Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #519 in DVD
• Released on: 1999-02-08
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabic
• Dubbed in: Italian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 109 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Some critics complained that City of Angels could never compare to Wim Wenders's exquisite German film Wings of Desire, which served as the later film's primary inspiration. The better argument to make is that any such comparisons are beside the point, because Wings of Desire was a much more deeply poetic, artfully contemplative film, whereas City of Angels is an enchanting product of mainstream Hollywood. Meg Ryan stars as Dr. Maggie Rice, a heart surgeon who is grieving over a lost patient when an angel named Seth (Nicolas Cage) appears to comfort her. She can see him despite the "rule" that angels are invisible, and Seth's love for Maggie forces him to choose between angelic immortality and a normal human existence on earth with her. Featuring heavenly roles for TV veterans Andre Braugher and Dennis Franz, the film liberally borrows imagery from Wings of Desire, but it also creates its own charming identity. Cage and Ryan give fine performances as lovers convinced they are soul mates, and although the plot relies on a last-minute twist that doesn't quite work, this earnest love story struck a chord with audiences and proved to be one of the surprise hits of 1998. --Jeff Shannon

Special Features
2.35 Wide Screen
DVD 9
French\Italian
English\Italian
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English French Italian
Dolby Digital 5.1
Interactive Menus
Production Notes
Scene Access
Making Angels Documentary
Additional Scenes
Commentary By Brad Silberling
Arabic\Dutch\English\French\Italian\Portuguese\Spanish

Synopsis
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 discovery of distraught heart surgeon Maggie (Ryan) inspires him to forego his immortality and exist on earth with her as a feeling and mortal entity.

Customer Reviews

Film about angels = hell on earth
I can scarcely believe that anyone took this movie seriously, principally because of Nicolas Cage's (par-for-the-course) appalling acting.. It is quite pitiful to watch him attempt to present a noble mien as the angelic character, cocking his head on one side; standing on a skyscraper in his long slouch coat, looking with compassion at the teeming millions below; speaking... very... slowly... to indicate that he is troubled by the torment of emotions which we poor humans have to endure. Really he is HYSTERICAL.
What is even worse is his transformation into a 'human' - soulful, puppy-eyed looks at Meg Ryan accompanied by speech of a normal speed, just in case we missed the finer points of his change in characterisation. This movie is a total hoot 'n' a holler and deserves an award for its creaky clunky patronising pretensions ha ha!

City of Angels
a wonderful love story, beautifully filmed and delicately acted.

blubbed like a baby all the way though.

Romance is not dead.

Too sugary sweet for me
An angel of death (Nicolas Cage) falls in love with a surgeon (Meg Ryan) and wishes he were a real man.

I like love stories, but this was just too corny for me. Meg did her usual perky-girl-next-door thing but this time it felt fake. When she flashed her big trademark grin or let a single tear trickle ever-so-slowly down her beautiful face, it felt like she was just posing. I didn't buy her as a real person; too much staring thoughtfully into the camera and spouting trite dialogue. And who races downhill on a bike at the edge of a cliff with no hands and eyes closed? I'm still wondering why Nic Cage is a star. He played the same gosh-gee-whiz angel that Brad Pitt did in Meet Joe Black minus Brad's good looks and charm. His unwavering nobility was way too precious and those lingering close-ups - please!

The movie is burdened with a cliché script that constantly implores us to Appreciate Life! Dare to Love! Reach Out and Touch Someone! Eat a Pear While There's Still Time! There is nothing to balance the sticky sentimentality except for Dennis Franz as an annoying ex-angel. I liked the song, "In the Arms of an Angel," but can't recommend this movie.