The Fall (I) (2006) User Reviews

Fantasy and Reality Entwined

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 2 May 2010]

In the beginning of the Twentieth Century, in the pediatric wing of a hospital in Los Angeles, the talkative five year-old girl Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) is recovering from a broken arm. Alexandria works with her family of immigrants in the harvest of oranges and she has just lost her father. When she meets the injured stuntman Roy Walker (Lee Pace) recovering from a fall and also brokenhearted with the loss of his girlfriend to the lead actor, he begins to tell a fantastic tale about six heroes and their common enemy, the hideous Governor Odious. Black Bandit that lost his brother Blue Bandit that was killed by Odious' men; the expert in explosives Luigi that was outcast in his town by Odious; the Indian that lost his gorgeous wife that was abducted by Odious; the former slave Otta Benga that lost his twin brother in the fields of Odious; Charles Darwin that receives a rare "Mistica Americana" butterfly killed by Odious; and Mystic that hated Odious that destroyed the fauna and flora of his lands, join forces to defeat the evil Odious. While Alexandria fantasizes the story projecting the images of her acquaintances in the characters, the heartsick Roy uses her innocence to ask the girl to still morphine and medicines from the dispensary for him to commit suicide.

"The Fall" is one of the most original films that I have recently watched. This adventure has a stunning opening sequence in black and white and slow motion with the Allegretto from Ludwig van Beethoven's (1770-1827) Symphony # 7 in A mayor, Opus 92 in the soundtrack. The story entwines reality and fiction, burring the situations in a certain moment, and may be understood in many layers; therefore this dramatic feature can also been seen by children and is a great family entertainment. The cinematography sets and locations are very beautiful and bright with intense use of colors. This is the type of movie that deserves to be watched more than once to have the full understanding of all situations. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Dublê de Anjo" ("Stunt of Angel")

Beautiful, moving and surprisingly accessible

[hardkaur · 9/10 · 6 January 2007]

I saw this film in the Toronto Film Festival and was somewhat surprised by how much I enjoyed it, and the extent to which I was engaged in the reality that it creates. Catinca Untaru's performance is heartwarming and completely captivating, a truly lovable child-star whose appeal is based upon her authenticity and talent as opposed to her ability to bat her eyelids or wrinkle her nose. Her relationship with Roy (Lee Pace) is touching to behold and more importantly, entirely believable. Of course, as expected with Tarsem Singh as a director the film is visually stunning, featuring Baraka-like eye candy, which in itself deserves rave reviews and as a subsidiary to the story creates something quite spectacular. The use of worldwide locations allowed Tarsem to share some truly beautiful images with the viewers, and teamed with Catinca's acting left the audience as putty in his hands, laughing and crying as he wished.

Totally Blown AWAY .....

[bradpittsbodyguard · 9/10 · 18 March 2008]

I was absolutely blown away. I absolutely had no idea really what this movie was about and I didn't do any research on it and met a friend to see this screening and I have to tell you THIS IS film MAKING!!! I loved every minute of it!!!! I don't know why it hasn't been released but this is one movie I have to have in my video library to watch and watch over again. Story telling at its ultimate highest. I was very impressed with Catinca Untaru "Alexandria", I would love to see more of her, very talented not to mention Lee Pace, you can tell they worked very well together. I can not wait to see this movie again. I felt the ending was closure. Dan Gilroy - you need to write more often-I just can't say enough about this film. The cinematography ....is just awesome. Please release this film, I wanna see it again.

Spectacular, Arresting Visuals and Clever Storyline

[Indiefilmbuff · 10/10 · 26 April 2008]

I saw this film two weeks before its scheduled release at the Los Angeles Indian Film Festival at the Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood. The film saw a surprise premiere after another in the festival was canceled. The visuals are like nothing I have ever seen before: spectacular, epic, ... words cannot describe this masterpiece of cinematography. Every scene is a work of art. The color palate is so rich, from the bright orange of desert mountains, to the vibrant red of a blood-soaked sheet, to the opulent green of the Indian's attire. The first five minutes of the film were arresting, the haunting soundtrack, the beautiful black and white images, I had goosebumps.

The acting seems very candid, very real. The young Romania actress playing the role of Alexandria is adorable, and Lee Pace as always is superb as the hospitalized, paraplegic stuntman. The characters were absorbing, and the story captivating. And where many films were unworthy of the title of "A Fairy-tale for Adults" this film truly is. It is about love, death, adventure, responsibility, and growing up.

