Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘Simon Magus’?

Simon Magus (2000)

tomatometer

63

Average Rating: 5.6/10
Reviews Counted: 30
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 11

This debut film of Ben Hopkins' effectively evokes an atmosphere of magic and mysticism.

55

Average Rating: 5.4/10
Critic Reviews: 11
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 5

This debut film of Ben Hopkins' effectively evokes an atmosphere of magic and mysticism.

audience

65

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 505

My Rating

Movie Info

Simon Magus is a mystic who is hired by the Paris police to help them find a killer. In the process, he meets a spiritual French woman with whom he falls in love.

Unrated, 1 hr. 46 min.

Drama

Samuel Goldwyn Films

All Critics (35) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (11) | DVD (1)

The villain sneers, and someone in the film- score department is banging a timpani in slow motion, meaning there's probably tragedy around the corner, but things are too earnest and sleepy to be sure.

July 24, 2001 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An odd but original, at times even poetic, film about a vanished world.

July 6, 2001 Comment
Boston Globe
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Beautifully shot and lyrically told, Simon Magus is a beguiling study in contrasts, good and evil, darkness and light, hope and despair, joy and melancholy.

June 1, 2001 Full Review Source: Associated Press | Comment
Associated Press
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The more I think about Simon Magus, the less I'm sure what it's trying to say.

April 27, 2001 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Hopkins shows masterful skill in shaping Simon's reality and unreality in this engrossing, suspenseful morality play.

April 26, 2001 Comment
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Reasonably diverting, but the story never matches the movie's fantastic visual imagination.

March 30, 2001 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Presents a fairy-tale Eastern Europe glimpsed from far off through the telescope of melancholy nostalgia.

May 4, 2010 Full Review Source: East Bay Express | Comment
East Bay Express

A little too proud of its own eccentricities, often at the expense of the story.

February 27, 2004 Comment
New Times

Think of it as: "Fiddler on the Roof" as soap opera.

November 7, 2003 Comment
Greenwich Village Gazette

Full of magic and fantasy with an interesting mix of eccentric and complex characters.

July 24, 2001 Full Review Source: BBC | Comment

The final montage sequence is exquisite, marking the emergence of an unusual and brilliant visual stylist.

July 24, 2001 Full Review Source: E! Online | Comment
E! Online

A striking feature debut with a creditable stab at magical realism.

July 24, 2001 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Empire Magazine

A wonderfully intense emotional experience.

June 21, 2001 Comment
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

A muddled work, neither truly scary nor compelling.

June 1, 2001 Comment
Reel.com

Can't decide if it wants to be a fairy tale, a parable, or magical realism.

June 1, 2001 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid
More Critic Reviews

Simon Magus Quotes

No quotes approved yet for Simon Magus. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Movies

Opening

59% Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (in 3D) Feb 10
32% The Vow Feb 10
52% Safe House Feb 10

Top Box Office

85% Chronicle $22.0M
64% The Woman in Black $20.9M
77% The Grey $9.3M
73% Big Miracle $7.8M
29% Underworld Awakening $5.5M
2% One for the Money $5.2M
36% Red Tails $4.7M
90% The Descendants $4.6M
32% Man on a Ledge $4.4M
45% Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close $3.8M

Certified Fresh In Theaters

99% A Separation Dec 30
97% The Muppets Nov 23
97% The Artist Nov 25
96% Tomboy Nov 16
95% Pina Dec 23

Latest News for Simon Magus

What's Hot On RT

Critics Consensus
Critics Consensus

Journey 2 Not Worth the Trip

Luis Guzman
Luis Guzman

What are his 10 best movies ever?

<em>Amazing Spider-Man</em>
Amazing Spider-Man

See the all-new action-packed trailer!

The Avengers!
The Avengers!

Five new Marvelous pictures

Top Movie Quizzes

LEGO Mania: 2011 Best Picture Nominees
by natalie - 18,566 taken
created 12 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 44,437 taken
created 15 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 27,153 taken
created 15 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 27,649 taken
created 15 months ago
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Blog | Developers | Mobile