The City of Lost Children (originally La Cité des Enfants Perdus) was, along with Delicatessen, one of the movies that put French writer/director Jean-Pierre Jeunet on the map even before he came out with the blockbusters Alien: Resurrection, Amelie (Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain) and A Very Long Engagement (Un Long Dimanche de Fiançailles). The movie showcases Jeunet’s signature colour treatments, steam-punk milieus and amazing art-direction and cinematography, as well as his bizarre and otherworldly story lines and quirky humour.

This French-language movie is in many ways a precursor of what was to be, and because most people will have seen his later movies before they see this one, it might be a bit of a disappointment. Not because it is bad, but because the other ones are better. Jeunet has outdone himself with every project so in retrospect, everything done before seems somewhat lacking.

The movie features Ron Perlman (Hellboy) in the role of “One,” a slow but loving strong-man living in a city where all the children are disappearing. When his adopted brother is kidnapped by evil blind men with electronic “third eyes,” he is dragged into a world of bizarre mutants, defective clones, and a dreamless villain in search of a soul.

Although the 1995 release is a bit slow (and very French if you know what I mean), the characters, especially One’s companion the pre-teen pickpocket Miette and his cute (and very hungry) brother Denree, drive the story forward and make it an enjoyable experience.

Morten’s take: Everything Jeunet touches turns to gold murky oversaturated steam-punk goodness – a must-see for sci-fi and Jeunet fans.

Angela’s take: Best served with Absinthe.