Now that this is on DVD, I can comment on it. The ultra-high critical appraisal is extreme, but any serious filmwatcher might be surprised how honest this sequel really is.

I was never a big fan of "Before Sunrise". It did have some interesting concepts, but it just seemed a little too much like bright, young, gorgeous things proffering intellectual claptrap to get one's attention. The fact that Linklater resurrected it for his experimental animated film "Waking Life" was interesting but only reinforced my original opinion of the actual movie.

Now I am faced with a sequel to a film which I would never have dreamt needed one, and damn if I'm not feeling very protective of this modest, but deeply-felt film.

Thought #1: The acting, by Ethan Hawke and especially Julie Delpy, is worthy of Oscar consideration. For that matter, the script is so honest that even though it seems like it should be a radio play, it is represented wonderfully on film, and almost equally-worthy. (Director Richard Linklater far surpasses any quick-shoot directorial tasks he's ever had to conceive of before.)

Thought #2: The fact that both actors have grown older and wiser is not only evident in their appearances, but in the general way they open up to the truth of their characters' lives. The "opening-up" in this film is far-more mature and profound than in the earlier film, and of course, to an old fart, that makes total sense.

Thought #3: Anyone who has ever been married, or believed that they missed out on their chance at marital bliss, will automatically relate to this film. You don't have to have seen the first film to understand the sexual, emotional and cultural dynamic which these characters are expressing.

Thought #4: This is a romance. It may be the most purely-romantic film I've ever seen. I wish I gave it a super-high rating, but it just isn't a "normal" movie. To anyone who enjoys "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", I highly recommend that you watch this. It might actually help you become a fulfilled-person or keep you from making the biggest mistake of your life.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mark f,

I couldn't agree more. This is the rare sequal that improves on the original. I'd also like to add the clever use of memory and time in the film. I imagine most people (if they saw the film at all) saw the first one years ago either in the theater or on video and then vaguely forgot about it since it was never really considered an "important" film. This is how it was with me and while watching Sunset they play off this with the convo about the memory of whether or not the two main characters slept together. This is also cleverly done since in the original, it really isn't clear if they do or not, the viewer basically has to imagine whether it did or did not happen. I think I consider this my fave film of the year cuz it really touched a nerve involving exgirlfriends and identification in the two characters conversation.

Here's an interesting link on the subject


http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=ANSWERMAN