Notre-Dame brûle

This is not a subtle film at all. You have the build up which comes on like an episode of Casualty with people casually tossing cigarettes left right and centre, faulty electrics blowing up and hand tools sparking everywhere. It feels a bit ott and very heavy handed.

When the fire starts the sequence of events jumps about a bit and there are some odd moments of 'light relief' that seem out of place. It is a very uneven film, and overlong too I would say. Which is perhaps why the ending feels sudden and rushed, it doesn't even tie up the loose ends the film has invented.

At times it wants to take itself seriously while at others its straight exploitation fayre. Some of the final fire scenes are very well filmed though and you could completely believe that it was taking place at the cathedral.

I think it probably does a disservice to a lot of those at the scene and some of it felt a little inappropriate, as well as inaccurate. I would highly recommend the film from a couple of years ago by the Naudet brothers as this had much more emotional depth(as well as actual facts).