Nicolas-Cage Movie Reviews

Nicholas Cage stars as a Secret Service agent assigned to protect former first lady Shirley MacLaine. MacLaine has a difficult personality, and being guarded by Cage, a by-the-books man, causes a lot of friction between the two. She won't let him be reassigned, yet she seems bent on messing with him every chance she can get. It turns into one of those love-hate relationships that have fueled many a film, but this one works better than most. Cage and MacLaine are both excellent choices for their roles, giving the kind of quality performances you'd expect, with an unexpectedly good chemistry between them. I wish Cage would appear in more films like this, since I often find his choice of pictures puzzling. The rest of the cast takes a backseat to the star performances. The writing is good, allowing the relationship to develop naturally between the characters. I do wish there had been a few more laughs and that the ending had not come so quickly. I don't know if relationships develop between Secret Service agents and the people they are assigned to protect, so I don't know how realistic this was, but I really liked the characters, found the story amusing, and enjoyed the film a lot.

When "Guarding Tess" was released eight years ago, I ended up watching it in the theater because I was bored and because it looked a little more promising than the rest of the pack. That thought proved to be an understatement. To date, I have seen this movie at least eight times, and I tend to enjoy it more with each viewing. Nicholas Cage is perfect as the disgruntled Secret Service agent who feels he has been banished to his current duty -- namely, doting on a cantankerous former First Lady, played to the hilt by Shirley MacLaine. "Guarding Tess" is alternately funny and moving, and even includes a bit of a mystery for Cage to solve. Far more than a one-dimensional film, "Guarding Tess" is satisfying for so many reasons -- the witty script, the fine performances, the deft direction, and the mostly even pacing, to name a few. While you can catch this on a regular basis on TBS (which has made the movie one of its most reliable staples), "Guarding Tess" is definitely worth owning for more frequent viewing.

Shirley MacLaine and Nicolas Cage are magic in this movie. Hugh Wilson deserves kudos for his excellent direction in this superior film. Nicolas Cage plays the part of an intelligent, aspiring Secret Service agent who thinks that he's completing his tour of duty with former First Lady Tess Carlisle, when, to his dismay, she's requested that he stay on permanent assignment. He tries on various occasions to sabotage his assignment through outrageous acts directed towards Tess, but the old political warhorse turns around every situation to her benefit, calling the President and complaining, to the point that the President is calling up Cage and chewing him out to get along with the "cagey" first lady. Underneath the friction are suble revelations that change the entire outlook of the movie. For instance, one begins to realize how much Cage cares for the former first lady's husband in a scene where she watches old videos of her husband's funeral when, spotted in the congregation, Cage is lowering his head to shed tears at the passing of the President. Further revelations unfold when Tess visits with her son that results in a very unsatisfactory, shallow encounter leaves her feeling a need to make a connection with someone who actually cares for her, and Agent Cheznic fulfills this need without even realizing it. Subtle, classy humor is the rule of the day, and Cage and MacLaine pull it off in style. The pace picks up towards the last half of the movie when the first lady is kidnapped, and Cage, through feelings of affection and guilt, turns up the heat on the situation and suspects to begin a frantic search. Watch carefully and watch again at the many subtle scenes and extremely excellent performances by this cast of gifted actors.

I was excited and looking forward to watching Valley Girl on DVD as this is one of my favorite movies of all time. I was 14 when it was first released in 1983 and feel this movie is a part of the teenager in me. Unfortunately, I was disppointed with the DVD for the following reasons:
-Right before Julie and her friend, Stacy, leave to the party at Suzy's house, the song"Angst in My Pants" by Sparks is being played and the camera zooms slowly into the dancing crowd while the song is being played. In the DVD , they cut straight to the scene at the party where Julie is talking to Tommy so this part is cut off.......why?????
- The music in the party scene sounds low and distant in the background. I've seen this movie several times on tv,cable and video before and the music seemed more audible and enhanced.
-The song, "Who Can It Be Now" by Men at Work is missing. It was supposed to be played in the scene where Nicolas Cage is hiding in the shower tub waiting for Julie(Deborah Foreman) to go to the restroom so he can ask her out.
-Though I do like the interviews with the actors and director, Nicolas Cage, E.G. Daily, Martha Coolidge, etc.Where is Deborah Foreman?? She is the title character! I would have loved to see her interviewed.
These quips may sound miniscule to some but I wanted to feel that same nostalgia that I always have felt when watching Valley Girl and just didn't this time around.

