Yes...Lola is still running.

Rating: 4

I have conflicting views on this movie. As afilm viewer, I appreciate the quality of the film, the innovation, and the artistic effort that clearly radiated through the finished product. The methods and mediums through which this film was shot, as well as the well-chosen music for the background were superb. However, how long can we watch a girl run accross an entire city? And them how long can we watch a girl run accross an entire city again? And then how long can we watch a girl run accross an entire city AGAIN?

I know I may sound a little bit harsh, but don't get me wrong. I really liked this movie a lot. It is actually an incredible film. I believe it is so amazing in part because of the cinemotagraphy, and in part to the meaning behind the story. I'd like to take this time and discuss what I think the film was trying to say.

Clearly the film was based around time. The category time branches off in so many different directions, and I am sad to admit my predictions were not completley accurate. What I thought was going to be a film underscoring the importance of time, actually was a film discussing the importance and impacts of decisions and learning. The best part of this film was that during each 'redo', it wasn't just the events of Lola's day that had been altered. Everyone, when given another chance, made different decisions that day. For example, the lady with the stroller made different decisions on different days, leading to completley different courses of her life. The great thing was that everyone's choice was just as important as everyone else's. The security guard intersected with Lola who intersected with her dad who intersected with Mr. Meyer, and so on and so forth.

The great web of life was illustrated beautifully. In addition to the impact one person can make on a complete stranger, learning was also a lesson to be learned from this film. Each successive try, Lola became a little more adept and able to succeed and accomplish her goal. Each time she was smarter, more aware, and ready to face the challenges she knew she was facing.

Although learning was one of the major themes in the movie, I believe another lesson that can be learned from Run Lola Run is the importance of love. Love drove most of the events that took place. It was amazing to see the love she had for Mani was enough to risk her life. She loved him so much that time was able to restart and she was given the oopportunity to start over. Her dad didn't love her mom, and in fact was in love with another woman. In the ambulance, the security guards heart was failing, and through holding hands with Lola was he able to stabilize. Love was a common thread between all the events that took place. Between decisions, learning, time, and love this movie discussed very profound ideas. If Lola hadn't been running for more than half the film, I would have rated it a 5. However, the repetetive-ness I feel was unecessary, and could have been avoided. Other than that, I believe this film is incredible and worth anyone's time.