Try to cram eighteen different stories into two hours and you're going to end up with something which, as a whole, is rather uneven. Such is the case with Paris, je t'aime. This is less one movie and more eighteen movies which happen to be shown in succession. The only common denominator is the setting, Paris. Eighteen different stories, told by eighteen different directors, featuring eighteen different casts. Some famous directors, some largely unknown. Some stories feature famous performers, others feature performers who are completely anonymous. There are little comedies, little dramas, little romances, little tragedies. It's quite the ebb and flow, you never know what's coming next. At least you know that if you're not enjoying what you're watching in a given moment there will be something entirely different coming along shortly.All in all it's an interesting experiment, buoyed by mostly interesting stories. A few of the mini-movies don't work or seem out of place. In a movie full of ordinary stories about ordinary life in Paris a vampire segment is a little jarring and bizarre. There's a story centered around a Chinatown beauty salon which is quite incomprehensible. A few of the stories fall rather flat. But on the other hand a few of the stories are actually quite brilliant. Most fall somewhere in between. At its best Paris, je t'aime is really good and even at its worst it's not truly terrible. The film may wear you down by the end, there's the sense that maybe there are three or four stories too many. But even if the film does start to drag it manages to pick itself up and get moving again. Such is the benefit of having an entirely new story every few minutes. Everyone will have their own favorite segments. There is something here for everyone. Fittingly the final segment is essentially a love letter to Paris. Margo Martindale plays Carol, a middle-aged American tourist extolling the virtues of the city in truly terrible, amateurish French. Carol may not have mastered the language but the sentiment is clear and sincere. She loves Paris. Simple. There is obviously much to love about the city and in Paris, je t'aime all the different directors with all their different stars do the city justice. It's an up-and-down movie, by its very nature inconsistent. But it's a unique ride, one worth taking.

In this anthology of short (5 minute) films Paris is revealed through eighteen separate stories revolving around the theme of love. Subtitled for the most part this includes an all-star cast and a mixed bag of vignettes; some good, some boring, some make you think and some are just plain bizarre but none of them are long enough to really matter.This didn't leave its mark on me and if there was a bigger message meant to be conveyed, I didn't get it. I think what I enjoyed most (besides Paris itself) was all the different actors and directors involved (22) Very fun.A couple stories did stand out; Natalie Portman and her blind student boyfriend ("Faubourg Saint-Denis"), Rufus Sewell finding love and ghosts in the cemetery ("Pere-Lachaise") and ("Place des Fetes") where a woman leaves her baby in care to go look after another ladies baby while she goes to work. 01.26.14

Ah, Where do I start? Well, The Movie is a compilation of 20 stories set in the background of Paris. Presented by 22 Directors, Most segments are touching and heart warming. The crew has some big names like Coen Bros., Alexander Payne, Alfanso Curaon, etc. but the point is everyone succeeds in making their point in merely 10 min. per story. Now, that's a difficult task. To pull out emotional impact and develop the characters in 10 min. There lies the magic of the movie. All these segments work like different music instruments and make one beautiful tune together! Having said that, this movie is not just about Paris, no!! It's a celebration of life, living both joyous and sad moments, exploring yourself and feeling alive. That's what this is on larger aspect. Needless to say that it has many wonderful performances and mesmerizing cinematography.The last segment, directed by Alexander Payne, particularly left a deep imprint on me. It's about a middle aged woman who is alone on a trip to Paris. Living in Paris, she explores herself, she enjoys working for letter posting company. She's there enjoying her lunch everyday, alone. Enjoying the sight scenes of Paris, alone. There she finds a meaning to life. When sitting alone in a Park and looking at all people around her, she describes that she was filled with a particular feeling, a feeling mixed both of joy and sadness but less on the later part. Perhaps, that's what we are, the audience to this movie, looking at these characters.. we feel both joy and sadness!! We explore ourselves. Well, that was my thought.The movie ends with a beautiful monologue supported by a lovely song by Feist -We all go round and round / Partners are lost and found/ Looking for one more chance / All I know is .. We're all in the dance!!How appropriate! :)

Paris, JE T'AIME?! In what language? French people said JE T'AIME with passion and fear, their tears are miserable because are tears of pleasure and pain and hope ... I think so.It is as if Americans come here in Romania and lead us ... oh, sorry, they are already here and they lead.But anyway, Americas sell "I love you"s, make "I love you"s, they produce it in cinema rooms to saturate the public starvation.JE T'AIME is a he, a she. JE T'AIME is us and we are not cannibals, but I love you is it! This is it, this movie ... like a big donation (in both directions).They compared Paris and "Armageddon". Like you can compare the life of a man with money he made, or the life of a child with any thing else on earth.Cheap sell, this is this ... a cheap sell, well, or a "big donation".Now, I do not know if America wants to afflict the French film, or Europe has enough of its own misery and assume that neighbor's bed is cleaner and more relaxing.Howsoever, this "intruders" were like a bunch of innocent ... did not know what hit them. ... my perception about this film and I'm really sorry for that. This is not a french movie, this is a sick french movie.I'm sorry for that comment too, but they make me. THEY, the ITs! PS: Excuse my English, I are Romanian and also a happy one