- Actors: Christopher Lee, Jean Reno, Camille Natta, Benoit Magimel
- Directors: Olivier Dahan
- Producers: Ilan Goldman
- Format: Subtitled, PAL
- Language English
- Subtitles: English, Hindi
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 2.35:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- DVD Release Date: 25 April 2005
- Run Time: 95 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0006ZLD1O
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 48,685 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
French sensation The Crimson Rivers was a serial killer thriller with a difference--it was genuinely thrilling. It was also pretty disturbing, but Jean Reno (The Professional) brought some light to the darkness with his sly performance as dog-phobic detective Niémans. Fortunately, Reno has returned in this highly stylized Luc Besson-penned sequel. Vincent Cassell has not, but Benoît Magimel (The Piano Teacher), as new partner Reda, makes for a decent replacement. Alas, Olivier Dahan isn't in the same league as Matthieu Kassovitz and the story line, which has something to do with the Last Supper, the Maginot Line, and gravity-defying killer monks, is even more convoluted than before. Then there's Johnny Hallyday (The Man on the Train) as a mysterious one-eyed man and Christopher Lee (The Lord of the Rings) as a bad German dude. It's all a little ridiculous, but entertaining nonetheless, and the chase sequences are a treat. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Synopsis
Jean Reno returns as the brooding Inspector Niemans, searching for the force behind a new series ofgrisly killings. In this riveting, action-packed sequel to sensational thriller Crimson Rivers, Niemans teams with a fiery, young detective to solve the bizarre case and the ancient prophecy that threatens to destroy an entire civilization.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The ever watchable Jean Reno returns as Inspector Niemans in this fast paced,good looking and intense follow up to Crimson Rivers.
Niemans and his team investigate a series of killings which seem to ape the deaths of the twelve apostles and which could usher in the end of the world.Enter murderous monks and Christopher lee doing his usual schtick in a french accent.
Bonkers but pretty good nonsense benefits from everyone playing it straight;Benoit Magimel(replacing Vincent Cassel from the original) is a good foil for Reno and director Olivier Dahan over indulges in his use of colour and over the top action sequences.
Niemans and his team investigate a series of killings which seem to ape the deaths of the twelve apostles and which could usher in the end of the world.Enter murderous monks and Christopher lee doing his usual schtick in a french accent.
Bonkers but pretty good nonsense benefits from everyone playing it straight;Benoit Magimel(replacing Vincent Cassel from the original) is a good foil for Reno and director Olivier Dahan over indulges in his use of colour and over the top action sequences.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A strong sense of place was one of the many strengths of Matthieu Kassovitz's under-rated crowd-pleaser 'The Crimson Rivers,' one of the best French thrillers in years, but, despite including dying steel towns, artificial lakes, monasteries and even the Maginot Line among its locations, it's one of the many things missing from its in-name-only sequel. Other notable absences include confident direction, decent plotting, concise characterisation and a real sense of conviction in its larger than life premise, not to mention almost anybody associated with the original.
With only Jean Reno returning and Luc Besson providing the very uninspired script, my expectations for this were extremely low but, in all fairness, it wasn't as bad as I expected. But then, it wasn't very good either - just relentlessly average, predictable and forgettable. None of the class or style of the first one, weak TV-show characterisation (right down to the terrible 'end on a joke' cop show cliché) and an old hat religious conspiracy plot that rehashes a few elements of the original (chasing super-strong hooded figures, Nazi conspiracies, etc) to little effect. The writing is pretty lazy and the ending straight out of Raiders of the Lost Ark without the supernatural effects, but if you pitch your expectations low it passes the time. But it's very easy to see why Kassovitz, Vincent Cassel and composer Bruno Coulais didn't come back for this one: I'm willing to bet that if anyone else but Bresson wrote it, Reno would have skipped it too.
A good package of extras are included, but you need to pitch your expectations low for the film itself.
