The Crimson Rivers

Amazon.com

Legendary police commissioner Niémans (Jean Reno) travels to a remote university village in the Alps to solve a grisly murder while hotheaded Lieutenant Kerkerian (Hate's Vincent Cassel) is investigating the desecration of the tomb of a young girl killed in an auto accident 20 years ago. When the detectives discover that the incidents are related, they reluctantly join forces. The Crimson Rivers looks French but feels American. If it doesn't hit the heights of The Silence of the Lambs or Seven, it bests many of the thrillers that have followed in their wake. Mathieu Kassovitz directs as if this were high art, which is actually to the film's benefit: the cast is terrific (including Jean-Pierre Cassel, Vincent's father), the cinematography is stunning, and the classy score evokes The Exorcist. Although the mountaintop showdown at the end doesn't quite work, The Crimson Rivers is still a superior entrant into an increasingly overcrowded genre. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

COLD GUTS ............2007-08-06

Bone chilling!

A Nasty little thriller about an exclusive University somewhere in the Alps. Reno defines "cool" as the very non-Clouseau Inspector, as does Cassel as the Young-eager-beaver sidekick. There's lots of action and mystery in this one - along the lines of a really good Agatha Christie, with a tiny touch of Hitchcock, but watch out for avalanches, very sharp objects, a rabid canine or two and wolly winter wear. [It somehow cries out for Black Edwards and the late Peter Sellers - irreverent thought, but would be fun too!]

Dominique Sanda provides a great cameo [somewhere in the dusky shades].

Brooding, atmospheric and deadly, quite a frozen little sorbet - no minty aftertaste though!

Over the top religious action mishmash.......2007-07-17

You need to love Jean Reno to be able to get through this over complicated French action thriller which deals with our man for all seasons Reno saving us from a German SS man's quest for a re-forming of religious structures hidden in clues deep in the fortified tunnels built along the borders of Germany and France before the Second World War. Early on the killing of people by hooded zealots using planted religious metaphors to link the crimes indicated something that may have proved ultimately more rewarding - but this was not to be.
Great digital sound though!

Blood Glacier .......2007-07-13

I have been a fan of Jean Reno's since I saw "The Big Blue" and "The Professional". Best known in the U.S. for his performance in "Mission: Impossible" and "Ronin", he has a great deal of talent. I think if I wasn't a fan I probably would have missed this gem of a movie. I enjoy murder mysteries and this was a good one. Fans of movies like "Kiss the Girls" and "Jennifer 8" won't be disappointed. Reno plays a detective sent down from Paris to help the local police to solve an unusual murder. The body was in an odd position and condition for bodies of victims. While he is investigating the case another local Lieutenant, played by Vincent Cassel, finds a girls tomb vandalized and an unusual story about her. The cases begin to intertwine and the action steps up several notches. Excellent acting and the cinematography is beautiful. Good music as well. I was pleasantly rewarded for taking the time to watch this foreign made movie. The production values on it are as good as I have seen on any American made movie. I recommend it strongly.

Fabulous over the top fun..........2007-06-24

This is what movies are really all about! Crimson Rivers is a slick bloody thriller starring international mega stars Vincent Cassel and Jean Reno who make a terrific pairing as cop and investigator who's paths cross while trying to solve a horrific murder. The chemistry between actors is right-on as they team up together digging to uncover a ridiculously wonderful labyrinthine plot in search of the truth.
With it's big budget sleek aesthetic, "Rivers" is absolutely gorgeous to watch; meticulous and cinematic in lush European settings. The plot has a touch of everything including ample doses of horror, noir, cop buddy picture, thriller, etc. but at it's heart it's really a throwback to the European "gialli" of the 60's & 70's; a convoluted spider web whodunit full of twists, turns and red herrings that will leave the viewer guessing until the tail end. All the "giallo" signatures are here: a breathtaking setting (a private college at the base of the Alps), palpable atmosphere layered on thick, gore-a-plenty, the mandatory car chase, a hooded unseen killer, and of course the story itself which won't be disclosed here, but really, the list goes on and on; essentially everything but the kitchen sink is used to good measure.
"Rivers" helped to kick start the French "thriller" renaissance; a strong example of how the French continue to make better thrillers than anyone in the world. This may be a tad too sophisticated for American audiences and those unfamiliar with "gialli" may find this slightly ludicrous. However, for those that want a riveting thrill ride with some serious chills, this is a cadeaux of perfection.

TERROR IN THE ALPS.......2007-05-23

Director Mathieu Kassovitz whose movie La Haine (Criterion Collection) has just entered the prestigious Criterion collection, co-wrote and directed THE CRIMSON RIVERS, based on Jean-Christophe Grangé's Blood-Red Rivers, in 2000. Mathieu Kassovitz, like Luc Besson and a few others, belongs to this new generation of French directors who try to deliver films shot "à la Hollywood" without losing their particular and local specificities.

I liked a lot the first half-hour of THE CRIMSON RIVERS with its tragic and heavy mood and its flamboyant direction but I am a little less convinced by the second half of the film as soon as it becomes a buddy movie in the LETHAL WEAPON style. Too many references or hommages to American films, too many easy jokes and sometimes almost laughable dialogues. But, all in all, THE CRIMSON RIVERS is a movie I sincerely recommend to those of you who aren't satisfied any more with the actual Hollywood production.

A DVD zone it's French but it's not boring.