The sheer magnitude of this film is unbelievable, shot in 18 countries, spanning many years (for the director to scout locations and cast appropriate actors) it is a true work of genius and a commitment by all cast and crew. I just hope that the filmmakers get enough out of the commercial end of this movie, to compensate them for the great effort that so obviously went into the making of this film and so that we might possibly get another like it in the future.

Remarkable

[jonathan-medina-1 · 10/10 · 16 May 2008]

If you have not seen, or in fact, heard, of this movie, let me be the first to tell you about it.

This was and is the sort of experience that first enraptured and astounded me as regards to the movies. A story told in such a way as to become a part of your awareness, a gentle reminder of the fantastic, mythical and magical components of what is best in humanity whilst not forgetting what it means to be human.

Breathtaking does not even begin to describe the cinematography. The colors, the framing, costumes, lighting, and the backdrops are gorgeous; like something out of a dream. If this was just a visually moving film, that would be enough but there is so much more.

Tarsem Singh's direction is possessed. He manages to capture a kaleidoscope of emotion as diverse and generous as the tones and colors that deliver this movable feast for the eyes. His motley casting of relatively unknown actors is inspiring and refreshing.

The acting is extraordinary. Both poignant and comical, this journey of heartbreak and revenge, of discovery and friendship is conveyed with joy, witticism, curiosity and a vulnerability that is so rare in life, never mind in movies, it left me humbled. Especially the young Romanian girl, Catinca Untaru, who, not only made her big screen debut in this movie but is the heart and soul of the film in a breakthrough performance that I am sure will garner rave reviews.

It is my sincerest hope that you find this movie as emotive, tender and touching as I.

Where is the 4k release

[gifan-66075 · 10/10 · 30 May 2020]

This movie needs a 4k UHD Blu ray release. I can't think of a movie that would shine in 4k more. Great movie and stunning visually

Visually spectacular and emotionally engaging

[shaansahota · 10/10 · 6 January 2007]

The Fall is a charming, fantastical story with a haunting undertone and features the most endearing child actress since Jacques Doillon's Ponette... what more could a film boast? Moreover, this film could be watched on mute and still make a lasting impression on the viewer through its striking imagery. The Fall is the story of Alexandria, an injured immigrant child wandering the hospital where she is being treated. The viewer is drawn, with Alexandria into a dark and extravagant world through the story of a maimed stuntman who she befriends. The skilled interaction between the finely divided reality and fantasy is reminiscent of David Cronenberg's eXistenZ. I can not recommend this film any more strongly.

Ran, Tempestuous

[tedg · 21 November 2008]

This has three things to recommend it. Any two would be remarkable. All three make it a must see.

The most striking aspect of course is how lush the thing is. We may never see another film like this, one that uses real locations and practical effects but which has all of the other benefits of technology. Just the scope in impress of the thing makes it a thrill. Not only do we skip from one profound space to another, but Singhhas selected what seems to be the very best location for the eye. Often these are Tarkovsky-like so that we can see some action in the foreground and with a pan other action in the background. I doubt his DP made these decisions, so the choices are more remarkable.

"The Cell" had some powerful images, but they were incoherent, as if they were designed by competing art departments. No such problem here. Not only do the imaginary sequences have the same color palette (as it changes) even though the locations are a bewildering variety, but all the other artistic values do as well. We could well have different continents mixed in the same few minutes without a situational shift. That alone is a rare and worthy experience.

A second striking aspect is the narrative folding. At first glance it is simple and ordinary: a nested story with blended elements. But overlain n this is a parallel nesting about stories and movies, being a movie about movie-making. And falls, deliberate and staged, with some deep ambiguity about which is which. And which are physical and which emotional. It isn't great art, but its head and shoulders above most.

And finally we have the little girl. Now, I usually revolt when these are used to elicit the standard response. I gagged at "Miss Sunshine," because it was a weak project supported by cuteness. But this is a wholly different thing. This girl is fantastic. There are parts of the script that are embarrassing, and the end is a travesty of a story setup. But she pulls it off and we hardly notice.

This has one of the most impressive title sequences I have ever seen. It alone deserves praise.

