Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

LouHomey From my favorite movies..

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

ajjose-18905 People, whatever be their religion, language or economic conditions are ultimately the same; they go through the same tribulations and have the same emotions; a shared humanity unites us all. A deaf mute girl struggles with sexual rejection and the loss of her mother to suicide in urban Japan. An American tourist in Morocco is accidentally shot by a shepherd boy trying out his new rifle. A Mexican nanny in Texas has to figure out a way to attend her son's marriage although she has been denied a leave as the parents of her wards are away. These seemingly unrelated stories are brought together through a thin connecting link. This is a heartbreakingly beautiful and poignant movie.

Evan Wessman (CinematicInceptions) Of the four Inarritu movies I've seen (Birdman, The Revenant, and Amores Perros), I definitely consider this the best. The trailer stresses the inability for people of different cultures to communicate effectively as the theme, but it felt more like a constant obstacle. What I loved about the movie was the way it was able to go where the vast majority of movies don't dare to go and make me cringe a bit. Moments like Chieko asking the detective to come to her apartment and even little moments like the two American kids watching the Mexican guy killing the chicken are what made this such a striking and great movie. It's quite dark in tone, even more so because it's not dark or sad the entire time. The fun afternoon Chieko has makes her insecurity and pain even more tangible. And the joy of Amelia's son's wedding makes it that much worse when she can't get the two kids back to the states.This story is not entirely plausible in a time sense. Realistically, all of the events would not have occurred all within the same week. But the same can really be said of any movie in which the protagonist happens to be dealing with internal and external problems that are both resolved in the same climax. And outside of the convenient/inconvenient timing, the movie is incredibly realistic in the sense of how the characters behave in each situation. More than that, it points to the way that everyone is connected to people in countries far away from where we live whether we realize it or not.The characters were not the most memorable, but they were very human and I could totally sympathize with all of their different conflicts. A saying that is used a lot to guide writers is "the universal is in the specific", and that held true here. I'm not and hopefully never will be deaf or mute, but I understood how Chieko feels when she sees her friend that can speak a little get with the guy that Chieko likes. Even the two Moroccan kids who initiate the whole whirlwind of events can be sympathized with in their guilt. We are given a little insight into cach character's or group of character's backstory and personal lives. Not all of these are totally relevant to the story, but they do add to it by keeping the focus on the individuals and how their personal problems impact the other story lines rather than making a big deal out of the news story side of things. If you are considering it, be cautioned that it is a very disturbing movie that will shock you at several points and it probably won't leave you feeling hopeful. I think it's much better for being disturbing, but many people might not. On the upside, it's not gory or pornographic. The presence of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett do not detract at all from the other foreign actors. They aren't the protagonists and aren't given any more attention or screen time than the other character groups. Also, the characters are all portrayed by actors of the proper ethnicity; in other words it's not whitewashed. I'll close by paraphrasing one of that lines that was used in advertising the movie: If you don't see it, you'll end up living it. Overall Rating: 8.3/10.

TheLittleSongbird 'Babel' is not one of Alejandro González Iñárritu's best films and falls short of being a masterpiece. It does however show how immensely talented he is as a director who to me has not made a bad film, 'Babel' while divisive is still a very good film that's fascinating and often beautiful. Even when Iñárritu is at his weakest or not at his best he is much better than most directors at their worst.Not without its faults. 'Babel' is a little overlong and the ending is abrupt. A couple of parts are on the contrived side. 'Babel' is a film where the pros far outweigh the cons, though it is easy why some people would not be, and have not been, totally enamoured by it.It's exquisitely filmed with beautiful and atmospheric settings. Iñárritu's direction is as superbly accomplished as ever. The music is haunting and fits very well, the sound has great authenticity.Scripting is thought-provoking, exploring its themes well and deftly moving between its four stories and characters. 'Babel' is coherently structured, remarkable for more than one story plot going on which don't give an over-stuffed feel thankfully.The acting is one of the best assets. Brad Pitt is a commanding lead, and while Cate Blanchett could have more to do she is a strong presence. Gael García Bernal is more than up to their level. The best performances come from a heartfelt Rinko Kikuchi and a formidable Adriana Barraza.In summary, fascinating and often beautiful. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Kirpianuscus a film. many stories. great actors. Babel has the gift to be more than a film. or giving a story. or proposing characters. it is a sort of manifesto. about the roots of every day reality. about the price of success, happiness, love, sacrifices, victories, sadness. and that did it a sort of poem. about its public more than about the evolution of characters. a film about mark of gestures. about decisions and believes and science to accept the truth. it is not easy to define it. because entire film is in the space of the frame of the last scenes. a film about ordinaries people. in a labyrinth. as parts of labyrinth. looking the second chance. or, more exactly, the essence of freedom against yourselves.