What a disappointment. Relentlessly miserable, relentlessly predictable, no engaging characters, portentious, pretentious, cliched. To paraphrase EM Forster 'well said, but not worth saying".

A breathtaking human story of startling perception and beauty. It is wonderfully acted and achingly tangible. Brilliant, and a must see.

Absolutely horrible. Most boring movie I've seen to date. Anyone who claims artsy, "deep" movies like this are anything but crap has eaten one too many retard sandwiches. The same kind of people that think someone like Jackson Pollack has talent, and created "art." It's all a pantload.

Oh shut up. This film is far from a 10. First off, there is very little acting, and when there is, spare the Japanese story, it's average at best. This film was by far his most dependent on music and beautiful cinematography, whihc was existent. Yet Babel needs words, its titled Babel and there's very little character development to tell us a story about these chracters, who they are and where they came from. Storytelling it is even worse, for this is the 3rd time around from Perros and 21 Grams, and the story is desperate, tedious and even less coherant. It's far from uplifting, and its length and lack of dialogue and character development make it less powerful. It is far from the finest film of 2006- maybe one of the best shot movies, but this is a step down from 21 grams, as 21 grams was a step down from Perros. THis movie doesn't deserve an Oscar or a Nobel Fucking Peace Prize, because Innaritu fails at the very thing he was going for if he was serious about titeling it Babel. And by far the best story was the Japanese one, which was so poorly tied together with the film. GO watch some real movies before you spew out 10's on a film that isn't even as close to as good as his other two. Yeah its not bad, and yeah, its very pretty. But this is nothing new from his others, and its even less special.… Expand

Flashing between Tokyo, Morocco and Baja Mexico, this third entry in Inarritu's triptych (along with Amores Perros and 21 Grams) is an emotionally saturated story about the interconnectedness of joy and pain in our world. While Tolstoy argued that "all happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way," Inarritu's masterpiece demonstrates the universality of pain and loss in a beautiful tribute to the fragility of the human condition. As Inarritu responded to a question about Tolstoy's famous line (after a screening of Babel at the Telluride Film Festival), "he got it wrong."… Expand

Probably the most complex film of the year, I really think moderators should check on this, 'cause I found 21 comments from the same IP ADDRESS, somebody is just making comment after comment giving it 1s 2s or 3rs. I thought the film was very complete, not the best of the year, but it is indeed a very important film culturally, the kind of film that leaves audiences shattered, very emotional and ambitious but never mediocre or pretentious.… Expand

Oh come on - this movie sucks. We left after 1:15 and I heard the movie went downhill from there. Unconnected, I did not care about the characters. Lame mysterious past events won't make may stay to watch a movie that gets nowhere in 1:15. Don't waste your money... even at the matinee. Rent an classic movie, pop some popcorn and stay at home.

This is a trite and offensive story of the commonplace: how blacks and browns screw up and get screwed. Critics seem bamboozled by wrapping the story in a pretentious package of excellent cinematography with psuedo-intellectual overtones. The film contrasts the misfortunes of a dedicated brown nanny with the travails and eventual good fortune of absentee very white parents. It contrasts angelic very white children with foolish brown children and emotionally disturbed asian children. Imagine a little white girl who has never seen a chicken with feathers beating rural mexican chilren at a common game. The Japanese segment is little more than an excuse to show a pubescent girl naked. As for the acting: Pitt doesn't; Blanchet's high point is exclaiming that she pee'd her pants. Indeed the good acting is turned in by the brown actors who must portary making foolish choices. My advice - don't wste your time and money on this film.… Expand

