Lars And The Plastic Population

Advantages: Interesting concept
Disadvantages: Bland, dull, and not amusing

...Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) is a weird guy, having in a shack next to his brother's house, he interacts little or not at all with anyone. At home he is awkward, at work he is annoying, and despite everyone's best efforts he simply does not seem to want to be part of this world. On the plus side Lars is a good man, a God fearing man who shows worship in church regally, and is generally appreciated in town as the one man not likely to fall off the rails, from a citizen perspective he is the ideal small town inhabitant. Gus (Paul Schneider)the brother and his wife Karin (Emily Mortimer) desperately try to get Lars involved in things, but seem to fail unsuccessfully. One day something catches Lars eye on the internet, and before long he is talking about a love interest called Bianca, who might be coming to stay for a while. A foreigner...

sghawken 06.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Lars And The Real Girl (DVD)

Lars has a girlfriend. Lars has a girlfriend

Advantages: Original Story
Disadvantages: I'll think of one yet

...The Film Lars and the Real Girl is a 2007 film. Lars is a lonely, reclusive, young man who lives in the converted garage of his brother's house. He recoils from society and companionship and has to be tackled and pinned down by his sister-in-law, Karen,to convince him to come round for dinner. A co-worker Margo shows a strong interest in him but Lars ignores her as he does his other porn obsessed co-worker until one day he mentions sex dolls to Lars who is intrigued. He orders one of the dolls and strangely starts to act as if it is real. He also starts to come out of his shell and starts to visit his brother and his wife. He brings the doll along with him and they're clearly abit worried. They take him to the doctor who diagnoses Lars with a delusion, advising them to just humour him as it will eventually wear itself out...

Phelthew 15.06.2008 (16.06.2008) · Read review
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Review of Lars And The Real Girl (DVD)

The Birds of Europe - Lars Jonson

Advantages: Fantastic Drawings, Very Detailed Information On Every Species
Disadvantages: Quite Expensive

...I have had an interest in Wildlife for as long as I can remember and in particular I have always had a passion for Birds. My Garden is full of Bird feeding devices and I have spent many enjoyable hours at my window watching the Birds feeding there. Any serious Birdwatcher will possess a Field Guide and over the years, since my early teens I have always used the Collin's Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe. A couple of years ago I decided that it was time that I updated my reference guide for something a little bit more modern. The book I chose was the Birds of Europe by Lars Jonson. Lars Jonson is a very well known name in the world of Ornithology. Born in Sweden Lars Jonson is best known as a Bird Artist and has won many prestigious awards. He had an exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History in Stockholm when he was...

micksheff 15.01.2007 · Read review
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Review of Birds of Europe - Lars Jonson

Lars And The Real Girl a comic story line that touches your heart

Advantages: Heart warmingly beautiful. For those that are feeling alone in the world
Disadvantages: Not for young children

...While this sounds like something that will let you giggle through out, Lars And The Real Girl is a film that openly explores the almost coming of age story of a man through his unconventional relationship with Bianca, an anatomically correct sex doll and how those around him not only help him and help each other simply because of their love for this man. Ryan Gosling is superb as Lars, a horribly shy and socially inept man who exudes the humanity of a injured child. Lars is unable to connect with any of the people around him, struggling with the closest relationships with his brother and sister in law to being physically pained by another persons touch. Lars finally finds solace in the girlfriend he meets on the internet, Bianca, who, to the shock of those around him, is a life like silicon sex doll. With the advice of the towns...

Ashleigh1212 28.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lars And The Real Girl (DVD)

Real Love

Advantages: Well acted and directed drama
Disadvantages: I can't think of any

...Lars and the Real Girl is set in N America/Canada seemingly in a Scandinavian influenced town judging by the characters names. Lars is a young man with an uninspiring office job, who lives in the garage at the bottom of the garden of his brother and expectant sister in law. Having had a difficult childhood, he is rather reclusive and lacking in basic social and communication skills, reminding me slightly of someone with Aspergers as he often doesn't know how to react in a social situation. His brother and sister in law despair of him, and are always trying to get him to come for dinner. One day he tells them that he has someone he would like to meet, and they are thrilled, especially when he reveals that this person is female. They don't mind that he met this woman off the internet or that she is in a wheelchair. However when they...