This was Nic's first starring role under his screen name Nicolas Cage & let me tell you, he was hot in this film (despite not being rich enough yet to get his teeth capped)! He falls for the lovely, adorable & innocent Julie (Deborah Foreman, who, if any of you grew up in the '80's & stole your older sister's teen mags, you remember her in the Shine-Free ads for Maybelline). Deborah Foreman proves that some models (yes...gasp...it's true) can actually act extremely well in movies.

The film is very gutsy. It's stars mainly a bunch of unknowns & they all do a great job & it was shot in a mere 22 days (the budget was so low that director Martha Coolidge had the cast provide their own wardrobes).

A lot of people call the film a modern-day version of Romeo & Juliet & a lot of people have asked if the R in Randy & J in Julie was intentional as well as Randy & Julie standing under a sign of a movie theater that reads Romeo and Juliet. On the DVD commentary, Coolidge answers yes.

Julie's parents are the most unique & hysterical ones you'll find in this genre. One of my favorite parts is when the father is so nervous about his daughter going to her prom that he ducks into the bathroom to smoke a funny cigarette. "Steve, where are you?! his wife asks. "I'll be right there!" he calls from the bathroom. "I'm looking for the camera!" Another great moment is when Julie comes home in the morning from going out with Randy & the parents kindheartedly advise her to protect herself & she freaks out. "Just 'cause we were out all night doesn't mean I did anything!"

Yeah, the plot isn't very original: The boy from the wrong tracks falls in love with the popular girl & her friends give her crap, but the film is so much fun, it doesn't really matter.

The film has a certain kind of innocence that we don't see in today's teen flicks. Julie & Randy just have fun being with each other, walking hand in hand, and talking and laughing. The topic of sex never comes up in the film between the two of them (or if it does, they're in no hurry). It's only brought up by one of Julie's best friends & Julie replies "It hasn't gotten that far yet." Any time she's about to go inside after one of their dates, they continue talking & laughing & kissing & then she closes the door & then, suddenly, opens it again it the whole
process begins again. Ah, makes me miss those times when I was a teenager in love.

The DVD features are excellent. The woman that played Suzie's stepmom hasn't aged a bit. How sickening! It must be nice to be her. Elizabeth Daily (Lauren) has gotten so much plastic surgery, she's hardly recognizable. I thought she was fine the way she was. I'll stop there. I don't want to spoil the DVD for ya.

I've never really cared for in the film's open ending. What's gonna happen with Julie & her friends? Is Tommy going to keep giving her hell? I also think both of the soundtracks could've been better. While they have a lot of great songs on them, poppy songs from The Flirts and, especially, Josie Cotten just grate on my nerves. Inspite of this, who could forget the film's theme song by Modern English "I Melt with You" that'll leave you humming the tune & feeling like you're on cloud nine long after the film's over.

This film is nearly a piece of history now. The original poster for the movie was much better, but the film itself is so good. The classic tale of star crossed lovers--except Nic Cage's character has no parents in the movie [none that we met] and her parents don't mind that she is dating him.

But the story still rates and the detail from the time period is too classic not to see again! All those styles were once so cool and here they are again!

There are some side stories in the film which are definitely worth watching again--Skip, the boy who ends up with Suzy's mom!!!

The music from the film is still classic and let's just face it... the movie WORKS.

See Valley girls were so cool in the 80's because Moon Zappa had a song called valley girl. This is about a punk guy who falls for a valley girl and she must choose him or her blonde surfer boyfriend who is like so cool.