This movie was amateurish, at best. If the filmmakers ever bother to read comments from paying customers--which based on their self-indulgent "artiste" attitude that was quite evident in the film, I strongly doubt--let me explain something to you. Good stories are rooted in the characters behaving in realistic ways based on solidly built motivation. Two little boys raised in a strict Muslim household don't suddenly decide to shoot a rifle at a tourist bus. Shy, deaf teenage girls don't suddenly decide to take off their panties and shoot beavers at the boys who made fun of them in the school cafeteria. A Mexican who has been living a good life illegally in the USA for the past 16 years doesn't suddenly decide to go back to Mexico with no earthly idea how she'll return. Police detectives don't suddenly decide to hang around in the middle of the night with the naked jail bait daughter of a powerful businessman, in that businessman's apartment, when said powerful businessman might come home at any moment. Come on, guys! We're not fools. You can't make your characters do whatever you want them to do because it will make a "cool" scene--you have to set up believable motivations. This is Fiction Writing 101 stuff. You ought to know better. Furthermore, we are supposed to believe that the Bratt Pitt character his the worst luck of anyone born since Job. Not only is he the one whose wife gets randomly shot while they are on vacation in Morocco, but he's also the one whose children are kidnapped and taken out of the USA by his trusted nanny...and all of this happens, wonder of wonders, at the same time! I can only conclude that you have deluded yourself into thinking this is all somehow believable. What planet do you live on? It is definitely not Earth. If all that wasn't bad enough, this movie consisted of three separate stories all cut and pasted into one, with little relation to each other. The third story about the oversexed Japanese schoolgirl just plain didn't fit. In fact, it seems pretty obvious to me that the main reason it was put into the film was because somebody making the movie gets off on watching oversexed Japanese schoolgirls in their cute little uniforms. Hey, whatever turns you on is none of my business...but it's no reason to put that stuff into this particular film. The only reason I gave the movie a 3, and not a 0, because of the visuals. The director of photography seems to be the only one who knows his craft.… Expand

This is the worst movie I have ever seen in 22 years being on this earth. [You can stop reading and go see Casino Royale now]. You must have some serious issues if you think this was good, as a lot of people do, and trust me, it's not me. I left the theatre after 2 hours since there was no plot, nothing was happening, half the movie or more has subtitles, and there are SO many long, drawn out periods of NOTHING. OMG. It's absolute garbage and I regret the fact that I wasted 2 hours of my life on this crap. Brad Pitt's wife gets shot by some random Middle Eastern boys who masturbate behind rocks [oh, and while thinking of their sister their sister too], some random deaf-mute Japanese girl tries to get laid with various people she comes across, takes drugs and goes to a club, and a Mexican nanny who is taking care of Brad Pitt's kids takes them across the US/Mexico border for a wedding, gets driven back by a drunk guy, border hops past customs, and they end up carless in a random field at night. Then I went home. So sad that I paid for this patheticism. DO NOT SEE IT.… Expand

Spoilers follow. PLEASE READ if you're having trouble figuring out what this movie's actually about, and even if you think you know, you should try this interpretation on for size. People judging this movie for its feasibility or realism (this seems to be everyone) have missed the point completely. Although set in real cities with real (if, to some filmgoers, unsatisfying) characters and with many handheld ("realistic") shots, this is a film that operates on a symbolic level to portray how the Western world is poisoning the so-called "Global Village". Think about the fact that the first shot is a man bringing a rifle to an "uncivilized" home. Think, then, about the effects that rifle has on their once peaceful lives. Think about the Japanese man with animal heads mounted in his home (is there a better symbol of imperialism?) that gave this man the rifle in the first place. Think about the bus full of Western tourists so paranoid about the "terrorists" they clearly have equipped. Think about Cate Blanchett being airlifted out of the country like it were Vietnam and the broadcast saying the American's finally have the "happy ending" they so proudly proclaimed when they dethroned Saddam in "Operation Iraqi Freedom". Think about the way the Mexican woman is given a job in the United States, but then treated like slime even after dedicating her life to becoming a contributing member of its society. Think about the deaf girl who begs for her body to be exploited like the sexual objects that fill every sort of media outlet in Western society. Think about how she stands naked and ashamed in the metropolis of the final shot: a human in her natural form is entirely out of place in any fully Westernized place. This is not some dramatic sapfest about how we should all learn to get along (see "Crash"). This is a poetic portrayal of how the West is bringing the world to its knees. This would have been the most important film of this year if so many critics and viewers hadn't missed the message entirely.… Expand

People must really like the exploitation of the young girl. That is exactly what that part of the movie is meant to be. And the proof is in the way not many people see it for what it is. Because we are so used to it and so enamored of sexual provocation that we grovel in it.

I give this a movie a 2 becuase it did seem well filmed However what it was filming is still a mystery how this movie was ever made. It made me feel like i was in a round about for 2 hours the scenery may change but it all seemed the same and you never felt like you went anywhere. Where was the Brad pitt I know and appreciate havent seen him since 7 now that was a good film

Could have imagined more terrible things that could have happened to the children - like getting bit by AIDS infested rattle snakes. The children grow up to have 2 AIDS babies who get hit by cars. One loses its arms and the other its legs. Together they learn to survive, only to be trapped in a landslide etc etc etc... like this movie.

