Babel
Paramount Vantage | Release Date: October 27, 2006
6.7
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 870 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
558
Mixed:
105
Negative:
207
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
2
kublay0880Dec 18, 2012
What a boring movie, it might have a background message but to me it seemed a totally UNNECESSARY MOVIE, brings nothing fresh to the viewer and it's nothing that you haven't seen in the news. It's like watching the news but with actors.
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
All this user's reviews
3
sinosinoAug 17, 2009
What a disappointment. Relentlessly miserable, relentlessly predictable, no engaging characters, portentious, pretentious, cliched. To paraphrase EM Forster 'well said, but not worth saying".
2 of 6 users found this helpful
0
finnigan37Feb 22, 2013
This is one of the five worst films I have ever seen. Insanely boring and pointless. Dullness for the sake of dullness. Saying nothing as a pretentious "message." Spare me.
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
All this user's reviews
0
corc79Feb 2, 2012
Absolutely horrible. Most boring movie I've seen to date. Anyone who claims artsy, "deep" movies like this are anything but crap has eaten one too many retard sandwiches. The same kind of people that think someone like Jackson Pollack hasAbsolutely horrible. Most boring movie I've seen to date. Anyone who claims artsy, "deep" movies like this are anything but crap has eaten one too many retard sandwiches. The same kind of people that think someone like Jackson Pollack has talent, and created "art." It's all a pantload.… Expand
1 of 4 users found this helpful13
All this user's reviews
3
MichaelSAug 14, 2009
This movie was nominated for best picture of the year? Really? I will say this much, the acting is well done. However, the plot is not great. Why are you telling me a story of the daughter of this Asian guy who sold the rifle to the Moroccan This movie was nominated for best picture of the year? Really? I will say this much, the acting is well done. However, the plot is not great. Why are you telling me a story of the daughter of this Asian guy who sold the rifle to the Moroccan man? Why not show the scene where you sold the rifle? Why am I supposed to care about this Asian girl that's trying to seduce everyone? So the Mexican lady is taking the kids to a wedding in Mexico and there is a border confrontation on their way back. How did they get into Mexico? Did they just drive in without checking passports of parents' consent? So Brad Pitt is talking to his kid and the Mexican lady at the end. What happened to a scene showing how the kids were found? What happened to the Mexican dude who drove away and left the lady and their kids? It's not as bad as "21 Grams." "21 Grams" has some of the worst editing in any movie that I have ever seen. It's such a frustrating movie. "Babel" tries to make a point by having all of these small connections. Why not add another hour telling me the life of the Asian girl's mother and have the connection be that it was her mother? Seriously, how stupid are these connections? Who takes tour on a bus that's driving in the middle of nowhere in Morocco? I'm sorry Academy. You could chose any other movie in 2006 to take Babel's spot. The movie has 0 replay value. I take nothing from this. 0 value.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
0
BillBlastNov 11, 2006
Oh come on - this movie sucks. We left after 1:15 and I heard the movie went downhill from there. Unconnected, I did not care about the characters. Lame mysterious past events won't make may stay to watch a movie that gets nowhere inOh come on - this movie sucks. We left after 1:15 and I heard the movie went downhill from there. Unconnected, I did not care about the characters. Lame mysterious past events won't make may stay to watch a movie that gets nowhere in 1:15. Don't waste your money... even at the matinee. Rent an classic movie, pop some popcorn and stay at home.… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful
1
Yoda300May 31, 2012
I was thinking about the possible things I could colour my life with after seeing this ..yeah what exactly was it, sure it wasn't a movie. So don't masturbate behind rocks or your brother will euhm..miss. Don't spy on your sister or yourI was thinking about the possible things I could colour my life with after seeing this ..yeah what exactly was it, sure it wasn't a movie. So don't masturbate behind rocks or your brother will euhm..miss. Don't spy on your sister or your father will do the clap-dance. Never travel or your kids may die in the desert. If you're in a desert, then don't leave any kids behind, sure I'll remember that one. Never leave the bus area if your wife is about to die by bleeding to death or they will continue their journey without you...yep, gotcha. And the most important one: don't you ever ever dare to decline a deaf-mute naked lady or she might jump of the balcony. My god, I'm pretty sure that Alejandro Gonzales still sucks his thumb way too long when he falls asleep.… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
All this user's reviews
0
Kafka09Apr 6, 2015
It's the worst movie I ever seen. It tries to connect the life of people from different cultures but it actually reinforces negative stereotypes such as Hispanic people as partying all the time and being irresponsible, Arab people as beingIt's the worst movie I ever seen. It tries to connect the life of people from different cultures but it actually reinforces negative stereotypes such as Hispanic people as partying all the time and being irresponsible, Arab people as being agressive and rudimentary and Asians as behaving creepy. And, of course, it places the American family as the cornerstone for the storyline, like they are the normal people in a chaotic world. I really don't get what the autors want to say, like "oh, great Americans, be careful because the world is full of creeps and irresponsible people but you do everything all right?"… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
All this user's reviews
3
Smiles22Dec 28, 2015
Dull, boring and uninteresting characters. I can't believe there is so much critical acclaim for such a terrible movie. The characters are bad, especially that of the Japanese girl.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
All this user's reviews
1
JamesM.Mar 5, 2007
Conceptually beautiful and cinematically hideous. I was lulled into seeing Babel by its national acclaim and avid reviews. However, this movie offers a far cry from anything that could represent characterisation or entertainment. A dull, Conceptually beautiful and cinematically hideous. I was lulled into seeing Babel by its national acclaim and avid reviews. However, this movie offers a far cry from anything that could represent characterisation or entertainment. A dull, overrated attempt at a masterpiece.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
SethH.Dec 2, 2006
Babel attempts to be the next syriana mixed with city of god, yet fails. The story lines are not nearly connected enough. The story about the girl in Tokyo has nothing to do with the rest of the movie. All the movie did was depress me and Babel attempts to be the next syriana mixed with city of god, yet fails. The story lines are not nearly connected enough. The story about the girl in Tokyo has nothing to do with the rest of the movie. All the movie did was depress me and make me wonder why I didn't see the departed again instead of wasting my 10 new york dollars.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
KathleenL.Jan 4, 2007
Too fractured and predictable--seen it before, derivative, morally murky.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
MarkE.Sep 13, 2008
A fragmented, frustrating film. The three strands of the film are so loosely tied together that the finished product comes apart at the seams. Yes, I'm aware the overriding messages of global responsibility and the 'butterfly A fragmented, frustrating film. The three strands of the film are so loosely tied together that the finished product comes apart at the seams. Yes, I'm aware the overriding messages of global responsibility and the 'butterfly effect' of our actions, and the self-important, self-indulgent nature of these themes shines through nauseatingly.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
countZr0Feb 11, 2007
Their is no point. It tried to be Crash and Traffic but it was neither. Nobody changes. Nobody grows. Just stupid decisions and sorrow. Painful to sit through. Thank god I didn't pay to see it.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
AnonymousAnonymousApr 8, 2007
This was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Extremely unintelligent with overt attempts to be dark and mysterious. Flawed plot lines abound. Don't waste your money on this garbage. This is yet another example of how terrible the This was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Extremely unintelligent with overt attempts to be dark and mysterious. Flawed plot lines abound. Don't waste your money on this garbage. This is yet another example of how terrible the filmmaking industry has become. The only thing I can say positive about this movie is that it is not another ex-saturday night live actor pumping out another potboiler film. Iit sucked... badly!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
BlakeW.May 20, 2007
This is indeed a well made film. However, the film they decided to make is a pretentious piece of political-statement garbage. If you are stupid enough to not realize that people are interconnected in small, ultimately meaningless ways, This is indeed a well made film. However, the film they decided to make is a pretentious piece of political-statement garbage. If you are stupid enough to not realize that people are interconnected in small, ultimately meaningless ways, check this movie out and realize it at last...at the same time you can contemplate suicide as you witness an incredibly pessimistic outlook on life.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
MickP.Nov 1, 2006
Too long and too boring!
