Perfume The Story Of A Murderer (2006)

I love when reviews imply if you don't like it you're stupid and didn't understand the genius of the film/book. Rarely have I endured a film so bad. I wasted 2.5 hours awaiting redemption that never came. Rediculous and repeated closeups of the man flaring his nostrils while sniffing around, grating narration constantly getting in the way, lack of depth in the simplistic story: a vicious serial killer as the protagonist with no redeeming qualities to emphasise with or relate to who possesses such comically unbelievable olfactory superpowers he can smell a grasshopper's fart from miles away. Of course, this drives him to murdering 13 pretty girls to capture the sent of a woman (or love, or sex) which bestows godlike powers upon him. Enduring this tripe will leave you unsatisfied, annoyed, and wondering how on earth anyone rated it so highly. So if anyone tries to tell you just didn't get it (and by implication are probably just a bit thick) please pop them in the nose for me!

Having read the book, I was tentative renting this film out. I thought that it might ruin my reading of the classic by Patrick Suskind. I am happy to say that it did as well as a movie about a man with an astronomical sense of smell could posssibly do. The colour and setting of Paris you can almost taste in your mouth, the sensuality is also palpable, virgin flesh, soft hews, and your admiration of his genius leave you wishing the movie makers had involved perfume dispensers in the theatres.

I Found it remarkable that Alan Rickman could involve himself in a bad movie, but here it is. I'm not certain if it was the ludicrous 'nose' sequences or the turkey catapulting from a woman's... (You can't miss it) that truly takes any redeemable artistic qualities from this movie. There was good potential in the way it was poised but it just doesn't sit right! It strikes me as a medium-budget student flick that tried too hard to impress it's mentor. Call me cruel, but it's just plain rubbish.

you will also like this movie. The fascinating, often disturbing story of the brilliantly unique novel has been adapted for the screen perfectly. I felt as engrossed in watching the film as I was in reading the book as the subject-matter is so intriguing. None of the Hollywood-style beautification either as this is a European production and therefore does not shy from depicting unpleasantness. Some graphic scenes should not deter you from this incredible story. Great sets, great performances.

This is a great movie that is true enough to the book (an absolute must read in everyones life). It is a little on the long side towards the end, but that is somewhat of necessity. The period settings are wonderful as is the costume. The Acting is joyously camp and the overall feel is highly atmospheric. Can you transfer a book about smell to the big screen, well, you can't smell the words in a book either so all this requires is that you slightly retune your imagination. Well worth a look !