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Amazon.co.uk Review
Inspired by Chris Marker's acclaimed short film La Jetée, 12 Monkeys combines intricate, intelligent storytelling with the uniquely imaginative vision of director Terry Gilliam. The story opens in the wintry wasteland of the year 2035, where a virulent plague has forced humans to live in a squalid, oppressively regimented underground. Bruce Willis plays a societal outcast who is given the opportunity to erase his criminal record by "volunteering" to time-travel into the past to obtain a pure sample of the deadly virus that will help future scientists to develop a cure. But in bouncing from 1918 to the early and mid-1990s, he undergoes an ordeal that forces him to question his own perceptions of reality. Caught between the dangers of the past and the devastation of the future, he encounters a psychiatrist (Madeleine Stowe) who is initially convinced he's insane, and a wacky mental patient (Brad Pitt in a twitchy Oscar-nominated role) with links to a radical group that may have unleashed the deadly virus. Equal parts mystery, tragedy, psychological thriller, and apocalyptic drama, 12 Monkeys ranks as one of the best science fiction films of the 1990s, boosted by Gilliam's visual ingenuity and one of the finest performances of Willis's career. --Jeff Shannon
Special Features
Full Screen
1.85 Wide Screen
DVD 9
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
The Hamster Factor And Other Tales Of The Twelve Monkeys Documentary
1.85 Wide Screen
DVD 9
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
The Hamster Factor And Other Tales Of The Twelve Monkeys Documentary
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
They say it's easier to write a sad song than it is write a happy one. The same goes for reviews. A flawed, or terrible film gives you plenty to moan about. A movie were everything about it ranges from good to sublime leaves you with very little to say. And so it is with 12 Monkeys were the only complaints I can dredge up are tiny little niggles.
I'm not saying the film is perfect, but it's very close to it. The story is properly compelling, it's well told, well paced, well acted etc. It's also visually one of the most interesting looking films I've ever seen. There is often a surreal quality to the images with extensive use of Dutch angles (camera slanted to put most things in the frame on a diagonal slope). I wouldn't call it a pretty film, just that it's visually inventive and constantly attention grabbing in a pleasing way.
I think the director himself once said that the acting of Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt has a tendency to split audiences. Most people think one gives a great performance and the other one a weak, overly mannered one. I've previously thought Brad Pitt's acting was a bit fake and unconvincing. Over time I've grown to think he's good, not outstanding or anything, but appropriate for a mentally unstable person.
The child actor during the airport scene is a minor weak link as he seems to be over-emoting like crazy with his eyes. He's not bad or annoying, he's just not note perfect.
Logically the film is not one hundred percent watertight, though I doubt many, if any, time travel films ever are. There might be some holes, but the film is too good to be affected by them. Why don't they go further back in time and correct their own mistakes (the airport scene at the end throws up a few questions along this line)? A question like this is kind of pointless as it's simply more dramatic and poignant the way it is.
This is one of my all time favourite movies. The script and direction are as good as any film I've ever seen. Bruce Willis gives his best performance and basically everything else about the film is either good or borderline perfect.
I'm not saying the film is perfect, but it's very close to it. The story is properly compelling, it's well told, well paced, well acted etc. It's also visually one of the most interesting looking films I've ever seen. There is often a surreal quality to the images with extensive use of Dutch angles (camera slanted to put most things in the frame on a diagonal slope). I wouldn't call it a pretty film, just that it's visually inventive and constantly attention grabbing in a pleasing way.
I think the director himself once said that the acting of Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt has a tendency to split audiences. Most people think one gives a great performance and the other one a weak, overly mannered one. I've previously thought Brad Pitt's acting was a bit fake and unconvincing. Over time I've grown to think he's good, not outstanding or anything, but appropriate for a mentally unstable person.
The child actor during the airport scene is a minor weak link as he seems to be over-emoting like crazy with his eyes. He's not bad or annoying, he's just not note perfect.
Logically the film is not one hundred percent watertight, though I doubt many, if any, time travel films ever are. There might be some holes, but the film is too good to be affected by them. Why don't they go further back in time and correct their own mistakes (the airport scene at the end throws up a few questions along this line)? A question like this is kind of pointless as it's simply more dramatic and poignant the way it is.
This is one of my all time favourite movies. The script and direction are as good as any film I've ever seen. Bruce Willis gives his best performance and basically everything else about the film is either good or borderline perfect.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is without doubt one of the best sci-fi/time travel movies ever made. 12 Monkeys demands more from the viewer than your average movie.
The plot is intelligent, the acting is superb and it looks beatifully gritty.
I never get tired of watching this film, it's a classic that constantly rewards the viewer with each subsequent viewing.
The plot is intelligent, the acting is superb and it looks beatifully gritty.
I never get tired of watching this film, it's a classic that constantly rewards the viewer with each subsequent viewing.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
For the first part of this film you'll be entertained and midly confused.
But the pieces slot into place and you see the full scope of what is being said, this goes from being a piece-by-piece jigsaw, to being a masterpiece!
Bruce Willis plays a great part and is 100% believeable in the role.
This film is best watched twice, on the second viewing you see references you may have missed the first time round, but seem obvious in hindsight.
This is one of those films that stays with you after you've watched it, and rightly so.
But the pieces slot into place and you see the full scope of what is being said, this goes from being a piece-by-piece jigsaw, to being a masterpiece!
Bruce Willis plays a great part and is 100% believeable in the role.
This film is best watched twice, on the second viewing you see references you may have missed the first time round, but seem obvious in hindsight.
This is one of those films that stays with you after you've watched it, and rightly so.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
had the video and now the DVD
Having worn out the video, I wanted to have this on DVD. This is a very good science-fiction movie involving plagues and time travel. Read more
Published 4 months ago by gerry latawiec
Intriguing, deserves to be seen more than once.
Not for everyone's cup of tea but for all its worth, "Twelve Monkeys" is simply mind-blowing, a real cult classic. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Serkan Silahsor
Absolutely fabulous!
I am trying to develop a collection of good post apocalyptic movies and Twelve Monkies is a fantastic edition to the collection. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Simon Jepps
12 Monkeys
This DVD is one that I originally owned on video and had to add to my DVD collection - it is a well paced story about time travel. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Deb
twelve monkeys dvd
i bought this for my son because he had been looking for it for ages he said it was great
Published 7 months ago by christine
Clever!!!
As said in the title of the review this film is clever and despite the cliche of bruce willis playing the man with the gun you cant deny that he does it brilliantly but in this is... Read more
Published 8 months ago by jp62
12 monkeys dvd
I really enjoyed this film. Excellent performances from Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. It's good to watch several times as the story leaves clues which are followed up on later. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Rapunzelle
How did I miss this?
I like to think I'm a keen science fiction reader and watcher; proper SF, you know, with a story an' all - not the fantasy/horror stuff that often gets labelled as SF. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Cheeseminer
Twelve Monkeys - Amazing
Thanks reliable Amazon! Received this DVD in good time and in good condition. Terry Gilliam's simply brilliant production keeps you hooked and guessing from start to finish. Read more
Published 12 months ago by jraff
WARNING!
This version of the film is presented in widescreen & normal 4:3 ratio AT THE SAME TIME! ie the picture (on a widescreen TV) occupies only a small square in the centre of the... Read more
Published on 12 May 2010 by N. Shooter
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