It's a sad day when such a highly rated movie contains a young handicapped girl strolling around nude (fully nude) throughout the movie in an attempt to get attention. Nor did I need to see an 8 year old boy whacking off. The movie had no point and no plot. The only reason it was even noticed was because Brad Pitt starred. And to say he starred in the film is a gross OVERstatement. He appears far less frequently than most stars. I lost 2 1/2 hours I cannot get back.… Expand

Flat out ridiculous. With so many amazing and important films coming from spanish and hispanic film makers (Children of Men, Pan's Labyrinth, Volver) I was unbelievably disapointed by this laughable mess. I'll admit, the story in Morocco got me interested (the kids were a little unreal, but whatever), but you never stay there. You're taken to a sexually confused Japanese girl (who's deaf, in a lame attempt to make her character "suffer") and an exploitive storyline about problems with the Mexican border (clearly Oscar bait). It tries so hard to be risky and groundbreaking, but it trips over its own feet over and over again. Just all around terrible story telling.… Expand

i think it is absolutely disgusting to have a young boy in the movie masterbating. what is wrong with the movie business? i was so disgusted i told everyone i know not to watch or buy this movie. im surprised brad pitt would be in a movie like this. i think less of him now!

Racist Racist Racist. Was I the only one that noticed the only perps in this movie were of color and the only victims were the white family? Not only was it bad people from one county or ethnicity but they seemed to have made it a point to show these negative stereotypes accross the world. I'm sad they missed out on ripping into black people and native americans because then we would have had a full circle. How anybody got an anti-American message out of this is beyond me. The only two instances in this movie that didn't portray non whites as bad people were the guy that helped Brad and his wife the whole time and the scene with the nanny getting deported. This movie was overwhelmingly racist and it makes me sick to my stomach that it was in the mainstream and no one seems to have noticed… Expand

This movie is not stupid, it's dumb. I wonder how much the writer of this movie knows about Morocco, Japan and Mexico...? it's a pity for people who don't know much about these cultures to watch this garbage and think that this is how things are. I wonder if it is illegal immigration, pauvrety, ignorance or simply, greatness of america in the whole world that this movie is trying to show here??? it has beautiful pictures though of all these 3 countries, that's why I give it 1.… Expand

when i saw this film i was in laos in a tourist trap town where all the blonds and europeens and privileged israeli went for vacation..to do tubbing... anyways..they were all sitting in this restaurant watching this movie...of Moroccan berbers eating couscous at a table...and looking so boring and primitive in the eyes of the camera. Truly this movie was made by an american who only knows america...now the filmakers name is hispanic but how much of Morocco does he know? He just showed them like aloof people with no intelleigence..i mean shit..i was in morocco and tought video to the adolescents and they had very fine minds... America is so scared of herself...and being unloved...that she projects her fears on everyone. IT is a shame that we never hear the voice of the Moroccan people. They are just fucking scenery for the glorification of Mr armpit and Mme aerian race blondy herself... America the WHTIE although u made a film about internation...it was once again about self importance of the whites colonnizers.… Expand

I think Carl f summed it up for me....only people who are claiming it to be unrealistic and boring are those who havent out of their cosy lillte neighbourhood....rest alone america....i have been to many countries and this movie depicted the intrinsic complexities of different cultures brilliantly and authentically....the fact that was evident in the whole movie which many american beleive as well is that their blood is somehow more important than that of others....that they are more important than the rest of the world....but somehow they dont want to accept it....oh wait yeah....they dont want to be called racist anymore....… Expand

this movie was the shittest thing i have ever watched...things which i have gazed upon so far in my life which have succsessfully satisfied me more than this so called film include... paint drying, snails crawling and big brother live nominations... as far as im concerned you owe me one hundred and forty two minutes of my life back.... as for it being a so called suspense slash thriller... if u tried to make the most boringest randomest crappest movie ever, this would beat u. yours sincerely dan wilson... better luck next time… Expand

The only message apparent in the entire film was: "Americans are the best! Rest all (contextually the Mexicans & Afghanis) are uncouth and gruff. Though the direction was superb and the script was excellent. The placing of stories was though not very creative, but was impactful. The Thai story acted as a lachrymorosing agent for the film, while the Afghani & the Mexican parts were the substance of the movie. Babel should be considered as a mild answer to the all-time-legend "Crash"… Expand

This was the worst movie I've seen in 35 years. Basically it's liberal emoting subliminally with the theme: Western Culture (Japan which copies America) is to blame for all the ills in the world. Big bad border guards, big bad Americans don't understand illegal immigrant struggle or arab family dynamics. It sucks worse than anything you can imagine....don't waste your money renting this piece of crap of a film.… Expand

I love art house human drama movies , so I was looking forward to this, but I found it to be really vapid. There's no depth to any of the roles here, and to be honest I got bored during the movie. It has only one moving scene in the whole movie, and although that was pewtty powerful, it just wasn't enough. Crash I will remember forever. Babel I will quickly forget.

