City of Angels (1998)

“Seth: I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one
kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it. One.” –
Memorable quote from City of Angels (1998)

Never fails to amaze me each and every time I watched it. I wonder how many times I have watched it, hmmm let’s see, I lost count. Yes, you heard it right, I lost count! Well you might be wondering, what’s so special about this movie? I don’t know about you but for me it is special indeed. Ok, let us not drift off, better I come back to the story line.

This movie is about a group of angels roaming around the cities, assigned to help people and receive the “death”. They wear same black clothes everyday, hanging out at the same spot (preferably high buildings) everyday, reading people’s mind and go between places in a split of seconds. Despite of all their plus points, they have one minus point, they can’t feel (touch)!! Pretty ironic huh? Angels going around helping people by touching them but can’t define touch??

Well as always there is a black sheep in the family, Nicolas Cage (Seth) is the black sheep. Why? He fell in love with Meg Ryan (Maggie). Pretty funny huh, for an angel to fall in love when he can’t feel anything. Hmm lets just push aside the odds and concentrate on the story.

He (Seth) was truly, deeply, madly in love, but wasn’t sure what to do as it was forbidden for the angels to mix around with the humans, but his feeling was very strong. So, while he was in dilemma he met with an “ex” angel (Mr. Messenger), who had related to him his history, how he sacrificed his angelic life just for his love of life. That’s when Seth realize that GOD never been unfair, HE gave both human and angels on thing in common “FREEWILL”. Everybody is allowed to anything he pleased with his own life! The choice is in your hand!

Seth decided to do the same for his love, when he discovers that Maggie had the same feeling on him. In order, for him to turn into a human, he had to determine his goals and take a risk. E.g. jumping from the highest building as GOD need to know the distance you willing to go for your love before granting your wish.

So he did it!! He jumped from the highest building and woke up as a human, bizarre?? Who cares? The movie is good!!

Well the main point is, it’s about love. The distance people willing to go just to succeed in love, he did it. He left everything for Maggie, his eternal life, his ability and power just to be with her. “Sob! Sob!” How B.E.A.U.tiful.

But to remind us, that there is an ultimate power, mightier than everybody, faith takes over. When both Seth and Maggie were happy and enjoying each and every moment they had, a cruel ending came. Maggie collided with a truck and passed away. SAD.
After all the troubles he went to through just to be with her, but she is no more there for him. Why? Why? Why she has to die?

His friend will ask him, “would you have done it if you know the future?” and he answered,

“Seth: I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it. One.” – Memorable quote from City of Angels (1998)