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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2020 20:18:28 GMT
The coolest stories make me think about the world before and after, and tease me by only showing me a portion of the journey. I think the last thing I'd want to see is a sequel or a prequel. The cool thing in my opinion about a creature/bacteria/force like this is it beckons no logic or explanation, at least not one pinned down by science. I'd say this fits squarely into the horror genre.
Some of the best horror movies I know (this not being one of them, I dug it but you know, it's not like The Exorcist or anything) is whatever supernatural horror thing is happening is incidental. The real story's with the family. The space stuff is just a catalyst for their relationship.
Which is the exact reason the movie falls flat. The family situation doesn't work at all in the movie because it didn't well establish them beforehand and the performances aren't very convincing. I also felt they acted way too casual about what was happening and didn't seem to be anywhere near disturbed enough by what is happening to them, at least not in a way I think is convincing. It touches on it at some parts, but not nearly enough imo. Even when the wife cuts her fingers off, Nicolas Cage doesn't act like this is a big deal and even stops to talk to the kids before leaving. There is the stuff with the daughter being into witchcraft or something along those lines that is only mentioned a couple times early in the movie and then never mentioned again. It is sci-fi horror imo. Equal parts. For me the movie and movies like it are about the fragility of the human mind and the human body and how easily we could be wiped out of existence and how terrifying that thought is. How there are unknown things in the world that are beyond are comprehension that existed long before us and will exist long after us. This seems to be a common theme with H.P. Lovecraft. It does fall short with the family. That would be where the story's real genius would occur but like you said, that's sort of a recurring theme with Lovecraft. I get the impression from films based on his stories (and just by reputation) that he likes pulling monsters, demons etc. out of thin air. The family's probably just a pretense to show the creature.
The family's all but doomed the moment they come into contact with some form of water. I can't remember if Cage was affected by this point but by the time he first got aggressive with his daughter, he was full blown contaminated. The daughter's witchcraft came up again because she carved something in herself and it showed through a montage that the shape of her cut was the same shape of some citadel or tower on the planet where the organism came from. At least I think that's what happened. I think her rebellious, teenage angst witchcraft might have enabled the apocalypse. But I also think the witchcraft bid at the beginning foreshadowed the water as a problem and set up the tension between the family and the mayor, since the mayor also has it out for Cage for not selling her his share of the land.
I like the idea, insanity, fragility of the human mind. I'm not always in the mood for that type of story, so I guess this film struck my brain while the iron was hot.
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Post by moviemouth on Feb 29, 2020 20:33:37 GMT
Which is the exact reason the movie falls flat. The family situation doesn't work at all in the movie because it didn't well establish them beforehand and the performances aren't very convincing. I also felt they acted way too casual about what was happening and didn't seem to be anywhere near disturbed enough by what is happening to them, at least not in a way I think is convincing. It touches on it at some parts, but not nearly enough imo. Even when the wife cuts her fingers off, Nicolas Cage doesn't act like this is a big deal and even stops to talk to the kids before leaving. There is the stuff with the daughter being into witchcraft or something along those lines that is only mentioned a couple times early in the movie and then never mentioned again. It is sci-fi horror imo. Equal parts. For me the movie and movies like it are about the fragility of the human mind and the human body and how easily we could be wiped out of existence and how terrifying that thought is. How there are unknown things in the world that are beyond are comprehension that existed long before us and will exist long after us. This seems to be a common theme with H.P. Lovecraft. It does fall short with the family. That would be where the story's real genius would occur but like you said, that's sort of a recurring theme with Lovecraft. I get the impression from films based on his stories (and just by reputation) that he likes pulling monsters, demons etc. out of thin air. The family's probably just a pretense to show the creature.
The family's all but doomed the moment they come into contact with some form of water. I can't remember if Cage was affected by this point but by the time he first got aggressive with his daughter, he was full blown contaminated. The daughter's witchcraft came up again because she carved something in herself and it showed through a montage that the shape of her cut was the same shape of some citadel or tower on the planet where the organism came from. At least I think that's what happened. I think her rebellious, teenage angst witchcraft might have enabled the apocalypse. But I also think the witchcraft bid at the beginning foreshadowed the water as a problem and set up the tension between the family and the mayor, since the mayor also has it out for Cage for not selling her his share of the land.
I like the idea, insanity, fragility of the human mind. I'm not always in the mood for that type of story, so I guess this film struck my brain while the iron was hot.
My fault. Some of that stuff I don't remember. I barely even remember the mayor being in the movie and I watched it 4 days ago. I wish they did more with the Tommy Chong character. He is the only character that is interesting imo. .
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2020 20:38:05 GMT
It does fall short with the family. That would be where the story's real genius would occur but like you said, that's sort of a recurring theme with Lovecraft. I get the impression from films based on his stories (and just by reputation) that he likes pulling monsters, demons etc. out of thin air. The family's probably just a pretense to show the creature.
The family's all but doomed the moment they come into contact with some form of water. I can't remember if Cage was affected by this point but by the time he first got aggressive with his daughter, he was full blown contaminated. The daughter's witchcraft came up again because she carved something in herself and it showed through a montage that the shape of her cut was the same shape of some citadel or tower on the planet where the organism came from. At least I think that's what happened. I think her rebellious, teenage angst witchcraft might have enabled the apocalypse. But I also think the witchcraft bid at the beginning foreshadowed the water as a problem and set up the tension between the family and the mayor, since the mayor also has it out for Cage for not selling her his share of the land.
I like the idea, insanity, fragility of the human mind. I'm not always in the mood for that type of story, so I guess this film struck my brain while the iron was hot.
My fault. Some of that stuff I don't remember. I barely even remember the mayor being in the movie. She appeared once I think to glare threateningly at Cage when the UFO landed and then later on a TV broadcast. I think.
I saw it last Sunday. I'll probably start forgetting things soon.
eta: True about Tommy Chong.
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Post by moviemouth on Feb 29, 2020 20:40:49 GMT
My fault. Some of that stuff I don't remember. I barely even remember the mayor being in the movie. She appeared once I think to glare threateningly at Cage when the UFO landed and then later on a TV broadcast. I think.
I saw it last Sunday. I'll probably start forgetting things soon.
I started reading the short story and in that the story is being told after the fact to the survey guy. It seems he wasn't there while it was happening like in the movie.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2020 20:51:18 GMT
She appeared once I think to glare threateningly at Cage when the UFO landed and then later on a TV broadcast. I think.
I saw it last Sunday. I'll probably start forgetting things soon.
I started reading the short story and in that the story is being told after the fact to the survey guy. It seems he wasn't there while it was happening like in the movie. Interesting. Maybe that was inserted in to tease some romantic tension, give the daughter something to do. Now I'm going to have to find it and read it soon. 
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Post by moviemouth on Feb 29, 2020 20:52:23 GMT
I started reading the short story and in that the story is being told after the fact to the survey guy. It seems he wasn't there while it was happening like in the movie. Interesting. Maybe that was inserted in to tease some romantic tension, give the daughter something to do. Now I'm going to have to find it and read it soon.
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Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Feb 29, 2020 23:13:30 GMT
...Then ya'll need to see Mandy, Nic Cage's other weird recent movie that's already out on dvd. Its trippy. I seen that. Another film I have mixed thoughts on. Cage is always fun to watch though.
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Post by lenlenlen1 on Mar 5, 2020 15:48:25 GMT
...Then ya'll need to see Mandy, Nic Cage's other weird recent movie that's already out on dvd. Its trippy. I seen that. Another film I have mixed thoughts on. Cage is always fun to watch though. Watching Mandy is like being high with a touch of violence. LOL
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