I would trade ten "Pan's Labyrinth"s for one of these.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

"Baraka" meets "Adaptation"

[fablesofthereconstru-1 · 7/10 · 31 May 2008]

"Once upon a time," reads the caption in "The Fall", there was no movie industry in California, but there were orange trees, and stories; except the stories were contained in books, and sometimes the story required a human voice.

Set in the twenties, time is pertinent in "The Fall", as the storyteller weaves his elaborate tale to his young listener. The images generated by the narrator are painterly-looking for an intellectually-based reason, Roy(Lee Pace) grew up visiting museums, not movie houses. The hospital patient has been to a couple of films, but he doesn't know what the fuss is all about. The elaborate compositions in "The Fall" emanate from an art lover. The moving picture that illustrate his words and ideas are paintings come-to-life.

Late in "The Fall", the tone of Roy's story changes. Some would say, the thematic elements are unsuitable for Alexandria(Catinca Utaru, his captive audience. But remember, this is the nineteen-twenties; there was no such literature or film(once the ball started rolling) that catered(or is that, condescended) to children, no such thing as niche entertainment. A young girl like Alexandria read Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, not Nancy Drew mysteries, or Judy Blume. Early twentieth-century girls had their periods, too, but they didn't have to read about it.

To the movie buff, it should be clear that Tarsem, best known for R.E.M.'s artfully blasphemous "Losing My Religion" video, was inspired by David Fricke's "Baraka" and Spike Jonze's "Adaptation". His love affair with the Dziga Vertov-inspired, pan-cultural film about the world we live in, can even be glimpsed in his video for Deep Forest("Sweet Lullaby"). It's not just the sheer amount of countries that this production touched ground on, "The Fall" actually lifts entire scenes from "Baraka", most pointedly, the scene, in which a shaman chants with his disciples. The influence of the Charlie Kaufman script that starred Nicholas Case and his doppleganger, thankfully, is less obvious. There's a good, sizable chunk of "The Fall" that seems bad, but purposely so, I think, just like the moment in "Adaptation", when Donald Kaufman(the hack that goes to the Robert McKee seminar) takes over the narration from his twin-brother Charlie. In "The Fall", the darker narrative is a reflection on Roy's fatalistic state-of-mind. The subtext, Roy's tragic personal life, is barely kept in check, if at all, when Alexandria asks Roy to pick up the story where he had last left off. The violence isn't senseless. There's a psychologically-based reason for each death, but their renderings, are gratuitous, on the verge of being repetitious. "The Fall" starts to feel like a never-ending story.

Great Film

[isherisher · 10/10 · 21 February 2007]

Its been 5 days since i saw this film now, and I'm still thinking about it. It achieves an intense feeling of epic grandeur with its fantasy scenes, which are visually mesmerising. The casting was excellent, i thought the acting was very good, especially since all the actors/actresses are fairly unknown, especially the girl who plays Alexandria - an incredibly natural performance; this can probably be attributed to Tarsem's approach.

This film will make you laugh and cry simultaneously and has a profound effect on the viewer.

I actually found viewing it somewhat humbling, i just tried to appreciate it tot he best of my ability.

If you liked Cinema Paradiso and the Princess Bride then you will also love this film.

[thekingoftaisho · 9/10 · 25 September 2006]

I saw this movie at the Toronto film festival, the Elgin Theater.

First off, it was nice to see a film where the director had complete creative control to execute his vision. This film does not suffer the fate of marketers or no talent Hollywood producers who think they are artist or visionaries.

If you liked Cinema Paradiso and the Princess Bride then you will also love this film. Tarsem's lavish imagery and fantastic locations create the atmosphere for an epic adventure, while the acting of Lee Pace, Justine Waddell and especially, Cantinca Untaru provide the drama and laughter.

First, Cantinca Untaru as Alexandria is superb. I normally avoid films with children as they are usually cheesy or groan worthy. Cantinca, however, is much like the little boy in Cinema Paradiso, a natural child. When Alexandria says things we believe her, when she does things it is her child like nature we are watching come out. There is nothing stiff or unnatural about this young actress and it is a great credit to Tarsem as a director that he was able to pull this level of acting from a child. While watching the movie, I was amazed at how Tarsem and Cantinca were able to move the audience from laughter to tears and back to laughter so fluidly. Lee Pace puts in an excellent show and does a great job as a suicidal patient in the hospital, but Cantinca is definitely the star of this show.

