Monday, 28 February 2011

A-Z #45: City of Angels

You can pick up hundreds of DVD's for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. Its never about quantity, its about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em


#45 - City of Angels 

Why did I buy it?

We come across another film I have managed to 'gain' when combining my own collection with Sarah's. City of Angels is a remake of Wim Wenders classic film Wings of Desire. Though I have only seen the former, I am keen to hunt down the latter at some point.

Why do I still own it?
We have to define what a good romance is. I think City of Angels qualifies because like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind it is set within a context that does not exist - angels do not exist. But, by the same token, the unrequited love of one person over another is expressed in this film in a sincere and respectable way. Unlike Andrew Lincoln falling for Kiera Knightley in Love, Actually the love here is not a case of simply 'getting over it' (which, as soon as Knightley got it on with Lincoln's best friend, he should have moved on rather than simply holding a candle until post-wedding - !!! - he perves on her from a distance, eventually confronting her himself, corssing the line, by professing his love through false carol-singers. Nb, I do actually like Love, Actually), City of Angels is also a desire to be close to someone and to feel the person with you, close to you. I need to watch the original, I know that, but until I do - City of Angels stands tall amongst the romances in the collection.

Should I get the original Wings of Desire? Should I sell this copy of the much-more-literal City of Angels?

Large Association of Movie Blogs


4 comments:

  1. You should watch Wings Of Desire but don't sell City Of Angels!

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  2. Keep this dvd - while I recently sold off my copy it was more over a matter of shelf space than anything else - but do get your hands on WINGS OF DESIRE and write about it post haste.

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  3. Well, to some extent, this is all about shelf-space - if I had infinite shelves than every film could co-exist as the ultimate library. But alas, I do not have the infinite-shelves. I shall hunt dow WINGS OF DESIRE at any rate...

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  4. I will indeed watch WINGS OF DESIRE. Any love for FARAWAY (SO CLOSE!)? apparently the sequel to WINGS OF DESIRE...

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