Martian Child (2007)

Strong and Moving!

Perfect cast and a good story

good film but with many flaws

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

The science fiction writer David has been grieving over his deceased wife for two years already. He decides to change his life and adopt a strange boy named Dennis. The kid considers himself a Martian, he hides from the sunlight harmful to him and does not communicate with his peers at all. In order to find a common language with the boy, David asks for a help his sister and the best friend of his wife. This is a deeply philosophical film. He is filled with simple truths, which people sometimes ignore. Almost every phrase in this film has the right to become "flying" or "winged", if you watch it thoughtfully and carefully. At first I started watch it because of the content of the plot, and by the end I realized that the story itself is just as an addition to the embedded meaning of the human essence, this film teaches you to look at the world without deceiving either yourself or others - but only if you listen rather than to watch. In general, the film has meaning. It raises the topic of fathers and children, adopted children and adoptive parents. It makes you think about many things and even revise the attitude towards your own child. I advise you to watch this film without exception.

No, it's not a fantasy movie as some of you may think judging by the title. On the contrary, it's extremely realistic. Child upbringing is an eternal issue that has always bothered great and small minds of the world. And as a two-sided process it fails when one of the sides stops functioning. That what happens with Dennis (Bobby Coleman), the 6-year-old boy who lost his parents and became a lonely, unsocialized orphan with a firm conviction that he is a Martian. And who knows, by coincidence or by the hand of God, he is adopted by a newly-made widower David (John Cusack), who still can't get over his loss and who turns out to be a successful science fiction writer. So David faces a complicated mission: to introduce the alien boy to the environment of our planet, showing him that except "Lucky Charms" it has many other charms around and that living here abiding by small rules is not a big deal. Looks like an ordinary task for each decent parent, doesn't it?Witnessing the process brings you aesthetic pleasure. John Cusack looks here perfectly persuasive performing a totally inexperienced parent. But his quotations tend to be proverbs, so wise and philosophic they are! And actually he demonstrates a good example for all parents, so the movie can easily become a manual on child upbringing. You don't need to transform your child's nature drastically by prohibitions or punishments if he doesn't look like other normal children. Just remember that all troubles and fears come from ignorance! No child comes here skilled and educated. So, explain everything, give some freedom in reasonable amounts, open your own mind for a different view and discover this world again together with your little curious explorer. And the most admirable thing in David is that, despite of all prejudices and warnings, he has no thought of returning this 'extraterrestrial creature' back to the foster home. But, of course, the hardest thing for David was to persuade his little head-shaker that not all parents disappear without a trace and that he will never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever abandon him.MARTIAN CHILD should be certainly viewed by parents, by those who are planning to become parents and by everyone who has something to do with children. It offers you thought-provoking dialogues and touching scenes which will leave nobody indifferent, besides it gives you helpful advice: "Don't be afraid to find your child a little Martian, because it is the only time he can afford it".

The movie "A Martian Child" is valuable primarily for the fact that it touches the problem of an unusual and orphan child in quite a "popular" manner. But does it really reveal the problem?The boy is not like other children, but does he need a parent? He is quite in harmony with his own vision of the world. It is an adult, who, seeing a part of "himself" in this child, wants to influence his life and change it for the better. It is a movie about the world of a disappointed adult rather than a troublesome child. I don't know why but the final phrases of a child "Why did they leave me?" do not look convincing. I don't see a cause-and-effect connection between abandoning this child and his having an unusual curiosity about the world around him. Some other remarks and dialogues in the movie seem trivial and even a bit comic. Female characters are absolutely stereotyped and highly "exalted" in their attitude to this child ranging from absolute disregard to groundless adoration. They do not seem genuine and deep enough to see what this child really feels and needs. The main character is a bit more convincing. But what this movie lacks is a deeper conflict and a deeper immersion in the world of such a child and such an adult. "Just be yourself!" is one of the most useless things that people may advise you. As for this movie, it seems to be intended for an average person who has never happened to see or experience anything like this in his or her life. Though, I want to thank the filmmakers for the job they did. At least it will be helpful for those who prefer to see simple and melodramatic stories without too much of genuineness.

A magical movie!Yes, this is far from fiction. Rather, on the contrary, the film is incredibly realistic. And do not let it find exciting turns, rapid development of events, large-scale special effects, but it will definitely leave a mark on your soul. Each of us is a whole world, a vast universe, incomprehensible to absolutely nobody except ourselves. How often do we have to exchange this precious abode for a stereotyped set of masks that allow us to meet the expectations of others; and how often we, having reconciled ourselves to the pain of loss, break the same deep and pure worlds of our innocent children. Being yourself is not a crime! And if there is something wrong with the child's world, it is not necessary to pull it out from there with all the might, because you can just pick up the key to it.I was touched to the depth of my soul by the game of John Cusack. He is a great actor, and this is one of his most successful roles in the movie, in my opinion.Beautiful, sad and very touching movie! One of those that makes you seriously think about life after viewing.It seems to me, he is quite worthy