Babel II

Starring:Takeshi Kusao, Barry Stigler, Michael McConnohie, Richard Cansino, Amy Tipton, Jane Alan, Steve Bulen, Melora Harte, Wendee Lee, Brianne Siddall, Juliana Donald, Kerrigan Mahan, Jeff Winkless, Steve Kramer, Dan Woren, Eddie Frierson, Lara Cody, Kirk Thornton
Director: Yoshihisa Matsumoto
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Based on a popular graphic novel, Babel II: The Perfect Collection is a compilation of the four-part OAV released in 1992. Koichi, an ordinary but troubled student, meets Juju, a mysterious young woman who informs him he's a psychic--and invites him to join a secret society cult. When Koichi refuses, he discovers he's the chosen heir of Babel, an alien who crashed on Earth long ago and hid amazing technological devices from his ship in the biblical Tower. As Babel II, Koichi gets three servants: a flying dragon, a shape-shifting panther, and a giant robot to aid him in his war against the evil Yomi, the megalomaniac Master of Juju's cult, who seeks to rule the world. Oddly, Babel II feels both padded and rushed. The viewer never sees Koichi learning how to use his vast psychic powers: as soon as he discovers he possesses them, he hurls blocks of masonry at Yomi's zombies, shoots lightning bolts at other foes, and screams. Characters inexplicably enter and leave the story: why does Yomi destroy Nicora, his fey henchman, but not Juju, who betrays him? Unrated; suitable for ages 12 and up for violence. --Charles Solomon
Description
The complete feature-length compilation of the "Babel II" OVA series. Hidden psychic powers are unleashed in a reluctant hero who is transformed from a mild-mannered student into "Babel II," a supernatural warrior who must battle an army of zombies led by a ruthless Magus. Based on the classic science fiction graphic novel, "Babel II" is a spell-binding journey into the heart of darkness. Contains graphic violence.

Babel
Average customer rating:

Mish mush

Dry

A powerful (but not concise) film

Farce

The trouble with films like "Crash..."

Babel
Starring: Brad Pitt , Cate Blanchett , Mohamed Akhzam , Peter Wight , and Harriet Walter
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
Blanchett, Cate | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Crowley, Dermot | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Maloney, Michael | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Pitt, Brad | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Walter, Harriet | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000MCH5P4
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Amazon.com

Brilliantly conceived, superbly directed, and beautifully acted, Babel is inarguably one of the best films of 2006. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu and his co-writer, Guillermo Arriaga (the two also collaborated on Amores Perros and 21 Grams) weave together the disparate strands of their story into a finely hewn fabric by focusing on what appear to be several equally incongruent characters: an American (Brad Pitt) touring Morocco with his wife (Cate Blanchett) become the focus of an international incident also involving a hardscrabble Moroccan farmer (Mustapha Rachidi) struggling to keep his two young sons in line and his family together. A San Diego nanny (Adriana Barraza), her employers absent, makes the disastrous decision to take their kids with her to a wedding in Mexico. And a deaf-mute Japanese teen (the extraordinary Rinko Kikuchi) deals with a relationship with her father (Koji Yakusho) and the world in general that's been upended by the death of her mother. It is perhaps not surprising, or particularly original, that a gun is the device that ties these people together. Yet Babel isn't merely about violence and its tragic consequences. It's about communication, and especially the lack of it--both intercultural, raising issues like terrorism and immigration, and intracultural, as basic as husbands talking to their wives and parents understanding their children. Iñárritu's command of his medium, sound and visual alike, is extraordinary; the camera work is by turns kinetic and restrained, the music always well matched to the scenes, the editing deft but not confusing, and the film (which clocks in at a lengthy 143 minutes) is filled with indelible moments. Many of those moments are also pretty stark and grim, and no will claim that all of this leads to a "happy" ending, but there is a sense of reconciliation, perhaps even resolution. "If You Want to be Understood... Listen," goes the tagline. And if you want a movie that will leave you thinking, Babel is it. --Sam Graham

Beyond Babel

Other Interweaving Storylines on DVD
Other DVDs by Director Alejandro González Iñárritu
Why We Love Cate Blanchett

Stills from Babel (click for larger image)

Product Description

In Babel, a tragic incident involving an American couple in Morocco sparks a chain of events for four families in different countries throughout the world. In the struggle to overcome isolation, fear, and displacement, each character discovers that it is family that ultimately provides solace.

