I was under the impression that "Wings of Desire" was a unique love story and I guess it is. However that aspect of the film was almost a distraction compared to the real nature of the movie. For me, "Wings of Desire" is a brilliant cinematic concept of angels in the world around us. If that sounds overly religious or unappealling, hold on. The way director Wim Wenders brings his vision to life is the essential beauty of this movie. We almost get the impression that these angels punch in and punch out. They are sincere and they do what they can to help whenever they see the appropriate opportunity. However, they are angels; not God. We see efforts that succeed and efforts that fail and we realize that these angels can influence but not prevent. We see, through their eyes, the beautiful and the banal. Not all is good and not all is bad yet, when properly focussed, all is unique. The story follows one particular angel who falls in love and wants to experience mortality in order to experience romantic love. This is not Clarence (from "It's a Wonderful Life") but an angel who is tired of seeing and wants to actually experience. There is an interesting role played by Peter Falk that may be his best performance. In the end, of course, the angel gets his wish and his girl but I, frankly, thought that sequence was too overdone. I was still mesmerized by director Wim Wenders's concept of angels among us.

Not being a professional writer, I don't know if my review can give justice to a film like 'Wings of Desire'. The devoutly religious may find it strange that an angel would want to return to life on earth to experience the joys and sorrows of the human drama. But I see the angels as a device to profoundly expand our awareness of our common humanity with all other human beings, and our profound connection to history. A deeply poetic meditation on the human condition. I consider Wim Wenders film 'Wings of Desire' to be a modern masterpiece in the great tradition of European films.

Wim Wenders' gentle poem on the seductive pleasures of life itself is a must for film lovers. Not only is the film's story beautifully constructed to reveal the curious transformation of an angel into a human, but it does so with visual authority. Bruno Ganz's face -- a kind of meat-pie everyman face -- was a perfect choice to convey the transformation. Watch this, and in its wake, life will take on a new sweetness -- not surgary, but poignant.

Like my title suggests, `Der Himmel uber Berlin' is a film of intensely angelic proportions; a film that is the visual equivalent of a thousand beautiful strokes of the pen. Watching `Der Himmel uber Berlin' is a treat for the eyes as well as the mind. It has been hailed as Wim Wenders finest film, and while I have not seen many of his other films I must say that this would be a hard film to top. If you are only aware of the Hollywood remake of this movie (i.e. `City of Angels') then you are in for an unexpected treat, for Wenders original is a far cry from the Cage/Ryan film. This is not to be seen as a knock of `City of Angels', which just so happens to be a personal favorite of mine, but it is meant to inform you that `Der Himmel uber Berlin' is a masterpiece whereas `City of Angels' is merely a great film.

The film opens in beautiful sepia as angel Damiel watches over the city of Berlin. In fact the majority of this film is Damiel and fellow angel Cassiel walking about the city, listening to the thoughts of the men and women groping for meaning in their lives. One of the earliest sequences scales the apartments within one building, allowing us to hear what the angels hear, and it's this scene that really told me all I needed to know. This film is going to unlike anything I've ever seen before.

`Der Himmel uber Berlin' tells the story of Damiel, an angel who longs to experience the pleasures of life in the flesh, as a human, tasting the sweet air and seeing the vibrant colors, feeling the soft breathe of another and tasting their skin. As he walks the city he contemplates all that he is missing and dreams of one day forsaking his eternal forever for a chance at mortal happiness. Then his eyes fall upon the beautiful Marion, a lonely trapeze artist who captures Damiel's heart instantly. Now his longing to be a part of her world is stronger than ever and as the film draws to a close he has to make the most important decision of his life.

The idea of angels forsaking their heavenly home for the affections of women is not entirely new and or original; for if you remember, that did happen in the Bible, but what Wenders does with `Der Himmel uber Berlin' is make that action honorable, beautiful even. This film paints a vastly different picture than that of Biblical accounts. There is no adverse affects to the angels decision to leave his rightful home, just new experiences and a chance at love and `life'. What this film lacks in dramatic tension (`City of Angels' created its own) it makes up for in artistic beauty (something `City of Angels' didn't attempt to capture). `Der Himmel uber Berlin', as I mentioned, is intoxicating to watch. The sepia in which the majority of the film is shot (to capture the angels muted state) is rich and magnificent, even more so than the colors that flood Damiel's eyes upon becoming `human'. The words spoken (or should I say `thought') by the cast of characters are graceful and meaningful, words that stay with the viewer and incite him to contemplation.

The acting is also beautiful orchestrated. Bruno Ganz is flawless as Damiel, capturing his loneliness, his longing and eventually his overwhelming joy. I have never been a fan of Cage and honestly feel that his one-note performances drag down the films he inhabits. The same can be said for `City of Angels' (which thrives on Meg Ryan's magnificent performance) but nothing of the sort can be said for Ganz who embodies Damiel with believable perfection. Solveig Dommartin is effortless as Marion, the epitome of searching, an individual longing to be found by something deserving of her affections. Otto Sander delivers superbly as Cassiel and Peter Falk (who plays himself in an interesting twist) gives a very honest and tender performance.

In the end it is Wim Wenders whose star shines the brightest though. His direction is effortless and beautiful. He creates an intoxicating masterpiece that will be hard to top. `Der Himmel uber Berlin' is a strange and unique journey, but it is a journey well worth taking. Allow yourself to be carried away by its poetry; I promise you will be richly rewarded.

Though some can argue about Paris, Texas or the likes of Faraway, So Close!, I believe this to be Wim Wenders' best film.

It serves as not only a poem of romance, but as one for life and love of the city of Berlin. The plot follows a lonely angel who falls in love and wishes for life, even knowing all the hardships and heartbreaks that are included.

Wenders paints a beautiful picture with the words and actions of the characters. A truly uplifting film.

The DVD includes a Wenders commentary, deleted scenes with commentary, a documentary and trailers.

One of the best movies of all time.

Must See.