Tarsem has a great eye for location and he exhibits it well in this movie. It truly was shot all over the world. Along with all the great locations are the beautifully colorful costumes of fashion designer Eiko Ishioka. The costumes are larger than life and beautiful in their symbolism.

So having said all that, I would highly recommend this movie. This is one of those rare films that actually does have a bit of something for everyone yet keeps its integrity.

Really great movie

[nozomimura · 7/10 · 22 July 2009]

I saw the movie in ESL class in July. I have to say that I enjoyed watching it immensely.To tell the truth it was difficult to understand at first because I sometimes was confused between the mythical story and the actual story. Once I realized that both stories were connected with Roy, a hero's life, It was easy to follow these stories. Specially, I liked the little girl who saved his spirit.

This film taught me many things. For example, our life is very hard sometimes, like betrayal, sickness, poverty and so on, but if someone really cares about you, you can save yourself. I recommend that those people who have lost their hope, it may be worth seeing it. I'm sure it will make you feel better.

Next, I liked every scene because they were very beautiful and clear pictures. Each scene brought me to many different countries, and it reminded me of the places where I traveled before. Anyway, I enjoyed it and am thankful that this film was made.

Astounding visuals, lame story

[richard-1787 · 5/10 · 4 June 2008]

I went to see this movie despite a poor review in the local paper because the previews I saw contained some of the most beautiful and remarkable photography I had ever seen. As it turns out, this is really two movies, one inside the other. The "outer" movie is a forgettable Hallmark Hall of Fame type drama about a Hollywood stuntman who has lost his girl and wants to commit suicide. He regains a will to live because of the affection of a young girl. Obvious and uninteresting.

The "inner" movie is quite otherwise, however. The stuntman, in the hospital with the young girl, tells her a story that she visualizes using people in her own life (yes, just like the Wizard of Oz). Her visualizations are both gorgeous, with astounding and vibrant color, and wildly imaginative, producing images worthy of a great surrealist painter.

The team who produced the visualization sequences should be gathered back together to make a full-length feature film containing more of the same. The writers who produced the script for this movie should be banned from further participation in film. If ever there were a film that would be better with the sound off, this is it.

A grand journey

[whitehotjazz · 10/10 · 18 January 2007]

I saw this film recently at a test screening. For me it worked brilliantly on so many levels. Not the least of which is in it's originality. This is a film unlike any other and one that kept me thinking about it for days afterward. Director Tarsem Singh, as expected,delivers every scene as a work of beauty, and peppers the film throughout with visual surprises. But The Fall is about much more than eye candy. High adventure, spectacular vistas, love, betrayal, and two lead actors who develop a relationship that is actually moving in more than a superficial way. Think David Lean as filtered through Jean-Pierre Jeaunet. The Fall is simply Tarsem Singh's love letter to cinema.

Googly, googly, go away The Fall

[jaredmobarak · 10/10 · 14 June 2008]

With a nice sprinkling of humor and an endearing quality of childhood, this tale cuts between reality and the minds' of our two leads as they journey together inside a myth with bandits seeking revenge for the wrongs done to them. Much like The Wizard of Oz, we see the duality of characters from the real world standing in for the heroes in the story. Young Alexandria uses what she knows to encompass herself into the fairy tale as her new friend Roy weaves a yarn of intrigue, not to lift the child's spirits, but instead for his own selfish gains.

A big part of the film can be seen in the line from Pace's Roy, "Are you trying to save my soul?" He jokes it after Alexandria gives him some food she stole, a Eucharist from the hospital chapel, yet we as an audience know the truth behind those words. While this Spanish girl is really only attempting to connect with someone that will give her attention and friendship after breaking her arm working the orange groves, she is unintentionally doing just that. She is giving this man a reason to live, whether he realizes it himself or even wants it at all. Injuring himself with a suicide attempt on set of his new movie, this stunt man may be on the mend, but his heart is still broken from his girlfriend leaving for the film's star. Still desperately trying to find a way to end his life, Roy begins to tell a story of a battle against insurmountable odds, a group of five bandits looking for revenge and not caring what happens to them in order to achieve it. Always stopping short, "at the best parts, when the story gets beautiful," as Alexandria says in her broken English, Roy begins to use the girl in order to acquire pills for which to overdose on. He feels bad for his ruse and doesn't want the young girl to see him in his current state, but the pain of his heart is too much to bear.