In the remote sands of the Moroccan desert, a rifle shot rings out-- detonating a chain of events that will link an American tourist couple's frantic struggle to survive, two Moroccan boys involved in an accidental crime, a nanny illegally crossing into Mexico with two American children, and a Japanese teen rebel whose father is sought by the police in Tokyo. Separated by clashing cultures and sprawling distances, each of these four disparate groups of people are nevertheless hurtling towards a shared destiny of isolation and grief. In the course of just a few days, they will each face the dizzying sensation of becoming profoundly lost - lost in the desert, lost to the world, lost to themselves - as they are pushed to the farthest edges of confusion and fear as well as to the very depths of connection and love.

In this mesmerizing, emotional film that was shot in three continents and four languages - and traverses both the deeply personal and the explosively political -- acclaimed director Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams, Amores Perros) explores with shattering realism the nature of the barriers that seem to separate humankind. In doing so, he evokes the ancient concept of Babel and questions its modern day implications: the mistaken identities, misunderstandings and missed chances for communication that-- though often unseen-- drive our contemporary lives. Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Kôji Yakusho, Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi lead an international ensemble of actors and non-professional actors from Morocco, Tijuana and Tokyo, who enrich Babel's take on cultural diversity and enhance its powerful examination of the links and frontiers between and within us.

Customer Reviews:

Mish mush.......2007-06-29

There are several different stories here only slightly related dealing with several different families in separate countries. Nothing that went into a whole. Some of the individual stories were touching. I particularly liked the Moroccan boys story. However overall it left me wondering what is the point of the story.

The acting is above average. Not surprising as it has some good actors. The filming is good.

Dry.......2007-06-26

Brad Pitt must be hard up for some money. Angelina's new kids must be costing him a fortune because this is the worst role he has ever taken. I think he's a great actor, love almost all of his other movies, but this one??? I'm not sure where to begin because, frankly I'm not sure what the story was about. Some lady, his wife or girlfriend, gets shot on a bus in Morroco or some place like that. Then some Mexicans try smuggling Brad Pitt and his lady friends children into Mexico... Border guards thought it was fishy that a couple of Mexicans were cruising around with some white kids so they busted the Mexicans and left the children to rot in the desert. Let's see... what else happened that made some sort of sense... This Mexican or Arabian fellow bought an illegal rifle and let his sons use it. They decided to use it to shoot at a bus, subsequently shooting Brad Pitts lady friend. And here's the kicker: a Japanese chick who was deaf gets naked for absolutely no reason! They show her at the club eaten some drugs, and next thing you know she's in some swank Tokyo condo gettin naked. I think that scene is what the whole movie was about and definitely worth the one star I gave it.

A powerful (but not concise) film.......2007-06-21

Babel, trying to imitate the wonderful style of Academy Award-winning Crash (Widescreen Edition), is a touching, thought provoking story of the world and its peoples.

The movie itself has an amazing premise--a husband, Richard Jones (Brad Pitt) decides to take his wife, Susan (Cate Blanchett) for an exotic vacation to Morocco. But things are hardly exotic, as they will soon find out. From Morocco the story transitions to California, where a Mexican-American maid is left in charge of the Jones' children while the couple are on vacation.

Babel continues to introduce new cultures as Mrs. Jones receives a wound to the shoulder while riding a bus through the deserts of Morocco. From there, a Moroccan family's role in the crime is unraveled, and the story of a Japanese deaf-mute begins.

This movie is truly touching, as all of the subplots intertwine and a feeling of bittersweet catharsis is felt.