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
DanS.Nov 16, 2006
This film was amateurish. If the makers of it bother to read user reviews (which I seriously doubt, based on their self-indulgent attitude, evident from the film), let me explain something to you. For a story to work, character behavior must This film was amateurish. If the makers of it bother to read user reviews (which I seriously doubt, based on their self-indulgent attitude, evident from the film), let me explain something to you. For a story to work, character behavior must be BELIEVABLE to the audience, which means the characters must be PROPERLY MOTIVATED. You can't make characters do things just because it's "cool" or would make a good scene. [***SPOILER***] For example, two little boys raised in a strict Muslim family do not suddenly decide to shoot a rifle at a passing tourist bus. Shy, deaf teenage girls do not suddenly decide to take off their panties and shoot beavers at the guys making fun of them in the school cafeteria. Nor do they take off all their clothes and throw themselves at police detectives, who also do not hang around with naked underage girls in the middle of the night at the girl's rich father's swanky apartment, when the father might come home (and does so) at any second...not to mention that when a father comes home and finds his teenage daugther standing out on the balcony completely nude walk out and embrace the girl--he says "Put on some clothes and come inside." Mexican women who've been illegally living in the USA for 16 years do not suddenly decide to go back to Mexico for her son's wedding with no idea how to get back inside the States. I could go on, but it would take pages to do so. If the badly motivated, unbelievable character actions weren't bad enough, we're supposed to believe that the Bradd Pitt character just happens to be the unluckiest bastard ever born on earth. Not only does his wife get randomly shot while on vacation, his idiot housekeeper decides to illlegally take his two little children out of the country! Do you think we, too, as viewers and ticket purchasers, are idiots? On top of all this, the film consists of three stories that might have been good in their own right had they been developed more. But instead of doing that (that would be too hard--you would have to THINK), you do a superficial job on all three and then toss them together hoping that the final result will somehow improve things. It doesn't, it makes it worse. For example, we, as viewers, wonder what the hell the third story about the cute Japanese schoolgirl who so enjoys shooting beavers and getting naked had to do with the price of eggs in New Delhi. I suspect that the filmmakers get off on cute Japanese schoolgirls who so enjoy shooting beavers and getting naked--that is the only explanation for the inclusion of this story into the film. [***END SPOILER***] Next time you make a movie and expect intelligent moviegoers to pay for a ticket, please show us a little respect. And show yourself some respect. Now, having said all that, I would like to compliment the director of photography--you are the only one of the group who knows what you are doing.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
BrianBallDec 16, 2006
I give this a movie a 2 becuase it did seem well filmed However what it was filming is still a mystery how this movie was ever made. It made me feel like i was in a round about for 2 hours the scenery may change but it all seemed the sameI give this a movie a 2 becuase it did seem well filmed However what it was filming is still a mystery how this movie was ever made. It made me feel like i was in a round about for 2 hours the scenery may change but it all seemed the same and you never felt like you went anywhere. Where was the Brad pitt I know and appreciate havent seen him since 7 now that was a good film… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
LennyMDec 4, 2006
People must really like the exploitation of the young girl. That is exactly what that part of the movie is meant to be. And the proof is in the way not many people see it for what it is. Because we are so used to it and so enamored ofPeople must really like the exploitation of the young girl. That is exactly what that part of the movie is meant to be. And the proof is in the way not many people see it for what it is. Because we are so used to it and so enamored of sexual provocation that we grovel in it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
NickF.Dec 6, 2006
A handful of unconvincing plotlines interconnected in the most contrived manner. Breath-takingly undeveloped characters suffer various traumas as a result of idiotic judgment on their part, poor psychology on the part of the screenwriter, or A handful of unconvincing plotlines interconnected in the most contrived manner. Breath-takingly undeveloped characters suffer various traumas as a result of idiotic judgment on their part, poor psychology on the part of the screenwriter, or his overuse of deus ex machina (you might call it 'chance' or 'accident', but dramturgically, the principle remains the same). Exactly what do the director and his screenwriter have to say on the subject of globalization, intercultural (mis)communication, tradition vs. modernity or whatever else they happen to stumble upon in this broadly, too broadly, conceived project? For all the lavish/frantic cinematography, I could not understand what one of these people were put on screen for, yet I could smell the semen spilt over the editing console. Highly missable.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
AlexW.Nov 27, 2007
The connections that link the characters are terribly selected, and send the wrong message, the long drawn out scenes and blatantly manipulative score were key markers to the hollowness of the entire work, totally devoid of substance, and The connections that link the characters are terribly selected, and send the wrong message, the long drawn out scenes and blatantly manipulative score were key markers to the hollowness of the entire work, totally devoid of substance, and definitely lacking subtlety, yet over saturated with pompous pretentiousness, this movie is wrong on so many levels.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
JonathanH.Jan 16, 2007
The only plausible reason why anyone would give this piece of nonsense, this succession of non sequitur after non sequitur, more than 0 points would be if they worked for the film maker, the studio and the actor's agents. An irritation The only plausible reason why anyone would give this piece of nonsense, this succession of non sequitur after non sequitur, more than 0 points would be if they worked for the film maker, the studio and the actor's agents. An irritation without compare from the first minute to last, or at the very least up to the moment the border guard asks the Mexican nanny, who has just emerged utterly exhausted from the desert, to put her hands behind her back so he can handcuff her. This was when I finally walked out.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
ErnestoT.Jan 27, 2007
Child sexploitation and abuse, racsim and stereortyping, malady-drama, unnecessary length and structure for an unpleasant experience--THIS MOVIE HAS EVERYTHING! The problem for the name star leads was that there was no character, they had to Child sexploitation and abuse, racsim and stereortyping, malady-drama, unnecessary length and structure for an unpleasant experience--THIS MOVIE HAS EVERYTHING! The problem for the name star leads was that there was no character, they had to play situations. Impressive cinema for folk who haven't been to those countries or had much life experience.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
Daved.Jan 28, 2007
Best picture? This iS a movie that can be used as a classroom example of story telling gone wrong. If one watched the nightly news as opposed to seeing the picture, one would find more clarity of events than the amatuerish writing that dooms Best picture? This iS a movie that can be used as a classroom example of story telling gone wrong. If one watched the nightly news as opposed to seeing the picture, one would find more clarity of events than the amatuerish writing that dooms this movie. The performances are good and the cineamatography is fair, but again the story is truly pathetic. Reading professional reviews, makes me wonder if the cast and the melodrama led the critics astray. It's a pointless exercise that really never draws us in to care very much about the characters. It's too bewildering and slow to give much credence to anything that happens in it. A story needs to be more than merely a slice of life, it has to have a distinct purpose. The movie Crash, for instance showed how we tend to judge each other based on our prejudices. This movie doesn't come close to telling a story with meaning.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
