Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Blistering performances.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I am afraid that nobody will understand this movie unless he or she doesn't know one of the greatest Hungarian dramatic play of the XIXth century: The Tragedy of Man, written by Imre Madách. The plot: after the loss of the garden of Eden, Lucifer, the demon of Denial shows to Adam and Eve the different ages of mankind, to prove them that there is no reason for them to live. In their dream they live for a while in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, in medieval Byzantium, in the revolutionary Paris, etc. This is a romantic and pessimistic vision -- with a strange, optimistic ending. The director of this movie had a great idea: he has chosen not grown up actors and actresses, but little boys and girls, so the plot is even more complex, more poetic and more visionary. A beautiful movie to watch -- but if you don't know the drama of Madách, perhaps you won't understand everything. Anyway, it is worth the time!

Every now and then I read a book or see a movie that leaves me increasingly puzzled, even frustrated - until suddenly, towards the end, everything comes together and it all makes sense (the first time I remember this was John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany"). This movie is just such a creation.The plot idea is superb: Adam and Eve, having succumbed to Lucifer's temptation, are cast out of the garden of Eden. Adam holds Lucifer to his promise: "You said I would know everything!"; so Lucifer, in return, grants Adam a dream of the world to come. And what a bizarre dream: Adam becomes Miltiades in Athens; a knight called Tancred in Byzantium; Kepler in Prague; Danton in revolutionary Paris; and a nameless suitor in industrial London. All of the episodes end in tragedy, and all involve a man separated for ever from his true love.Other critics have commented on how the episodes become increasingly surreal and confusing, and by three-quarters of the way through the movie I was as bewildered as anyone. But it is when Adam awakes, and Eve tells him that she is carrying his child, that it all starts to come together. Adam has seen his descendants create a world that spirals into madness; and he has also seen that in his misguided attempt to stay forever with Eve, he has condemned all his descendants to separation, whether by death, deceit, adultery, or even misguided piety. His heartfelt plea to God as he clutches his pregnant wife's abdomen - "Lord, shall my kind progress, or like cattle in the treadmill stay within the circle?" - is a challenge. Have we progressed, or have we fulfilled Lucifer's vision of a self-created Hell? The movie is beautifully filmed, with little bizarre touches weaving a dream-like milieu. There are some fine performances, particularly from the eerily beautiful Lucifer. All-in-all a weird and thought-provoking movie.

This is a very well acted play (brought to film, then to video), however, it is not likely that the majority of movie watchers will take pleasure in it. The beginning is biblical fact, and then it becomes the writers idea. It is based upon the book of Genesis and Ecclesiastes, with a touch of the New Testament. In the beginning it is Biblical Fact (Genesis)-> Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, tempted by Satan to eat of the fruit that gives the knowledge of good and evil. HOWEVER, after they are sent from Eden, the story becomes the imagination of the writer! When I first watched this movie, I shook my head and thought it was a heartless, worthless effort to depress people. I just wanted it to end. BUT the ending summed it all up for me and I appreciated the entire movie for it! I do not know why the entire movie is performed by children (between 8 and 12 years of age), but I do know that they did an outstanding job!!! Yes, it is STRANGE, but isn't that what makes a movie unique!?

Some movies tell a very good story, others get lost in the imagery and scenes. This movie falls in between both of these cases. I think it starts off telling a great story and from an unique perspective. As the story continues though, it becomes more and more obscure in the historical imagery and myths. By the time the movie ends, you are just grateful to make it until the end, but not without dozing off from time to time.Believe it or not, I still enjoyed it, just don't make a sequel, please!