Crimson Rivers - Angels of the Apocalypse (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

NAILED!
Mad Nazi Monks
ANGELS WITH DIRTY WINGS
More Crimson Rivers...
Sweet way to spend an afternoon

Crimson Rivers - Angels of the Apocalypse (Special Edition)
Starring: Jean Reno , Benoît Magimel , Christopher Lee , Camille Natta , and Johnny Hallyday
Director: Olivier Dahan
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007KZQ9S
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Amazon.com

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

Description

Jean Reno is back in action as Commissioner Niemans. The body he found in a monastery seems to point to a ritualistic sacrifice and a portent of something strange to come. At the same time, young police captain Reda finds a man in agony who's an exact DNA match for Christ. Reda quickly finds out his case is directly linked to Niemans, but is the Apocalypse really about to begin as all signs seem to indicate?

Customer Reviews:

NAILED!.......2007-08-06

In the vein of "Indiana Jones" meets "The Davinci Code" it unfolds along the lines of "Law & Order : SVU" and "Seven" - very creepy - borders somewhat on the supernatural but once you're thrown into the Melange - you're stuck.

Reno is Excellent as Niemans - as is the Beniot Magimel as his side-kick [literally a role requiring physical stamina] and Camille Natta as the Expert on Revelations.

This one's quite a treat in all aspects, especially the minimal yet very effective art direction.

Styalish, creepy and load of dark fun!

Mad Nazi Monks .......2007-07-27

I'm not sure why this is tied to "Crimson Rivers" since the only thing in common is there are Nazis. This movie goes in more for action than mystery. It is a decent movie but the separate investgations like in the first movie aren't as mysterious and the other police officer is not as appealing a character or actor as Vincent Cassel was in the first movie. Cassel made a good partner for Reno in the first movie and I would have preferred he had been in this one as well. Cassel did better when he was on his own and he had chemistry when he was with Reno. It would have also given a little more credence to it being a sequel.

A group of religious men hiding from Nazis that work out of a monastery with underground tunnels to Marginot bunkers was not quite as intrigueing as the serial killer at a university in the mountains. Mainly I think because Crimson Rivers was made to be a murder mystery and it did a great job of dropping clues that you could follow. This movie is more like something thrown together and tries very hard for intense action and not enough on the mystery. The story centers on a murder investigation at a monastery leading to further investigations of monks killing people. They find out the monks are actually Nazis looking for a religious artifact. It is still certainly worth seeing, just don't look for it to be anything like a sequel to the first movie. Worth a rental or possibly buying as a set with "Crimson Rivers".

ANGELS WITH DIRTY WINGS.......2006-03-22

This second CRIMSON RIVERS entry suffers from its predecessor's curse of having too intricate a plot that ultimately doesn't satisfy the viewer with its complex undertones. Jean Reno is back investigating the murders of a cult fashioned after the twelve apostles. Christopher Lee has a smallish role as a demented German out to instigate the Apocalypse. It's all rather confusing but it is done with such flair and finesse, it's an entertaining conundrum at best.

More Crimson Rivers..........2006-01-09

A very good movie, Crimson Rivers-Angels of the Apocalypse, sheds light on a series of horrendous murders committed in the province of Lorraine near the French-German border. When a pair of investigators team up to solve the mystery they soon realize that all is not as it seems in this quiet and picturesque part of the French countryside...
There are slight hints of Seven, the Ninth Gate, the Da Vinci Code, and the X-Files, so the movie falls into the action/adventure/mystery/thriller/horror type of category.
Jean Reno, Benoit Magimel, Camille Natta, Christopher Lee, and the rest of the cast have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least! All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows allowing for a highly entertaining movie.
The plot, the setting, and the music are all EXCELLENT.
Overall, it is a movie definitely worth watching, as it is one of those films that gets you and keeps you thinking long after it's over! 4½ Stars

Sweet way to spend an afternoon.......2005-11-20

I saw this while visiting family in Poland, so it was all ready translated into my language and I could concentrate on the movie instead of reading subtitles.

This movie had murky, creepy and dark foes that were insanely fast and unstoppable. It starts off with a bang and it takes you on a search for the Holy Grail type of a ride with evil superhuman monks, dead bodies, catacombs and monasteries with deep dark secrets.

I sat down and didn't stop paying attention till it was over. Jean Reno is great; you just have to enjoy his presence because he does what he knows well. Also there was a scene where his fellow officer Reda who runs amok chasing this monk and they are running on roofs, trains, jumping off buildings, for like 3 minutes. No strings and computer magic just run out of breath chase. It was amazing; my favorite part of the movie and it really imbedded itself into my head.

Great flick, it has action, suspense, blood and gore, secrets and history; a sweet way to spend an afternoon.

The Crimson Rivers/Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse

Average customer rating:

Let the buyer beware

The Crimson Rivers/Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse
Starring: Jean Reno , Vincent Cassel , Nadia Farès , Dominique Sanda , and Karim Belkhadra
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz , and Olivier Dahan
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007KZQA2
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Customer Reviews:

Let the buyer beware.......2005-08-09

The movie itself is very good. Unfortunately, the film was made in French and dubbed in English. The quality of sound is poor. Such much so, that one cannot understand everything that is being said. I thought buying the DVD and using the subtitles in English would make the dialogue easier to follow. Not so. The subtitles do not match what is being said by the actors. They left out descriptions. They rephrase conversations completely. They botch up slang. They did a POOR job. It is amateurish and distracting. Good movie spoiled by shoddy translating.

Average customer rating:

COLD GUTS .....
Over the top religious action mishmash
Blood Glacier
Fabulous over the top fun...
TERROR IN THE ALPS

The Crimson Rivers [Region 2]
Starring: Jean Reno , Vincent Cassel , Nadia Farès , Dominique Sanda , and Karim Belkhadra
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005N531

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

COLD GUTS ............2007-08-06

Over the top religious action mishmash.......2007-07-17

Blood Glacier .......2007-07-13

Fabulous over the top fun..........2007-06-24

TERROR IN THE ALPS.......2007-05-23

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