AnB.Jan 29, 2007
This was a criminal waste of talent. I absolutely hated this movie. It was beautiful, had great performances, was well directed and still was just awful. It was like watching Bobby Flay make a mud pie. I "got it" (who didn't, it was This was a criminal waste of talent. I absolutely hated this movie. It was beautiful, had great performances, was well directed and still was just awful. It was like watching Bobby Flay make a mud pie. I "got it" (who didn't, it was hardly subtle) and still hated it. I found it pretentious and really poorly written with lots of writing decisions made purely to make the story happen. It felt very forced and every few minutes I was assaulted by something grotesque and gratuitous (teenage bush, masturbating kids, my God!) Neary every other seen was based on improbable decisions or inserted for "gritty" shock value. I have a hard time believing this was written as a single piece, it feels like leftovers pushed togther and called a meal.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
JoshCJan 4, 2007
I don't want to be dragged into a Babel beat-down, but why not? With all the enthusiasm being dumped on it, the film can withstand a kick to the crotch, particularly since, as far as I can tell, it has no balls. A good friend of mine I don't want to be dragged into a Babel beat-down, but why not? With all the enthusiasm being dumped on it, the film can withstand a kick to the crotch, particularly since, as far as I can tell, it has no balls. A good friend of mine once wrote that movies should never be good for you. And that is what nags me about Babel. Unlike anything in David Lynch's Inland Empire or Melville's Army of Shadows or whoever else you would accuse of pretentiously aestheticizing anomie or pleasurelessness, Iñárritu seems to want his movies to be good for you on those same terms. Babel demands to be taken as more than a mere movie, as more than an entertainment. It's a big vitamin you can get at Whole Foods, near the yoga mats. At some point on their getaway from their parental misery (who escapes from the blues to that part of Morocco, anyway?), Cate Blanchett asks Brad Pitt why they're here. And all you can think is, you poor Hollywood actress, you're in Babel where you and some other less famous people will be written into one massive implausibility after the next. But you'll all suffer for a worthy cause: the audience's enlightenment. Cue the harps. This is a movie that people leave under the impression that something amazing has happened, that they've seen a high cinematic work, when all they've gotten is a flu shot. Last year, there were many more emotionally chilling manipulations that pull their strings without all the noise and blubbering and trashy entrapment of its characters. I mean, really, having the maid, good as Adriana Barraza is in the movie, doing all that grotesque desert drifting? The movie is shameless. The Mexican maid is devoted to her employers and their children at the expense of every ounce of her common sense. She has to be stupid and suffer so we can see/feel/know the full extent of how terribly illegal immigrants are treated. Barraza dragged to every station of the sociopolitical cross. Unclean! These are the medicine movies people are going for… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
JasonT.Feb 13, 2007
Saw an eight year old boy whacking off. Turned the movie off.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
JagoS.Feb 18, 2007
Insipid, pretentious, twee, banal, and fundamentally trite. This film kept me interested for less than 4 minutes before the sheer brutality with which the director forces his audience turned me off entirely. The film then got worse - with Insipid, pretentious, twee, banal, and fundamentally trite. This film kept me interested for less than 4 minutes before the sheer brutality with which the director forces his audience turned me off entirely. The film then got worse - with idiotic plot developments hinched upon sheer character stupidity rather than any semblance of genuine humanity. This film is awful.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
JoelH.Feb 23, 2007
What a huge disappointment!! A terrible story line. More a travel film with some wonderful scenes. The two big stars are hardly in the film. It needed some critical editing -- far too long for so little indepth story. Pure political crap What a huge disappointment!! A terrible story line. More a travel film with some wonderful scenes. The two big stars are hardly in the film. It needed some critical editing -- far too long for so little indepth story. Pure political crap from the Liberal film establishment and the nutty Liberal film critics that so hyped the film. The biggest theme: people are stupid all over the globe. Big message: white Americans end up doing well.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
BillB.Feb 26, 2007
The movie was a poor "crash" of languages and left too many loose ends. Horrible movie, I truely think this film is not worth your time watching for any reason.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
JoF.Feb 20, 2007
What was the purpose of showing the Arab boy masturbating? How does that advance the story? And for that matter, how does his voyerism matter? Are eight year olds who are developing sexual interests likely to shoot at tourist buses? What is What was the purpose of showing the Arab boy masturbating? How does that advance the story? And for that matter, how does his voyerism matter? Are eight year olds who are developing sexual interests likely to shoot at tourist buses? What is th meaning of the deaf mute Japanese girl"s naked embrace with her father? Are we implying that an incestual relationship was involved in the suicide of the mother? And, women don't usually commit suicide by gun, especially in Japan. What was in the letter to the police detective? Would that have enlightened this totally murky ending? I did not like this movie, not because it was dreary and full of impending doom, but because it was confusing for no good reason and full of gratuitous sexual innuendo. My rating is for the exception alphotography.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
JonweereFeb 28, 2007
Racist Racist Racist. Was I the only one that noticed the only perps in this movie were of color and the only victims were the white family? Not only was it bad people from one county or ethnicity but they seemed to have made it a point toRacist Racist Racist. Was I the only one that noticed the only perps in this movie were of color and the only victims were the white family? Not only was it bad people from one county or ethnicity but they seemed to have made it a point to show these negative stereotypes accross the world. I'm sad they missed out on ripping into black people and native americans because then we would have had a full circle. How anybody got an anti-American message out of this is beyond me. The only two instances in this movie that didn't portray non whites as bad people were the guy that helped Brad and his wife the whole time and the scene with the nanny getting deported. This movie was overwhelmingly racist and it makes me sick to my stomach that it was in the mainstream and no one seems to have noticed… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
AndyH.Feb 28, 2007
I never bother to comment on stuff like this but Babel was such a disappointment I have to say something. If you're looking for something vaguely original, thought provoking or meaningful then you're watching the wrong film. The I never bother to comment on stuff like this but Babel was such a disappointment I have to say something. If you're looking for something vaguely original, thought provoking or meaningful then you're watching the wrong film. The contrived nature of each interlinking sub plot comes off as a mere a gimmick, which cannot be rescued by this film… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
maöFeb 4, 2007
