Brotherhood Of The Wolf - Movie Review

Dr. Spec
Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
edited November 2003 in Music & Movies
Brotherhood of the Wolf:

Based on a true story about a beast that terrorizes a 17th century French countryside, and the men sent to find it and kill it.

This movie is visually gorgeous - with woodland scenery, imagery galore, naked women, houses of debauchery, hunky men, old castles, and rolling countryside. There is also a rolling fadeaway of a woman's naked body into a snow covered countryside that simply has to be seen first hand to be fully appreciated.

It is long (2.5 hours) and occasionally suffers pacing and editing problems. Like sex, the French take their time with movies, unlike most Americans, so get yourself in the mood and slow your life down a bit and just soak it all in.

The action sequences - when they occur - (which is about 1/3 of the time) are excellently choreographed and exciting, with occasional slo mo thrown in for good measure. The martial arts fight scenes are excellent, and there is plenty of firearms, knives, swords, and other weapons thrown in for good measure.

The acting is fine, and the English dubbing works very well, but is not perfect (can dubbing ever be?). The plot must be closely followed in order to "get" the story. There is plenty of French aristocrat treachery and backstabbing and plots twists (reminiscent of Gladiator in this regard), plus lots of nudity, kinky sex, and even an incest/rape scene thrown in for good measure. I won't ruin the movie ending for you, but there is a strong parallel to "From Hell" regarding the whole who, what, why, where, how, in the handling of the Beast - things are not always as they seem!

The soundtrack is fine, with DD 5.1 and pleasing vocals and surround effects. Bass is quite powerful, clean, and deep (room shaking actually, but not overcooked) when called for, and is largely absent when it should be - a refreshing change from say LOTR where synthesized bass is dubbed into almost every scene.

Despite the occasional pacing problems, this movie is lots of fun, defies genre classification, and is definitely different. If you are looking for something unusual with a Euro action twist - definitely see BOTW. I'm glad we have it in the collection and I give it a solid 8/10.

Doc
"What we do in life echoes in eternity"

Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
Director - Technology and Customer Service
SVS
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Comments

  • Ron-P
    Ron-P Posts: 8,519
    edited October 2002
    I passed this one up yesterday because I've not read too many reviews on the film. I'll add this one to the purchase list thanks to your review Doc. Great write up.


    Peace Out~:D
    If...
    Ron dislikes a film = go out and buy it.
    Ron loves a film = don't even rent.
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  • jmasterj
    jmasterj Posts: 327
    edited October 2002
    Sounds good I'll look it up. Thanks for the review
    JmasterJ Polk to the Death
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  • PETERNG
    PETERNG Posts: 918
    edited October 2002
    Hey Doc, hope you do this more often, great review...:)
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  • scottvamp
    scottvamp Posts: 3,277
    edited October 2002
    Dr. Spec, great review. Now I am even more excited about watching it tonight. Sounds like my kind of movie. Thanks!!;)
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited October 2002
    BUMP

    Who watched it - anyone yet. Looking for some feedback - thumbs up or down?

    Doc
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited October 2002
    I will definitely check it out! Thanks for the review.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • scottvamp
    scottvamp Posts: 3,277
    edited October 2002
    Ya, I watched it last night. I was very impressed. It was my type of movie indeed. It is very dificult to pass the english dub on the french. But it was done well never the less. I was amazed by how well the soundtrack was done. Awesome bass and surrounds WHEN the movie called for it. Very well done. Now i will probably buy this one. It had a bit of everything. I could not stop thinking and talking about it today. Usually French movies never seem to really make sence but this one all come together - nudity - gore - violence - awesome action - great plot. The slow mo / freeze and go filming really made it all the better. Two thumbs up. Read the bio on the characters - can't recall names but the one guy played in the short lived Crow tv series and the one girl was one the brides in BS Dracula and is going to be in the new Matrix movie.
    I may even watch it again before I return it to the rental store.
    There is also a rolling fadeaway of a woman's naked body into a snow covered countryside that simply has to be seen first hand to be fully appreciated.
    WOW! Dr. Spec you were right on with your review.;)
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  • gmorris
    gmorris Posts: 1,179
    edited November 2003
    Watched it last night, AWESOME!!

    In my newly finished home theater, I've only watched a few movies, but this is by far the BEST movie I've seen in terms of sound. The bass is just as Dr. Spec described, not there when not needed, but when its there, it is sweet. Deep & impactful, not simply the low, undefined rumble alot of movies (Matrix series) seem to have these days. Also very good usage of the surround channels.

    I did not find the English overdubb to be distracting. I thought the movie plot was good enough to keep me interested that I didn't nit pick such a small detail.

    Give this one a rent for sure.
    Bob Mayo, on the keyboards. Bob Mayo.
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  • kberg
    kberg Posts: 974
    edited November 2003
    Originally posted by Dr. Spec

    It is long (2.5 hours) and occasionally suffers pacing and editing problems.

    Despite the occasional pacing problems, this movie is lots of fun, defies genre classification, and is definitely different.

    I blind bought BOTW as soon as it was released, and I'd have to strongly agree with most of Doc's points, especially those above. There are definitely pacing/editing problems in this flick, but I do like the multi-genre approach it took. Regarding audio, as with Das Boot, I prefer watching it in the native language w/ English subtitles. I have yet to watch the entire movie again with my SVS sub, but I have watched the first 30-40 min. - incredible sight and sound.

    Personally, I'd give it about a 7 out of 10 overall, and it would have earned at least and 8 from me if it were better paced/edited.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited November 2003
    Got me curious enough for a rental, however, did get a chuckle out of reading...
    Originally posted by Dr. Spec
    17th century French countryside, and... martial arts fight scenes
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited November 2003
    Not sure what you are getting at, BET?
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • scottvamp
    scottvamp Posts: 3,277
    edited November 2003
    Nice dig up from the past!!!!!;)
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited November 2003
    Originally posted by Dr. Spec
    Not sure what you are getting at, BET?
    something like a shaolin temple in the bordeaux region... or
    kung fu muskateers...

    dunno, just seemed an odd combination....
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2003
    Tour - Buddha in the Iron Mask? :D I get it, lol.

    I swear I have looked at this movie on the shelf at BB, 100 times. I keep on saying to my invisible friend that I should buy it, now I will.

    Thanks for the review and comments Dr. Spec and Polkies
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Polk-a-nizer
    Polk-a-nizer Posts: 225
    edited November 2003
    Thanks for the review Doc. I'll have to check that out. Here's a newer wolf movie "Dog Soldiers"...pretty kick ****. Lot's of gore.;)
    ††Polk-A-Nizer~~Ulrich††
    Nizer The Wizer
    "I can blast my Polks longer and they keep getting stronger!"
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited November 2003
    Yeah tour, it's a mismosh for sure. Part of the attraction, actually.

    I did a quickie review of Dog Soldiers a few months back. Pretty cool but the At. Flag Chroma Bug ruined it for me.
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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