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22 reviews in total

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19 out of 23 people found the following review useful:
Good entertainment!, 17 July 2004

Author: Boba_Fett1138 from Groningen, The Netherlands

It's funny how much this movie is hated and bashed by mainly the French speaking people and critics for whom Michel Vaillant is a real icon figure, while in the rest of Europe and outside of it, this movie is regarded as a good movie! It are mainly the people who grew up with the comic books that saw and hated this movie, hence the low rating on IMDb.com. But for those who aren't familiar with the comic books this movie is a fun watching pleasure and very well worth seeing. I'm sure when the movie gets more world widely released, the rating will go up as well, something this movie really deserves.

This movie is a great example of how a movie based on a comic book should be. The movie is very stylish and uses some great camera positions and editing (even though at times the editing is very sloppy)

Granted that the story is absolutely unbelievable and dumb but in this case I had no problems or what so ever with it. Keep in mind that this movie is based on comic books, so if you expect any reality or logic, this movie might not be your kind of thing. Just sit back and enjoy and don't think too much about the story.

Of course the best things about the movie are the races. For a race lover this movie is a real must see. The races are really spectacular and should get your adrenaline flowing.

I certainly wouldn't mind seeing more Michel Vaillant movies being made!

8/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

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15 out of 20 people found the following review useful:
Might I disagree?, 23 February 2004

Author: Loff24 from Portugal

Well, ok, it's no masterpiece, but I seem to be the only person here that took some enjoyment from it. The comics in which the movie was inspired are not there, I agree, but when you accept it like another movie and not an adaptation, you'll probably like it. See it for the sheer pleasure of seeing a racing competition and a great display of technical achievements, and you won't come out disappointed. This is one of those movies that don't bear a close scrutiny, but that's not the reason why they made it. Good to know that at least it's entertaining, and has some feeling. Sometimes only that makes it worth while.

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12 out of 19 people found the following review useful:
A very uneven movie, 24 November 2003

Author: jimraynor from United States

This movie is strangely uneven. On the one hand, all the shots on a racetrack or whenever somebody drives a car are very nicely shot and framed. But when it's a transition scene, it has the look and terrible acting of a third-zone TV feature. Some shots are not even really in focus ! Furthermore, all the post-production dubbing of the foreign actors is quite off, and the story has some big plot holes. For instance, why don't they even try to call the police ? What's left is a movie with some pretty girls, very nice cars and some good action sequences. Not that bad, but not enough to make a good movie.

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5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Very well made! Simple script., 28 August 2004
Author: Runfire from Spain, Catalunya

Well, the movie is very well made, personally I like the car racing world, and you can see in the movie that Luc Besson is fan of cars. The script is very simple, is based on a comic, and it's not really very original, but the effects, and the way that frames were took made the movie interesting. Don't expect a kind of stuff like "the fast and the Furious" or "taxi" because the movie doesn't try to be spectacular , it trys more to find quality images. The rate I gave to the movie is a 7, and i find that the actual rate 4.5 is not enough.

(If you have played to Pro Race Driver or went to karting you will enjoy more ;)).

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4 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
nice try but no thanks, 19 November 2003

Author: petra from Brussels, Belgium

The movie starts with a lot of noise and a spectacular scene. But that's about it. The story is predictable and the characters not convincing enough. In this movie are the bad guys bad, and the good ones good. No depth in any character. The scenes with the cars are spectacular and that's the only good thing about this movie.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Disappointed, too much too...business, 2 November 2010

Author: Jeliosjelios from France

An action movie formatted to market requirements.

Rare are the successful adaptations in this period and even more rare and interesting films on the motorsport. Here's another example ... very disappointing.

The dramatization is dramatic and predictable. The action is very exaggerated and grotesque compared to the mind of the comics.

On the technical side of the film is doing very well and creates its own identity. But despite some nice pictures, they are nevertheless far too artificial and the blue tone is annoying.

Efforts are inconsistent: as shown by Valiant Rally cars, which are cars with a famous French manufacturer with three stickers and few modifications compared to the shooting of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the establishment and listing of official teams for the shooting.

Although the brands through sponsorship are omnipresent in motor sport, here are the brand placements are too much compared to the plot, so that we seem to attend a series of commercials.

Besides the character of Cramer (the leader driver) starring Francis Levantal, the characters are too caricatured and despite the presence of Diane Kruger.

For the motor sport amateurs and the more knowledgeable is always nice to see the screen elements of motorsports, such as circuits with" Magny-Cours"," Le Mans" or the "le Mas du clos" where the training is pleasant.

A movie formatted, the law of the market here is what inspires this film.

What a shame! , especially for the lovers of motorsport and Michel Vaillant.

For the amateur I take this opportunity to note that although we are very far from the means used for the Michel Vaillant by Europa, the mini-series of 13 episodes filmed during the sixties "Michel Vaillant" is a true gem, with Filming also directly on official tests and races, this series is very very good by his spirit, his fidelity to the original and its authenticity.