The musical score was used too, in The Informer; It´s a great photo, in terms of reality; but in cinematographic terms, as an "ouvre", lacks absolutely of the "poesis" that has to run through its veins...There is a Sting song, that was The musical score was used too, in The Informer; It´s a great photo, in terms of reality; but in cinematographic terms, as an "ouvre", lacks absolutely of the "poesis" that has to run through its veins...There is a Sting song, that was taken too, as a plot line: I hung my Head, from mercury falling....And in terms of PR and Lobby around the film, Iñarritu claims to love Mexico with his "humanitarian/empathetic/mexican-folklor flag" yet he portraits a buncho of drunken, mindless "bato" lossers, as always.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
mattmillerFeb 5, 2007
Could have imagined more terrible things that could have happened to the children - like getting bit by AIDS infested rattle snakes. The children grow up to have 2 AIDS babies who get hit by cars. One loses its arms and the other its legs.Could have imagined more terrible things that could have happened to the children - like getting bit by AIDS infested rattle snakes. The children grow up to have 2 AIDS babies who get hit by cars. One loses its arms and the other its legs. Together they learn to survive, only to be trapped in a landslide etc etc etc... like this movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
EmarnT.Feb 9, 2007
POOR! I rarely rate films on the internet but this just had to be done. Throughout the film we feel like we are waiting. Waiting for that Sixth Sense or Usual Suspects moment. As the 2hr mark approaches it becomes more apparent that this POOR! I rarely rate films on the internet but this just had to be done. Throughout the film we feel like we are waiting. Waiting for that Sixth Sense or Usual Suspects moment. As the 2hr mark approaches it becomes more apparent that this moment is not going to arrive. I think this film had potential but the stories just didnt tie in enough for me. It almost seemed like there was no point to it. Very dissapointed.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
SarahW.Mar 12, 2007
I'm still wondering why there were any favorable reviews on this movie. I still don't understand why any nudity or sexual situations were necessary in the overall theme of this movie. The fact that this movie was awarded "Best I'm still wondering why there were any favorable reviews on this movie. I still don't understand why any nudity or sexual situations were necessary in the overall theme of this movie. The fact that this movie was awarded "Best Picutre" is very disturbing if you realize the enormity of the issues they portray in such a "fairytale" kind of way. Illegals crossing into this country are not all nice sweet nannies, nor are the terrorists little kids playing with guns.....and Japan was brought into this because a Japanese man gave his gun away??… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
LinH.Mar 2, 2007
Disappointing. I was so looking forward to seeing this movie. While the acting was ok, and it even grabbed you at the beginning, in the end it was just a poor storyline, not believable, not in the least inspirational, but instead contrived Disappointing. I was so looking forward to seeing this movie. While the acting was ok, and it even grabbed you at the beginning, in the end it was just a poor storyline, not believable, not in the least inspirational, but instead contrived and depressing. I'm glad we rented it, and didn't spend money to see it at the theater.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
IrisS.Mar 2, 2007
Terrible movie. Mr Pitt's worst movie ever. Hollywood propaganda agendas.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
StephMMar 4, 2007
This movie tried too hard and didn't deliver. I found it overly pretentious and self-conscious. The tone of "I'm about important things, events and people" was a theme it couldn't live up to. I never cared about the Pitt or This movie tried too hard and didn't deliver. I found it overly pretentious and self-conscious. The tone of "I'm about important things, events and people" was a theme it couldn't live up to. I never cared about the Pitt or Blanchet characters. Who were they and why, exactly, were they in Morocco? I really didn't know or care. The nanny character was sympathetic and rather tragic, in the end. The ignorance of a Moroccan father giving a gun to children was, unfortunately, just a stupid thing to do. The story with the Asian girl went on much too long and her acting out became more and more annoying. All I could ask, when the movie was over, was "What was the point?" The fact that there was a connection between the characters did not give it significance, just coincidence. This movie was endless and as painful as a bullet in the neck.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
AnthonyW.Apr 4, 2007
Such plodding rubbish, apart from cinematography and performance of deaf-mute Japanese character, nothing to like about this film. What a con, worldview made for the Fox generation.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
MonicaF.Apr 5, 2007
I see the thread that linked each character to the other but seriously I was bored whilst watching the movie - waiting for it to start only to have it end almost where it began and feeling a huge sense of frustration that THIS was a best I see the thread that linked each character to the other but seriously I was bored whilst watching the movie - waiting for it to start only to have it end almost where it began and feeling a huge sense of frustration that THIS was a best picture nominee. To be honest I felt cheated. Acting was believeable - scenery shots wonderful - capturing Morocco very realistic....the story simply sucked.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
DouglasR.May 29, 2007
Two and a half hours of obtuse obsurity, held together by only the thinest of story lines. Gratuitously sad and dull, goes nowhere. Pointless.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
JasonH.Jun 4, 2007
There is a glaring plot flaw near the end of this pretentious self conscious movie that makes me wonder why it's not mentioned by anyone. Maybe I didn't get this little twist and somebody can explain it to me. How could the nanny There is a glaring plot flaw near the end of this pretentious self conscious movie that makes me wonder why it's not mentioned by anyone. Maybe I didn't get this little twist and somebody can explain it to me. How could the nanny be putting the daughter on the phone to speak with the father (Brad Pitt) if she's been deported? I give it a 1 for an example of how not to make a movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
MarkJun 8, 2007
Pretentious is the best way to describe this silly movie. Tries hard and gets nowhere.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
CraigB.Jul 28, 2007
just because other people tell you a movie is deep and meaningful covering race, relationships and terrorism, doesn't mean they're right. this movie is absolute rubbish. it has nothing to keep you watching other than you just because other people tell you a movie is deep and meaningful covering race, relationships and terrorism, doesn't mean they're right. this movie is absolute rubbish. it has nothing to keep you watching other than you desperately what to see something happen. it doesn't. ever. people need to get a pair and tell it like it is, instead of pandering to the media guru's and trying to be right. please never see this film, you'll thank me.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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MikeS.Apr 25, 2008
This is the worst movie I have ever seen! I cannot believe the amount of time I wasted waiting for to get the main plot of the movie and it never happened. Sorry Brad Pitt, good acting but awful sorry line.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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VanshVJul 10, 2009
Ridiculous movie. It feels as if five year olds could have done a better job. There were too many pointless nude scenes. Bored me to death. Another example where user reviews are more accurate than critic reviews.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
AudreyF.Nov 19, 2006
Gripping but ultimately meaningless. This is essentially about poor people making poor decisions and the consequences.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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ShirleyC.Nov 25, 2006
This was the most terrible movie. Over the top dramatic. Made me physically ill because of the confused, babeling stories. Good character development but badly edited.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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StephenB.Dec 30, 2006
Complete crap! Don't waste your money - unless you're into long drawn out depressing movies!