Visually stunning, the art direction is breathtaking. I don't care what bad things I've heard about Tarsem's first film The Cell, I need to see it as soon as possible based solely on the artistry displayed here. Right from the start we are treated to the credit sequence in slow motion, black and white beauty. Unaware in the moment of what it is exactly we are seeing, the subtle melancholy of the sequence is unshakable as we begin our entry into the real world at a convalescence hospital. The imagery stays with you, though, and shortly you are transported back into that world of intrigue with Eastern influences, vast dunes of sand, labyrinthine temples and cities, and clear, crisp imagery choreographed with a technical genius. Every character in the story comes from a different part of the world with a specific skill and culture. We have the African slave, the Indian swordsman, Charles Darwin and his monkey Wallace, the Teddy Roosevelt-esquire explosive specialist, the mystic seeker brought forth from a burning tree, and our hero, the masked bandit. Each costume is crafted with care and grace, filling the frame with a sumptuous beauty to mesmerize you for the duration and allow the separation between this fabricated reality for the dreary one of pain and solitude always waiting to come back outside their minds.

While my eyes were treated to a gorgeous display, thankfully my mind was not left behind. One may anticipate this being a children's film, a world of make believe as two souls come together in order to save each other. On the surface this fact can be agreed upon, however, this is a very dark tale that, maybe undeserving of its R-rating, pulls no punches as far as showing the cruelty of the world, rather than sugar-coating a message into the proceedings. As Roy says, "everything dies." This is a very true statement and Tarsem never shies from showing the reality of that situation when necessary. Both in the real world and that of imagination, we are shown instances that are very difficult to watch. Emotionally draining at times, this is not your run-of-the-mill cautionary tale; it will tear your heart out and show you the pain that exists inside of Roy. Complete with a scene of stop-motion animation, showing us the inner workings of Alexandria's mind in duress, this film takes you to the edge and sometimes over.

These moments of emotional weight hinge on the stellar performances of all involved; most importantly those of Pace and Catinca Untaru. Pace has the range to play the fictional hero fighting against the evil Governor Odious and still be the broken man, bedridden and finished with life. And Untaru shows an immense sense of realism as this Spanish girl listening to a tale of wonderment, dealing with issues of loss and sacrifice, complete with a very tenuous grasp on the English language. What at times seems too natural, her quizzical looks when not understanding what Pace says to her and therefore just smiling or repeating herself, becomes utter genius when we catch her lying to both mother and doctor as she plays translator between them. The poise, grace, and abundance of life, (both to smile and to cry), is unbelievable and without her, this film wouldn't have been near as good as it is. The two have a brilliant rapport, causing the audience to giggle at their language gap and tongue-in-cheek moments when the story is shown to be just that, ever changing as the tellers evolve it, and to feel the bond being forged. With a climax that is difficult to watch, yet utterly entrancing through the tears and anger being let out, The Fall never ceases to amaze and I cannot wait to immerse my entire being into this magical world again.

Not Art-house, But An Excellent Film.

[caughtinpossession · 10/10 · 20 February 2007]

I have just seen this film in Berlin and I felt it my duty to comment on reading some comments made here about the film.

One person wrote: "To paraphrase, Hudsucker Proxy, "The Fall" fails because there are 2 stories,one based in reality and the other fantasy. And they are equally important. One take you away visually without connection to any of the characters or emotions. The reality takes hold to your emotion but it can not hold on for long as the fantasy part resumes. That was the problem for me."

I disagree completely, the fantasy scenes have a very significant connection to the characters and emotions, the inconsistencies in the story told by the crippled stuntman Roy, played by Lee Pace, reflect his unstable mental state and the dark ending portrays his disintegrating sense of morality. The story is told by Roy: we see how his character develops through the plot of the story he tells, for example, in the closing scenes when he is manically depressed,he starts killing off the beloved characters, conveying his extremely pessimistic attitude towards life in general as a result of everything that has happened to him.

I found the two stories equally gripping, and was engaged emotionally throughout. I found that every time it switched from fantasy to reality i desperately wanted to know and see more, and vice versa.

The acting was superb, from both Lee Pace and also Catinca Untaru. The interaction between them was not, as it usually is with child actors, wooden, but completely believable and natural. I wonder how Tarsem coaxed such a genuine performance from someone so young.

