Children of Men 10th Anniversary Edition UK Exclusive Steelbook Limited Edition Blu-Ray Region free

Excellent film. Uncanny!!! It's portraying what our world will be like very soon?

Children of Men was shown in limited cinemas on Christmas Day in 2006; an appropriate day for a story of the re-birth of the human race. The film's opening credits flash onto a black screen with a newsreader voice off announcing the death of baby Diego, at eighteen, the youngest person on the planet. Newspaper cuttings confirm the progressive downfall of humanity and posters state that `avoiding fertility tests is a crime'. Graffiti proclaims the growing threat of an uprising. Britain is the only country in the world not fallen into total chaos. However, all foreigners are now considered illegal immigrants, are termed Fugees hunted down and placed in cages or sent to live in refugee shanty camps. The government hands out anti depressants and Quietus kits for the gentle suicide with the slogan `you decide when'. Fear is mobilized by political groups such as the Renouncers who preach that infertility is God's punishment. Society is running down with no reason to maintain it. Rubbish litters the filthy streets, schools fall into ruin and despite being set in the future of 2027 it looks as if no advancements have been made in many years. This perhaps is the brilliance behind the film; it is a futuristic, dystopian world that still feels genuine and reflects so many parallels already inherent in today's society.As the film begins there is mass mourning, Princess Diana style, for the loss of Diego and a high pitched, uncomfortable whistling sound that we realise is Theo's ears ringing from a bomb that explodes in the café he has just left. Theodore Faron is not the archetypal hero, he blunders clumsily through the film, an unshaven, alcoholic living like a zombie, his previous activist nature turned passive with the knowledge that the human race is doomed to be extinct. He flippantly states that the cigarettes he smokes are `not killing him yet'. Flip-flops are not the usual foot attire for the champion protector, yet Theo limps to the end on his damaged feet.Throughout the film there is constant Christian subtext: Kee reveals her swollen belly to Theo in a straw filled barn. She is being shepherded by Julian, leader of the Fishes who strive for equal rights for illegal immigrants. The fish is a symbol of Christianity. Theodore, meaning gift from God, is the only person Julian and Kee trust. Dogs and cats flock to him and we see an assortment of chickens, sheep and a loan deer in his path that imply his Jesus-like status. Miriam, the original Hebrew form of Mary, is the oddly Buddhist midwife, preparing to bring in the new life. Kee jokes that she is a virgin and laughs at Theo's dumbstruck expression; but we are assured that the religious suggestions are merely a way of making this film stand out as apocalyptic. The profanities in the film seem unusually apt as `Jesus Christ' is gasped several times and Theo delivers the first child since 2009 to the words `Oh my God.'The film is based on P D James' book, but retains only the bare essentials of its plot. Sadly we miss the vision of women pushing dolls in prams or having christening parties for kittens and Theo's cousin is in fact more than a minister collecting the remnants of art, he is the Warden of England; its sole ruler. Although the book is quieter and more sinister, director Alfonso Cuarón's (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) film gives his audience enough thought provoking detail to balance the high action scenes with sensitive control.The film is shot in hazy grey-green monotone, other than the few splashes of red blood that hit the camera in the penultimate scenes. Angelic choirs sing through the sound of gunshot. This is a bleak looking film, desolate, war ridden and broken and yet it carries hope with it in Theo's reluctant awakening. Clive Owen (Croupier, Derailed) as Theo carries this exceptional film, with his brooding stillness complimenting Cuarón's fluid photography in a documentary styled piece. Owen's beautifully unguarded acting style is perfect for the flawed and cynical hero that we trust despite his disenchantment. Michael Caine (The Italian Job, Get Carter) is wonderful as Theo's aging hippie friend.The film comes to an end all too soon, with Theo striving to find safety for Kee and the new child on the hospital boat, aptly named the tomorrow, part of the illusive Human Project. We are left wishing there had been more to it, wanting more information about the outcome but ultimately with a sense of sad contemplation but renewed faith in the human condition. As the end credits scroll up to the sound of children's laughter we are assured that hope has prevailed.

I originally heard about this film via my education - and, it took a long time to eventually view the complete film rather then a few minutes in the name of education.And, I'm glad I decided to. For it is a stunning film, and is worth viewing even once in your life.The story, is dark and thrilling and full of truth of how humanity could evolve with the issue faced. It shows how with problems, development will stop, the world would hault and nothing would evolve and be similar to todays time that only so many clues revealOne thing to be congratualated on this film, is its cinematography and wonderful use of cameras. Those who have rated this film low clearly don't understand the paticence and hard work that goes into filming a 12 minute sequence - no cuts, edits, re-takes... one take, one chance, all on one camera. As a media student, and even as a person in the age of portable cameras, doing a perfect take or video of an every day event is near impossible. So managing in a highly detailed scene, with effects and hard hitting truths, takes a director and crew devotion.And, the film uses this method because it is not to create an entertaing piece, but more create a documentary. The director admits he wanted this film to feel that real, that he wanted it to be filmed and given that documentary edge. And he worked, ever choice and idea again from camera, sound, editing, characters and setting work to this. Viewing this, I felt like it was possible to happen and understood and connected with the film.Sure, the world is perhaps expect, but wake up call, the world if it stops developing won't change no matter who writes, films or creates it. It's going to dirty, grimy and unusable. But recognisable. Have a look at all dystopia films and perhaps you'd understand this, but at least the effort to make the setting similar for those viewing is there instead of completely destrorying for the puprose of following those iconic ideals of the genre.I highly recomend this film, as its close to a truth of possibilities, and holds deep editing and camera work to make it more belivable. Those who down rate the film, clearly miss the point of the film and should second thought their view or consider looking at it past it been too depressing or too similar in setting.

Watch this film and make your own decision, you may be surprised. Why do I find this film so compelling and thought provoking? I was somewhat disappointed when I first saw it in the cinema as I think all who read the book first or believed the hype circulating in the press when it was first released could so easily be.This is not a Hollywood blockbuster, all action film, but serves to tell a simple story, which has been told before. How do you control society when the basic drives are gone. What hope is there when there is no future? The plot line although not 'A1' is more original than most. Some good twists and I did not think it as predictable or unbelievable as some previous reviewers.There seems to be some strange ideas linked to reviews of this film, for example the idea of this film sponsoring inappropriate procreation, I dont know where that came from? Why can't disaster be in the near future as well as our near past? Some things in life are predictable and some people are 'slower' than others and need to have things spelt out a bit more. There is nothing wrong with this, it is called tolerance and appealing to the wider audience rather than elitism.Watch this, I think you may be pleasantly surprised.