Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Hulkeasexo it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

ChampDavSlim The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Phillida Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

dakjets His is a fascinating and interssant film about the terrorist who went under the nickname The Jackal. The film is based on the years has been active as a terrorist, with all the cruelty committed by him and his network. The movie therefore takes the 20 years he was a feared man in the West. The film has good depictions, and portrays the violence and terror they performed. Unlike, for example, Steven Spielberg's film Munich, this film does not aim to come under the skin of The Jackal. What was his inner motivation to accomplish these terrible actions? We do not get any answer as to why he took these choices and the underlying causes of a terroist life. But yet the movie is good as it gives an insight into a world we do not know on the inside. The brutality of the film gives insight into what blind fanatism does, and how individuals do not make any sense in reaching their political goals.

emuir-1 I would have given this production a 10, especially for the superb performance by Edgar Ramirez, except for the lack of subtitling when English was being spoken, and what subtitles did exist were too small to read, even on a large screen TV! Whenever the characters were speaking in their own language, whether it be French, German, Russian, Hungarian or other, it was subtitled, but not when they were speaking in English. As there was not a native English speaking actor in the entire production, the heavy accents were just too hard to understand. This seems to be standard with the English version of French productions in that they only subtitle foreign languages.The performance by Edgar Ramirez was just amazing, especially his changing appearance, not just facial and hair style, but his body appeared thicker and heavier in the later episodes as he aged from a young man to a mature 40 something. I did find it interesting that the terrorists all drank Johnny Walker red label and smoked Marlboros - not a Pasha, Galoise nor a Gitane between them, and boy did they smoke! Why any of them are still alive and not dead of lung cancer or heart attack is a mystery.'Carlos' and the other terrorists were not shown in a sympathetic or glamorous light, but neither were they all black. They came across as deluded fanatics with little sympathy for the victims who they sacrificed for the 'cause', whatever cause that happened to be at the time. 'Carlos' and his followers did not appear to have too many qualms about selling themselves to the highest bidder as terrorists for hire when it suited them; although, some of them were not too happy about being diverted from their Marxist views of equality for all. Of course, there were groupies and hangers on bedazzled by the perceived glamour and excitement more than ideological fervor. Although the Marxist Leninist fanatics and their groupies have had their day, things have not really changed as the Jihad true believers and their foolish female followers, the 'Jihadi brides'and suicide bombers have taken their place. It was interesting to see how the countries who had supported 'Carlos' turned against him when the cold war ended and they had no further use for him. He believe he was untouchable and irreplaceable as they laid out the red carpet for him, but he was only tolerated as long as they had a need for his dirty work. Suddenly he was a pariah and no longer welcome - don't call us, we'll call you! I particularly enjoyed the lack of American involvement in this series. One shudders to think of marines yelling and bawling 'Go, go go' and how they would claim credit for the apprehension and capture of Ramirez, as they claimed credit for capturing the enigma cypher machine from the Germans in WW2 (U-571). Arabs and Muslims would have been the bad guys and the Americans would have saved the day with the help of Israeli back up. The Europeans can do very well on their own, as shown by TV series such as Spiral, Wallender, and Un Village Francais without Uncle Sam hogging center stage.

chu_mimi I caught a glimpse of it on Sundance Channel here in the US and ended up watching the whole piece as a 3-episode series.Thanks to Sundance for showing it un-cut and un-edited, it really shows their respect for the efforts of film makers, and as an audience I really appreciate being able to watch it as the director intended it.Really love the story, you can tell Olivier Assayas did a really thorough job in his research. As many reviews said, it's historical facts+real news footage+some fictional imagination, but all of them combined made a great story.Only one small detail I found amusing: the actual event of the attack on OPEC in Vienna took place in December, but they must have filmed it in the summer because one can tell the city is so GREEN in the background; as someone who has lived in Vienna that was simply impossible in winter. But please don't get me wrong, this small detail does not change the fact that this is one of the best movies I've ever seen.

samkan Anything this long and in three parts runs the risk of descending into pathos or melodrama, but CARLOS remains interesting throughout. The portrait of the famous terrorist is neither flattering nor harsh and, indeed, different viewers may come away from the film admiring or despising him. The different terrorist operations Carlos was involved in, far fewer than you may think, are not overly dramatic and are filled with the problems, messiness and failures that real life provides. The scenes (particularly the action ones) are alternately attractive and gritty with the latter group; e.g., hostages held overlong in a airplane, almost supplying accompanying stench. The assortment of terrorists from various cultures and countries is a disaffected lot believably drawn - and then trapped - into their choice of lives. Especially attractive is the portrayal of the politics of the various countries and covert agencies as we learn (before Carlos and his fellow terrorists do) that self-interest, not idealism, is always the driving force. My only criticism is minor: The terrorists, as well as all involved, drink like fish; e.g., Carlos has booze in his hand for a substantial part of the film. At least five cases of Johnny Walker is seen consumed! Bit too heavy on the product placement?