This movie should be an absolute must for everyone; your life will be changed after watching this movie.

Farce.......2007-06-20

Let me start by saying that I really like this movie a lot. I think the point is very clearly stated in the preview, but not in the movie itself, although it's clear from watching the movie. The communication barriers we all deal with, and our prejudices against one another affect our lives, and make life hard, and painful, where there does not have to be any pain, or misunderstanding.
Cate Blanchett is a phenomenal actress, and does an outstanding job here, as the wife of Brad Pitt who gets shot in Morocco while riding on a bus. She is shot by two young boys, playing with a gun, and terroristic sirens sound off throughout the world. There are some other events happening in the movie too, with their children, and the original owner of the gun who is in China. Somehow they are all intertwined which makes for a compelling story. Each having their own struggles and issues, and communication related barrier. The original owner of the rifle has a deaf-mute daughter he has trouble communicating with after her mother commits suicide. Very well done, except one major complaint.
There are some very sexually explicit scenes involving children that were pretty much unessecary in making this a great movie. I personally, think it's tragic for people to accept having scenes like this in movies, that make it somehow acceptable. It's not ground breaking, it's just violating. And, I always thinks it's a bit of a farce when this is included in a movie that otherwise would be phenomenal on it's own merit. It just seems like a weak way to include some "shock" factor, when it's not needed, and dumbs down the movie. I could care less to see that, and didn't understand it's place in the movie, except to push the envelope. That could have been done in more valuable ways. Hence, why my rating is only a 3. But, otherwise, the storyline is great, and very interesting. I like movies that have a lot of moving parts, and stories happening in many places. Definitely one you should not miss.

The trouble with films like "Crash...".......2007-06-17

The film industry sees a success and realizes this is potentially a gold mine for more similar stories. Of course, they've got to add a twist--in this case, more languages, more locales and more cultures. As in the old saw: too many cooks spoil the soup, too many languages and locales spoil the story.

And--while there is always going to be a character or two who doesn't think in a movie, this one was riddled with folks who could have prevented their mishaps with just a little bit of common sense:

why would parents leave their kids in the care of a nanny who clearly isn't up to the task? I don't have children, but if I did, and I could afford a nanny, that person would be able to communicate and think much better than their employee

why would the illegal nanny take two American kids across the border?

why would the American couple go to a Muslim country, which is hostile where they spoke none of the language?

why would anyone let an intoxicated person drive--particularly at an international border?

One person's blunder can make an interesting plot device. Two people's blunder starts on comedy. Three? I can only shake my head so long at a movie before I am ready to give up. I made it to the end, but honestly I didn't think it was worth it. Very glad this was only a rental.

Average customer rating:

Babel II - Rise of Poseidon (Vol. 2)
Starring: Babel II
Manufacturer: Anime Works
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Babel II - Call to the Gods (Vol. 1)

ASIN: B00006IUFR
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Average customer rating:

Babell II-Take 2
superb original story!

Babel II - Call to the Gods (Vol. 1)
Starring: Babel II
Manufacturer: Anime Works
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000067IW8
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Customer Reviews:

Babell II-Take 2.......2003-03-28

This new TV series is not the Babel II OVA series that Streamline Pictures and Image Entertainment put out a few years back. This is a whole new anime based on the original manga. Although the story still moves along at the same hyper-speed as the OVA, this paces it a long a little with more episodes to work with. Here, average student Koichi learns that he has special psychic powers, and is accepted into his school's underground group of Hades. But he discovers their true intent, to take over the world. This renegade group of psychics lead by the evil Yomi who wants to become the true successor to the legacy of Babel, of whom the legendary tower is named after. Koichi is titled Babel II, and finds his way to the tower in the middle of a desert. He refuses give up his old identity though, and decides to fight Hades with his three servants: a shapeshifting leopard(panther), a giant robot, and a dinosaur bird. These characters were later used in the Giant Robo series years later, actually as the bad guys. But this new TV anime does score over the OVA with a more coherent plot, even though the animation seems a little more downgraded.