Essexgirl2006 02.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lars And The Real Girl (DVD)

Sex Doll takes centre stage

Advantages: Funny, sensitive and just so good
Disadvantages: None at all

...Somewhere in the realms of small town America a quiet, shy man by the name of Lars lives. His home is in the garage of the family home, owned 50/50 with his brother, who lives in the main house with his pregnant wife. Lars is a friendly, helpful guy and he is well liked both at work and by the inhabitants of the town. There is a young girl he works with who seems to quite like Lars but he cannot talk to her at all, ending up acting like a 12 year old around her. He likes that she talks to him but seems to have no idea of how to respond, so he ignores her or just plain runs away. Lars is normal in most way, or he seems to be. He might be a little bit backward or maybe he just doesn?t like more than basic interaction with other people. Karin, his sister in law (Emily Mortimer) tries valiantly to get him to join them for breakfast...

Ailran 26.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lars And The Real Girl (DVD)

A Touch Of Genius!

Advantages: Quirky, heart-warming, thought-provoking.
Disadvantages: None

...Director: Craig Gillespie Writer: Nancy Oliver Genre: Comedy - Drama Country: USA Certification: 12+ Language: English Released: 18th August, 2008 (DVD) MAIN CAST: Ryan Gosling (Lars Lindstrom) Emily Mortimer (Karin) Paul Schneider (Gus) Kelli Garner (Margo) Shy and self-effacing Lars is, without a doubt, the kindest and most lovable guy in the world. Surrounded by family and friends who genuinely care for him, and a tight knit community made up of people who would like nothing better than to call themselves his friend, Lars' life could be extremely fulfilling if not for the fact that he abhors being near people and would like nothing better than to be left alone. When Lars' pregnant sister-in-law attempts to draw him out of his shell, he finds himself literally running from her - and when a sweet...

GoFigure 19.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Lars And The Real Girl

One man and his doll

Advantages: Interesting characters, good enough performances, quite touching in parts
Disadvantages: Wont appeal to everyone, may seem slow pace wise to some, also its not really a comedy as such

...- Introduction - I had seen a review on this movie elsewhere online and it sounded like quite a curious movie, the story was one that I hadn't really heard of before and it got a good write up by the reviewer, so I decided to add it to my rental list. I like to both see mainstream, well known movies and try out a few lesser known titles and this movie arrived on the door mat a few days ago, with me watching it last night. - Credits - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805564/fullcredits - Story - Lars and the Real Girl tells the story of Lars' Lindstrom, a shy young man who keeps away from people and lives in a room by the garage near his brother and sister in laws house. His sister in law Karin keeps trying to get him to interact with them more but he chooses to shy away, until on day when he announces that he has a girlfriend, much to...

IzzyS 12.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lars And The Real Girl (DVD)

As real as can be

Advantages: Ryan Gosling putting in an amazing performance
Disadvantages: None!

...What a superb film. The premise of a film surrounding a man and his inflatable girlfriend seems to hold few redeeming features on the durfase and the my initial reaction was that the film would decsend into farce. How was I to know I would touched anc close to tears by the end! Lars in an awkward introverted man who finds any form of physical attention painful. He lives in the garage next to his brother (Gus) and sister-in-law (Karin) - his parents have passed away. One day a parcel arrives for him; its a 'antomically correct' plastic woman who he introduces to his brother and sister-in-law as his girlfriend. Naturally, this is tough for Gus to handle but he and karin work with the small town to ask for there help in making Lars feel comfortable while they work out what to do. The subtly played life of 'Bianca' (the doll) is...

jonescraiga 31.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Lars And The Real Girl (DVD)

Lar von Trier's The Anti-Musical Musical

Advantages: Brilliant music numbers, fantastic performances, mature themes
Disadvantages: Dark, downbeat tone not suitable for those who want to be uplifted

.... Every time she is "dreaming", I feel inclined to yell at her to snap out of it. Dancer in the Dark is a very courageous and bold "avant garde" style film directed by Lars von Trier. However, this is not a very enjoyable movie and it's hard to empathize with Selma. While what she did in the end was very noble, it is generally hard to empathize with a person who has put herself in trouble in the first place--especially someone who is easily manipulated and lacks will. Then again, perhaps this is the message Lars von Trier wanted to deliver? Dancer in the Dark is too depressing, but does that mean I don't recommend it? On the contrary, I think it is definitely worth seeing, especially if you want to witness a modern example of expressionistic cinema....

aEnigma7345 09.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of Dancer In The Dark (DVD)