The Cathedral (2002)

So much average

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Tomasz Bagiński's "Katedra" ("The Cathedral" in English) is a movie whose ultimate meaning is a matter of interpretation. Whether you see it as an indictment of religion or as a plain science fiction story, this adaptation of Jacek Dukaj's short story is one of the most impressive things that you'll ever see.I haven't seen any of the other nominees for Best Animated Short Film at the 75th Academy Awards. Even so, the others - including the winner - will be hard-pressed to be as impressive as "The Cathedral". Once again, Poland gives the world a fine piece of cinema. I hope to see more movies from Tomasz Bagiński.Definitely see it.

This is more of visual experience than any story or point but....wow, what visuals! This is magnificently drawn and probably quite unlike any other animated short you've seen, although it did remind me of some of the cool stuff done when computer animation began with stuff like "The Mind's Eye." This is more detailed, showing a Lord Of The Rings-looking figure entering a huge and different cathedral. As one poster points out, he apparently was waiting for someone. At any rate, we see at the end how the cathedral is partially updated, if you will.Not only the visuals unique and stunning, the music is equally dramatic. The short story, meanwhile, will up for many interpretations, which is why I downplay the story a bit. I don't pretend to have the author's intentions with this, just appreciate and admire the work he put into it. Kudos to Poland's Tomek Baginski, and I can see why his effort here was nominated for an Oscar.No matter how you try to interpret this, a undeniable fact is that it is stunning artwork, mesmerizing at times.

On a far distant planet stands a immense cathedral, seemingly derelict and lifeless. A solitary traveler stands before the crumbling columns, silently watching and waiting. The film leaves countless questions unanswered, its dialogue-free script allowing for the visuals and music to tell the story, and for the viewer to fill in the blanks. Where is this beautiful planet? Who is this lone traveler? Why has he made this pilgrimage to such a remote cathedral? Indeed, who actually built this cathedral, and for how long has it stood here?Tomek Baginski's animated short film, 'Katedra / The Cathedral,' is a fascinating and visually-stunning journey into the unknown, and a philosophical exploration of the nature of religion. It is based upon Jacek Dukaj's short story of the same name, and was created using 3ds Max, a full-featured 3D graphics application developed by Autodesk Media and Entertainment. The CGI visuals, which allegedly took three years to produce, are nothing short of perfect, every frame as beautiful as the last. With no dialogue to speak of, 'Katedra' also relies heavily on its choice of music, and the steadily-building electronic track used during the film's climax is wonderfully rousing.The conclusion itself is worthy of some discussion, though I'll stop short of giving away what actually happens. What could this ending actually be implying? That a religion is comprised solely of its believers? Could the pilgrim's faith have allowed him to become a part of something wonderful and glorious? This, of course, is without considering whether or not the traveler knew what was about to happen when the sun made its dazzling appearance. Whatever your interpretation, there's no denying that this film is simply a thing of beauty.

Definitely one of the most intriguing cgi films I've seen, although I had some difficulty following the plot. The wraith-like main character, the entombed humanoids within the "forest cathedral (reminded me of the bas-relief sculpture in THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE coming to life . . .)I'm definitely going to have to track down the Jacek Dukaj short story . ..