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LesleyYDec 3, 2006
This film was absolute crap. The story, while interesting, was told in a medium that is now becoming quite cliché, and to be honest, didn't grab me at all. In addition, the entire nanny storyline was ridiculous to Requiem for a This film was absolute crap. The story, while interesting, was told in a medium that is now becoming quite cliché, and to be honest, didn't grab me at all. In addition, the entire nanny storyline was ridiculous to Requiem for a Dream proportions; I kept expecting the nanny, while running through the desert, to start screaming about her red dress. I was actually giving this film a chance until [***SPOILERS***] Santiago left her and the kids in the desert. That was where I was pretty much done. Not only did I not give a toss about Mr. and Mrs. America, as their characters had no depth whatsoever, but the nanny storyline lost me when it got absurd, and the Japanese storyline - well, that deserves its own paragraph. The Japanese storyline was the only storyline that I could be bothered to care about; the characters were developed, the story was interesting. The problem with it was that it had positively nothing, and I do mean nothing, to do with the rest of the theme of connections. [***SPOILERS***] They had to concoct some half-baked explanation about the dad owning the gun at one point to even make it have any relevance, and we weren't even made aware of that until later in the film, whereas we knew the connection of the other two storylines. Major consistency problem there. I firmly believe that this storyline existed to redeem the movie, because without it, I might have just walked out. And I never walk out on a film. I had been looking forward to Babel, and I was very, very disappointed with the end result. The Japanese storyline was great, but out of place, and Gael Garcia Bernal was amazing in the four scenes that he was in. Other than that? I could have spent my two and a half hours doing something that I cared a lot more about.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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JasonS.Dec 9, 2006
They tried for a Pulp Fiction type format and failed miserably. The movie has no plot, no conclusion, no redeeming qualities.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
YockoD.Oct 29, 2006
What a piece of pretentious crap. I loved amores perros and 21 grams, but this is the emprorers new clothes. Full of inconsistencies, pathetic, ugly, cheap. what crap. Why does everyone love this so much?
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
ElliottM.Jan 15, 2007
Babel is an artfully made, annoyingly overreaching melodramatic mess. The plotline involving the Japanese girl was the most interesting and heartfelt, though it felt completely tangential considering the frailty of the narrative thread Babel is an artfully made, annoyingly overreaching melodramatic mess. The plotline involving the Japanese girl was the most interesting and heartfelt, though it felt completely tangential considering the frailty of the narrative thread connecting her to the rest of the movie. The rest of the movie was just contrived -- parts of it were so shameful and opportunistic I almost laughed.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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KymD.Jan 16, 2007
It was derivative. You would have thought it was first movie of all time to use interlinked narratives. The story line was predictable--the only surpise I got was that the Japanese chick did not fly off the balcony. It was laboured--why show It was derivative. You would have thought it was first movie of all time to use interlinked narratives. The story line was predictable--the only surpise I got was that the Japanese chick did not fly off the balcony. It was laboured--why show us endless footage of the chopper flying the wonded Blanchett to hospital? As soon as the juiced up mexican nephew decided to drive back to the states you knew there would be tears before bed time. This was a crock. Critics and the public have been sucked in big time. The only analogy you can safely make with this and the real Babel is the collaborators on this movie clearly never spoke the same language or were ever on the same page--much like those who tried to build the tower to heaven. Save your money.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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LisaNDec 18, 2007
Terribly put together. Although you can link how all the parties relate to each other, it was done horribly. I was surprised any big name actors/actresses were willing to put their name to this film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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DavidG.Jan 22, 2007
The average movie watcher will think this is the biggest piece of crap ever put on the screen. Leave it at the Cannes festival and give us some real entertainment. Everyone just sat in the theatre afterward wandering what just happened and The average movie watcher will think this is the biggest piece of crap ever put on the screen. Leave it at the Cannes festival and give us some real entertainment. Everyone just sat in the theatre afterward wandering what just happened and feeling like they had the life sucked out of them. Stupid piece of anti-american political propaganda witten and produced by a foreign person and supported by the Hollwood crowd which makes them feel better about themselves because in real life they live such a self indulgent life. Cate Blanchette gets nominated for playing half dead for 10 minutes. Once again, if it wins Oscars and Golden Globes-be very weary.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
JamesD.Jan 23, 2007
Just got back from seeing it and I can honestly say it was the most tedious 2.5 hrs I have spent in quite some time. At times it looks like it might pick up the pace, but it never does. It seems like the film equivalent of a really badly put Just got back from seeing it and I can honestly say it was the most tedious 2.5 hrs I have spent in quite some time. At times it looks like it might pick up the pace, but it never does. It seems like the film equivalent of a really badly put together essay - all of the stories only very tenuously linked, with no strong structure or progression in ideas, as if he had 3 completely different "stories" (it's hard to even call them that) and had to rush to find some excuse to stitch them together. It's hard to empathise with anyone in the film other than the deaf japanese girl, and that's only because of her exceptionally unfortunate circumstances. I don't think I was the only one getting restless in the cinema either, after an hour half the audience were shifting around in their seats and at least 2 people I saw walked out before the end. It's a shame, as Amores Perres was great, in my opinion.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
BradleyP.Jan 23, 2007
The story line, the acting, the interconnection of each story, the 2 hour plus the movies lasted. I get it
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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RJM.Jan 25, 2007
As the old saying goes, "if you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit". Excellently made tedium. Performance by the Mexican nanny a standout. Ms. Blanchett is given a role which offers her nothing more As the old saying goes, "if you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit". Excellently made tedium. Performance by the Mexican nanny a standout. Ms. Blanchett is given a role which offers her nothing more than to pretend to suffer for the duration of her screen time. Mr. Pitt gets to pretend he's enraged and concerned. Their most compassionate moment is when he helps her urinate into a pan. The filmmakers have very vast concepts built of very small, highly inflated subject matter.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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MayaB.Jan 28, 2007
As a mexican, I´m supposed to be real glad this movie is up for the Oscars. I´m not. While others find it touching and human, I think it´s incredibly racist and elitist. No one seems to notice that, although all these As a mexican, I´m supposed to be real glad this movie is up for the Oscars. I´m not. While others find it touching and human, I think it´s incredibly racist and elitist. No one seems to notice that, although all these characters live through tragedy, the tragedies of the rich struck because of a bad twist of fate and turn out Ok in the end. Meanwhile, the poor live tragedies as a punishment for their stupid decisions: giving a rifle to children, taking your baby sitting charges across the border, getting drunk and getting into trouble with the border patrol. And the worse part is the makers are going all over the place, praising themselves and probably thinking they are intercultural dialogue.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
MariaP.Jan 28, 2007
Stupid movie. nothing really ties together. emotionless. unessasary nudity. stupid stupid ending.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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ClaudioF.Jan 31, 2007