Well, I enjoyed it a lot, what can I say? Certainly I could say that parts were a bit slow -- for me it was totally engrossing, but it so happened that I watched it split over two evenings. But II thought it was a pretty amazing movie, with a raw realism that makes me feel like I really tapped into these connected slices of life. I found the acting compelling all around and the cinematography and locations amazing. The feel is almost documentary-like, and we are jumped from character to character such that we aren't deeply invested in any one. There are emotional events, but they are presented rather starkly with little comment. Rather like watching a nature video where animals struggle and some die, but we don't really know those animals, so we are left to our own devices as to the interpretation. I think there is a lot to think about afterwards about the the various connections and character contrasts that didn't necessarily jump out while I was watching the film. (There's more to it than just a gun.) This movie is not the best movie ever but it is quite special, if you are properly receptive to it. It requires a certain contemplativeness and willingness to look beyond the surface. You are not going to want to watch this with some buddies over beers.… Expand

amazing movie. gut-wrenching, captivating and incredible. the directing is amazing, and brad pitt, cate blanchett and adriana barraza are amazing. along with the entire cast. the writing is true, and shows the consequences of our thoughtless actions. ONLY FOR INTELLIGENT PEOPLE!! OTHERS WON'T GET IT OR APPRECIATE IT AND BE "BORED" WHEN THEY'RE TOO LAZY TO UNDERSTAND.

The connections that link the characters are terribly selected, and send the wrong message, the long drawn out scenes and blatantly manipulative score were key markers to the hollowness of the entire work, totally devoid of substance, and definitely lacking subtlety, yet over saturated with pompous pretentiousness, this movie is wrong on so many levels.

I think it's a pretty good movie, it's different, but it's not for everyone.

Probably the most boring and overextended film ever made. It drowns in its own pretentiousness and despite it's attempts to be surprising and thought-provoking it ends up predictable and dry. The bravest critics are the ones who aren't afraid to cut through the art-house buzz and call this movie what it really is: a complete waste of time.

Terribly put together. Although you can link how all the parties relate to each other, it was done horribly. I was surprised any big name actors/actresses were willing to put their name to this film.

This noble failure was one of the more overrated films of 2006. Its slow pace, often pretentious cinematography and occasional incoherence make me wonder what some of the fuss was all about. Easily the highlight of this misbegotten effort was the performance of Adriana Barazza as the Mexican nanny. (Incidentally, who is Brad Pitt talking to in his last scene if she is being detained by immigration authorities?)… Expand

A love it or hate it film. You can prove that by seeing all the ratings here: 10 or 0 in most cases. Mine is ten, but why? Simply because this film may be pretentious, but in a good way, or because the job of the actors (Barraza an Kikuchi are outstanding). For those who didn't understand the film, they should pay more atention to the time frames.

Wonderfully done, but the ending is very vauge.

This is the worst movie I have ever seen! I cannot believe the amount of time I wasted waiting for to get the main plot of the movie and it never happened. Sorry Brad Pitt, good acting but awful sorry line.

A fragmented, frustrating film. The three strands of the film are so loosely tied together that the finished product comes apart at the seams. Yes, I'm aware the overriding messages of global responsibility and the 'butterfly effect' of our actions, and the self-important, self-indulgent nature of these themes shines through nauseatingly.

I just finished watching this unbelievably boring piece of crap on cable. Thank God I didn't get sucked into paying to suffer through this boring maudlin mess in the theater. At home, with the glory of the fast forward function, I was able to move things along in a way the director could not seem to do. And the ending made no sense whatsoever. Utter crap.

I checked Babel out at the library so I didn't waste my money. Just my time. The value I got out of it was the "slice of life" from different cultures in Japan, Mexico and Morroco. The movie itself was exploitation draped in a thin pretense. Sure they spoke different languages. Sure they were connected, but in a very contrived way. That doesn't excuse depicting a child pleasuring himself after seeing his sister naked, or a deaf Japanese school girl flashing in public, or a dying woman making out with her husband while using a bedpan. That's just perverted.… Expand

I agree this movie was way too long and a bit too pretentious. Its happy ending is also a bit ugly....did any one else notice that it was only happy for the white people? The mom lived, and the kids were found...but the Moroccan boy was dead, the other Moroccans sent to prison, the Mexican woman shamed and deported, and the Asian teen still a virgin, still deaf, oh, and naked on the terrace with her dad...what the?… Expand

