Le Pacte des loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf)

Realized that I had only rated this and not reviewed it, so watched it again (the "directors cut" this time) and was instantly reminded of just how beautifully shot this film is.

While it is not without it's flaws, it is very well done. And though the main premise of the stor...( read more)y is "Baskerville-ish", it is nicely enveloped with enough French history, martial arts and lush costumes and sets that (for the most part) it is easy to overlook.

My only complaint would be with some of the CGI effects regarding "the beast". They were a bit low budget at times. But again, there is SO much other really great stuff to be said for the film, that it is pretty easy to overlook those few moments of bad CGI.

A classic. A wild and absolutely breathtaking ride. As cool and as exciting as adventure gets. It's a masterpice, a briiliant combination of historical background, fantacy, horror, mystery and outstanding action sequences. A stylish, sexy, remarkable and mind-blowing adventure. A...( read more) compelling, moving and provocative film filled with great locations and sensual images. An extroadinary and fasinating movie. An amasing and explosive action-packed adventure. The action is like something from The Matrix or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The story has a great sense of character development and devotion. It truly shines with greatness and incrediable style. Samuel Le Bihan and Mark Dacascos are sensational. Vincent Cassel gives a chilling performance.

Jean-Francois de Morangias: So tell me sir, do they speak of the beast in Paris?
Gregoire De Fronsac: Speak of it? They're already singing songs about it.
Geneviève de Morangias: Instead of singing songs, they should be saying prayers.

Quite the strange film, which manages...( read more) to pack a historical atmosphere with killer wolves, martial arts, crazy amounts of cleavage and nudity, political drama, romance, and some slick cinematography to make it all look nice. The film is too all over the place to be great, but it is entertaining.

Set in 18th century France, the Chevalier de Fronsac and his native American friend Mani are sent by the King to the Gevaudan province to investigate the killings of hundreds by a mysterious beast. During this time, more characters are introduced, including a one-armed count, played by Vincent Cassel and one of the women at the local brothel, played by Monica Bellucci. While on the hunt for the dangerous beast killing many, the two main men learn that there may be much more to the terrorizing of the beast than one may know.

Jean-Francois de Morangias: Congratulations. If I had both my hands, I'd applaud you.

At two and a half hours, this is a long movie, especially given its B-movie style plot outline. The first hour and a half was actually really good, before the movie descended into stranger and stranger territory. The characters are interesting and the premise was working for me. As the film kept going, all the other layers detracted from my liking of the movie.

The two things that were the most solid here were Mark Dacascos as the Native American who was awesome as a quiet martial arts expert and the gorgeous cinematography. Any movie that can give us both beautiful landscapes and transition fades from Bellucci's breasts to mountains is quality. Certainly adding to both these elements (Dacascos and the cinematography) is the action sequences, which make great use of slo mo and speed ups.

As intriguing as the beast aspect of the story is, seeing it wasn't too satisfying, however, it did kinda grow on me in a strange sort of way.

Now in addition to all of this, as absurd as some of the elements in this film are, what is surprising is that a lot of the characters and their character traits are actually true. Its a detail that I feel necessary to share, because what else can I say about this movie? It has some cool action, looks great, but is overly long.

Gregoire De Fronsac: How did it happen?
Jean-Francois de Morangias: I learned that sometimes one bullet doesn't suffice.

I fell asleep...it was sooo long. I will maybe give it another shot some time in my life time. For now, it gets 1 star.

Good premise, decent atmosphere, lame and dumb execution. The action sequences are choppy, and become yet another proof that you just can't beat the real thing (Hong Kong cinema) when it comes to shootings this kind of stuff. Best thing of this: Monica Bellucci naked, Cassel play...( read more)s wacky villians too.

Crazy. this movie was innovative and caried with it an eery rendition of mythical French culture

Amazing! breath-Taking! A Must-See.

Gave this a re-watch for the Halloween season this year, hadn't seen it in several years.

Still holds up amazingly well, just a beautiful film, rather notable for the genre-bending mixture of style and action, I wish there were more films out there like this.

Highly recommended.

this movie is just absolutely fucking amazing. i thought of seeing it one time and then i just bought it because there's seemingly no way to rent it now and it turned up being the best movie i've ever bought before i actually saw it