I have never seen a movie like this, and I doubt there has every been one made quite like it. The visuals are literally breathtaking, i was not aware such beauty exists and it is criminal that it has not been filmed before. At the same time, this film is actually quite funny, i laughed out loud on a few occasions.

I dismiss claims that this is an art-house film; yes, the visuals are stunning but the film has to be recognised as not only a collection of beautiful images but a heart-warming, epic, wonderful film. This film has something for everyone; I hope it does well.

A truly excellent film, I recommend it to anyone.

Amazing Visuals & Intaru's Acting Make This Memorable

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 30 July 2010]

Somewhere on the Internet, someone wrote a column, "The Ten Most Visually-Stunning Movies Of The Last Decade" (or something like that.). The only movie I hadn't never heard of on this list was this one - The Fall - so I anxiously checked it out. Well, it certainly lived up to expectations, especially on Blu-Ray which was the recommended way to view the DVD.

Yes, it was one of the most amazing visual films I've ever seen. The story was a strange one and which gave me mixed feelings about it, was it was but okay. If read the other reviews here, you'll find everyone agrees "The Fall" is amazing "eye candy" but opinions really vary on the story, from loving it to hating it. In addition to the stunning visuals, the other thing that amazed me was how good an actress young Catinca Intaru ("Alexandria") turned out to be. I can see why she beat out 400 other competitors for this role, and received top billing. A Romanian girl who could speak decent English, she and the lines she delivered made for a very believable character.

Overall, this is a film you might like and might not, perhaps depending on your appreciation for photography. To me, that and realism of the child actress, made it a disc worth keeping.

The Fall is an interesting movie.

[marusa1357 · 16 October 2009]

The Fall is an interesting movie with a variety of features such as mystery, suspense, violence, romance etc. It mixes reality with fantasy. I personally enjoyed the movie. Although it seems a little bit complicated to understand, this movie gives us a lesson of loyalty. It is amazing to see how two persons of different age develop a very strong friendship. The character of the little girl really stole my heart. She is an adorable actress; so cute and tender. The scenes have been filmed in very attractive places all over the world. That is one reason by which people keeps interested thorough the whole movie. I personally recommend this movie to everyone.

Visually gorgeous but in this case it isn't enough.

[MOscarbradley · 6/10 · 19 May 2018]

Visually Tarsem Singh's "The Fall" is one of the most beautiful films ever made. The credit sequence, shot in slow motion and in black and white, is breathtaking and when it goes into full colour it is never less than gorgeous. It's a kind of Arabian Nights phantasia as Lee Pace's hospital patient, (he's an injured stuntman with suicidal tendencies), tells a series of tall tales to a another patient, a little girl with a broken arm, (an enchanting Catinca Untaru), The problem is the stories are too 'adult' for children, as are the sequences set in the hospital, and too inconsequential for an adult audience. However, imagery this beautiful is rare, (Singh shot the film in a number of world-wide locations), and if there isn't much here to tax the brain, the eye is constantly dazzled. Unfortuantely, in this case, that really isn't enough.

This film sets new standards for beauty

[aharmas · 10/10 · 29 May 2008]

Using "The Wizard of Oz" as inspiration is pretty commendable, throwing in a dash of Gilliam's imagination, and bringing in top talent to take our breath away with its glorious and impressive camera work, art direction, and the magical costumes, "The Fall" is an amazing treat for people who love cinema.

"The Fall" tells the story of a broken heart, and how people cope with tragic moments, how wonders and imagination can flourish in the worst situation, and how children's perspectives can still be colored with hope and a sense of wonder that can overcome almost any type of negative experiences. Their sense of resilience can heal their spirit and, at times, other people's.

"The Fall" takes us on a journey of a child's imagination, as she transforms the tricky storytelling of a hospital patient into a colorful, magical, and quite impressive universe where things are always beautiful, humorous, bigger than life, and as far away from everyday life as they can be. "The Fall" takes the audience into several locations in this planet that can easily qualify as paradise. From its sensation underwater scenes to the marvelous desert battle scenes.

This movie will entertain you, will delight you, will impress you, and most importantly, will make you revisit your own appreciation of the human spirit. It is quite an experience to behold.

Amazing...except for the parts that aren't

[BillyHussa · 7/10 · 3 June 2008]

Shortly put, this movie is about a little girl, Alexanderia, who's been hospitalized and meets a grown-up patient who tells her wild fantasies using familiar characters to lore her to steal him medication.

