Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2302 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

Longingly Romantic and Human
Nicolas Cage gives a wonderful performance as Seth, an Angel who falls in love and begins to long for the ability to express that love. Seth is an Angel who helps the dead cross over and in some respects this film resembles the 1930's film "Death Takes a Holiday" with Frederick March and Evelyn Veneble.

Meg Ryan is Maggie, the doctor who is the object of Seth's affection. She somehow sences his prescence when trying to save one of her patients and he is touched and bewildered by her. Andre Braugher steals every scene he is in as Seth's fellow Angel and friend. They all hang out at the library and gather every morning at the beach to see the sunrise and hear the singing of heaven. Dennis Franz has a fine turn as a patient in Maggie's hospital who knows Seth is there because he to was once an Angel.
This provides Seth with a way to truly love Maggie if he can find the courage to leave heaven behind, and just, fall.

This is one of the most romantic movies of recent years and has a message about the wonderful things we all take for granted. More than that, it is a story about the importace of love, even one felt for only a moment, for it is that experience which makes us special among all creation.

I will not ruin the last portion of this film if you have not seen it, but as we all know there is a price we pay for being human. This film is for anyone who has ever loved someone as Seth does, who would trade all eternity for just one breath of her hair. This is a truly memorable film you will watch over and over.

Films like this are rarely made anymore and this is one to cherish. You will never forget the line, "When they ask me what I liked best...I'll say it was You"..........

City of Angels - Almost Perfect.......Almost.
I stumbled across this film....as you do. However since then I have been thinking about it, so profoundly touched I have been by it. The scene where the song Angels is played I have played over and over. Rarely has a film touched my very soul as this. I confess to being a hopeless romantic but in my mind there is not enough of that in the world. City of Angels makes you glad to be human and have the capacity to love and be loved and to recognise the concept of sacrifice within it.

This is my favourite film in the whole wide world
My most favourite film deserves 10 stars. Definitely, absolutely amazing film.

Touching to the heart, deep and emotional, true and genuine and totally romantic.

Anyone with a full heart will feel true emotion while watching this movie.

Soundtrack is beautiful too. The acting captures you.
If you want to dream in a land far away, watch this movie, and dream a little dream.