Those who praised this movie are probably some teenage girls in love with Brad Pitt. But the truth is this movie is one of the worst I have ever seen and it doesn't deserve an oscar nomination! It is incredible! Everything is so banal Those who praised this movie are probably some teenage girls in love with Brad Pitt. But the truth is this movie is one of the worst I have ever seen and it doesn't deserve an oscar nomination! It is incredible! Everything is so banal and simple.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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BrettM.Feb 13, 2007
This is the worst, most boring movie I have ever seen. Do not see this film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
PadraigJ.Feb 2, 2007
This movie was strictly carried along on the backs of the two women nominated for Supporting Actress, and the cinematographer. Who would have guessed that critics would have supported anything with a story this shallow, with its little wafts This movie was strictly carried along on the backs of the two women nominated for Supporting Actress, and the cinematographer. Who would have guessed that critics would have supported anything with a story this shallow, with its little wafts of political import, and characters who would have been ethnnographic cartoons if all the actors couldn't manage their very-best "show me anguish" faces. I KNEW I shouldn't have gone last night!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
RandyS.Feb 22, 2007
I have been an avid movie goer all of my life. I am 53. I came out of this film saying "So what"! This film does not deserve an academy award nomiation or win. My vote if I had one would go to the Departed.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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MVickiFeb 24, 2007
So very dissapointing. Great directing, beautiful scenes linked together with horrible story telling. I didn't even care about any of the characters. I kept searching for some sort of lesson -- Don't leave your country? Get therapy So very dissapointing. Great directing, beautiful scenes linked together with horrible story telling. I didn't even care about any of the characters. I kept searching for some sort of lesson -- Don't leave your country? Get therapy for your daughter after her mother dies? Treat your nannies better?… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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JoelT.Feb 27, 2007
Wow...total crap. I know Crash..and you sir are no Crash.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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BreanV.Feb 3, 2007
WORST MOVIE EVER! I actually thought things would tie in and make a good plot. I'm amazed Brad Pitt would waste his time with such a movie. Sure, the events happened at the same time, but it was SO BORING! I'm thinking of throwing WORST MOVIE EVER! I actually thought things would tie in and make a good plot. I'm amazed Brad Pitt would waste his time with such a movie. Sure, the events happened at the same time, but it was SO BORING! I'm thinking of throwing out a movie of my life, as Hollywood seems to be accepting ANYTHING these days. WOW. Seriously I don't understand how any person in the world could enjoy this movie or even sit there and not be suffering one of the worst and slow punishments of all time. For real TERRIBLE.....The most dissappointing thing about this horrible movie is the fact that nothing is fully explained in the end. I feel terrible for any human being that had to pay money to see this film......I think they should be paying people to see the film instead. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE.......SERIOUSLY HORRIBLE.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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EliseMar 10, 2007
This movie was a waste of my time. Depressing and pointless. What was in the Asian girl's letter? Do the connections between the characters really matter? Why should I care about American woman? she was not a likable character. Why were This movie was a waste of my time. Depressing and pointless. What was in the Asian girl's letter? Do the connections between the characters really matter? Why should I care about American woman? she was not a likable character. Why were they in Morocco to begin with? Americans in foreign countries who get shot get helicopters? Is that a theme? Did the Moroccan boy get a helicopter? Does it matter? Waste of my time. Stupid questions with no answers.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
AlisonMar 12, 2007
Too hard to follow without a complete end.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
TheProphetMar 13, 2007
What the hell! This movie got such great reviews from everyone, though I really can't see how. This was one of the most boring movies I have ever seen.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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TomB.Mar 17, 2007
This may be the worst movie I've seen since "Smoke". It has to be a conspiracy as to way this movie has Oscar nominations. I wasted $3.99 + tax to rent this movie the only good thing is that I didn't buy it but i'll never get This may be the worst movie I've seen since "Smoke". It has to be a conspiracy as to way this movie has Oscar nominations. I wasted $3.99 + tax to rent this movie the only good thing is that I didn't buy it but i'll never get the 144 minutes back.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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EricC.Mar 26, 2007
Wow. Two jerks back to back. Magdalena T. and Majed M., your ignorance is mindblowing. This movie isn't as depthful as you would like to think. The huge amounts of us who didn't like this trash are not "uneducated", and we're Wow. Two jerks back to back. Magdalena T. and Majed M., your ignorance is mindblowing. This movie isn't as depthful as you would like to think. The huge amounts of us who didn't like this trash are not "uneducated", and we're not mindless viewers. I completely understand what this movie tried to do, and yes, a world as chaotic as ours needs to be brought together and connected. But this movie failed so bad at doing this. The "connections" were ridiculous and insignifficant, horribly thought out. Stranger Than Fiction did a better job of this, and it was only a side note in that movie. The character studies were bad for the sole reason the characters were inhuman. Find me people like this. I challenge you. Kid in puberty turned on by his sister, deaf girl who desperately wants sex to "cope", nagging wife who just happens to get shot in a place she hates because of its exaggerated violent image (which is confirmed by her injury, completely ruining the point). Stop me when they stop sounding laughable. And sorry,Carl F., we don't have to be world weary travellers like you to "get" it. We all encounter racism from all around. We all happen to know about world affairs and cultures (I pride myself on it). And sorry, we're not all apart of the suburban culture. Crawl out of your little superiorority shell. You're not as special as you think. Sorry we haven't lived in your "developing country". We've been living in a decaying one. Go kiss a mirror or something, you seem way to proud of yourself. I'll just go to K-Mart and accessorise with Martha Stewart's latest, like I apparently should be doing. And all this is unimportant anyway. A crap movie is a crap movie. Nothing in the world could change that.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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BillS.Mar 28, 2007
Don't waste your time on this one. This is one bad film. First, a kid shoots a tourist by accident, ok I can buy that. The hubby goes bonkers because his wife got shot. Ok I can buy that. After that the movie is all down hill from Don't waste your time on this one. This is one bad film. First, a kid shoots a tourist by accident, ok I can buy that. The hubby goes bonkers because his wife got shot. Ok I can buy that. After that the movie is all down hill from there. This move is a 142 minute bore. Save your money buy a pizza instead.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
LlilianaD.Mar 3, 2007
I hate it. Topical, slow, obvious. I wanted to leave the theater before the end. The worst I have seen lately
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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BillK.Mar 4, 2007
Quite Possibly the dumbest movie ever made. I think that I would rather watch "Dude Where's My Car." In fact I believe that Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett should pay US to watch the movie
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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TrevaR.Mar 8, 2007
Why did I waste my time on this film, I am still asking myself that question? I find the movie's leaping around between stories frustratingly annoying with little thread or reason between them until the end which was too late in the Why did I waste my time on this film, I am still asking myself that question? I find the movie's leaping around between stories frustratingly annoying with little thread or reason between them until the end which was too late in the game for me to care why there was a connection. The filming of the Asian girl exposing herself to the boys was totally unnecessary. Hitchcock never needed to show someone's head being blown off, and we didn't need to see her naked body to understand her pain. SKIP THIS ONE!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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anonimousApr 11, 2007
This movie is not stupid, it's dumb. I wonder how much the writer of this movie knows about Morocco, Japan and Mexico...?
