Movie Review: The Princess and the Warrior

Story: As you know, I love surprises in the cinema, and this film by German filmmaker Tom Tykwer (who also gave us last year's terrific Run Lola Run) kept me guessing with its many plot twists and turns. The film is mostly about chance, synchronicity and destiny (I also love those themes). When a nurse in a psychiatric hospital gets hit by a truck and is saved by a stranger her life is ever more changed. As the story unfolds (I am not going to say anymore about the plot) the viewer just sits back and revels in this imaginative and very unpredictable film. Go - enjoy some summer surprises.

Acting: Both Franka Potente (Run Lola Run and Blow) and Benno Furmann are terrific.

Critters: None.

Food: Cake.

Visual Art: One poster of a soaring bird.

Blatant Product Placement: None - or none that I was aware of since this is a German film.

Soundtrack: Interesting. Some of the music was also by director Tykwer.

Opening Titles: I was pulled into the film from the very first shots and titles.

Theater Audience: Spartan. Again, in a virtually empty theater a guy sat almost directly in front of us. We moved.

Quirky Meter: 5

Squirm Scale: Beware of a tracheotomy and a scene with glass.

Predictability Level: Lots of surprises.

Oscar Worthy: No - although I am never really sure how the Best Foreign Film category is chosen.

Nit Picking: Those encircling cameras around the protagonists make me dizzy when used to excess.

Big Screen or Rental: Rental is probably just fine as the this is a story driven piece. You could have a psychiatric rental weekend with movies that take pace in loony bins. There is a lot to choose from in this vein. Check your video store. Don't you just love theme weekends?

Length: 7 minutes over the Lobo two hour rule. It could have used a little editing.

LOBO HOWLS: 7.5