Every now and then, a film comes along that's ambitious enough that it transcends even the worst Hollywood trends. Simply said, "Paris, je t'aime" is an ambitious film.

Two hours in length, the film consists of 20 five-minute short films, all written and directed by different filmmakers. The filmmakers, ranging from the Coen brothers to Alfonso Cuaron, were each given one simple task. They were asked to make a film about Paris and love. Where these acclaimed directors went from there varied, but all - generally - ended successfully.

Writing a review of a collective film, especially one that consists of 20 short films is a bit unorthodox. Ultimately, the film has its high and not-as-highs (no lows, believe it or not). Some shorts were simply more impressive than others. The emotions evoked in each film varied as the subject matter themselves. Some took a humorous route. Others dabbled in the promise of new romance, or the constant struggle to keep old love alive.

For the horror fans, there is a bit of good news and a bit of bad. Wes Craven's segment, "Pere-Lachaise," was fairly disappointing. Craven avoided sticking to his genre, which is respectable, but managed to make one of few pieces that was totally unimpressionable. And while the great segment for horror fans isn't exactly a horror, it's inventive fantasy with a dark twist. "Quartier de la Madeleine," the short segment by Vincenzo Natali, stars Elijah Wood as a Canadian backpacker in the dark, abandoned streets of Paris. Beautifully realized, Natali tells the story of the backpacker's run-in with a young female vampire. The humor, and style to some degree, is reminiscent of several Guy Maddin shorts.

It should be noted that Wes Craven's experimentation represents a great sense of of what collective filmmaking, and short films, can offer audiences and filmmakers - something different. The short form can be exciting for a film lover, and for a filmmaker - and this shows through these various submissions. Writers will often come with a cinematic scene that just doesn't have a full story. A short fits the bill for getting that simple scene across.

For the romantics, this film won't disappoint. Surprisingly, the stories of young love were somewhat lackluster. It's not that they were bad, it's simply that they didn't compare to the segments centered around old love. The short "Pigalle," which stars Bob Hoskins, is an incredibly sweet vignette, telling the tale of how difficult it is to keep love alive, and how sweet it is when you succeed

Paris has almost become an archetype in film - representing love and romance. "Paris je t'aime" successfully conveys that message, but fortunately didn't stick to the "man and woman" view of love. Hands down, the two most emotional vignettes involved the love of mothers for their children. Ultimately, this is a film that matters. No matter your particular taste or preference, if you consider yourself a lover of film, "Paris, je t'aime" should make your list.