But who knows where or when Warning: spoilers.
To anyone who, like me, is prone to muse that great movies are not made in modern times, I would recommend 12 Monkeys. I re-watched this movie last night for the first time in years and it gave me chills it was so beautiful. Not as a science-fiction film so much. For me the movie is probably the most effective, most highly wrought and strangest love story ever told. For me the real core of the movie is the love betwen Kathryn Railly and James Cole. It begins subtly, with Railly as the authority figure psychiatrist saying to the drugged and drooling violent mental patient James Cole "Haven't I seen you someplace?"
In the beginning, Cole's story that he has come from the future is seen as a paranoid schizophrenic delusion. His reality is treated lightly and derided by the complacently-in-control but somehow basically like-able and fetching Railly (Madeline Stowe, in a stunning and classic screen performance)
Gradually, Cole's reality becomes compelling for Railly. She begins losing her grip on her own, smugly-complacent reality picture. At the very same time, Cole begins to reject his own grim reality, because he is falling in love with Railly and now wants to believe that his story of having come from a grim future is a fantasy. This plot structure is so beautifully worked out it is mindblowingly beautiful. A prime example of how story-telling is an evolving art form. The stories of yesteryear were rarely this complex and affecting. You always had to stifle a yawn while watching Romeo and Juliette. But these star-crossed lovers are such an unwittingly beautiful odd-couple it brought continuous chills of art appreciation. As Railly glues an absurd fake mustache to Cole's upper lip - to go with his wig and loud red Hawaiian shirt - she whispers "I remember you this way" and though they share an exquisitely tender moment - in the lobby of an all-night movie theater playing Hitchcock films - they do not kiss. Just thinking about it makes me start to get broken up. It is only in the final scene in the airport that they exchange one, brief, almost embarrassed kiss, rigged out in their wigs and cruisewear, become the absurd and yet extremely dramatic versions of themselves that have haunted Cole's dreams for as long as he can remember. This is great writing. It is an example of how most of the truly great storytelling today is happening in movies, not in books. Books are awash in mediocrity and pretentiousness. The publishing industry festers to its core and has been overrun by people with such degenerate taste that it can be truly said that bad is the new good. However sometimes in movies you get true high art. I cannot conceive of a better, more touching love story than that between Kathryn Railly and James Cole. Thank you Mr. And Mrs. Peoples. Thank You.
It's a scary film, but ultimately provides a slim glimmer of hope out of the immensely melancholic backdrop of our doomed world and the post-apocalyptic one of the near future. Sort of. I found bizarre and moving the story of the lead character Cole, played by Bruce Willis. Aside from PULP FICTION, this is his best performance. His story and that of his doctor, played by Madeleine Stowe, give the movie some heart and make what ultimately unfolds hard to take. Brad Pit is excellent as a loony animal rights activist and if anyone thinks he doesn't have acting chops, they should see the pretty boy in this role.
IMHO, Gilliam's best film and one with a truly scary premise, if anything because we could realistically see it happening in the real world. One single nutcase could obtain a lethal airborne virus and spread it all over the world within a couple of days just by hopping on planes. Unfortunately we don't have the ability to time travel. I wish we'd see more science fiction film making of this quality...best movie ive seen Theres nothing bad to say about this movie. Great acting, great story line, awsome ending, and it really makes you think. best movie in my opinion.Monkey around with time Action, lots of action, violence and a taste for spiders. This is more intricate than the mindless "Die Hard" series. You have a solid plot and a rather good mystery. There is a great cast of supporting actors. Add that to a little time travel and a deadly virus and you have a decent movie.
Bruce Willis is tasked to travel back from 2035 to today (1996) to brig back a pure strain of a deadly virus that was released into the world and wiping out most of mankind.
The are the "what if's" of time and if you look close you may see your self. He gets more than he bargained for and so do we (a movie that will hold your attention.)
The Sticky Fingers of Time
Bedtime for Bonzo
Essential Sci-fi Movie This is one of the essential Sci-fi movies I think. Here you can see all the classics dilemmas on this kind of movies, and specially, how baddly could be the human.
Also you can see how could be some time travel dilemma, how someone came from the future could change his own past and his own future.
It's not a sweet movie but anyway you could enjoy it.