Valley Girl should be released on dvd if only because it's the first starring role for Nicolas Cage. On top of that fact, this is a classic Romeo & Juliet re-made in 1983 style updated with the music, hairstyles,clothes, slang talk, dancing,etc. The romantic drama is also a comedy. It's a love story set amidst rich teenagers who live to shop at the mall, put makeup on, eat junk food & party & the poor streetwise punkers who live to hang out in the bars listening to punk music with spiked multi-colored dyed hair. The two main characters meet, are attracted yet they are not socially allowed to be together because one is a valley person & the other is a punker who is more into the real way of living- not the superficial life of doing & saying & looking the way & how peers & people expect to just fit in- there's a social message that everyone of every age should adhere to ! Julie ( Deborah Foreman ) isn't supposed to date Randy ( Nicolas Cage ) as he is not from the Valley. She is supposed to date the most popular guy in school ( Micheal Bowen of "Jackie Brown" )- not because she likes him- but because he is the most popular guy in school ( he's a total jerk but he dresses & looks cool & eats all her food & is shallow & even cheats on Julie with her best friend-oh ! ) & all the girls want him -except Julie ! Julie & Randy secretly meet regularly to kiss & make out in the back seat, they laugh & talk & fall in love so happily like most first loves- it is simple & deep & easy & exciting ! Julie's parents are played as hippies
( Frederic Forrest & Colleen Camp ) who run a health food store, smoke pot & don't put limitations on Julie's behavior- they say that punishment is "bad karma" when Julie stays out all night. This isn't just for young people re-discovering the 1980's- this is for people who are still young and lived in the 1980's as teenagers ! For whatever bad decision they chose not to use the main actress on the cover ( who knows why ? ! ) but Nicolas Cage is on the cover picture standing next to a generic typical blonde advertising a typical teen goofball comedy when this actually has substance to it- a Love Story & social message & has great music all the way through it- mainly the group "The Plimsouls" songs: " A Million miles away"," The Oldest Story in the World" etc. not only are beautiful songs with intelligent romantic lyrics but they also pertain to the story & are very deep & quite touching. This movie is also lighthearted silly fun fun,too ! Why this is not avilable on dvd or available more easily & at a lower price is beyond question as so many people enjoy this movie. Some of the actors went on to be in other movies. THe director Amy Heckerling went on to direct CLUELESS which most people have heard of. Nicolas Cage went on to win an Academy Award. Deborah Foreman starred in a few movies & made a few appearances in other movies but apparently Hollywood just doesn't know what to do with a pretty yet unusual quirky personality so her career didn't go too far after the 1980's which is a waste as Deborah Foreman is not only pretty but Excellent as the Valley Girl with whom young handsome Nicolas Cage is "totally in love with like fer sure dude !". Hollywood- put it on dvd please ! It will sell fer sure - like totally !

Most comments concerning this film seem to concentrate on the simple plot, lite storyline, etc. I believe this film is a winner because of the way Nicholas Cage renders wrong-side-of-the-tracks punk god Randy. Really, we're almost talking about two different movies when we look at Cage's scenes and the scenes in which he's absent. The Cage-less scenes deliver somewhat predictable bopper-movie fare. When Cage appears onscreen, however, we observe a genuine rebel who is not afraid to admit to his best pal that his life has no meaning without Valley Girl Julie in it.

Cage owns this film as he struts before the camera in black leather and chains, bronzed bangs whipping in the Valley breeze. He will not rest until he gets the girl.

Memorable scenes in which Cage takes charge:

1. The party crashing scene. Cage and sidekick Fred (Cameron Dye, where have you gone?) electrify the Valley crowd as they infiltrate in search of hot girls. Cage finds his and the story takes off.

2. Scene in the gritty Hollywood bar, in which Cage simply tells Julie he must see her again. The Plimsouls are on stage and life is grand.

3. Vignette in which Cage and Julie get to know each other. Sure, a tad cheesy, but this vignette, powered by "I Melt With You," set the standard for such cheese.

4. Cage admitting to Fred that he's miserable without Julie. Cage blowing his frustrations out through a toy kazoo (or is it a Pez dispenser) anchors this scene and makes it believable.

4. Prom night, of course. Cage and Fred have a plan to get Julie back. Will it work? "Let's...squash...that...fly"

Best lines in the movie:

Julie speaking to other Valley girls of the reasons she's thinking of dumping Tommy-the-tow-headed-surfer-dude:

"He makes me feel like...AN OLD CHAIR" (spoken with much Valley Girl intensity.