it's a pity for people who don't know much about these cultures to watch this garbage and think thatThis movie is not stupid, it's dumb. I wonder how much the writer of this movie knows about Morocco, Japan and Mexico...?
it's a pity for people who don't know much about these cultures to watch this garbage and think that this is how things are.
I wonder if it is illegal immigration, pauvrety, ignorance or simply, greatness of america in the whole world that this movie is trying to show here???
it has beautiful pictures though of all these 3 countries, that's why I give it 1.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
ghostlyApr 24, 2007
when i saw this film i was in laos in a tourist trap town where all the blonds and europeens and privileged israeli went for vacation..to do tubbing...
anyways..they were all sitting in this restaurant watching this movie...of Moroccanwhen i saw this film i was in laos in a tourist trap town where all the blonds and europeens and privileged israeli went for vacation..to do tubbing...
anyways..they were all sitting in this restaurant watching this movie...of Moroccan berbers eating couscous at a table...and looking so boring and primitive in the eyes of the camera. Truly this movie was made by an american who only knows america...now the filmakers name is hispanic but how much of Morocco does he know? He just showed them like aloof people with no intelleigence..i mean shit..i was in morocco and tought video to the adolescents and they had very fine minds...
America is so scared of herself...and being unloved...that she projects her fears on everyone.
IT is a shame that we never hear the voice of the Moroccan people. They are just fucking scenery for the glorification of Mr armpit and Mme aerian race blondy herself...
America the WHTIE
although u made a film about internation...it was once again about self importance of the whites colonnizers.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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CarlosG.Apr 24, 2007
Possibly, the worst of it all i that everything happens to one single white American family!
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
ChrisB.Apr 5, 2007
This movie is not very good. It is amazing how much everyone seems to hate each other over their opinions about movies. Our lives have very little to do with anything that happened in this movie and our opinions of this film are an equally This movie is not very good. It is amazing how much everyone seems to hate each other over their opinions about movies. Our lives have very little to do with anything that happened in this movie and our opinions of this film are an equally small insight into our intellectual value in the world. I suggest not watching this movie though. It is boring and unimporportant. There are a few memorable scenes, but they have virtually nothing to do with reality yet the movie seems to suggest that they are supposed to. I was mad about my lost two hours after it was over. Watch that Volkswagon commercial. Its thirty seconds and conveys the same point...only it is less boring.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
KateOApr 6, 2007
Ugh. Extremely pompous movie about unlikeable characters.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
PhilG.Jun 18, 2007
The movie tries hard to be like some European movies and just fails badly. The director has not mastered the art of creating a movie without a plot and yet captivating the audience. He has a lot to learn from the Italian, French and Spanish masters.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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danwilsonJun 18, 2007
this movie was the shittest thing i have ever watched...things which i have gazed upon so far in my life which have succsessfully satisfied me more than this so called film include... paint drying, snails crawling and big brother livethis movie was the shittest thing i have ever watched...things which i have gazed upon so far in my life which have succsessfully satisfied me more than this so called film include... paint drying, snails crawling and big brother live nominations... as far as im concerned you owe me one hundred and forty two minutes of my life back.... as for it being a so called suspense slash thriller... if u tried to make the most boringest randomest crappest movie ever, this would beat u. yours sincerely dan wilson... better luck next time… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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RobB.Jul 21, 2007
Looks fantastic. Terrible Story.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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DOAug 21, 2007
This had to be the worst movie my husband and I have ever seen. We kept waiting for something to really make sense. BIG WASTE of time.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
LiefS.Sep 5, 2007
This could have been a really good tv episode if it were half an hour long. instead u have an over extended bleeding heart, left wing propoganda flick with tons of long un-needed scenes (like the little boy masterbating while protecting goats?)