Was this a short story written by a high school drop out that was turned into more than a two hour production? This was the longest piece of crap I have ever seen with the most minimal amount of acting possible. I could literally feel my life being sucked from me while viewing it. You know it is bad when you can have casual conversation or a bathroom break at any point in the film and not lose anything from the plot.… Expand

This was a masterful piece. Truthfully one of the best pictures I have ever seen. To Piper L: Did you ever think that this is what the director wanted you to see, that Americans are egocentric, and ethnocentric on their own values and customs, not of those of others. This happens everyday in many countries but becasue we as an American Cultrue are to blind, with our starbucks coffee and big screen tv's, to see how much we really impact the world and those in it. Step outside the box my friend.… Expand

Possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. Entire 2.5 hr plot could have been told in 15mins. 150 mins of my life I'll never get back. Absolutely horrible! Ridiculous waste of time!

My wife bought this film since she wanted to see it. After the first ten minutes she fell asleep and I turned it off. Trite, contrived, ignorant and a big waste of time. Almost seemed like the scriptwriter hadn't even been to the places he was writing about. Probably not as bad as Crash, but worse that Syriana.

Very overrated. The acting is very good but this movie is so long and boring! The exact same structure is used in 21 grams but that movie was fantastic. Babel is just disappointing.

If it were not for the cast and the crew then, this movie will be dumb.

Ridiculous movie. It feels as if five year olds could have done a better job. There were too many pointless nude scenes. Bored me to death. Another example where user reviews are more accurate than critic reviews.

This movie was nominated for best picture of the year? Really? I will say this much, the acting is well done. However, the plot is not great. Why are you telling me a story of the daughter of this Asian guy who sold the rifle to the Moroccan man? Why not show the scene where you sold the rifle? Why am I supposed to care about this Asian girl that's trying to seduce everyone? So the Mexican lady is taking the kids to a wedding in Mexico and there is a border confrontation on their way back. How did they get into Mexico? Did they just drive in without checking passports of parents' consent? So Brad Pitt is talking to his kid and the Mexican lady at the end. What happened to a scene showing how the kids were found? What happened to the Mexican dude who drove away and left the lady and their kids? It's not as bad as "21 Grams." "21 Grams" has some of the worst editing in any movie that I have ever seen. It's such a frustrating movie. "Babel" tries to make a point by having all of these small connections. Why not add another hour telling me the life of the Asian girl's mother and have the connection be that it was her mother? Seriously, how stupid are these connections? Who takes tour on a bus that's driving in the middle of nowhere in Morocco? I'm sorry Academy. You could chose any other movie in 2006 to take Babel's spot. The movie has 0 replay value. I take nothing from this. 0 value.… Expand

Personally I love movies where the action / plotline doesn't necessarily have a neat beginning and end. The fact that we get so much insight into human lives, whether the 'plot' ties up at the end or not, is surely the point of this film? I had no idea what life is really like in Mexico, Japan or Morocco, having never been to any of these places, but that aspect of this movie is the triumph here, that you feel empathy with a 17-year old deaf-mute girl in Tokyo, a Mexican nanny in her 50s or a Moroccan goat-farming family, and the documentary-style filming makes watching it unfold all the more satisfying. Oh, the stories don't properly relate to one and other so the movie's a sham? Not the point, surely! The acting is superb without exception and I feel that I have no need for the stories to connect at all in order for me to have gained a great deal of pleasure from watching this movie. I guess people who got nothing from this because the stories are only loosely connected to each other may be better off sticking to the formulaic Hollywood crap that passes as entertainment these days. Oh and those people who don't get the fact that the call that the nanny receives at the beginning and brad pitt's character makes at the end are one and the same should give up altogether.… Expand

'Babel' is the finest film of 2006. Stunning, powerful and emotinally gripping: this final part of a trilogy fashioned by director Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu is unforgettable.

Every artist should see this film - powerful, emotional, uplifting.

A masterpiece , storytelling,and acting at the very best.

I haven't been this moved by a motion picture in years. Brad Pitt is unlike I've ever seen him before - absolutely riveting. There are two outstanding female performances in this movie that should definitely make it into the best supporting actress race: Adriana Barrazza who is just beyond brilliant and Rinko Kikuchi who is the best new face to hit the screen in years. Everything - from the direction to the cinematography to the editing and a heart-tingling score still is in my mind from seeing the film. I was blown away!!!… Expand

Saw this in Chicago at the Festival and haven't been able to get it out of my heart and mind. Babel is a stunning, masterful work that brings to the screen one of the best ensemble casts on screen in years. Not only does this movie deserve an Oscar, but the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing together an international cast and crew that speaks to the humanity of all people.