Tommy, speaking to his cronies after Julie has dumped him for the first time. (this is a bit of a paraphrase).

"I can't believe she dumped me. Who else is she going to get? WHAT OTHER VAL DUDE CAN TOUCH ME?"

**************************************

In sum, I believe this to be Cage's best performance ever. How surprising that it's his first. Too bad he never did anything like this again.

Following his acclaimed adaptation of S.E Hinton's book, The Ousiders, director Francis Ford Coppola decided to make another of the author's books into a film. Rumble Fish is another comming of age story. Coppola wanted to stretch his creative juices, and wanted to distinguish it from The Outsiders, so he made a rather bold move by shooting most of it in black and white. This was a risky move, considering that its target audience is the teenager, and typically they avoid colorless films.

Rumble Fish tells the story of Rusty James (Matt Dillon), a gang member, who's being pulled in many directions by the people in his life. His brother, "Motorcycle Boy" (Mickey Roarke), his alcoholic Dad (Dennis Hopper), and his girlfriend Patty (Diane Lane), all want Rusty to straighten out his life. He soon finds himself with some difficult choices to make.

The cast is quite solid. Of particular interest to watch is the interplay between Dillon and Roarke and Dillon and Lane. Roarke plays the older brother with authority and range that the actor isn't exactly known for of late. Lane maintains the give and take with Dillon that began in The Outsiders. Dillon, plays a man who struggles with influences all around him, while trying to make the right choice. The use of minimal color works and serves to highlight the cinematograpy and contrasts the action well.

I can't explain why the movie isn't as remembered as it should be. But... As good as I believe the film is, the minimal extras on the DVD, are disappointing Production notes and the theatrical trailer is all you get. I wish there were more of a perspective on the film. Rumble Fish is stiil recommended just the same.

Rumble Fish is probably my favourite film, but it is not easy to explain why. Possibly it is because so much talent is brought together in one place and produces a strange masterpiece, which is not really lacking in any aspect.

The soundtrack, by Stewart Copeland, is a wonderful backdrop to the arresting visuals. I bought the soundtrack CD, because even in isolation, it is great music.

The film is beautifully shot entirely in black and white, with the exception of the Rumble (Siamese Fighting) Fish, of the title, who are a metaphor for Rusty James (Matt Dillon) and his brawl-prone friends. The monochrome photography is supposed to mirror the colour blindness of The Motorcycle Boy (Mickey Rourke).

The fish - and ergo the boys - will fight their own reflections, if there's nothing else to fight. For Rusty James and friends, fighting is an outlet for the frustrations of their doomed existence, born on the wrong side of the tracks, with few prospects. Rusty James yearns for a time when there were gangs, led by his brother The Motorcycle Boy. He wants more than anything to be like his brother, but can never manage it. He lacks his brother's wit and intelligence and is too stupid to understand that this is why he will never be like The Motorcycle Boy who, for his part, now regards the "rumbles" as childish.

The performances of Dillon, Rourke, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Spano, Diane Lane etc - are excellent. For me, though, Dennis Hopper, as the boys' alcoholic father, is startlingly good, drawing real emotion from the pathos of his character's life. The intensity of his little bar-room speech about Rusty James' absent mother sends shivers up and down my spine.

Coppola must be credited for a unique and profound interpretation of SE Hinton's short novel. He uses every trick in the book, of course, and loads the film with symbolism and mood. For this, the film has been accused of pretentiousness and there is some justification for this, because it is not evident who it is aimed at. The book was teenage fiction, but the film is 18-rated. Much of the subtlety might be lost on the likely audience of a film which is ostensibly about youth gangs. However, if you can get past that, Rumble Fish remains a superb film and something you can watch repeatedly and always find rewarding.

It's hard to believe that Francis Ford Coppola could have assembled the talent for this film - Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Dennis Hopper, Nicolas Cage, Christopher Penn, Vincent Spano, Laurence Fishburne, and Tom Waits. That's not even mentioning the film's soundtrack, put together by Stewart Copeland with a guest vocal by Stan Ridgway.

