GrimPrecise I'll tell you why so serious

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Kimball Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

DDCinemaClub This charming, hypnotic film demonstrates that the power of love should never be underestimated.Christopher Doyle, under the careful direction of Pen-ek Ratanaruang, crafts some sensual, dreamy imagery.The soundtrack, the methodical silences, the broken English dialogue, the juxtaposition of the central characters – every cinematic element simply enchants.This is more than a simple love story, it's a well crafted thought piece that doesn't disappoint. Divorced Dads Cinema Club Rating 80% – An endearing piece of foreign cinema

Chrysanthepop 'Last Life in the Universe' works both as a mood piece and a dark romantic comedy. The dry humour, silence, washed out colours, visuals and music help set the atmosphere which is gloomy and depressing but has a sense of humour. The Kenji (Tadanobu Asano) and Noi (Sinitta Boonyasak) unconventional love story comes across beautifully on screen. There are no saccharine moments where the boy and girl profess their love to one another. It is displayed with marvelous subtlety. Both Asano and Boonyasak act wonderfully. They convey a lot through non-verbal expressions. Yet it is director Pan-Ek Ratanaruang who deserves most credit. The way he has weaved everything together using minimum amounts of the essential ingredients of film-making only prove that less is more (at least in this case). The end is open to interpretation but given the 'depressing' themes the movie brings forth, it finishes on a note of hope for the two protagonists.

jreasa Disagreements and different interpretations of the ending aside, the overpowering feeling I got from the film was one of "redemption"."Kenji" is an obviously deeply troubled man with a past he's running from, and the fact he's so entrenched in his past deeds or connections he has no one to look after or anything to concern himself with other than his own suicidal thoughts."Noi" is his second chance at life, but the chemistry and dynamic of the relationship isn't awfully important. The fact it's nuanced with romanticism is a nice touch, but she represents mostly in my opinion another individual in Kenji's now incredibly closed emotional circle as "someone who needs help". The fact Kenji takes such an interest in her well-being ("good" male influences in her life are apparently uncommon) is what makes her keep this initially creepy guy around.From start to finish this is what I felt, and makes the ending, while interesting, not the most important thing in my mind to debate. Him smiling in the police station is enough for me; he helped another human being get out of a bad situation, thus at least guaranteeing he added value to a world he was already trying to leave on his own accord. Whatever happens after (if anything) between the two is almost secondary.The cinematic landscape is littered with films of opposites attracting in strange circumstances. What makes this film better than most is that the underlying premise from my standpoint is something greater.

Shawn K First off, this is a very artistic film (any movie you watch that the credits are inter-spaced over the first 33 *minutes* you know is going to be different and experimental) and as great as the film is, its a human interest story and therefore it does progress slowlyKenji is a Japanese man living in Thailand Everything is his life is absolutely perfect down to the most minute details He has a job as a librarian and spends the rest of his time reading (in particular a Japanese child's fable, which is the basis for the English title of the movie) He is not happy and feels his life is utterly pointless. He is irritated by all the noise around him (everything from TV to phone to other people) and he often contemplates suicide (as to him it is a peaceful sleep where he wont be disturbed. His latest suicide attempt is foiled when his brother shows up (on the run from a Yakuza boss who's daughter he slept with) During a gun fight Kenji flees, and meets NoiNoi works as an adult entertainer who is planning to leave Thailand for Osaka. She has a boyfriend who has cheated many times on her (including with her own sister) Noi has a fight with her sister over the affair and Nid ends up being killed, which makes Noi feel responsible forKenji and Noi find an odd solace in each others time of need (he feels alone and she is scared of being alone) and they go out of Bangkok to the province where Noi lives