Oh my gosh!, what a fantastic film, it really is, it's great. Adriana Barrazza and Rinko Kikuchi gave the best performance I've seen in years. Gael rocks! Just magnificent, when of the best films I have EVER seen. So emotional, but not MEDIOCRE, like others...mmm...Crash...

Brilliant and beautiful and heartbreaking!! Cate is spectacular with Brad amazing too!

My vote of nine acknowledges that the film does have some flaws - but overall - what an experience - a beautiful film - great acting from all - powerful, very emotional A true must see

This film sticks with you long after leaving the theater. Take a date and discuss into the night - it'll be your best date ever.

I think this movie sucks...just kidding. This movie is beyond words. Mesmerizing and unsettling. The only thing I hope for now is that Brad gets that Oscar to put next to Angelina's. And not to make his ex-wife feel bad but simply because this was his best performance ever.

Who knew Brad Pitt could act? This movie is a high point for him, as well as for director Alejandro González Iñárritu. Babel far surpasses Amores Perros. I never thought he'd be able to do that.

Challenging, slow to unfold, yet ultimately rewarding. Logistically, the film-making process had to be a nightmare, which makes the end result more astounding. The acting was terrific and fearless, especially Rinko Kikuchi, and the sound was as much a charcter of the film as any of the credited cast.

What can I say...A MASTERPIECE. It's brilliant, maybe a little too long but Barraza & Kikuchi were so amazing. Also Pitt deserves the Oscar win. This film will be huge, the music is so great, I don't get the mixed reviews here, but this has to be the best film of the year so far.

Just saw Babel last night and was blown away. This is a must see for film lovers. Loved it and cant stop thinking about it.

The year's biggest disappointment thus far. It's pretentious, boring, incoherent, and ultimately tries to say something in a muddled manner. The acting is Oscar-worthy and the cinematography is brilliant, but the film itself is annoying, ponderous, and ultimately disappointing.

What a heartful film, it has to be the best surprise of the year, I loved it. One of the best films I've seen all decade. Great performances, great screenplay. Great DIRECTING!, wow, just mesmerizing. I cannot stop thinking about this masterpiece called BABEL.

Beautiful fascinating movie Interesting for a number of obvious reasons:: did anyone notice that the pivotal events - the shooting, the leaving the children in the desert were all orchestrated by men? The women seemed powerless and victimized by male decisions: the wife was dragged to morrocco; she fights the doctor to no avail; the nanny is deserted in the desert; there are no female protagionsts.... I wonder whether this is deliberate on the part of the filmmakers..... its always been a feminist position that wars are started by men and women and children bear the pain..... all in all a fascinating, beautiful heart-breaking film. Brad Pitt is superb and the other actors fantastic....… Expand

What a piece of pretentious crap. I loved amores perros and 21 grams, but this is the emprorers new clothes. Full of inconsistencies, pathetic, ugly, cheap. what crap. Why does everyone love this so much?

Multiple plot lines only work when they are interrelated. just because a gun is involved in all if them doesn not bring a feeling of connectedness.

There's no denying the powerful acting, directing, writing, and cinematography here. It's a harrowing experience. I'm intrigued by the fact that no two people--critics included--seem to take the same meaning from this film (and I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing). To me, the movie is--as much as anything else--a comment on the devastating consequences of irresponsible choices made by adults who are entrusted, biologically or otherwise, with the care of children. "Babel" depicts this as a universal phenomenon, one shared by Americans, Moroccans, Mexicans, Japanese, and presumably most cultures on Earth: all too often, adults--even those with the best of intentions--make selfish or careless choices that leave children--those most vulnerable among us--prey to powerful forces beyond their control.… Expand

Too long and too boring!

This is a very complex and touching film. Probably the best film from the trilogy. Great performances great screenplay. The best story was the Japanese girl, very very touching and great performance by Kikuchi. Amazing film, maybe not the best of the year, but still great.

Awesome movie with perhaps the most important message any film has had in years. In a globilzed world where everyone is connected, we fail to communicate and understand each other. Amazing!