Cinematically (visually, artistically, aesthetically, etc.) this movie is one of the most pleasing I've seen. It generally revolves around the use of vivid colors filmed on location in a long list of exotic locations (Bali, India...). The directing, acting, and dialog I thought were done exceptionally well. Alexandria could not have been done better. These things were done so well I think the average viewer will forgive the fact that the story line falls short big time.

I'm hesitant to use the word 'slow' when describing this movie because that implies there are scenes that should have been cut out or that it's too long, which isn't true at all. I'm going to say that this movie lacked a certain intensity that hooks and captivates and audience (save for a couple short parts). The movie revolves around a fantasy story that comes off flimsy as it is seemingly made up as the storyteller relays it. The result is a storyline that doesn't make you wonder at all where it's going because you know it's no where.

I'll end it by saying this: Had the storyline been as good as the rest of the movie, there's not a doubt in my mind that this movie would easily reach IMDb top 50.

The Fall

[mexico04 · 9/10 · 16 October 2009]

The Fall

An outrageous imagination and sense of colors combine to make this film beautiful. I think the story is too thin for adults, and a little too dark for kids. There is death a violence and terrible sadness, but it's also an interesting movie, rich in ideas and humanity. It reminds us that fiction is real to the one who imagines it. An adult might read with detachment, but kids know the truth. This film takes place in Los Angeles hospital in the 1920s. Alexandria is a curious 5 years old child with broken arm, and she meets a friend named Roy Walker. He was a movie stunt man with legs paralyzed after a fall. He tell Alexandria stories including one about Emperor Alexander, and the second story of six men: Lury, an explosion expert, a Native American Indian, a runaway slave, an East Indian swordsman a masked bandit, and Charles Darwin. They want to kill the oppressive Spanish Governor Odious for all the injustices on each of them. This is an epic story of love and revenge. This film capture each amazing setting, architectural oddities, and every kind of epic landscape, long, long trip through the museum. This film jumps from humor, comedy to documentary to wrenching drama. There's no real sense of suspense in the plot beyond wondering what setting we'll arrive next. When Roy Walker asks Alexandria to steal morphine for him so he can commit suicide, she steals the medicine for him and as a result he continues with the story. I think Alexandria was little confused about the morphine because she doesn't have clear idea of how Roy is going to use the medicine. When she was looking for the medicine last time she has an accident, but she didn't realize the dangerous. She only wants to give the morphine to Roy because he was in depressed. All of the actors in story represent characters in Alexandria's real world. The Magic is an orange picker and the princess is a nurse. The movie also has a double function, capturing both the brilliant vistas of Alexandria's fanny and the duskier, shadowed limits of a hospital. Became it is something close to metaphor, it's a fictions within a fiction about the curative power, and possessive attract of fiction. Who own a tale? The one who tells it? Or the one who is listening? Both became invested in the telling. This film shows how you can play with your imagination, and how it doesn't have limits. It also shows how you can change. I love and learn a lot from this movie.

A sumptuous tale of mythology and magic with gorgeous outdoors and breathtaking special effects

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 2 September 2023]

This is a sensitive film about human solidarity filled with humor and poetry. The picture is a fun epic with stirring adventures, struggles, bizarre scenarios and turns out to be entertaining enough. In a hospital on the outskirts of 1920s Los Angeles, there is an injured stuntman , Roy Walker (Lee Pace), he's a young actor with his backbone broken (he is crippled after a bad fall from his horse on the filming stage) is being treated in a hospital. He is invalidated for good and he wills not to live further on. Roy has a fellow patient, a little girl , Alexandria (Catinca Untaru), with a broken arm who is assisted by Nurse Evelyn (Justine Waddell), with whom there seems to be shared affection. Then, the stuntman tells her a fantastic story of five mythical heroes. So Roy starts to tell Alexandria an elaborate story about six men of widely varied backgrounds who are on a quest to kill a corrupt provincial governor. Little by little the real people in hospital are transformed into the imaginary heroes of the adventurous stories. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, as the child is really fascinated, the line between fiction and reality blurs as the tale advances. Roy's attachment to his small friend, and his trustfulness and good heart make the Actor abandon his dark plans and restore his faith in life. A Little Blessing In Disguise!.