This film, based on S.E. Hinton's novel of the same name, is a take on radically disaffected youth without direction. There can be no sequel to this story, because as the film ends, it becomes obvious that there's nowhere left for the protagonist, Rusty James (Matt Dillon), to go.

Mickey Rourke gives a particularly good performance as the Motorcycle Boy. It's too bad that he was never really able to reach the same level of intensity in a lot of his other subsequent work. Diane Lane and Dennis Hopper also give standout performances.

The film's soundtrack works excellently, without being a distraction, yet it is strong enough to stand alone on its own merit.

"Rumble Fish" is one of my favorites. The film might be pretentious, but so what? Pretentiousness doesn't always detract from any message inherent in a good work of art. Why hold this film up to some phony standard?

This film is easily one of Coppola's best, and one of the twenty-five best films of the eighties.

What this movie is most famous for is Nick Cage eating a live cockroach (actually, he ate two, but only one appears in the film), when what it should be known for is the fact that it was so far ahead of its time. It's a black comedy that appeared before the big run on dark comedies (had it appeared a mere five years later, it wouldn't have been cutting edge). Peter Loew (Cage) is such a bad person, that we can't help but laugh at what he says and the things he does, as horrible as they may be. On the surface the film appears to be about madness, but really, loneliness is at its core. We can identify with what Loew feels, if not what he does. The dvd contains a commentary track with Cage and director Robert Bierman, who hadn't gotten together to talk about the film in 11 years. And as great as the movie is, the commentary is just as wonderful. You get insight into the making of the film (and an understanding of the horrible accent Cage uses in the film), and hearing them laugh along with you at the horridness of Loew just adds to the experience. It's a great film, and though sparse, a great dvd.

this is a great 80's vampire flick, like you've never seen before thanks to Cage's brilliant and always crazy on screen performance as the man who was bit by Beals and then goes on a crazy time eatting roaches and tormenting Alonso. surely for fans of vampires or Cage. Cage knows how to get into his role and he does it with perfection

this movie is 2nd to none in its genre.completely over the top performance by mr.cage.he IS the movie.first off,what i mean by ''lover of lines''is that is what i am.the only other movie with more reciteable lines is ''mean streets''an early rob denero,harv keitel movie.back to vamp kiss.i would catagorize this as being a black comedy/horror.cage plays peter lowe,literary agent bored with his life.until that is he meets seductive jennifer beals.this meeting changes his life forever.after his night of passion with beals ,he is convinced he has been changed into a vampire.much chaos and mayhem ensues with maria conchita alonso getting the brunt of it.watching nic cages tranformation is pure magic.i dont think this movie got the kudos it deserved however,siskle and/or ebert gave it thumbs up.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS.im not sure what happened to the director,he did an amazing job.i could have sworn he would have made more off the wall movies.this is in the vein of 5 corners,heathers,something wild,after hours,et al funny movies NOT listed as comedy.once again,I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE!!!!

First let me get this off my chest. On other reviews for this movie, several people have listed Dune as a good David Lynch Movie.... David Lynch himself has implied that it was a mistake to make Dune at all. (The quote was actually: "I'd rather not talk about it" on the Actor's Studio.) Dune was a great book, Lynch is a great director, but the screenplay for Dune was an abject mess (The sets, costumes and casting were excellent though.) The point of all that is this: anyone who gave Wild At Heart a bad review, but liked Dune should be ignored on general principles... If you liked Lost Highway, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive or Eraserhead; you will most likely enjoy Wild At Heart. It's the closest to a comedy that he has made, although the blackest kind of comedy. Lynch's films are like abstract paintings, so if you like movies you actually have to decipher and think about for days afterwards, then this is for you. If you liked Dune, stick to Jerry Bruckheimer productions.

Wild at heart is one of David Lynchs absolutely greatest works, a masterpiece of surrealism and right on target scenes. Nicholas Cage as "Sailor" makes a character colorful as seldom seen on a screen, it's definitely one of mr Cages absolutely best actings ever. This fabulous movie is one of the best in it's genre. The story never seems to wanna let go on you and you never want to leave it either. This is a film that could've been 5 hrs in length and still I would've been stucked in my chair smiling.

