I've watched it twice now. I'll watch it many more times...
It's a rare gem of an original movie. It's made with Heart and Soul because its about French fire-fighters saving Notre Dame de Paris... the Soul of Paris and of France.
There are those who will critique the sub-plots... I was one of those on first viewing.
But I'll say this. The sheer intensity of the fire fighting and the intensity of the fire-fighters' efforts to save the Cathedral, actually require some diversion to enable the main story to be fully appreciated. The subplots are a welcome distraction; they help to balance out the intensity of the movie. They enable the audience to step back and draw breath from the main action... quite necessary in places... I only realised this on 2nd viewing.
I watched it in French, with French subs (somewhat hard of hearing...). I did get lost with some of the dialogue used by the fire-fighters to describe locations within the Cathedral. But it was worth it... for the general feel of the movie.
For my money it knocks anything the Yanks have made into a cocked hat. Miles better than Backdraft (which I did enjoy but got tired of the All American testosterone being flung around...). It's technically en par with Chicago Fire which is a very worthy US fire series. But ND has so much spirit, emotion and the fire sequences are ...terrifying!
Whoever did the fire effects/CGI whatever, should get an Oscar or a Cesar I think is the French equivalent. Quite unimaginably awesome fire effects. I mean truly awe-inspiring and terrifying esp. If one has any feeling for Notre Dame, which I do.
The characters are adequately drawn for their roles. We're seeing them fight the fire, so don't really want their 'backstories'.
This for me is one of the finest French movies of the 21C. It has Heart, Soul and Guts in it. Well done les francais!
There are those who will critique the sub-plots... I was one of those on first viewing.
But I'll say this. The sheer intensity of the fire fighting and the intensity of the fire-fighters' efforts to save the Cathedral, actually require some diversion to enable the main story to be fully appreciated. The subplots are a welcome distraction; they help to balance out the intensity of the movie. They enable the audience to step back and draw breath from the main action... quite necessary in places... I only realised this on 2nd viewing.
I watched it in French, with French subs (somewhat hard of hearing...). I did get lost with some of the dialogue used by the fire-fighters to describe locations within the Cathedral. But it was worth it... for the general feel of the movie.
For my money it knocks anything the Yanks have made into a cocked hat. Miles better than Backdraft (which I did enjoy but got tired of the All American testosterone being flung around...). It's technically en par with Chicago Fire which is a very worthy US fire series. But ND has so much spirit, emotion and the fire sequences are ...terrifying!
Whoever did the fire effects/CGI whatever, should get an Oscar or a Cesar I think is the French equivalent. Quite unimaginably awesome fire effects. I mean truly awe-inspiring and terrifying esp. If one has any feeling for Notre Dame, which I do.
The characters are adequately drawn for their roles. We're seeing them fight the fire, so don't really want their 'backstories'.
This for me is one of the finest French movies of the 21C. It has Heart, Soul and Guts in it. Well done les francais!