The flick packs nice settings, interesting characters with elaborate costumes and a seamless combination of splendorous exteriors and special effects. Every little scene has been given maximum detail, as gowns , environment and set design, backgrounds and lush frames showing overwhelming scenarios. Groundbreaking and colorful rendition about magic mythologies with breathtaking images, impressive battles and marvellous landscapes . Spectacular visual waste in this impressive film that mixes fantasy, fairy tales, fights and sense of wonder. A captivating and emotional film that will amaze you with extravagant adventures full of imagination, beauty and lavish settings. An enjoyable tale about an actor and a child vanquished by goodness, honesty and self-denial. Gradually, this pre-planned friendship develops into sincere devotion and affection. Director creates a unique work, beyond imagination, 4 years of filming, and locations in 28 different countries needed Tarsem Singh to carry out this megalomaniacal production. It is a remake of the Bulgarian film Yo Ho Ho (1981), it won the best film award at the Sitges festival and also had recognition in Berlin and Austin. The two leading actors are pretty good: Lee Pace (Captain Marvel) as the actor who starts telling a marvelous fairy tale and Catinca Untaru that despite her young age she gives a captivating performance. Little Catinca, of Romanian origin, was only 9 years old and had no experience as an actress when she was cast in the film. Still, she received much of the praise, even being nominated for a Saturn Award. While Justine Waddell is truly attractive in her double role as Nurse Evelyn and Sister Evelyn.

The motion picture was compellingly and originally directed by Tarsem Singh. He is one of the most particular directors on the current film scene, especially for the spectacular visual style that he gives to his films, inherited from his extensive experience in the world of advertising and music videos. This Indian director began his debut with ¨The Cell¨ stars Jennifer Lopez and also directed ¨Immortals¨with Henry Cavill. He frequently collaborated with the late costume designer Eiko Ishioka, until her passing, she was the only designer he had worked with . Tarsem also made similar experiments filled with light , color and weird frames such as ¨The fall¨, ¨Immortals¨, ¨The cell¨, ¨Mirror , Mirror¨, among others . Rating: 7.5/10. Better than average.

Promising start but never gets out of low gear

[rlange-3 · 4/10 · 10 January 2009]

Yes yes, cutesy little girl, great actress, endearing, with majestic visuals but... it never really goes anywhere. And after awhile the novelty wears off and by the midpoint in the movie I found myself waiting for a "point". By the last quarter, I was waiting and hoping for an "end" and slipping into terminal boredom.

Obviously most people liked the movie a lot better than me, and I have no problem with that. There is no reason to give this movie a one or a two but I wish it had been over at the midpoint, giving me the experience without the listless last half.

Here's your tenth line. Like the rest of the movie, it doesn't contribute much.

Fantastical, moving and all so very surprising!

[getouttameweekend · 9/10 · 26 February 2009]

I really didn't know what to expect with this film. The only review i read was on this very site. I only got a copy of 'The Fall' from one of my friends, he didn't even watch it so i had no info from him. I'm delighted i watched this without knowing what to expect, it added to the film's impact. I had no preconceptions, or bias views to take into it, which proved worthwhile. The film is set in a 1920's Los Angeles hospital. Our two protagonists are complete opposites; a crippled stuntman with a deteriorating mental state(Lee Pace) and a young girl with a flourishing, imaginative mind(Catinca Untaru). Obviously there isn't much to do in a 1920's hospital and so Roy(Lee Pace) begins to tell Alexandria(Catinca) a mystical, fantasy tale of five 'bandits' on a globe-trotting quest. The film contains some of the most amazing visual imagery i have seen. And for that alone i would have rated this movie highly. However, it also has a moving subplot to compliment the fantasy, one of a very adult nature. Its almost like a gritty Tolkien tale. I also must take a moment to praise the acting of the fantastic Catinca Untaru. It was one of the most believable performances i have seen from a child actor since Danny Lloyd played 'Danny Torrance' in 'The Shining'. I'm sure Lee Pace had no problems working with this child actor, Pace also gave an excellent performance. The two were cast perfectly. When the end credits rolled, i found myself feeling empty; but not because the film was poor, the complete opposite. An emptiness brought on by loss, i was missing the film already, it felt like a friend had left. I had laughed and cried throughout the film and was now distraught to have seen it end, and really, isn't that the best compliment you could pay to a movie?