If "Sorority Boys" can get a DVD release, then why not David Lynch's Palm D'Or-winning psychedelic opus? Does the studio feel we Americans are too imbecilic to grasp pop culture skewered like kabobs? That Elvis cannot be formidably distilled by Nic Cage, that the carnality of Laura Dern will make us question the MPAA? Or is that Bobby Peru is just too damn good with a shotgun? Regardless of whatever quasi-corporate red tape binds its leaden rocks, "Wild at Heart" is a tasty cinematic Warhol(...)the whole family can enjoy, destined for video, cherry ripe for distribution. Pour me a double, Bobby. "'Cause you don't hop like a bunny." Give 'ol Nemo a run for his money. The kids are all right.

When DVD production started to really take off, no one knew just how it would change the way you look at movies. In many cases, you can have a good movie, but if it's on a bad DVD, it can ruin the movie for the watching person. Such has been the case with Colombia/Tri-Star DVDs. This was a pretty good movie, but I saw the DVD of it, and it ruined the film. There are no bonus features and the film print is rather poor. I have now bought ten movies that were made by Colombia/Tri-Star DVD video, and only three of the movies had a good DVD made on them. The rest have been a waste of money and this regretfully is another of them.

This movie does have some flaws but due to Kathleen Turner's performance it merits 4 stars. This role was originally supposed to go to that other great actress, who deserves better, Debra Winger. But Turner is brilliant. She actually becomes a teen again but in the same body and that is a real challenge that she was up to. Watch for early roles of Helen Hunt, Joan Allen and Jim Carrey. Turner was very deserving of a Best Actress Nomination (one she should have got for Romancing the Stone AND Serial Mom). I pray that great actresses like Turner and Winger get great roles NOW and not in crap like they have been offered in the past few years. Anyway the DVD of Peggy Sue is totally worthy of purchasing.

The first time I saw "Peggey Sue Got Married"..I fellin love with it!It will probably turn out to be a Classic! Look howmany unknowns were in it and they are all Big Stars today. Kathleen Turner, Nicolas Cage, Helen Hunt, Jim Carrey and Joan Allen. Francis Ford Coppola is a brilliant director. He knew something about his nephew, Nicolas Cage, then, that we couldn't see.. he is truly a great actor. I taped this movie from H.B.O. and it has finally worn out.. so now I have to purchase it! HaHa!

When DVD production started to really take off, no one knew just how it would change the way you look at movies. In many cases, you can have a good movie, but if it's on a bad DVD, it can ruin the movie for the watching person. Such has been the case with Colombia/Tri-Star DVDs. This was a pretty good movie, but I saw the DVD of it, and it ruined the film. There are no bonus features and the film print is rather poor. I have now bought ten movies that were made by Colombia/Tri-Star DVD video, and only three of the movies had a good DVD made on them. The rest have been a waste of money and this regretfully is another of them.

This movie does have some flaws but due to Kathleen Turner's performance it merits 4 stars. This role was originally supposed to go to that other great actress, who deserves better, Debra Winger. But Turner is brilliant. She actually becomes a teen again but in the same body and that is a real challenge that she was up to. Watch for early roles of Helen Hunt, Joan Allen and Jim Carrey. Turner was very deserving of a Best Actress Nomination (one she should have got for Romancing the Stone AND Serial Mom). I pray that great actresses like Turner and Winger get great roles NOW and not in crap like they have been offered in the past few years. Anyway the DVD of Peggy Sue is totally worthy of purchasing.

The first time I saw "Peggey Sue Got Married"..I fellin love with it!It will probably turn out to be a Classic! Look howmany unknowns were in it and they are all Big Stars today. Kathleen Turner, Nicolas Cage, Helen Hunt, Jim Carrey and Joan Allen. Francis Ford Coppola is a brilliant director. He knew something about his nephew, Nicolas Cage, then, that we couldn't see.. he is truly a great actor. I taped this movie from H.B.O. and it has finally worn out.. so now I have to purchase it! HaHa!

