there's no scrap in my scrapbook!

He lived to find beauty. He killed to possess it.

It is like any blockbuster movie: if the critics praise it, it's horrible - if the critics hate it, it's brilliant.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is based on the 1985 literary historical cross-genre novel (originally published in German as Das Parfum) by German writer Patrick Süskind. The movie explores the sense of scent, and its relationship with the emotional meaning that scents may carry. Above all this is a story of identity, communication and the morality of the human spirit.

Surprise. It can't actually make you smell all the scents and odors, but the images and the music allow you to experience the atmosphere and the emotions Grenouille is feeling when he takes in the scents of his environment. They couldn't have done this much better without the use of real scents at theaters.

Although much of the story is told by a narrative voice, the movie is still thrilling and exciting all the way. It's a very good adaption of Süskind's novel, sticking to the original plot concerning the major events, leaving away unnecessary subplots and shortening long passages. The result is well-constructed movie that is worth seeing.

The actors, especially Whishaw who plays Grenouille, has done a very good job. Grenouille is an ambivalent character and you never know whether to love him for his genius talent or to hate him for his cruel murders. Whishaw's half-crazy, scary gaze is shivering. Dustin Hoffman as old and unsuccessful perfumeur Baldini was very convincing... I loved the way he talks to Grenouille arrogantly although he recognizes how much more talent the young man has. A very thrilling story visualized excellently.

Cast:
Ben Whishaw
Dustin Hoofman
Alan Rickman
Rachel Hurd-Wood

Directed by:
Tom Tykwer