superb original story!.......2003-01-11

Babel 2 is a superb japanese anime. well, maybe the art work seems a little outdated but this is because its trying to be faithful to the original tv series from the 70s.( i lived in japan during the 70s with my dad who was stationed there). May be its just me but i think if they made a dvd out of the original series without remaking it, it has a very good chance of being a super hit in the states. I am not saying that this remade version is bad. no not at all! it is superb because of its original story. babel 2 is not just for entertainment, its more than that, its almost like a biography of a person who is slowly awakening to enlightment. I recommend this dvd to every body, adults and youth alike.....This tv based series is absolutely wonderful...By the way, do not buy or watch babel 2, Perfect collection ova series its a fake babel 2. the artist is different and its style of story telling will make you shy away from babel 2. If you already watched it, don;t let that disapointment stop you from getting this 100x better version of babel 2....

Average customer rating:

Not your average psychic friends network
SLICED AND DICED, BLOTCHED AND BUTCHERED!!
Dated anime but Awesome story!!
Breath of fresh air?

Babel II - Perfect Collection
Starring: Takeshi Kusao , Wendee Lee , Lara Cody , Brianne Siddall , and Juliana Donald
Director: Yoshihisa Matsumoto
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Babel II: Beyond Infinity - Testament of the Apocalypse Collection

ASIN: B00005QBZ8
Release Date: 2001-11-27

Amazon.com

Based on a popular graphic novel, Babel II: The Perfect Collection is a compilation of the four-part OAV released in 1992. Koichi, an ordinary but troubled student, meets Juju, a mysterious young woman who informs him he's a psychic--and invites him to join a secret society cult. When Koichi refuses, he discovers he's the chosen heir of Babel, an alien who crashed on Earth long ago and hid amazing technological devices from his ship in the biblical Tower. As Babel II, Koichi gets three servants: a flying dragon, a shape-shifting panther, and a giant robot to aid him in his war against the evil Yomi, the megalomaniac Master of Juju's cult, who seeks to rule the world. Oddly, Babel II feels both padded and rushed. The viewer never sees Koichi learning how to use his vast psychic powers: as soon as he discovers he possesses them, he hurls blocks of masonry at Yomi's zombies, shoots lightning bolts at other foes, and screams. Characters inexplicably enter and leave the story: why does Yomi destroy Nicora, his fey henchman, but not Juju, who betrays him? Unrated; suitable for ages 12 and up for violence. --Charles Solomon

Description

Psychic powers, mysterious creatures and pulse-pounding action fill this explosive Japanese animation adventure. The lovely Juju lures Koichi, an ordinary high school student, to her power-hungry secret cult. Koichi must discover his own hidden identity and summon all of his untapped psychic powers to defeat the cult's army of zombies and save the world! Based on the classic science fiction graphic novel by famed author Mitsutero Yokoyama, "Babel II" is a savage, mystical journey into the heart of evil.

Customer Reviews:

Not your average psychic friends network.......2003-01-21

Following the manga from Metsuteru Yokoyama(the creator of GIGANTOR)BABEL II is not a sequal to something. The "II" indicates the main character is Babel the 2nd. Koichi is a seemingly normal young man who keeps getting dreams about a tall tower in the desert. It turns out to be the very Tower of Babel from the Bible. He is saught out by Juju, a beautiful pink-haired psychic who tries to recruit him for her group of revolutionary psychics lead by the maniacal Magnus. Koichi decides to use the special powers that awaken in him to help defend humanity from this band of superhuman revolutionaries. With his comrades, the shapechanging panther, a giant robot, and a Rodan clone, he might just win. Adopting the new name of Babel II, Koichi tries to assist a group of authorities with bringing down Magnus' plans for world domination. Many characters from this series were later reused for the GIANT ROBO anime which was an almagamation of several of Yokoyama's titles, where Babel II is actually the secret main bad guy who only appears at the very end of the series. BABEL II-PERFECT COLLECTION has all 4 episodes of the original OVA series as released through Streamline Pictures which is now owned by Image Entertainment. This is not the new series however: BABEL II-BEYOND INFINITY. People sometimes confuse this with the remake. But still the animation is fair and has lots of super action for your generic X-Men fan!