You can find it full in DVD box set (series directed by Charles Bretoneiche and Nicole Rich; scenario: Nicole Rich scenarios and Madeleine Wagon; with Henri Grandsire, Mony Dalmas, Yves Brainville Alain Leguellec, Claudine Coaster, Bernard Dhers, ... LCJ Editions & Editions productions and INA)

Jelios

jelios@hotmail.fr

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Weak, predictable, not really worth the ticket. (some spoilers), 17 November 2003

Author: Zieveraar from Antwerp, Belgium

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

As I sat down in the theater, free ticket for the avant-premiere in my hand, I was ready to watch what I thought was going to be an entertaining and action-packed movie. After all, Luc Besson did participate in the writing and he is rather well known for his movies. (5th Element, Nikita, Taxi 1&2 (writing only), ...)

As I left the theater, about one hour and a half later, I was severely dissapointed.

The movie is not really that bad, but just plain and too predictable to be good.

The acting is not really good, the action scenes (lots of racing, as the movie is based on the graphic novel of 'Michel Vaillant', which is a comic of the racing circuit) are not bad, but hardly spectacular.

As for the story, clichés all around, no suspense whatsoever (the bad guys do everything they can to win, surprise, they don't) not even in the finale.

The story is about a racing family, Vaillant, and in particular Michel Vaillant, the youngest son who just happens to be very good at racing. The team has another team as adversaries, the Leaders, who will do anything to win, including sabotage and such things. After obtaining new cars, the Vaillants decide to race in LeMans, the 70th edition, surprise, the Leaders decide to make their comeback and want to win LeMans too. Other elements are a wife of a crashed pilot that joins the Vaillant team in order to honour her husbands memory, and meanwhile taking revenge on the Leaders team for getting her husband killed in a previous race.

That is about it, not good not that bad either, I'ld give it a 5/10.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
far above the line, 29 May 2007

Author: nose_smasher from Romania

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Usually I don't post comments here because I'm lazy :) but I do when I'm impressed positively OR negatively. OK, now let's start.

First of all, I must admit to be a little too subjective regarding this movie, because I love motor-sports. I saw Michel Vaillant just one hour ago at TV and here is my verdict:

TOP NOTCH: -the visual style, absolutely stunning, is the first thing what hit your eyes. Luc Besson did again a great job. For those who aren't see the film yet, just imagine that the BBC's Top Gear crew did all the shots. -strong, saturated colors, a feast for the eye -unusual angles: rear or front bumper, the tribunes shot vertically, etc. -short, but memorable scenes: a butterfly flapping the wings and taking off from the hood as the engine is started, a brake disc heated within a second to red, the two prototype race cars appearing suddenly from the behind of an old Citroen 2CV (ha ha, brilliant), the race truck (team Vaillant) rushing into the lake, rising a big water curtain and scaring two fishermen in a boat. -a lot of in-race shots, a must-see for every race fan. Also, because of so much action on the screen, the film has an essential quality: it's not boring.

FLOPS: -unbelievable storyboard facts: the father kidnapped by Ruth Wong, a frustrated chick, and destined to death if his son, Michel, dare to win the race. The same Michel, forced to race for the competing Leader team (c'mon...). Julie Wood hitting several times her car against the opponent, until the two ended with the cars in flames (at 250-300 km/h this is not a proof of minimal intelligence). More, she's not an aggressive person and in race you're focused on your job, not to smash your competitor car. Whatever... -cheesy, melodramatic sequences:Michel bearing Julie in his arms from the crash point to the pits. No one helped him? -overacting: sorry to say, but Lisa Barbuscia (who play the Ruth Wong's character) appeared to be artificial and fake.

Overall, a very good movie, worth not only a rental, but also to buy the DVD. Money well spent, great fun delivered. Good job, Frenchies!

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Disappointing, 13 December 2005

Author: neil-egan from Germany

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

First of all to gerhard24's comments - the cars at LeMans use normal petrol however, they have a special refueling system with two hoses, one on each side of the car: fuel in one side, air out the other so you're right, they couldn't have refueled at a regular filling station. As for the smoke coming out the front of the Leader: this is perfectly accurate as the Panoz LPM1 (aka "Leader") has it's engine in the front - one of the only racing prototypes at LeMans that does.

Anyway, I found the movie really disappointing. I was at LeMans 2002 when the two extra cars ran to film the sequences for this movie. We were all really looking forward to seeing the final result and frankly I was gutted when I did. Lame story with far too many inaccuracies to make it it any way believable: no way anyone could run out onto the track (Odessa) and and and....They missed out completely on building up the atmosphere before the race and from the way it was filmed it looked like only the Vaillants and Leaders were racing.

However, in Germany the DVD s well worth buying just for the additional material: making of and a series of complete laps of LeMans filmed from inside the Vaillant (Courage) and the Leader (Panoz). Great stuff! Dump the movie though.

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6 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Great action !, 13 September 2005

Author: (killy_nl) from Netherlands

I never read any Michel Vaillant comic book. Maybe this is the reason why I found this film so great: the sound of roaring cars, the pictures of the silent sky, slow motion on details, expressive colours and a thrilling plot. Two enemies, Vaillant and Leader teams, see each other again after 13 years during the 24h of Le Mans, ready for a showdown. While the Leader team never heard about fair play, Michel Vaillant tries to make the best out of a desperate situation. 15 Minutes before the end of the race it seems that he has no chance at all to win the race ... So, if you like racing games (e.g. Project Gotham Racing) this film is a must. After watching it, grab your joystick or wheel , charge Forza Motorsport ans blast your enemies !

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