This movie was completely idiotic. The entire idea of the angels not being able to feel was mishandled (see the "What does a pear taste like?" scene. How is someone who could never taste supposed to know what "sugary sand" tastes like? But Cage's character just nods. Terrible.) The "plot twist" was ridiculous. And yes, the angels do look ominous. Meg Ryan was miscast as a heart surgeon. This is simply not worth watching. However, as a result of this crappy movie, I have been introduced to Wim Wender's version, which I will check out as it sounds far superior. The one star is for that.

That's it! I will not let this weakness go any further.
This movie is responsible for the downfall of the human race. This movie, along with Wings Of Desire, Titanic, Hope Floats, My Best Friend's Wedding, and all those others are good examples of how soft the human race has become. Any movie that is a love story is a movie of weakness, because love is weakness too. The strong finds ways to survive while the weak perish. This movie makes you cry, because it's weakness. As I said, the weak perish, and the strong survive. These movies are not for a warrior!

"City of Angels" opens up the doors of possibility while reflecting upon the realities of life. Every day we walk upon the earth, and most of us move about oblivious to the higher powers that guide us. In the movie, angels are everywhere, mostly unseen.One of the most profound aspects of this film is the portrayal of every range of human emotion, from laughter to grief, love to desperation. Nicolas Cage excels in his role as Seth, the unseen protector, whose desire is not just to observe, but to experience, life.Meg Ryan's Dr. Maggie Rice is driven, but struggles with the tenderness underneath. She feels she must be granite for her colleagues and patients alike, but inside she battles the reality of having emotions and reactions to them.This movie will make you laugh and cry, and if you contemplate its events, you will find that life is as it should be....maybe not fair, but it is real.May the angels watch over you.....

That's it! I will not let this weakness go any further.
This movie is responsible for the downfall of the human race. This movie, along with Wings Of Desire, Titanic, Hope Floats, My Best Friend's Wedding, and all those others are good examples of how soft the human race has become. Any movie that is a love story is a movie of weakness, because love is weakness too. The strong finds ways to survive while the weak perish. This movie makes you cry, because it's weakness. As I said, the weak perish, and the strong survive. These movies are not for a warrior!

This is the americanized version of the lovely "Wings of Desire" shot in Germany in 1988 by Wim Wenders. You should see that film. It truly is a beauty. THIS one, however, is so sub-par in comparison it is laughable. And not in a good way. Why, oh why, do american moviemakers insist on remaking old classics and foreign films? No ideas of their own I suppose. Pathetic. A great film recast and redone with a silly, shallow, cloying Hollywood veneer. Totally pointless and completely missing the artistry of the original. If I knew how to give negative stars, this one would get 5 of them.

First I did not see Wings of Desire, the film that COA is based on. Let me add that I am glad I did not because many of the negative reviews here are based upon a comparison of the two, and I would not have wanted any comparison of that sort to subtract one iota from how deeply I was affected by this truly beautiful film. Everything about it is so well done, the music, the imagery, the photography, the editing. And then there's Meg Ryan's performance--WOW! Her best, no doubt in my mind. Ryan's beauty has never risen above the "irrisitibly cute" level in my mind, but the photography, and lighting are so spot-on that she looks gorgeous in some scenes, so much so it hurts your heart to look at her. Dennis Franz is superb, and Cage does what he has to to make this film work, which means he is both etheral and understated. The limited range he displays in this film is in service to the larger story. Please take note of the detail in this film, the wonderful performances of the lesser roles: Ryan's friend Ann (Robin Bartlett), for one, and the two women( Deirdre O'Connell and Kim Murphy) who Ryan has to inform that their loved-one has died on the OR table. These two women are probably on screen for all of 45 seconds, but their performances are so on the mark, so creative, as to make them indelibly memorable because of their originality. I find myself watching that scene over and over.

Silberling(sp?), the director, has it all under control, and the editor certainly knows how to cut a movie.

Having said all these great things, let me say that the ending did not work for me, not because it wasn't as happy as it could be, but because it seemed contrived, not well thought out, and the performances fell a little flat at this time. Even so, even with an ending that disappoints, the film is worth seeing, and then seeing again. Buy it, rent it, borrow it, but see it.