off really enjoying this movie but tired of it just past the half way mark.

Not really my thing, a little bit out there, a smidge bit too arty farty but as I say I was actually enjoying it for over an hour before losing interest and getting fidgety.

With my limited experience of arty farty movies I'm going to compare it to Bram Stoker's Dracula, a movie I love by the way, compared to that movie I'd say a bit too long, a bit too slow.

I believe most film makers turned the book down and said it was unfilmable. If you like this sort of thing I think you'll love it all the way through and think it's brilliant.

It's been weeks since I saw this movie and I still don't know what I think of it! The words 'bizarre' and 'beautiful' come to mind, but still, I can't say that I enjoyed it. It's not exactly an entertaining movie, more a work of art to be admired and looked at.

It's interesting that you compared it to Bram Stoker's Dracula because I think them to be two very different movies. Dracula is far more mainstream and accessible than Perfume. If I had to compare Perfume to any movie it would perhaps be The Girl With the Pearl Earring in that it's kind of a dark, brooding film, beautiful to look at. Aside from the tone, however, Perfume is pretty much a unique film, almost a genre onto itself. And the ending has to be seen to be believed, lol. If you like movies that make you think and that start conversations/arguments, then Perfume is for you. Otherwise, I'd avoid it.

Yes, a very beautiful film, truly impressive.

I see what you mean when you talk about dark and brooding but to be honest I saw a lot of drive, hope, strive, application in the main thrust of the story.

The Perfum was run down before it came out. One critic said the voice off exasperated him. So I went into the cinema expecting the rubbish of the year. I was exasperated but not by the film, but by the people who condemned it, because someone dares to touch their favourite book; because they can't face or admit it is a very good film, because it is the intellectual fashion to run down some kinds of films. Tom Tykwer managed to recreate the dark side of the atmosphere of the XVIIth century (17th) in France; then you understand how it could have produced a "creature" like JB Grenouille. I had for him the same compassion and pity I had for Gollum: human beings growing without any love but with great intelligence or power. The voice over felt normal, even necessary as it is a tale after all: the tale of the perfume that will make you control the world through love. The black magic operated by the story is that you can't help being on the side of Evil. Some scenes seem to come out of a Dutch or a Jerome Bosch's painting. The thing I found odd, but this is personal, is the film speaking English with French subtitles whereas the story takes place in France! It is an interpretation of the book and I found it original, quite faithful, as disturbing as the story and definitely worth seeing. I could This film was run down before it came out. One critic said the voice off exasperated him. So I went into the cinema expecting the rubbish of the year. I was exasperated but not by the film, but by the people who condemned it, because someone dares to touch their favourite book; because they can't face or admit it is a very good film, because it is the intellectual fashion to run down some kinds of films. Tom Tykwer managed to recreate the dark side of the atmosphere of the XVIIth century (17th) in France; then you understand how it could have produced a "creature" like JB Grenouille. I had for him the same compassion and pity I had for Gollum: human beings growing without any love but with great intelligence or power. The voice over felt normal, even necessary as it is a tale after all: the tale of the perfume that will make you control the world through love. The black magic operated by the story is that you can't help being on the side of Evil. Some scenes seem to come out of a Dutch or a Jerome Bosch's painting. The thing I found odd, but this is personal, is the film speaking English with French subtitles whereas the story takes place in France! It is an interpretation of the book and I found it original, quite faithful, as disturbing as the story and definitely worth seeing. I could not have done better ;-)

Have to agree with some of the sentiment expressed above, and although I don't think the film was particularly great I just hope that the adaption won't put people off reading a truly fantastic novel.

I went to see it with my French class, and it was... interesting to say the least. xD

I don't think we were quite aware of the complexity of the story... I suppose I thought it would just be the usual story, he kills, it gets a tad complicated, and then there's a chase. Well I think that Perfume's story line has multiplied this by 10!

I don't think I'll watch it again... i found it odd. The end scenes were.... strange.

I enjoyed the film, did not think it was strange at all, at least it had a story, that continued until the end.

There was much I really enjoyed in this film and I was bowled over by the visuals. Was this Gaumont ? It reminded me in some ways of Vatel, another beautiful piece from that stable with a strange and dramatic death at the end. It was a tiny bit over long in the last half. What a shame he needed quite so many essences! Definitely worth seeing.

I have just finished watching this for the 6th time! The fact he is a murderer is totally insignificant though it is the best method he has for acheiving what he needs! He is desperate to find, capture/ bottle the pure delicacy of true beauty! His desperation leads him to such extreme lengths when he achieves his goal he realises that was his only purpose!

So...I watched this movie.

So, it's about a guy who murders women to get the perfect perfume and in the end he becomes 'God' and everyone has an orgy in the end.

WHAT?! No wonder it didn't catch up with the cinemas

quote:

Originally posted by fantasy and comedy are all my joy:
So, it's about a guy who murders women to get the perfect perfume and in the end he becomes 'God' and everyone has an orgy in the end.

Surprisingly, that is the film in a nutshell. I found it quite engrossing to begin with, but the director let go of the reins and the pace and the lenght of the film took it's toll. It is beautifully shot in places, and was a worthwhile effort, but ultimately it was too long and the ending was just insane.
Not sure what to make of the ending - it was definitely bizarre and create debate. Although, I haven't read the book - i'd imagine the answer lies within.

quote:

Originally posted by moneyshot:

quote:

Originally posted by fantasy and comedy are all my joy:
So, it's about a guy who murders women to get the perfect perfume and in the end he becomes 'God' and everyone has an orgy in the end.

Surprisingly, that is the film in a nutshell. I found it quite engrossing to begin with, but the director let go of the reins and the pace and the lenght of the film took it's toll. It is beautifully shot in places, and was a worthwhile effort, but ultimately it was too long and the ending was just insane.
Not sure what to make of the ending - it was definitely bizarre and create debate. Although, I haven't read the book - i'd imagine the answer lies within.

I saw some pretty weird stuff, this man became obsessed with his power. He put a naked woman in a big jar thing, used to make perfume or something...and this town was going bananas trying to find the killer. He was pretty smart, you know, but none the less a a weird film. Lol.
I didn't take it seriously enough, I was just laughing in the end because...well who expected an orgy?!