SLICED AND DICED, BLOTCHED AND BUTCHERED!!.......2003-01-07

WARNING WARNING WARNING!! This is a four episode, Reader's Digest style condensed version of the 13 episode original video animation from Japan! They took out all the good stuff and the good music and you can't even follow the story! Get the imported stuff from eBay or the new three volume DVDs from Amazon! The bottom line is... WATCH THE ORIGINAL FULL 13 EPISODES AND NOT THIS SLICED AND DICED AND BUTCHERED VERSION!

Dated anime but Awesome story!!.......2001-08-12

Wow the story behind this was way past kewl. The characters were intruiging. Especially the realtionship between Babel II and the leader of the bad guys. Quite kewl. There were only two things that were off with this anime. First the animation is dated. You can tell that this anime was made a while ago. The images are slightly blurry with stock images being used over and over. Also the way the story went made it seem more of a complete tv series turned into a quick movie. There seemed to be missing time gaps that we never saw. Scenes change at the drop of hat with no explanation. Aside from this the anime was great! I had lots of fun viewing this one though! Reminded me a lot like Mai the Psychic Girl^_^

Breath of fresh air?.......2000-05-10

Most Anime seen in the United States will eventually leave you cold with it's half naked babes and overly innocent teenage male stars but for once that has changed. In this fantasy tale we find the young male hero to still be very much the innocent at first but over time he becomes the wiser then his age superhuman hero that we all know he's going to be. With a plot that sometimes seems to turn back in on itself this particular anime can confuse some newer viewers of Japanese Anime. Then again, with it's odd plot progression and sometimes disconcerting visual images, maybe we could all get a little confused. Either way this isn't a bad movie, just a little out of date.

Babel II: Beyond Infinity - Testament of the Apocalypse Collection

Average customer rating:

Babel II: Beyond Infinity - Testament of the Apocalypse Collection
Starring: Babel 2-Tetament of the Apocalypse
Manufacturer: Anime Works
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000CG8BI
Release Date: 2003-11-18

Average customer rating:

Babel II - Leon's Mirage (Vol. 3)
Starring: Babel II
Manufacturer: Anime Works
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00007G1TO
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Average customer rating:

Not your average psychic friends network
SLICED AND DICED, BLOTCHED AND BUTCHERED!!
Dated anime but Awesome story!!
Breath of fresh air?

Babel II
Starring: Takeshi Kusao , Wendee Lee , Lara Cody , Brianne Siddall , and Juliana Donald
Director: Yoshihisa Matsumoto
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Animation | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Babel II: Beyond Infinity - Testament of the Apocalypse Collection

ASIN: 6305090009
Release Date: 1998-10-21

Amazon.com

Description

The complete feature-length compilation of the "Babel II" OVA series. Hidden psychic powers are unleashed in a reluctant hero who is transformed from a mild-mannered student into "Babel II," a supernatural warrior who must battle an army of zombies led by a ruthless Magus. Based on the classic science fiction graphic novel, "Babel II" is a spell-binding journey into the heart of darkness. Contains graphic violence.

Customer Reviews:

Not your average psychic friends network.......2003-01-21

SLICED AND DICED, BLOTCHED AND BUTCHERED!!.......2003-01-07

Dated anime but Awesome story!!.......2001-08-12

Breath of fresh air?.......2000-05-10

Average customer rating:

Mish mush
Dry
A powerful (but not concise) film
Farce
The trouble with films like "Crash..."

Babel
Starring: Brad Pitt , Cate Blanchett , Mohamed Akhzam , Peter Wight , and Harriet Walter
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
ProductGroup: Theatrical Release
Binding: Theatrical Release
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