The movie starts with a polished sequence of the angel Gabriel falling through space. The Arc Angel is sent to a place called purgatory where he takes human form. Like those that came before him he must fight the fallen to determine whether light or dark rules the bleak middle world.
I have now seen this film twice. Once in the cinemas and I now picked up a DVD today. I highly anticipated this films release. When I first came across it I was genuinely excited that finally an Australian team was putting together a different film. This is definitely not what you would expect from an Aussie film. This isn't another dreary drama about a couple of drug addicts that can't find a plot. The director Shane Abbess and crew have put together something thats built to please audiences rather than the arty types.
The visuals in Gabriel are a truly amazing accomplishment. To pull off what they have with such a tiny budget is really unheard of anywhere. The whole dark atmosphere that has been created here reminds me of such films as Dark City and Bladerunner. Everything does seem a little off, like a puzzle piece that doesn't quite fit in the space but you can jam it in anyway.
Abbess didn't have the dollars to work massive fight scenes so instead he has taking a more creative intimate approach. He has tried things that are unusual and not typical of regular action movies. For this Gabriel is worth at least one sit through. Watching it on the cinema screen the film was grainy. At home with a DVD that same distortion is hardly noticeable. I've read that it was down to the camera they had used. So experiencing it the first time at home is probably best.
The first time through I really, really wanted to enjoy it. And I did. The second time through I did get bored in places of the story. To me it didn't offer any real connection with the audience. The actors sometimes drifted in and out of American/Australian/neutral or some combination of accents. I remember one of the Arc Angels, Uriel opened with a short first line something along the lines of"Whadda you want?" with a distinctly Aussie accent, afterwards he settled into an American accent. It can be very distracting.
I just didn't feel anything for the story or characters. They were put in a very dark fantasy world and had dialogue that didn't draw you in at all. That seemed to have a high fantasy tone and wording. Always talking of grand concepts much of it to do with strength and obligation to fight evil. Something is lost in the grandness they attempt to pull off.
It was interesting enough to hold together the action sequences and low budget, fancy visuals. It does address some interesting thoughts like how does a person stay good within such an evil place. You will definitely remember this cult movie.
Gabriel is a huge accomplishment. The people that were involved in this project will go on to bigger things because of this. One thing is certain is that Australia should be making more movies like Gabriel. Movies that actually appeal to audiences. It is beyond me why this didn't get at least one nomination at the AFI's.
I have now seen this film twice. Once in the cinemas and I now picked up a DVD today. I highly anticipated this films release. When I first came across it I was genuinely excited that finally an Australian team was putting together a different film. This is definitely not what you would expect from an Aussie film. This isn't another dreary drama about a couple of drug addicts that can't find a plot. The director Shane Abbess and crew have put together something thats built to please audiences rather than the arty types.
The visuals in Gabriel are a truly amazing accomplishment. To pull off what they have with such a tiny budget is really unheard of anywhere. The whole dark atmosphere that has been created here reminds me of such films as Dark City and Bladerunner. Everything does seem a little off, like a puzzle piece that doesn't quite fit in the space but you can jam it in anyway.
Abbess didn't have the dollars to work massive fight scenes so instead he has taking a more creative intimate approach. He has tried things that are unusual and not typical of regular action movies. For this Gabriel is worth at least one sit through. Watching it on the cinema screen the film was grainy. At home with a DVD that same distortion is hardly noticeable. I've read that it was down to the camera they had used. So experiencing it the first time at home is probably best.
The first time through I really, really wanted to enjoy it. And I did. The second time through I did get bored in places of the story. To me it didn't offer any real connection with the audience. The actors sometimes drifted in and out of American/Australian/neutral or some combination of accents. I remember one of the Arc Angels, Uriel opened with a short first line something along the lines of"Whadda you want?" with a distinctly Aussie accent, afterwards he settled into an American accent. It can be very distracting.
I just didn't feel anything for the story or characters. They were put in a very dark fantasy world and had dialogue that didn't draw you in at all. That seemed to have a high fantasy tone and wording. Always talking of grand concepts much of it to do with strength and obligation to fight evil. Something is lost in the grandness they attempt to pull off.
It was interesting enough to hold together the action sequences and low budget, fancy visuals. It does address some interesting thoughts like how does a person stay good within such an evil place. You will definitely remember this cult movie.
Gabriel is a huge accomplishment. The people that were involved in this project will go on to bigger things because of this. One thing is certain is that Australia should be making more movies like Gabriel. Movies that actually appeal to audiences. It is beyond me why this didn't get at least one nomination at the AFI's.
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