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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ClairekohlJan 6, 2008
This was the worst movie I've seen in 35 years. Basically it's liberal emoting subliminally with the theme: Western Culture (Japan which copies America) is to blame for all the ills in the world. Big bad border guards, big badThis was the worst movie I've seen in 35 years. Basically it's liberal emoting subliminally with the theme: Western Culture (Japan which copies America) is to blame for all the ills in the world. Big bad border guards, big bad Americans don't understand illegal immigrant struggle or arab family dynamics. It sucks worse than anything you can imagine....don't waste your money renting this piece of crap of a film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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JaredEJan 22, 2009
Was this a short story written by a high school drop out that was turned into more than a two hour production? This was the longest piece of crap I have ever seen with the most minimal amount of acting possible. I could literally feel my Was this a short story written by a high school drop out that was turned into more than a two hour production? This was the longest piece of crap I have ever seen with the most minimal amount of acting possible. I could literally feel my life being sucked from me while viewing it. You know it is bad when you can have casual conversation or a bathroom break at any point in the film and not lose anything from the plot.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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NavinJApr 4, 2009
My wife bought this film since she wanted to see it. After the first ten minutes she fell asleep and I turned it off. Trite, contrived, ignorant and a big waste of time. Almost seemed like the scriptwriter hadn't even been to the places My wife bought this film since she wanted to see it. After the first ten minutes she fell asleep and I turned it off. Trite, contrived, ignorant and a big waste of time. Almost seemed like the scriptwriter hadn't even been to the places he was writing about. Probably not as bad as Crash, but worse that Syriana.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
WilliamBNov 12, 2006
This is a trite and offensive story of the commonplace: how blacks and browns screw up and get screwed. Critics seem bamboozled by wrapping the story in a pretentious package of excellent cinematography with psuedo-intellectual overtones.This is a trite and offensive story of the commonplace: how blacks and browns screw up and get screwed. Critics seem bamboozled by wrapping the story in a pretentious package of excellent cinematography with psuedo-intellectual overtones. The film contrasts the misfortunes of a dedicated brown nanny with the travails and eventual good fortune of absentee very white parents. It contrasts angelic very white children with foolish brown children and emotionally disturbed asian children. Imagine a little white girl who has never seen a chicken with feathers beating rural mexican chilren at a common game. The Japanese segment is little more than an excuse to show a pubescent girl naked. As for the acting: Pitt doesn't; Blanchet's high point is exclaiming that she pee'd her pants. Indeed the good acting is turned in by the brown actors who must portary making foolish choices. My advice - don't wste your time and money on this film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
NPNov 12, 2006
After enduring the "roller coaster" sick feeling for around 90 minutes we left the theater. Sure, there were some "lessons to be learned" but some 'shots" did NOT have to be in this painfully SLOW film. This was a complete waste of our After enduring the "roller coaster" sick feeling for around 90 minutes we left the theater. Sure, there were some "lessons to be learned" but some 'shots" did NOT have to be in this painfully SLOW film. This was a complete waste of our money and time. I would encourage EVERYONE to NOT SEE THIS FILM!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
JosephNov 12, 2006
A pretentious, obvious, and, most damagingly, utterly inept film. Supposedly about miscommunication, it's really about a series of really stupid decisions, by characters who aren't behaving in any way that resembles actual human A pretentious, obvious, and, most damagingly, utterly inept film. Supposedly about miscommunication, it's really about a series of really stupid decisions, by characters who aren't behaving in any way that resembles actual human interaction. A hopelessly self-important mess.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
RebeccaV.Nov 15, 2006
The title "Babel" just doesn't fit. I like to call it "A bad day for the PItt family."
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
DavidAndersonNov 18, 2006
This is the worst movie I have ever seen in 22 years being on this earth. [You can stop reading and go see Casino Royale now]. You must have some serious issues if you think this was good, as a lot of people do, and trust me, it's notThis is the worst movie I have ever seen in 22 years being on this earth. [You can stop reading and go see Casino Royale now]. You must have some serious issues if you think this was good, as a lot of people do, and trust me, it's not me. I left the theatre after 2 hours since there was no plot, nothing was happening, half the movie or more has subtitles, and there are SO many long, drawn out periods of NOTHING. OMG. It's absolute garbage and I regret the fact that I wasted 2 hours of my life on this crap. Brad Pitt's wife gets shot by some random Middle Eastern boys who masturbate behind rocks [oh, and while thinking of their sister their sister too], some random deaf-mute Japanese girl tries to get laid with various people she comes across, takes drugs and goes to a club, and a Mexican nanny who is taking care of Brad Pitt's kids takes them across the US/Mexico border for a wedding, gets driven back by a drunk guy, border hops past customs, and they end up carless in a random field at night. Then I went home. So sad that I paid for this patheticism. DO NOT SEE IT.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
MichaelPerriniNov 18, 2006
This movie was amateurish, at best. If the filmmakers ever bother to read comments from paying customers--which based on their self-indulgent "artiste" attitude that was quite evident in the film, I strongly doubt--let me explain somethingThis movie was amateurish, at best. If the filmmakers ever bother to read comments from paying customers--which based on their self-indulgent "artiste" attitude that was quite evident in the film, I strongly doubt--let me explain something to you. Good stories are rooted in the characters behaving in realistic ways based on solidly built motivation. Two little boys raised in a strict Muslim household don't suddenly decide to shoot a rifle at a tourist bus. Shy, deaf teenage girls don't suddenly decide to take off their panties and shoot beavers at the boys who made fun of them in the school cafeteria. A Mexican who has been living a good life illegally in the USA for the past 16 years doesn't suddenly decide to go back to Mexico with no earthly idea how she'll return. Police detectives don't suddenly decide to hang around in the middle of the night with the naked jail bait daughter of a powerful businessman, in that businessman's apartment, when said powerful businessman might come home at any moment.

Come on, guys! We're not fools. You can't make your characters do whatever you want them to do because it will make a "cool" scene--you have to set up believable motivations. This is Fiction Writing 101 stuff. You ought to know better.

Furthermore, we are supposed to believe that the Bratt Pitt character his the worst luck of anyone born since Job. Not only is he the one whose wife gets randomly shot while they are on vacation in Morocco, but he's also the one whose children are kidnapped and taken out of the USA by his trusted nanny...and all of this happens, wonder of wonders, at the same time! I can only conclude that you have deluded yourself into thinking this is all somehow believable. What planet do you live on? It is definitely not Earth.

If all that wasn't bad enough, this movie consisted of three separate stories all cut and pasted into one, with little relation to each other. The third story about the oversexed Japanese schoolgirl just plain didn't fit. In fact, it seems pretty obvious to me that the main reason it was put into the film was because somebody making the movie gets off on watching oversexed Japanese schoolgirls in their cute little uniforms. Hey, whatever turns you on is none of my business...but it's no reason to put that stuff into this particular film.

The only reason I gave the movie a 3, and not a 0, because of the visuals. The director of photography seems to be the only one who knows his craft.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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sandyNov 20, 2006
What a load of dog poop!! A complete waste of $10. I wanted to see the latest Brad Pitt movie but 15 minutes into it was begging to leave. I ended up suffering through the entire movie, but hated every second of it. When Cate What a load of dog poop!! A complete waste of $10. I wanted to see the latest Brad Pitt movie but 15 minutes into it was begging to leave. I ended up suffering through the entire movie, but hated every second of it. When Cate Blanchett's character was shot I prayed real hard she would die so the movie would end quickly. While I applaud the effort that went into making the movie, it just didn't work. The chopping and changing of scenery, country and subject was annoying. The characters all ended up being whiny, annoying and spoiled to varying levels. The kids were about the only "real" characters. They did what all kids would have typically done in their situation, played, cried or slept. Not much to work on there. I would love to see Brad Pitt in more pithy and less sex god roles, I would hate to see him in anything else like this garbage again.… Expand
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