I had heard really bad things about this movie, but for the first hour I really enjoyed it. It's beautiful looking and well edited and the characters have a palpable humanity and we get a great feel for the settings. Then Inarritu way overplays his hand and connects every dot and then some. Why does everything literally have to connect in this guy's movies? With a little restaint he could have left some of the story up to the viewer's imagination rather than creating an absurd web. He needs to watch a great film like Antonioni's "The Passenger" to see the power of leaving some things unsaid and unexplained. It's a shame because this guy does have a lot of talent and Prieto's cinematography is first rate. The politics of the film are puzzling to say the least. A mess of a movie, but still worth seeing.… Expand

The recurring theme I found in this film is the difficulty of communication between us humans--whether due to language barriers, prejudices, and personal agendas. The main characters in each of the three storylines ultimately suffer due to the inability to make one's intentions and purposes understood by others. They are all victims of particular circumstances but the circumstances are in a way universal. The title of the film is itself a nod to this theme...after all 'Babel' was the biblical event in which God confounded the universal language so that mankind could no longer work together constructing a ziggurat that would reach the heavens...the film Babel offers no opinion as to the truth of that biblical tale, but rather a meditation on a state of affairs where it takes a crisis for people to truly listen to one another, and even then at times tragically fail to get the message.… Expand

Probably the most gripping film of the year, the Japanese segment was probably the most emotional segment in Babel. Overall great performances, great cinematography, the score was magistral. Probably the most emotional film in years, Inarritu has created a very touching film that connects and makes different cultures understand each other. Amazing performances by Adriana Barraza and Brad Pitt. Kikuchi was also great, but didn't really do much because of her limitations.… Expand

Since Amores Perros, Mexican cinema has completely changed. Almost 80% of the films made in Mexico now follow this 3-story segments. Babel is a triumph, it's not perfect but the level of acting is the best of the year. The message of it is consistant, penetrating, LISTENING, this film could end up with many many noms for the Oscars.

There are lots of problems in this overbaked turnip, but they start with pitt, who is wonderful when all he needs to get by is charm (mr and mrs smith, the ocean movies)...but when asked to act. gulp....

The world is a scary place. Terrorism, gun control, illegal immagration, poverty, suicide. They are all intricately woven together in four separate stories in this gripping international drama all connected by two children playing in the Moroccan desert with a high-powered rifle scaring off jackals. Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu has made a film that leaves you totally helpless, a witness to the simple breakdown of communicating on every level. The writing is excellent, though the connections between the stories is fairly obvious, it's still a tense, gripping journey to there revelations. The acting is superlative and though there is no real leads, look for atleast two supporting Oscar nominations for Brad Pitt and an amazing Adriana Barraza. Rodrigo Prieto's camera work is outstanding and Gustavo Santaolalla is becoming the Orson Welles of composers. Babel is, quite simply, one of the Best Films of the Year.… Expand

This movie is excellent and most importantly, relevant. There are so few movies made today that challenge the audience to examine their own agendas, and this one succeeds in doing that. It succeeds in other ways also, by being engrossing and at certain points thrilling. It is most comparable to the recent hit and award winning movie, Crash. Tolstoy believed that writers should write with the agenda of telling the reader how to live, how to behave. This movie doesn't instruct the viewer overtly, but motivates the viewer to do better, to make a positive difference.… Expand

Heart wrenching and tragic. Makes you want to take out emergency evacuation insurance when traveling. Rinko Kikuchi was astounding--she had a lot to communicate. The plight of everone was human and painful. The movie is long, so if you have bad knees, watch out.

If you have seen the director's previous two movies, you are quite accustomed to the format. And this one is just as powerful and emotional draining, but ultimately wonderfully revealing what it means to be a human being, whether in joy or in distress; whether in Morocco or in Japan. The mistakes the characters made are all driven by the circumstances that anyone of us could have made. The stories being connected or not is not the point. It does what a movie is meant to do: let us feel and see the world differently than when we walked in the theaters.… Expand

Good story, good acting, good reproduction of cultures (for example the American border police, the Morrocan police and the streets Tokio) and beautiful shots: GOOD MOVIE!

A pretentious, obvious, and, most damagingly, utterly inept film. Supposedly about miscommunication, it's really about a series of really stupid decisions, by characters who aren't behaving in any way that resembles actual human interaction. A hopelessly self-important mess.

After enduring the "roller coaster" sick feeling for around 90 minutes we left the theater. Sure, there were some "lessons to be learned" but some 'shots" did NOT have to be in this painfully SLOW film. This was a complete waste of our money and time. I would encourage EVERYONE to NOT SEE THIS FILM!

Pure art.

