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City Of Angels Reviews

1998 Certificate 12
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 12,256 members

Based in part on Wim Wenders' 1988 film Wings of Desire, this is the story of Seth (Cage), an angel who wanders the Los Angeles area invisible to humans. As the demise of an individual approaches he spends time near them and becomes visible while acting as their traveling companion during their trip to the great hereafter. His .. Read more

Starring Meg Ryan, Nicolas Cage, Dennis Franz, Andre Braugher
Director Brad Silberling
Genres Drama, Romance

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  • Critics' reviews (5) of City Of Angels

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    This Hollywood semi-remake of Wim Wenders's classic Wings of Desire stars Nicolas Cage as an angel inhabiting Los Angeles who falls for heart surgeon (yes, really) Meg Ryan. Will he give up his otherworldly delights — gathering with his fellow celestial beings to listen to the sunrise, reading people's thoughts — so he can “fall” to Earth and be with her? Will she realise he's not quite like other guys? And will they both drown in the slushy sentimentality of it all? Happily, not quite, thanks to a well-chosen soundtrack (Sarah McLachlan, Goo Goo Dolls) and a winning — and moving — performance from Cage that will melt the hearts of his female fans.

    • Radio Times
  • "...This New Agey take will still engage the heartrings of any mortal with the teensiest desire to believe..." -- Rating: B

    • Entertainment Weekly
  • A Hollywood remake of Wings of Desire, directed by the man who gave us Casper. The mind boggles. But elegant... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of City Of Angels

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  • 10 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Different

    I didn't know what to expect from this film but I was pleasantly surprised. The story is simple but fairly clever.

    An easy to watch tear jerker that I can recommend.

      • A customer from Kent
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Almost but not quite disappointing

    This is a beautiful romance, almost. I'm not sure what the point of this film is. The writer went to great lengths developing two sympathetic characters who fall passionately in love, against all odds and believability, only to end the story on a tragic note. The same man wrote 'Message In A Bottle' in which he does something similar. He also wrote 'The Notebook', which I won't bother watching, twice bitten, thrice shy.

      • A customer from Lichfield, Staffordshire, England
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Emotionally overpowering

    I adore this film! It contains great passion and emotion, and Cage's interpretation of his character is fantastic.

    The ending was perfect! The moral of the story is great. I was totally blown away by this film!

    I really recommend a true love story fanatic to watch this as it will have you laughing and crying.

      • PhilAI from Berkshire, England
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of City Of Angels

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  • 10 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Different

    I didn't know what to expect from this film but I was pleasantly surprised. The story is simple but fairly clever.

    An easy to watch tear jerker that I can recommend.

      • A customer from Kent
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    city of angels

    recomended by a mate and yes a awsome film thanks spanner !!!

      • ian vaughan from wales uk
  • 10 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Different

    I didn't know what to expect from this film but I was pleasantly surprised. The story is simple but fairly clever.

    An easy to watch tear jerker that I can recommend.

      • A customer from Kent
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Almost but not quite disappointing

    This is a beautiful romance, almost. I'm not sure what the point of this film is. The writer went to great lengths developing two sympathetic characters who fall passionately in love, against all odds and believability, only to end the story on a tragic note. The same man wrote 'Message In A Bottle' in which he does something similar. He also wrote 'The Notebook', which I won't bother watching, twice bitten, thrice shy.

      • A customer from Lichfield, Staffordshire, England
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Emotionally overpowering

    I adore this film! It contains great passion and emotion, and Cage's interpretation of his character is fantastic.

    The ending was perfect! The moral of the story is great. I was totally blown away by this film!

    I really recommend a true love story fanatic to watch this as it will have you laughing and crying.

      • PhilAI from Berkshire, England
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    a match made in heaven

    This movie takes a well known page out of 'ghost' portraying the hopelesness of finding love on the supernatural side.

    I thought Meg Ryan and Nicholas Cage worked very well together, it helped make things a bit more beleivable.

    There is also alot of fantastic camara work here and that mixes well with the superb editing.

      • eagle230805 from Hampshire
  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A modern classic...

    Who says that they don't make romantic films like they used to? Well either they are fools or they haven't seen City of Angels!

    This is an amazing film with Cage at his somber best! It'll grab you by the heart strings and then swing you round by them! If you have a romantic bone in your body, or you need to find one, rent this film NOW!

      • HodgesGG from East Sussex
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Fantastic Romance

    This film was brilliant, though the out come was not what I expected, this film should be up there with the all time greates romances ever made. Whilst watching the film it gives you a real sence of love with excellant performances from all.

    This film would be brilliant for a cosy night in with your other half

      • Riean from South Yorkshire
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    A forgetful film!

    I rate Cage highly as an actor and was therefore expecting a little more than I got with this film. The idea is good, but the storyline is slow and predictable (apart from the ending, but I'm not sure what the writer was trying to do here either!). I occassionally found my mind wandering a little thinking what I would be having for breakfast in the morning and so forth.

    If you want a film to watch without having to think too much then this is ideal, but if you're after something more stimulating I'd try something else, Rob Roy perhaps!

      • A customer from Norwich, East Anglia
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    city of angels

    recomended by a mate and yes a awsome film thanks spanner !!!

      • ian vaughan from wales uk
  • 2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Weak

    Not strong on the majority of angels, sorry angles. Nice idea but Meg never really came over as a heart surgeon or Nick as an angel. If you're soppy and depressed you may get something from it.

      • A customer from Bristol, England
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Boring and annoying

    Maybe it's just Meg Ryan but this film really annoyed me. It drags on and on and is about as subtle as a brick through a window. An awful Hollywood remake of a great film.

    You'll almost cheer when old Meg finally gets hers for corrupting an Angel.

      • A customer from cardiff
  • Critics' reviews (5)

  • 3 stars out of 5

    This Hollywood semi-remake of Wim Wenders's classic Wings of Desire stars Nicolas Cage as an angel inhabiting Los Angeles who falls for heart surgeon (yes, really) Meg Ryan. Will he give up his otherworldly delights — gathering with his fellow celestial beings to listen to the sunrise, reading people's thoughts — so he can “fall” to Earth and be with her? Will she realise he's not quite like other guys? And will they both drown in the slushy sentimentality of it all? Happily, not quite, thanks to a well-chosen soundtrack (Sarah McLachlan, Goo Goo Dolls) and a winning — and moving — performance from Cage that will melt the hearts of his female fans.

    • Radio Times
  • "...This New Agey take will still engage the heartrings of any mortal with the teensiest desire to believe..." -- Rating: B

    • Entertainment Weekly
  • A Hollywood remake of Wings of Desire, directed by the man who gave us Casper. The mind boggles. But elegant... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Slick romantic comedy with ambitions beyond its reach; it settles, finally, for heavy sentimentality.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • "...Cage's performance [is] at once intense and ethereal..."

    • Sight and Sound

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    • Based in part on Wim Wenders' 1988 film Wings of Desire, this is the story of Seth (Cage), an angel who wanders the Los Angeles area invisible to humans. As the demise of an individual approaches he ...

Rating breakdown

12,256 Member ratings
  • 100
1,638
  • 90
1,083
  • 80
2,257
  • 70
1,916
  • 60
2,020
  • 50
1,175
  • 40
886
  • 30
519
  • 20
493
  • 10
269

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