With only Jean Reno returning and Luc Besson providing the very uninspired script, my expectations for this were extremely low but, in all fairness, it wasn't as bad as I expected. But then, it wasn't very good either - just relentlessly average, predictable and forgettable. None of the class or style of the first one, weak TV-show characterisation (right down to the terrible 'end on a joke' cop show cliché) and an old hat religious conspiracy plot that rehashes a few elements of the original (chasing super-strong hooded figures, Nazi conspiracies, etc) to little effect. The writing is pretty lazy and the ending straight out of Raiders of the Lost Ark without the supernatural effects, but if you pitch your expectations low it passes the time. But it's very easy to see why Kassovitz, Vincent Cassel and composer Bruno Coulais didn't come back for this one: I'm willing to bet that if anyone else but Bresson wrote it, Reno would have skipped it too.
A good package of extras are included, but you need to pitch your expectations low for the film itself.
Format:DVD
Oh dear. The first Crimson Rivers film was confusing, but visually stunning and despite its flaws one of the best thrillers in recent years. On the other hand this is the sort of lazy generic stuff that gives Luc Besson a bad name.
The plot is a random assortment of bright shiny things that catch your attention. There are faceless monks, who are superhuman, killing modern versions of Christ and his apostles. There are creepy former Nazis. There is a monastery full of silent monks (with faces) where there is a constant lightning storm. There is no Vincent Cassel this time out, but Benoit Magimel has an impressive, but overlong fight sequence at the outset, to demonstrate his manly credentials. The Maginot line has something to do with it, with a mechanised gun turret popping up to shoot up Reno's car at one point. Chuck in bits of Indiana Jones, and bits of the Da Vinci Code!
If you have seen the trailer, you have probably seen all of this already. So far, so good. But once you get beyond the bright shiny eye-catching elements from the trailer, then this is thin stuff. There is a lazy banter between the two lead characters that lacks conviction. The plot makes only a semblance of sense. The whole thing has the gravitas and conviction of a flamboyant goth rock music video for Billy Idol or Meatloaf.
It is not a dreadful film, it passes the time enjoyably enough, and is certainly not dull, but for all the bombast there is precious little heart or soul to it. This is multiple murder as rock video.
The plot is a random assortment of bright shiny things that catch your attention. There are faceless monks, who are superhuman, killing modern versions of Christ and his apostles. There are creepy former Nazis. There is a monastery full of silent monks (with faces) where there is a constant lightning storm. There is no Vincent Cassel this time out, but Benoit Magimel has an impressive, but overlong fight sequence at the outset, to demonstrate his manly credentials. The Maginot line has something to do with it, with a mechanised gun turret popping up to shoot up Reno's car at one point. Chuck in bits of Indiana Jones, and bits of the Da Vinci Code!
If you have seen the trailer, you have probably seen all of this already. So far, so good. But once you get beyond the bright shiny eye-catching elements from the trailer, then this is thin stuff. There is a lazy banter between the two lead characters that lacks conviction. The plot makes only a semblance of sense. The whole thing has the gravitas and conviction of a flamboyant goth rock music video for Billy Idol or Meatloaf.
It is not a dreadful film, it passes the time enjoyably enough, and is certainly not dull, but for all the bombast there is precious little heart or soul to it. This is multiple murder as rock video.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dazzled by Déjà Vu
This is very much a repeat of the original Crimson Rivers. It comes across as the result of a film school exercise in which the various plot elements have to remain the same but... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Lochman
So-so sequel
Crimson Rivers is a terrific film, worth watching over and again. This sequel is a real let-down. Not recommended.
Published 23 months ago by J. F. Pye
First Class Whodunnit
The French Cinema seems to manage to produce gritty police dramas. The scenario was well thought out and Jean Reno plays exactly to type i.e. Read more
Published on 23 April 2009 by J. Gould
Bloody Brilliant
Thsi film is very well made as Crimsone rivers 1 was. Jean Reno returns as the detective Nemos. He picks up a young police officer as well. Read more
Published on 24 April 2006 by Ben G
Death of a Franchise
First: I loved the original Crimson Rivers. True it had a cod ending but it looked great, the acting was good, the script was by turns surprising and amusing. Read more
Published on 22 May 2005 by Otto
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