There is not one single moment this film isn't riveting or fascinating for one reason or another - the acting, the sound (or lack of), the visual sweep. For those who didn't like it, I predict your mind will change itself down the line - because there are images that will stick with you a week from now, a month, a year - and more. That kind of unforgettable quality is rare. You'll see.… Expand

A harrowing interpretative tale of lone one gun that mixes the filmmakers refreshing and artistic vision within the sprawl of a star powered motion picture.

The title "Babel" just doesn't fit. I like to call it "A bad day for the PItt family."

This film was amateurish. If the makers of it bother to read user reviews (which I seriously doubt, based on their self-indulgent attitude, evident from the film), let me explain something to you. For a story to work, character behavior must be BELIEVABLE to the audience, which means the characters must be PROPERLY MOTIVATED. You can't make characters do things just because it's "cool" or would make a good scene. [***SPOILER***] For example, two little boys raised in a strict Muslim family do not suddenly decide to shoot a rifle at a passing tourist bus. Shy, deaf teenage girls do not suddenly decide to take off their panties and shoot beavers at the guys making fun of them in the school cafeteria. Nor do they take off all their clothes and throw themselves at police detectives, who also do not hang around with naked underage girls in the middle of the night at the girl's rich father's swanky apartment, when the father might come home (and does so) at any second...not to mention that when a father comes home and finds his teenage daugther standing out on the balcony completely nude walk out and embrace the girl--he says "Put on some clothes and come inside." Mexican women who've been illegally living in the USA for 16 years do not suddenly decide to go back to Mexico for her son's wedding with no idea how to get back inside the States. I could go on, but it would take pages to do so. If the badly motivated, unbelievable character actions weren't bad enough, we're supposed to believe that the Bradd Pitt character just happens to be the unluckiest bastard ever born on earth. Not only does his wife get randomly shot while on vacation, his idiot housekeeper decides to illlegally take his two little children out of the country! Do you think we, too, as viewers and ticket purchasers, are idiots? On top of all this, the film consists of three stories that might have been good in their own right had they been developed more. But instead of doing that (that would be too hard--you would have to THINK), you do a superficial job on all three and then toss them together hoping that the final result will somehow improve things. It doesn't, it makes it worse. For example, we, as viewers, wonder what the hell the third story about the cute Japanese schoolgirl who so enjoys shooting beavers and getting naked had to do with the price of eggs in New Delhi. I suspect that the filmmakers get off on cute Japanese schoolgirls who so enjoy shooting beavers and getting naked--that is the only explanation for the inclusion of this story into the film. [***END SPOILER***] Next time you make a movie and expect intelligent moviegoers to pay for a ticket, please show us a little respect. And show yourself some respect. Now, having said all that, I would like to compliment the director of photography--you are the only one of the group who knows what you are doing.… Expand

Not worth viewing. A contrived and weak story with typical sexism and stereotypes.

It struggles but in the end it's pointless. Whatever ponderous point it was trying to make never developes. Good acting for naught.

Gripping but ultimately meaningless. This is essentially about poor people making poor decisions and the consequences.

Absolutely gut wrenching. I left the theater more exhausted than a 500 mile bicycle race. Some great perfomances however. Particularly by Adriana Barraza.

I was truly disturbed by this movie. I thought it was going to inspire me and make me see how communication is important but it was gross and perverted. And if you like Brad Pitt he's not even in it that much and he isn't that good in this movie either. Seriously a waste of time!!!

Moving.

Though I wondered through about half of this film where it was going, it was worth the wait. The three subplots kept me shoving the popcorn in my mouth as each of the scenes completely sucked me into the its intense emotion as if I was experiencing it myself. I haven't walked out af a theater so satisfied in a long time...and I see alot of movies.

What a load of dog poop!! A complete waste of $10. I wanted to see the latest Brad Pitt movie but 15 minutes into it was begging to leave. I ended up suffering through the entire movie, but hated every second of it. When Cate Blanchett's character was shot I prayed real hard she would die so the movie would end quickly. While I applaud the effort that went into making the movie, it just didn't work. The chopping and changing of scenery, country and subject was annoying. The characters all ended up being whiny, annoying and spoiled to varying levels. The kids were about the only "real" characters. They did what all kids would have typically done in their situation, played, cried or slept. Not much to work on there. I would love to see Brad Pitt in more pithy and less sex god roles, I would hate to see him in anything else like this garbage again.… Expand

Probably the best and most inspiring dramatic film I've seen all year. A must see!

My wife asked me to leave several times and I would have...but I paid 20.00 to try and figure out what the hell the director Gonzales was smoking. What ever happened to the John Ford movies? No wonder Hollywood is losing us.