Directed by:
Olivier DahanScreenplay:
Luc BessonCinematography:
Alex LamarqueComposer:
Colin TownsCast:
Jean Reno, Benoît Magimel, Camille Natta, Christopher Lee, Gabrielle Lazure, Francis Renaud, Cyril Raffaelli, Michaël Abiteboul, Eriq Ebouaney, Jo Prestia (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Jean Reno is back in action as Commissioner Niemans. The body he found in a monastery seems to point to a ritualistic sacrifice and a portent of something strange to come. At the same time, young police captain Reda finds a man in agony who's an exact DNA match for Christ. Reda quickly finds out his case is directly linked to Niemans, but is the Apocalypse really about to begin as all signs seem to indicate? (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (3)
The opening brawl with the drug dealer, which any top action movie wouldn't be ashamed of, indicates that the film has a brisk pace, good camera work and lighting, and professional direction. But what good is all that when the screenplay is so stupid, like a joint effort of inmates from an institution for the mentally challenged in the worst possible condition, additionally fueled by alcohol? True, it can't be taken seriously. Still, if I disregard the missing logic of the plot, I had a decently entertaining time during individual scenes thanks to the aforementioned technical perfection. I can't exactly say what it's about, because I didn't understand Luc Besson (at least I hope I didn't), but for a late evening with a tired mind, it amounts to pretty decent relaxation that doesn't force you to think. Plus, you even get to laugh at certain moments - like when a high-ranking German official turns out to be the leader of a neo-Nazi organization, or when our heroes fight a hooded black monk in a convenience store. Overall impression: 35%.
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Crimson Rivers: Angels of the Apocalypse is not an adequate continuation of the first film because I constantly felt like the creators were trying to fill the shoes of those who made the first film, but they didn't realize that those shoes were just too big for them. It's not a completely bad movie; some moments can captivate you, but they're just moments, not the film as a whole, which is definitely a shame for a crime thriller.
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A great mystical joke on the topic of the ultimate end of the world, which tries unsuccessfully to copy all sorts of self-flagellating thrillers, of which there are many in today's pre-apocalyptic epoch. There is a bit of atmosphere at the start, but when the pseudo-biblical colossus gets into motion, it becomes inadvertently ridiculous. Very ethereal angels of the apocalypse, reminiscent of stoned Shaolin monks, a confused expert on symbols who is obviously better versed in cosmetics, the hopelessly uninteresting Jean Reno and the action mannequin Magimel... that's a lot to take in. A sparse plot about a bunch of plugs playing apostles and a bunch of plugs who, for shady reasons, intended to stage the Revelation of St. John. Of course, the manly presentation of Christopher Lee, whose character does not have much motivation, must be present. Some effects by Olivier Dahan’s directing are also hopelessly blurred in the confusing whole and the Dadaist fragmentary dialogues that the screenwriter had to recite from an absinthe bath. Anyway, it's paradoxically quite fun, and at times you might even believe the film’s dark atmosphere. Unfortunately, in the end, you only believe in the unspoken nonsense, which is the only thing that is unfeigned. The main thing is that the film steals the best of Hollywood provenance, but unfortunately with the shaky hands. Dear Frenchmen, America simply will not happen for you. St. John, do you see that?
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Gallery (64)
Photo © 2004 Studio Canal
![Crimson Rivers: Angels of the Apocalypse - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/157/907/157907291_5aaddc.jpg)
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